Shadowing right before applying

[johblip]

Does it look bad if I haven't shadowed a dentist at all up until right before the application process? I plan on getting ~100 hours between now and June but I'm curious if adcoms care if it seems last minute. I have family members who are dentists so I've spent a lot of time there and have been putting off shadowing non-related dentists 😳

 

[RU1992]

It doesn't matter, at least from my perspective. I began shadowing in January before the application process and was accepted. You just have to show that you understand what the profession entails.

 

[MedDevil]

Given your situation, I would recommend highlighting your familiarity to dentistry prior to shadowing in your PS. Schools would be less likely to doubt your commitment to the field if they had the full picture of your interests.

 

[jmh018]

Just make it clear that you have been around it for so long if you are nervous about it. I don't think it will matter at all. I did my observation throughout my junior year with a lot in March and April. Definitely not a big deal.

 

[fuqele]

Doesn't matter. I started shadowing about the same time.

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[dentalWorks]

Does it look bad if I haven't shadowed a dentist at all up until right before the application process? I plan on getting ~100 hours between now and June but I'm curious if adcoms care if it seems last minute. I have family members who are dentists so I've spent a lot of time there and have been putting off shadowing non-related dentists 😳

you might get asked this in the interview... you can say you've always watched and shadowed the family dentists "unofficially" when you were in high school and undergrad, but didn't do any formal shadowing till later in the application process when you have more free time.