Schools that require LOR from dentists?

[bluejellybelly]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey, I couldn't find it through the search. Which schools absolutely require the hours shadowing in a dental clinic with a LOR from the dentist?

 

[L8DYV]

Pretty much all of them do.

 

[Comet208]

Almost all the schools require it. It is a very important part of your application. Your dentist can submit one LOR to AADSAS and they will forward it to all your school.

 

[tinman831]

I just looked through about 10 of the websites of schools that I applied to and only 2 wanted a dentists LOR. Also I don't think that shadowing is officially a requirement although it would be hard to convince the interviewer that you have any knowledge the dental profession.

 

[McGill Graduate]

I just looked through about 10 of the websites of schools that I applied to and only 2 wanted a dentists LOR. Also I don't think that shadowing is officially a requirement although it would be hard to convince the interviewer that you have any knowledge the dental profession.

You are right, most dental schools dont require a LOR from a dentist. I got 2 interviews without one, but I did shadow my uncles practice in Germany so I obvously couldnt get him to write one (since he is a relative).

Bottom line, you can be sucessful without a LOR from a dentist, most schools dont require one, but it probably wouldnt hurt if you got one.

 

[mochafreak]

Detroit-Mercy requires an LOR from a dentist...I think that was the only school out of the nine I applied to that did.

 

[bluejellybelly]

No I am shadowing, I just figured anything under 100 hours was too little to write on paper.. Like if he wrote a LOR it would seem rather silly if I only have something like 90+ hours... (I did like, 1500 hours of other volunteering, and like 450 hours of research, so it seems like I devoted little to shadowing in the dentists' office. My dentists just don't want me there all the time because the office is rather small)

 

[jmac44]

90+ is plenty. Two of the schools I applied to required special shadowing forms in the supplemental application. Another school strongly encouraged a LOR from a dentist. Just have your dentist send his/her letter to AADSAS. I only did like 30-40 hours and I was fine.
Good Luck!

 

[Lidopaine82]

No I am shadowing, I just figured anything under 100 hours was too little to write on paper.. Like if he wrote a LOR it would seem rather silly if I only have something like 90+ hours... (I did like, 1500 hours of other volunteering, and like 450 hours of research, so it seems like I devoted little to shadowing in the dentists' office. My dentists just don't want me there all the time because the office is rather small)

that seems excessive. did it take you that many hours to figure out dentistry was for you? i only did like 24 hours. i saw a lot in that time and i knew it was for me.

 

[PDizzle]

I did 100+ hours of shadowing/assisting and was told that was plenty. If you can't figure out dentistry is for you in 100 hours, maybe that's a red flag.

 

[bluejellybelly]

that seems excessive. did it take you that many hours to figure out dentistry was for you? i only did like 24 hours. i saw a lot in that time and i knew it was for me.

The pass 3 years of college, buddy. I don't need your sarcasm. I worked in a dental clinic in the hospital and then varied a bit throughout several departments because I WANTED to explore the scenery. AND i LOVE research because the research I did was on nutrition and dentistry. People do that you know. Just because shadowing in a small office seems to be the most important type of service hours to go for you, it ISN'T the way for me. I enjoyed research fully and getting to know all the prospective areas in a clinic/hospital. That shouldn't disgust the administrators now, should it?

 

[bluejellybelly]

I did 100+ hours of shadowing/assisting and was told that was plenty. If you can't figure out dentistry is for you in 100 hours, maybe that's a red flag.

YOU GUYS!! I haven't NOT FIGURED OUT ANYTHING! The clinic is SMALL, they LIMIT our HOURS! I don't know why you CAN'T understand that? 😕

edit: When I mean they limit the hours, here's how it goes: if an associate or hygenist comes in, there will be LESS volunteers that day. If it's a day where just one dentist is present, then more volunteers can work that day. DOesn;t this seem reasonable for a clinic with 2 treatment rooms????

 

[Lemons]

Which Schools require LORs from dentists? None of the schools I'm applying to require one. I would rather have someone who has known me for years and knows the type of person I am than my dentist who knows and likes me but would more than likely write some generic LOR because let's face it he doesn't know me as well.

I was told it's better to have 3 amazing LORs than to have 3 amazing LORS & 1 good LOR.

Which schools require them?