Process to specialize

Started by Biofilm preventer
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
B

Biofilm preventer

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Im currently a D1 and am unsure on if i want to specialize or not. Besides for grades, what else should i be doing this early in my dental school career? The only thing i can think of is joining my schools clubs, however, should i be joining clubs for all careers that i might be interested in? I feel like im interested in 3/4 different specialties right now so idk if it will look so good to be apart of a few different clubs?
 
Last edited:
It's great that you are planning for the future (just in case you want to specialize)! As far as clubs go, I'd suggest picking 1-3 that most interest you or that offer opportunities like community service events. You don't want to spread yourself too thin and compromise your study time, grades, etc. I don't think it looks bad if you are part of clubs associated with different specialties. You are a dental student, trying to figure out what interests you. For the clubs at you are in, volunteer to be the D1 representative (leadership role) or try to be part of the organizing team.

If you are open to doing research, look into a summer research program or if you can do something throughout your D1/D2 year. I think it's easier to do research early on, because in your D3/D4 year, you'll have more clinical skills and might be interested in doing mission trips.

I'm actually making a video on getting into residency that should be ready early next week. I'll link it here when I have it up. Maybe it will give you some more ideas.
 
vcl238 said:
It's great that you are planning for the future (just in case you want to specialize)! As far as clubs go, I'd suggest picking 1-3 that most interest you or that offer opportunities like community service events. You don't want to spread yourself too thin and compromise your study time, grades, etc. I don't think it looks bad if you are part of clubs associated with different specialties. You are a dental student, trying to figure out what interests you. For the clubs at you are in, volunteer to be the D1 representative (leadership role) or try to be part of the organizing team.

If you are open to doing research, look into a summer research program or if you can do something throughout your D1/D2 year. I think it's easier to do research early on, because in your D3/D4 year, you'll have more clinical skills and might be interested in doing mission trips.

I'm actually making a video on getting into residency that should be ready early next week. I'll link it here when I have it up. Maybe it will give you some more ideas.
Click to expand...
I agree just join at least 1-2 clubs, and try to get a leadership role. Get into research, see if you can publish something too. It doesn't matter if you don't pursue that specialty - research is almost always a good thing. I matched perio, and my research was in pediatric dentistry, neurology, and oral surgery, i.e. not perio. I actually never even went to the perio club meetings at our school, but I was very active in two other community organizations that I was very passionate about. I didn't join those clubs for it to be on my resume either - I was genuinely interested in those experiences. that's kinda how I would recommend approaching things.
 
Keep your grades up and get involved with the specialties you are interested in. If you’re not sure, you won’t really know until clinic.
 
vcl238 said:
It's great that you are planning for the future (just in case you want to specialize)! As far as clubs go, I'd suggest picking 1-3 that most interest you or that offer opportunities like community service events. You don't want to spread yourself too thin and compromise your study time, grades, etc. I don't think it looks bad if you are part of clubs associated with different specialties. You are a dental student, trying to figure out what interests you. For the clubs at you are in, volunteer to be the D1 representative (leadership role) or try to be part of the organizing team.

If you are open to doing research, look into a summer research program or if you can do something throughout your D1/D2 year. I think it's easier to do research early on, because in your D3/D4 year, you'll have more clinical skills and might be interested in doing mission trips.

I'm actually making a video on getting into residency that should be ready early next week. I'll link it here when I have it up. Maybe it will give you some more ideas.
Click to expand...
Any update on the video?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.