Question for all those lucky accepted applicants!

[DDS4tehwin]

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Can you please share what types of extraciricular activities y'all participated in? Specifics would be appreciated! How many actually participated in undergraduate research? Thanks!

 

[dddsmack]

check out predents.com, some people post that on there. As for me, I did some volunteer UG research. About 6 months worth. No pay, no credit, although both were offered. I didn't want it to look like there was another other reason for doing it.

-I served 2 years on an LDS church mission.
-I shadowed 1 dentist for almost 40 hours.


That is all folks. 🙂

I also know of many people w/o any research or volunteer work that got accepted this cycle.

 

[Turnerjo13]

I did a little bit of everything. I did a research project with HHMI. I worked with a group that makes positive changes on and around campus. I was involved with the pre-dental society. I did a volunteer internship. I was involved with my fraternity. Intramural sports and many other outside activities. Other volunteering and shadowing. I worked summer jobs too.

My advise would be do a few different and varying things that you are interested in and passionate about and do them for a while. You can only put ten EC activities and ten volunteer activities on aadsas so make sure that they mean something.

 

[dr.rex]

Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters
VP predent club
VP biology honors society
shadowed 50 hours
red cross blood drives
undergrad research-genetics lab (wrtoe my own propsal and i present this spring)
gen chem/ochem/ bio tutor paid positions

 

[dr.rex]

i did way too much, i wouldnt suggest that anyone do all of this because it looks cool now but it takes a lot of time and it wasnt even talked about in my interviews

 

[byorkie]

My Research: I participated in an undergraduate research study on the American Chestnut Tree. Basically I helped my prof. graft the American Chestnut Tree with a Japanese Chestnet Tree that was resistant to the fungi called chestnut blight. I then helped restore the population of this tree by replanting trees where they once existed.

My Volunteer Activities: The Boys and Girls Club, Big Brother Big Sister, after school tutoring for children from disadvantaged communities,

Dental experience: 2 years as a part-time dental assistant at a pedo office while in high school, 30 additional hours at a general practice, and 40 hours with an orthodontist

EC's: Volleyball, gymnastics, sewing, pilates, painting,

I hope this helps. I can't remember everything but these are the main things that were commented on during my interviews. Good luck

 

[Turnerjo13]

I talked about all of the thing that I had done and nothing about my grades or scores in one of my interviews. Every interview was different. I was asked about my research at all of my interviews.

 

[mmasurf]

hospice for a year, shadowed 4 dentists about 100 hrs,did a year of ER volunteering, did website design for science club, did biology tutoring, did 3 years of molecular biology research.

 

[Yeyyy]

did anyone get accepted without any shadowing/dental experience at all?

 

[koochooloo]

Can you please share what types of extraciricular activities y'all participated in? Specifics would be appreciated! How many actually participated in undergraduate research? Thanks!

demo team captain, treasurer, VP, and Pres of Tae Kwon Do Club
pre-dental society
VP and treasurer of Persian club
Undergrad assistant for bio lab
summer undergrad research program
85 hrs shadowing gen dentist & 300+ hrs working ortho

 

[purduephigam]

Big Bro's Big Sis
2 years, House philanthropy chair
Owned own entertainment business
Society of Student Investors
Pre-dental Club
Biology Club
Church group community service
Various other community service projects at Purdue
Over 60 hours of shadowing several dentists

Extra curriculars are great to have, but I really think I went overboard. My sophomore year I bit off more than I could chew and as a result, my grades suffered a little. I can't help but get involved, it's just who I am; but I would highly recommend not letting any EC's affect your studies.


"Ahh, I just lost a buck.............to myself"

 

[prez_al]

biomedical research
intramural sports
honor society
lots of community service / volunteer work
unique activities 😉

 

[DDSY]

Shadowed a dentist >50 hrs.
Dental-related research
An officer for a student council
Tons of community service

 

[_veo_]

I think you should do something you are interested in, just do something!

I volunteered at the behavioral pharmacological lab at my university for a year. I worked with rats injecting them with nicotine and cocaine. I mentioned that in the manual dexterity portion 😉
I also worked as a tutor for about 2 years and a half in bio, chem, and spanish.
I volunteered at a local hospital in the ER room for about 6 months.
I shadowed a Dentist for 50 hours.
Besides that I worked all summers to pay for school.

I think they are interested to know that you did something else besides studying. Schadowing is a must, at least some decent amount of hours. I don't know if research is too, but it doesn't hurt. Most professors like to take undergrad assistants 🙂 Don't be afraid to ask!
Now that I remember, they never mentioned any of that during my interview. I guess all interviews are different

 

[gamecock83]

Ugrad research with mice and colon cancer
Intramurals, Fraternity, Men's soccer league, worked in pediatrician's office, worked in hospital, shadowed dentists...

