religious related experiences?

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Smooth Operater

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I will be doing a lot of extra-curriculum activities that are religious related next few years. Would I be discriminated by many dental schools because my reason for pursuing dentistry is driven by my religion? Anyone here also had lots of religious related activities that help you stand up among others or being looked down by the adcom? plz share them. Thanks!
 
Smooth Operater said:
I will be doing a lot of extra-curriculum activities that are religious related next few years. Would I be discriminated by many dental schools because my reason for pursuing dentistry is driven by my religion? Anyone here also had lots of religious related activities that help you stand up among others or being looked down by the adcom? plz share them. Thanks!

Religion and Dentistry - I don't see the connection!
 
fixing teeth and spread the gospels in 3rd world countries? 🙂
 
Its a good reason but make sure you donot stress on it. Also try to think about what motivated you initially to pursue dentistry. Was it due to the reason you saw a dentist in a country helping out people and spreading gospel? Or what exactly is your motivation?

Peace out-


Smooth Operater said:
fixing teeth and spread the gospels in 3rd world countries? 🙂
 
Was it due to the reason you saw a dentist in a country helping out people and spreading gospel? yes and I am very sad that many natives have no access to oral care. The pictures of their teeth rotten away makes my heart go ache.
 
Smooth Operater said:
Was it due to the reason you saw a dentist in a country helping out people and spreading gospel? yes and I am very sad that many natives have no access to oral care. The pictures of their teeth rotten away makes my heart go ache.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
 
👍 👍

Smooth Operater said:
Was it due to the reason you saw a dentist in a country helping out people and spreading gospel? yes and I am very sad that many natives have no access to oral care. The pictures of their teeth rotten away makes my heart go ache.
 
I think that is a great reason to pursue dentistry 🙂
 
Please donot discourage anybody. Everybody is unique.


ianwright said:
were you serious? 😳
 
definitly include all of your extracurriculars no matter what they are, but since dental school is a secular institution and admission officers may not share your beliefs, I would try to de-emphasize the religious part (although that may in reality be what is important to you). instead, stress the part about helping disadvantaged people.
 
Biogirl361 said:
definitly include all of your extracurriculars no matter what they are, but since dental school is a secular institution and admission officers may not share your beliefs, I would try to de-emphasize the religious part (although that may in reality be what is important to you). instead, stress the part about helping disadvantaged people.

I agree
 
I cut my finger with a 330-bur in dental school....that was a religious experience I'll never forget.
 
toofache32 said:
I cut my finger with a 330-bur in dental school....that was a religious experience I'll never forget.
😳
 
Smooth Operater said:
I will be doing a lot of extra-curriculum activities that are religious related next few years. Would I be discriminated by many dental schools because my reason for pursuing dentistry is driven by my religion? Anyone here also had lots of religious related activities that help you stand up among others or being looked down by the adcom? plz share them. Thanks!

i too have had a lot of religious ex.curriculars. i've listed most of them because i spent a lot of time there. i don't think there is any discrimination towards people like you and me (there better not be) =). i think they are looking for people with a passio and motive for doing something. heck, a lot of people are out there doing it for money and that is their motive (there's nothing really wrong with it) so there's nothing wrong with having a lot of religious related activities. but as people are saying, focus on how you've helped people and your passion with that and translate how that looks in dentistry. my 2cents. good luck
 
Smooth Operater said:
Anyone here also had lots of religious related activities that help you stand up among others or being looked down by the adcom? plz share them. Thanks!

Adcoms love guys (and girls) from BYU. There are reasons for this. Don't worry about disclosing the part that religion plays in your life, but also don't shy away from letting schools know how this will benefit their programs.

It's one thing to say you are religious and quite another to say you are religious and here are the benefits you bring to the table because of it.

Let the adcoms make up their own minds from that point.
 
ianwright said:
Religion and Dentistry - I don't see the connection!

You obviously haven't looked at Loma Linda.
 
What ADCOMS are looking for is character. They want someone who is honest, has integrity and will make a good representative of their school. Like Gavin said, some have had a lot of success with past BYU students. However having character and being religious are not exactly synonymous. Most religions have many character building principles that rub off on their members. On the other hand, if I were the ADCOM there are also many religious people I would not want representing my school (even form BYU). That being said there is nothing wrong with attributing your success or desires to be a dentist to be rooted in God. Just dont over do it.
 
cool, thanks, then I will go ahead with my religious missions and try to make connections to dentistry as time goes on.
 
When I applied I wasn't really sure how to incorporate my religious mission experience into my application (2 year LDS mission in OREGON). I stayed away from any real doctrinal or theistic beliefs, but I empasized my commitment to serving others, empathy for the suffering of the needy, and contributing to society. Ultimately the point of religion is to help people through spiritual health. For me it was a natural transition to want to help people feel better physically as well.

The dental school admissions people want to see applicants that are comitted to serving people (not just comitted to the $$$$). If you have religious experience that shows that you have gone out of your way to serve others, I think that would be interesting to them.
 
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