shadowing experiences

[polf]

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I'm having a hard time finding dental offices (gen. dentist) that will let me shadow during the school year as I'm limited to only a few places within walk/bike distance as I have no car and those places are turning me down..

my question is, I have done shadowing with a periodontist for 40hrs and a pediatric dentist for 10hrs (both near my home, and not at school so I can't continue with the shadowing during the school year). I think by hours, that's a good amount, but are dental schools going to be looking for shadowing experiences with general dentists? I'm applying next cycle(5 months away. geez.), and am running out of ideas. I guess I could always apply a month or two later into the summer when I do get more opportunites to shadow gen. dentists.. but I really want my apps sent in ASAP.

 

[moistener]

I say don't worry. Be happy that you at least have 50 hours of shadowing as oppose to none (I know ppl who have been accepted with no shadowing hours). Trying to cram more hours 'last minute' can be detrimental as it shows the adcoms that you're trying to brown nose to beef up your application. Whether or not they notice is at your own risk.

 

[Zanderale6]

I think you're right to assume that admissions officers will be looking for general practice shadowing hours. (It is, after all, what you'll be going to school for ... at least initially.) Try to get in as many hours as you can before applying.

I don't think it would necessarily look bad if these hours came in last minute, as you already have fifty hours under your belt. (It would be a completely different story if you hadn't done any as of yet.) Make sure you don't put off applying just to get more shadowing hours in, though. As most people on SDN will tell you, the later you apply, the worse your chances are of getting in (with or without shadowing).

I'm pretty shocked that all the dentists near your school are turning you down. How are you approaching them? If you haven't done so already, it might not hurt to write up a formal letter explaining your situation to them. Also, do you think you could you get the periodontist or the pedodontist you shadowed to send a quick note to the dentists near your school? Maybe, if the dentists knew that you've already been invited in to observe at other places, they might feel a little more comfortable letting you into their own practice.

Good Luck. 👍

 

[mmasurf]

dude why don't u say that the ortho guy also had a general dentist there, whom you also shadowed but you want to specialize in ortho so you spent more time shadowing that guy blab blah, trust me they don't care as long as you actually have done 60+hrs your safe.

 

[Yeyyy]

just tell them the truth about that... I think 50hours is plenty of shadowing experience. Honestly, I cant imagine sitting and watching someone work for more than 20 hours or so. I shadowed for ~12hours in August at the same time I applied and got into my 1st choice.