Shadowing non-dentists

[sonlc1]

How would dental schools view their applicants when they see that they had shadowed some non-dentists such as a regular doctor or physician? It's a long story, but I plan to shadow a cardiologist in the next few weeks because I was asked to and I just thought, "hey why not." Any thoughts? Am I wasting my time?

 

[doc3232]

That wouldn't make any sense.

 

[thethethe]

i think it is okay. i shadowed a janitor and a hot dog stand man.

but seriously, if you want to shadow a cardiologist, just do it. not everything has to be geared for dental school. you can do things for yourself.

 

[gatorPredent]

if your shadowing for personal benefit, do it, but i wouldnt mention it in a dental application unless you were using it as an example/comparison to why you chose dentistry over medicine!

 

[Ranelar]

i think it is okay. i shadowed a janitor and a hot dog stand man.

How else would you know that you don't want to go into those fields? Genius move.

 

[sonlc1]

if your shadowing for personal benefit, do it, but i wouldnt mention it in a dental application unless you were using it as an example/comparison to why you chose dentistry over medicine!

haha, good way to think about it. Brilliant!

 

[doc toothache]

if your shadowing for personal benefit, do it, but i wouldnt mention it in a dental application unless you were using it as an example/comparison to why you chose dentistry over medicine!

That is like justifying choosing one girlfriend/boyfriend over another when you are just beginning a courtship.

 

[Epictetus21]

if your shadowing for personal benefit, do it, but i wouldnt mention it in a dental application unless you were using it as an example/comparison to why you chose dentistry over medicine!

Exactly. Dental schools HATE thinking that they are your second choice. Don't mention it unless you want to raise that monster with everyone that reviews your file, or if you are making the point that medicine wasn't for you but dentistry is.

 

[Ashcash]

It wont do you any good. You need to shadow a dentist. If they found out about it just say that you were shadowing both careers ( medicine and dentitry) to make up your mind,and you like dentistry better. 🙂

 

[DrReo]

I shadowed a cardiologist. It was a very good experience.

Learn about all the different professions of medicine. You may or may not like one more than dentistry.

However, I would not advertise to dental schools that you shadowed a cardiologist. Additionally, you should have the volunteer and shadowing with a general dentist (along with a specialist or too) hours racked up.

Finally, one interviewer ask why I didn't pick medicine and I had a justifiable answer since I invested time considering different professions in medicine.