Shadowing a parent?

[squigloo]

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Hi there! I've only shadowed about 20 hours so far, and between studying for the dat and working full-time, it will be difficult for me to acquire ~100 hours (darn you, buffalo) by this application cycle. I was wondering two things:

I know you should never get a LOR from a parent, but is shadowing one okay? Shadowing my dad would be a lot easier.

If I am not able to reach the 100 hours, how much do you think this would hurt me, especially considering I've lived under a dentist? I'm just not sure if I should try and cut back from the other two at all to make that amount possible. Thanks!

 

[PointEstimate]

I'm guessing you could shadow your dad. However, it would probably be a good idea to not have him write a dentist-LOR for you.

 

[shootingstar7]

Why do you need to work full time?

 

[Upperbyte]

Do as much time as you can under another dentist. Use your dad for the remaining time.

 

[doc toothache]

Assuming your dad does not limit his practice, there should be no particular reason why you could not shadow your dad, unless you get on each other's nerves.

 

[dans105]

I don't see why you couldn't shadow your dad. You don't need to disclose your relationship with the dentist in your application.

 

[ATG20]

I don't see why you couldn't shadow your dad. You don't need to disclose your relationship with the dentist in your application.

Except that the last name is probably the same...

A classmate of mine did many legitimate hours with his father, and during interviews it was mentioned in a negative light since it was obviously a conflict of interest and the hours reported were questioned. If you had multiple hours from another place, then I see no harm, as this student worked only with his dad.

 

[doc toothache]

Except that the last name is probably the same...
A classmate of mine did many legitimate hours with his father, and during interviews it was mentioned in a negative light since it was obviously a conflict of interest and the hours reported were questioned. If you had multiple hours from another place, then I see no harm, as this student worked only with his dad.

Since he was accepted, it's much ado about nothing. "Conflict of interest"? If your classmate paid any attention while growing up, he probably knows more about what dentistry is all about, then most, if not all, of your classmates.

 

[ATG20]

Since he was accepted, it's much ado about nothing. "Conflict of interest"? If your classmate paid any attention while growing up, he probably knows more about what dentistry is all about, then most, if not all, of your classmates.

*undergraduate classmate. He was accepted after a second application cycle after he got time in with a non-relative. I don't contest that he knows more, because he's a bright fellow, but a committee deemed it a conflict of interest for obvious reasons. I don't write the logic committees play by; I'm just reporting.

 

[doc toothache]

*undergraduate classmate. He was accepted after a second application cycle after he got time in with a non-relative. I don't contest that he knows more, because he's a bright fellow, but a committee deemed it a conflict of interest for obvious reasons. I don't write the logic committees play by; I'm just reporting.

What you are suggesting would qualify for a grand prize. There is no "conflict of interest" in shadowing any "licensed" dentist, including one's dad. Writing an lor or "verifying" shadowing hours is a different animal. Maybe the committee was looking for a reason that could not be disputed.

 

[ushaseos]

I'm with the Doc on this. No problem shadowing someone close to you. If possible shadow others because a dentist LOR from your parent is never an objective assessment of your academic potential!

Alternatively if you don't need a dentist LOR you can just shadow your parents. Make sure the rest of your application is top notch. Shadowing is important but a bit over-hyped on here...having a lot of hours will certainly not compensate for any deficiencies but they will hopefully indicate your intent of pursuing dentistry seriously.

 

[ATG20]

What you are suggesting would qualify for a grand prize. There is no "conflict of interest" in shadowing any "licensed" dentist, including one's dad. Writing an lor or "verifying" shadowing hours is a different animal. Maybe the committee was looking for a reason that could not be disputed.

That's what I'm saying. They wanted to verify his hours because his father was the sole source of several hundred hours. Perhaps they were fishing for that reason, but the point is, it was brought up and is worth a thought, especially if the OP is looking for an LOR. The conflict of interest is one's own dad verifying your application, which he probably helped pay for. Sure, dentists are supposed to adhere to strict ethics, but at the end of the day, that's still your dad saying 'Yeah, sure, he did 500 hours in my office.'

Take it as you will, I don't care either way, but to pretend like having a few hundred hours from your dad along with an LOR (you'd probably need one for several schools) wouldn't raise a few eyebrows would "qualify for a grand prize." The issue I'm addressing is ONLY having your dad as a source of hours, then having them verify it either through calls or an LOR. Those are the "for obvious reasons" which you agreed to in the next post. I don't think there's a problem with simply shadowing your father at his practice; why would there be? Having that alone though, and expecting a reference to be considered objective from that dentist now, is what I'm getting at. Perhaps I should have given more background info originally.

 

[SteinmetzMD]

Can't your dad hook you up with one of his nearby dentist friends or something? You would think he would know others or have a professional relationship with them.

I'm just saying that because if it were me, I would in no way, shape, or form WANT to shadow my dad lol!

 

[JAWSSS]

Hi there! I've only shadowed about 20 hours so far, and between studying for the dat and working full-time, it will be difficult for me to acquire ~100 hours (darn you, buffalo) by this application cycle. I was wondering two things:

I know you should never get a LOR from a parent, but is shadowing one okay? Shadowing my dad would be a lot easier.

If I am not able to reach the 100 hours, how much do you think this would hurt me, especially considering I've lived under a dentist? I'm just not sure if I should try and cut back from the other two at all to make that amount possible. Thanks!

I'm with ATG20... Shadow all you want... But DO NOT GET A LETTER!

As a patient though, I would be so annoyed if my dentist sat down and said "This is Johnny, he's my son, he is going to watch this procedure because he wants to become a dentist just like his old man!"

It is not hard to shadow a dentist and just kind of pop in whenever. Sometimes I think people with a dentist mother or father are spoiled.... It is the same way I felt about private school kids when I was in high school, haha!

 

[squigloo]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I've started shadowing an OMFS for a couple days now, and am really enjoying it. My main worry is being able to get a LoR, because I don't want to ask him when he only has a couple weeks to write it (not to mention I will be packing in a lot of hours into a short period). Hopefully the one school I'm applying to that wants a dentist letter will take a committee letter instead

 

[dantemac]

I see no problem shadowing a parent. Having connections and a mentor in a parent can only look good. I don't see this as a 'conflict of interest' as someone said.