Question on Supplemental App

[PSU SHC 414]

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Here is a question from one of the supplemental apps:
"Please explain what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least."

Just wondering how everyone reads this question. Do they:

1) want you to elaborate on the things that motivate you to want to pursue dentistry and the things that maybe aren't so attractive about dentistry, OR

2) want you to talk about specialties that you may or may not want to pursue; what you do or don't look forward to doing as a dentist?

 

[PSU SHC 414]

Wow, I appreciate all of these great responses...

 

[Neuro178]

I would guess the first option. If they see that you are really motivated and passionate about dental school, I think they will be more inclined to pick you.

I don't apply until next year, but I was just wondering: isn't that what the personal statement is about? "Why do you want to be a dentist" sort of thing?

 

[PSU SHC 414]

I would guess the first option. If they see that you are really motivated and passionate about dental school, I think they will be more inclined to pick you.

I don't apply until next year, but I was just wondering: isn't that what the personal statement is about? "Why do you want to be a dentist" sort of thing?

Yeah I was leaning more towards the first option too, but like you said, this should be addressed in the PS, which is what made me think about the second option (i.e. what do you hope to do in dentistry - become a researcher, educator, clinician; if a clinician, what specialties, if any, are you thinking about, etc.)

From what I've seen though, a lot of the questions they ask on some of these supplementals are also addressed in the AADSAS app, so I'm not sure what to think. I've had some other people read the question, and I've gotten mixed responses - they all think the question is a little poorly worded too.

Anyone else care to give some input? Pleeeeaaaasse???

 

[Sephisabin]

Here is a question from one of the supplemental apps:
"Please explain what interests you the most in dentistry as well as what interests you the least."

Just wondering how everyone reads this question. Do they:

1) want you to elaborate on the things that motivate you to want to pursue dentistry and the things that maybe aren't so attractive about dentistry, OR

2) want you to talk about specialties that you may or may not want to pursue; what you do or don't look forward to doing as a dentist?

That sounds familiar... it's from UPenn, isn't it? haha

I believe you could write about a combination of 1 and 2--the fact that you can specialize or do so much with dentistry may be one of the things that interests you. I think all they really want to know is that you have actually researched the career and have good reasons for wanting to pursue it. Nobody is going to love EVERY aspect of a career and people who have really looked into the career are going to find something that doesn't interest them all that much. Both options you listed are really quite similar and you could take either route... what interests you about the career is probably what motivates you to want to pursue it (if it's your parents that motivate you to pursue it, then go with option 2!!! haha)... as far as what you dislike about the career, isn't the stuff that's not so attractive (1) the same stuff that you don't look forward to doing as a dentist (2)?

 

[PSU SHC 414]

That sounds familiar... it's from UPenn, isn't it? haha

I believe you could write about a combination of 1 and 2--the fact that you can specialize or do so much with dentistry may be one of the things that interests you. I think all they really want to know is that you have actually researched the career and have good reasons for wanting to pursue it. Nobody is going to love EVERY aspect of a career and people who have really looked into the career are going to find something that doesn't interest them all that much. Both options you listed are really quite similar and you could take either route... what interests you about the career is probably what motivates you to want to pursue it (if it's your parents that motivate you to pursue it, then go with option 2!!! haha)... as far as what you dislike about the career, isn't the stuff that's not so attractive (1) the same stuff that you don't look forward to doing as a dentist (2)?

Haha yup you're right... it is one of the questions from UPenn's supplemental.

Those are good points you made... I think I'm just overanalyzing the question. Thanks for the input!

 

[CUDental]

I think both are essentially the same. What motivated you to pursue dentistry in the first place should give you some direction as to whether or not you want to pursue a specialty. The things that aren't very attractive about dentistry would be things that you wouldn't look forward to doing as a dentist. It just depends how in depth you want to go in your answers.