Shadowing Question

[hockey553]

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Hello,

Based on threads, I noticed that I need to obtain around a hundred hours of shadowing, is this correct?. My mom is a dentist and I can show as many or as few dentists. I have shadowed every specialty of dentistry around two years ago already but didn't keep track of hours. Does it look better to stick with one dentist for a hundred hours or branch out and attain new shadowing experiences? And do I need to keep a log? I am applying next year and am wondering how dental schools will verify the shadowing hours.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ajj70]

They won't count shadow hours of a relative so while you can probably get some experience with your mom, you have to go to other dentists. How you do that doesn't really matter, but you need at least 60 with a general for some schools, 40 with others so get as many as you can with a general dentist. As for shadowing several dentists, it's just an all around good idea to do that to see different practice models, different specialties, etc. so you get an idea of what kind of practice you want in the future and I think it gives you more to talk about in interviews, etc.

 

[Polkadotfan]

I think branching out is a good idea. It's amazing at the differences between 2 different offices even in the same town. It will give a good perspective and experience.

 

[Swagger1991]

They won't count shadow hours of a relative so while you can probably get some experience with your mom, you have to go to other dentists. How you do that doesn't really matter, but you need at least 60 with a general for some schools, 40 with others so get as many as you can with a general dentist. As for shadowing several dentists, it's just an all around good idea to do that to see different practice models, different specialties, etc. so you get an idea of what kind of practice you want in the future and I think it gives you more to talk about in interviews, etc.

What is your source for saying they won't count hours with relatives? Every admissions officer I have spoken with has said they do count the hours, but they just don't accept a letter of recommendation from a relative, which would necessitate shadowing others to get letters of recommendation. That doesn't mean you can't shadow relatives, and I would argue that shadowing a relative is often more beneficial.

 

[ajj70]

What is your source for saying they won't count hours with relatives? Every admissions officer I have spoken with has said they do count the hours, but they just don't accept a letter of recommendation from a relative, which would necessitate shadowing others to get letters of recommendation. That doesn't mean you can't shadow relatives, and I would argue that shadowing a relative is often more beneficial.

Just what was posted here. I never said you can't shadow relatives, just that the hours don't count toward your total. If you were told otherwise, great, go with that, but unless you called every single school, I wouldn't trust what a couple admissions people have said for their school. I would certainly still put the hours down on the application, dental schools like kids of dentists, but I would get 100 hours from non-relatives as well.

 

[doc toothache]

Just what was posted here. I never said you can't shadow relatives, just that the hours don't count toward your total. If you were told otherwise, great, go with that, but unless you called every single school, I wouldn't trust what a couple admissions people have said for their school. I would certainly still put the hours down on the application, dental schools like kids of dentists, but I would get 100 hours from non-relatives as well.

Not exactly a reliable source.