Shadowing and Volunteer work

[Benoir]

How important are either, and how much of either do you have to do for it to matter?

I have about 130ish volunteer hours and will have about 200~240 by the time I apply, but 240 hours over 3 years doesn't seem like much .

I could shadow a dentist, but I'd only be able to shadow him for a week or so.

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[USCbiograd]

Shadowing is extremely important. In fact it is the reason that I was not accepted to Dental School this year. When I spoke with the admissions commitee they informed me that they like to see 100+ hours of shadowing, and also not inbetween large periods of time. My DAT was a 20 AA/ 21 TS/ 18 PAT with a 3.6 overall/ science GPA. They said that my DAT and GPA were fine, but they just wanted to see more shadowing.

 

[koochooloo]

yea shadowing's the only real way to find out you're gonna like what you're getting in to..very important

 

[pre-dentalguy]

As those guys above mentioned before... shadowing is most important. However, volunteer from time to time look good as well. Do not neglect either.

Marion

 

[1992Corolla]

The more the better. 240 should be enough.

 

[RICEman]

Shadowing is extremely important. In fact it is the reason that I was not accepted to Dental School this year. When I spoke with the admissions commitee they informed me that they like to see 100+ hours of shadowing, and also not inbetween large periods of time. My DAT was a 20 AA/ 21 TS/ 18 PAT with a 3.6 overall/ science GPA. They said that my DAT and GPA were fine, but they just wanted to see more shadowing.

Would 7+ years of Navy (enlisted) experience suffice the volunteer requirement?

 

[Benoir]

Thanks for the responses.

Any advice on who to shadow?

I already have one dentist in mind, but I guess it would be better to shadow 3 or so.

 

[slashnroses19]

i work at a dentist office. do i put the hours i work in the same amount as the hours i've worked there? or are they entirely separate things?

 

[t man]

Shadowing is extremely important. In fact it is the reason that I was not accepted to Dental School this year. When I spoke with the admissions commitee they informed me that they like to see 100+ hours of shadowing, and also not inbetween large periods of time. My DAT was a 20 AA/ 21 TS/ 18 PAT with a 3.6 overall/ science GPA. They said that my DAT and GPA were fine, but they just wanted to see more shadowing.

I have very similar stats and was told the same thing. Sorry, I know how frustrating that situation is.

I have 50 shadowing hours now (I shadowed for 2 weeks straight, 5 hour days), and I've seen about every procedure the general dentist I shadowed does more than once. 240 hours sounds like MORE than enough to me, but I know Corolla is developing that site, so he probably has a good idea. I think the UoP site recommends 40 hours.
I'm going to volunteer full-time for a month this June in Peru, and I took a part-time community service job a few months ago, so I hope that's enough for me in the shadowing/volunteer portion of my app... I'm not sure what else I could do, or honestly should have to

the schools I called said 50 hours is enough, but I'm considering doing some more shadowing next year or late this coming summer just to play it safe... the application process is too expensive and time consuming not to.

 

[schmick]

Any advice on who to shadow?

I already have one dentist in mind, but I guess it would be better to shadow 3 or so.

I'd say go and shadow only one guy. Instead of spreading your time over three offices, focus on one. Get to know the dentist and let him get to know you as a person. Go out to lunch with him, etc. The ask him to refer you to a few of the specialists with whom he works.

 

[xdianaax]

I agree with the above post. It is difficult in the beginning to find a dentist, but once you find him/her just give it your all because they really will do wonders for you. Good luck!

 

[UOP_Dentist]

Don't take your experience in a dental office for granted. Absorb as much information and training as much as you can. Most of my success in dental student is because i knew how things went in dentistry, from the simplest way to pour models to the complex intricacy of waxing esthetic cases. ONce you learn all this stuff ahead of you it is sooo much easier to learn in dental school. AND since you know so many tips and tricks, you can use it to your advantage and ace all the lab courses.

The top clinical students in my class were previous dental assistants, lab techs or hygienists, so if you can do more than just shadow, try to get a job as a student-intern. You may even get college credit for it as well.

 

[drpoppapump]

how much shadowing do i really need to actually be competitive in applying to dental school. I have no experience at shadowing at all yet and im soon to probably ask my dentist for some shadow experience.

 

[bennijai]

i also have a question based on extracurricular activities...

ive shadowed my dentist for around 42 hours...
a bio ta for 1 year (~400 hours)
pres. of dental club (~68 hours)
did charity work with red cross, a nursing home, and aided foreign exchange students with campus life (~70 hours)

will these really help?