Question about Dentistry/Shadowing section

[jmorgan28]

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I worked in a dental office for a year assisting the hygienists and assistants with suctioning, sealants, bite blocks etc. I also cleaned the rooms and sterilized instruments. This was a paid position but I was mostly there to gain experience and learn the flow of the operation. I was with the doctor minimally but still some. Should I put this all under work experience or split it up half in dental and half in work. I have 500 hours at this clinic but I was not necessarily with the Dr. for the entire 500 hours.

Also, can someone please help explain this "Academic Enrichment" section to me...

 

[TheDanger]

I put my paid position as a DA under dental experience and marked it as "paid". Depending on your duties, I would mark it under the dental experience section with the position being dental assistant or intern, and check the box for "paid".

Dschools (probably) put more weight under dental experience than working, so I think if you put half in one category and half in the other you would be selling yourself short.

 

[jmorgan28]

I agree, thank you! Have you added anything under Academic Enrichment? I feel like a lot of people in these threads are unsure about this section. I have a lot under extracurricular/volunteering and research I just am not sure about that section.

 

[ChrisM07]

Dschools (probably) put more weight under dental experience than working, so I think if you put half in one category and half in the other you would be selling yourself short.

Why do you think this is? I learned a lot while shadowing but I've learned SOOO much more as a paid DA than I did when I just shadowed.

 

[jmorgan28]

I think he is just saying to be sure to put this under the dental experience section and not just the work section. I am just clicking the "paid" box. Should I post this under the work section as well as the dental section?

 

[TheDanger]

Why do you think this is? I learned a lot while shadowing but I've learned SOOO much more as a paid DA than I did when I just shadowed.

I definitely agree! DA > shadowing. I meant that schools value dental experiences over having a job like a cashier or something along those lines, so why not put the position under dental experience since that section probably weighted more? Sorry if I was unclear.

 

[TheDanger]

I agree, thank you! Have you added anything under Academic Enrichment? I feel like a lot of people in these threads are unsure about this section. I have a lot under extracurricular/volunteering and research I just am not sure about that section.

I personally have my study abroad semester and a waxing workshop I did through my school's pre-dental club. I remember reading somewhere on this site that the Academic Enrichment section is pretty subjective, so if you feel like you've done some sort of program that has "academically enriched" you, you should include it.
I think this is the section most people have the least amount of things under. I'm sure a lot of people even leave it blank so I wouldn't worry if you don't have much to put for this one.