Shadowing too late?

[moodots914]

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I'm in my third-year at college and hoping to apply sometime early next summer (end of July at the latest), but I don't have any shadowing experience yet.

I kept pushing it off this past summer, and now that school has started again, my schedule is even busier than before. I am planning to do some shadowing over winter break, spring break, and at the beginning of summer (maybe a few times throughout the academic year too), but does this seem kind of late? I mean, would it look bad on my app if most of my volunteer/shadowing work is crammed in pretty much a half-year period before I apply? Any input is appreciated. 🙂

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523

 

[doc3232]

I'm in my third-year at college and hoping to apply sometime early next summer (end of July at the latest), but I don't have any shadowing experience yet.

I kept pushing it off this past summer, and now that school has started again, my schedule is even busier than before. I am planning to do some shadowing over winter break, spring break, and at the beginning of summer (maybe a few times throughout the academic year too), but does this seem kind of late? I mean, would it look bad on my app if most of my volunteer/shadowing work is crammed in pretty much a half-year period before I apply? Any input is appreciated. 🙂

Why are you so busy? You have full-time job?
I am sure you can spare 5 hours (including transportation) a week to get 4 hours of shadowing in.

 

[yuppers]

If you get them in you will probably be fine. The only thing I would worry about is them thinking if you are sure that dentistry is for you. Shadowing should be a preliminary step instead of being just crammed it in right before applying.

 

[FutureDent020]

I'm in my third-year at college and hoping to apply sometime early next summer (end of July at the latest), but I don't have any shadowing experience yet.

I kept pushing it off this past summer, and now that school has started again, my schedule is even busier than before. I am planning to do some shadowing over winter break, spring break, and at the beginning of summer (maybe a few times throughout the academic year too), but does this seem kind of late? I mean, would it look bad on my app if most of my volunteer/shadowing work is crammed in pretty much a half-year period before I apply? Any input is appreciated. 🙂

I didn't start shadowing till my summer going into my senior year. Once I started though, absolutely loved every aspect of the profession. So i kept shadowing, interning, etc. till I accumulated over 200 hours. Just graduated in May (So all that happened in a year). Shadowing late is not a problem. I have 3 interviews, and my stats are not over the top. Try to move around as much as you can, working under different dentists. My opinion is that its not how much shadowing or experience you have (although around 100 is ideal) it's the quality of the experience and what you take from it.

However, I didn't apply after junior year because of my lack of experience. If you really want to go into dentistry and you know a lot (from a pre-dents perspective) about the profession, then don't let experience hold you back. That's the point of shadowing and experience, so you know its the profession for you

 

[lazybummy]

I shadowed from June - Aug after my Jr Year (this past summer). I'm a senior now... i think u're fine, i personally have 6 interviews lined up. None of my interviewers have asked me anything about my late "shadowing" experience.

 

[CrazyTeeth]

I shadowed from June - Aug after my Jr Year (this past summer). I'm a senior now... i think u're fine, i personally have 6 interviews lined up. None of my interviewers have asked me anything about my late "shadowing" experience.

Yes, Like Lazybummy said... just a few months of shadowing would be fine. But just in case, you might want to quadruple major and score well on your DATs!

 

[LHouse]

I'm in my third-year at college and hoping to apply sometime early next summer (end of July at the latest), but I don't have any shadowing experience yet.

I kept pushing it off this past summer, and now that school has started again, my schedule is even busier than before. I am planning to do some shadowing over winter break, spring break, and at the beginning of summer (maybe a few times throughout the academic year too), but does this seem kind of late? I mean, would it look bad on my app if most of my volunteer/shadowing work is crammed in pretty much a half-year period before I apply? Any input is appreciated. 🙂

It's never too late, but you would have to do it soon.