quick Q about dental experience

[LaughingGas]

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I have about 1000 hours shadowing/volunteering/working in dental field. Do I need to continue to do this year? (Reapplicant btw).

 

[nikond600]

.

 

[aznboi89x]

question is: did u get accepted? if so, stop doing it.

if not, shadow other specialties and do mission of mercies.

 

[LaughingGas]

I'm hesitant mainly b/c I recently got married and I'm trying to find a full time job while I'm reapplying to save some money. I wasn't sure if after ~1000 hours I needed to keep getting dental experience. I mainly shadowed general dentist, prosthodontist and an orthodontis at the same dental clinic for the past 3 years.
Thank you for your responses.

 

[muffin21]

I would say stop shadowing, and find something new and more unique that you could talk about. When I went to interviews, people would ask me what I did over the summer. I would start out listing things like being a teacher, a dental assistant.. and then I would sheepishly say that I was also a server at a restaurant. When I would bring up things like that, interviewers would literally tell me that that experience is arguably the most important of what I had listed, and if you've ever worked in a restaurant or some retail gig, you'd understand how that makes a lot of sense.

I think having dental experience is necessary for the primary purpose that you are certain you can see yourself investing time in this field to develop your skills, and aren't turned away by the day-to-day things dentists do. If you've seen a lot of it, I think it's time to try something new!

 

[doc toothache]

I would say stop shadowing, and find something new and more unique that you could talk about. When I went to interviews, people would ask me what I did over the summer. I would start out listing things like being a teacher, a dental assistant.. and then I would sheepishly say that I was also a server at a restaurant. When I would bring up things like that, interviewers would literally tell me that that experience is arguably the most important of what I had listed, and if you've ever worked in a restaurant or some retail gig, you'd understand how that makes a lot of sense. !

Finally someone with some common sense.

 

[dentalWorks]

I have about 1000 hours shadowing/volunteering/working in dental field. Do I need to continue to do this year? (Reapplicant btw).

okay yeh you need to stop.... 50-100 hours is more than enough to see if this field interests you.

 

[LaughingGas]

Great. Thanks everyone

 

[LaughingGas]

Finally someone with some common sense.

It was a common sense for me until my interviewer told me that I should continue to be in dental field if I reapply.
I wasn't sure if he even saw the hours.