required or not?

[issa]

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hey guys
do dental schools require a recommendation letter from a dentist?
i shadowed a dentist last week for 24 hours.
thanks

 

[r0entgen]

hey guys
do dental schools require a recommendation letter from a dentist?
i shadowed a dentist last week for 24 hours.
thanks

depends on each school. i know many don't require, but schools like Baylor require one. i suggest you check out your schools' official websites for verification.

 

[howui3]

Some do require a letter of rec from a dentist.

I can only speak about the schools I applied to and several of them required a letter of rec from science professors and a dentist.

One school, Tufts, also required a letter stating that you have shadowed a minimum of 30 hours. I had the dentist that I have worked with include the amount of time shadowed in the letter of rec. This will work in your favor if you have done a lot of hours (100+).

I suggest to keep shadowing because in 24 hours of shadowing the dentist will not have much to write you a letter. You want to have great letter of rec, they will help you get interviews or acceptances.

 

[howui3]

Call the school to make sure.

But common sense will tell you that even if the school does not require a letter of rec from a dentist you should send them one anyways. You are applying to dental school, a letter from a dentists can be very valuable - especially if it's a good one.

 

[syn_apse]

Most, if not all, do require a letter of rec from a dentist.

no, most schools do not require a letter from a dentist. i didn't submit a letter and none of the 4 schools that interviewed/accepted me said a word about it. if you check aadsas, you'll see which schools actually require one...

now a letter of support from a doctor or dentist will definitely help you but if you opt to submit one, make sure it is good! a cookie-cutter letter from somebody you spent a few days shadowing will not be very impressive. make sure every letter you send is an absolute slam-dunk... quality, not quantity!

 

[syn_apse]

a letter from a dentist can be very valuable - especially if it's a good one.

a letter from a dentist can be very valuable -- only if it's a good one.

 

[INFNITE]

most don't require one. They do require letters from at least two science professors or an university committee that drafts a general rec letter.

 

[issa]

if you go to the dentist and watch him what kind of good things will he write about you if all you do is watch and ask questions?
university of detroit mercy requires a letter from a dentist, but i don't think that it is a recommendation letter. i think it is a letter that states how many hours shadowed and what kind of surgeries that the student observe.
here is what they put in their website ....
Q. Why must I submit a letter from a practicing dentist?
A. We want to be certain you have explored the dental profession and that your career choice has been made on the basis of sufficient exposure. A mistake in the choice of a career is extremely costly today in terms of time, effort, and money! Be certain that you have spent sufficient time in the dental office so you have seen the negative, as well as the many positive aspects of dentistry.

is it worth it if i ask the dentist to write me a letter stating that i shadowed for a week? i think it will be better if i write about what i things i liked and disliked after i shadowed in my personal essay.
what do you think?

 

[virginiabeach]

I shadowed a dentist for a while but did not get her to write me a letter. It just didnt seem like a dentist who you have only spent a couple weeks watching would be able to write a very good letter. None of the 4 schools that interviewed/accepted me ever asked why I didnt get her to write me one. I don't think its that big of a deal unless you don't think your professrs are going to write you good letters.