 

[lifeisgood]

120+ Volunteer/Shadow hours in a free medical/dental clinic
Shadowed 3 other private practice dentists including one naval dentist

USC Mobile Dental Clinic - 40+ Hours

Full-time employment for last 9+ years w/ same company

 

[Envision]

Lots of community service 300+ hrs of health related activities:
Health:
Dental Volunteer (100 hrs),Medical Volunteer,Pharmacy Volunteer,Optometry Volunteer,EMS Volunteer
Recieved Presidential volunteer service award.
Leadership:
Green Campus Committee & Highschool OutReach Committee
100+ hrs of club related activities:
Clubs: ASDA, Green Campus, Calpirg, Chinese Association.
Tutoring: Ochem (1.5 years)
Research: (2 years) recieved excellence award. 2 publications, 1 pending.
Hobbies: Martial Arts, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Badminton, Ping Pong

 

[dancedancekj]

Definitely agree with the comments above of not doing too many extracurriculars. A lot of SDN'ers seem to be the overinvolved overstressed type that do everything, so watch out for that 🙂

I would think that the purpose of extracurriculars included in the application is to make sure you are a well-rounded person who enjoys more than just studying and shadowing dentists. Do stuff that you like, and try new things. If you can, try to keep your involvement going in the organization for as long as you can- you get a lot more out of it, and it shows your commitment.

I did shadowing, but also was involved with my fraternity, student government, residence hall government, new student orientation, orchestra, biology club and teaching assistant, philanthrophies like Up 'Til Dawn, Relay for Life, and other stuff.
I think my most enjoyable extracurricular was being a resident advisor for sophomores and freshmen (freshmen this year). They keep you on your toes (2:30 AM: "OMG the toilet just exploded, come quick!😱"), and it's amazing how much you learn about yourself and others through the experience.

Above all, have fun with your extracurriculars! Choose ones that bring you enjoyment, help you grow, and help you meet new people, not pad your resume.

 

[GiveMeDMD]

These are the noteworthy things I did.

*President-ASDA(dental club)
*VP-my fraternity (lots of community service, fundraisers, etc...)
*Dental Internship (demonstrated exploration of field)
*Summer Pre-Dental program (demonstrated exploration of field)
*Undergrad Research- researched Kaposi Sarcoma associated Herpes Virus (they asked about this during interview).
*Give Kids a Smile volunteer (you can do this with a local dentist)
*Resident Advisor (they asked about this in an interview)
*Remote Area Medical Volunteer
*Tons of shadowing (try and shadow 3-4 specialties to show your interest)

Hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[kappa505]

Everyone on here did way too much. i played soccer and won NM strongman. Participated in great american cleanup, and a few others. Worked at a dental office as an assistant for over a year. No research.

 

[shortset]

I have a lot of different interests, so here it goes...

-VP Predental Club
-Summer Pre-Dental Program (2 summers)
-Summer Research Internship in Physiology/Pharmacology Lab
-1 yr HHMI Research Associate: plant biology research in the area of pollen tube growth and hormonal levels
-2 yr Research Trainee: physiology research in the area of atherosclerosis and K+ ion channels
-Concert Band
-3 yrs in Gospel Choir
-Student health peer educator
-Christian organization
-Community service in various areas
-Shadowing experience
-Had a couple of part-time jobs along the way

It may seem like a lot, but I usually try to keep myself busy

 

[IndianaAsh]

I only had like 4 extracurriculars listed on my AADSAS app. I was historian of the chem club, had about 10 hours of one volunteer thing, maybe 6 of another, and volunteered for a weekend at some alumni thing. Pretty much did next to nothing club- and volunteer-wise. On the other hand, I did some chemistry research for a year and half, got paid for two summers of it and credit during my junior year, and eventually got the work published during my senior year. My mom is a hygienist, so I shadowed the dentist she worked for during all of fall break one year, and shadowed one oral surgeon on three different occasions. I had about 65 hours total. I didn't really get asked about any of this stuff during my interviews though.

 

[downlikedisco]

shadow, volunteer with humanitarian things, do research. do things that show a lot of initiative and drive.

 

[kappa505]

You have six fingers. A man was looking for you.

 

[TheBestDoctor]

Can you please share what types of extraciricular activities y'all participated in? Specifics would be appreciated! How many actually participated in undergraduate research? Thanks!

other than school. played soccer on my "american team" and "vietnamese team". research. shadow. volunteer to coach soccer. research in lab. did whatever that i enjoyed that made my application look good.