Shadowing

[sylviej]

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Hello all,
Please give some advice about my situation.
So I graduated in May 2013, I've never shadowed since. Before graduation, I interned in a dental clinic for 2 months, gained about 400 hours in 2011, shadowed 2 dentists, each about 50 hours in 2012-2013. Should I go shadow/ get a dental assistant job right away? Will I get questions like how do you prove you're interested in dentistry if you've done nothing related to dentistry for ~ a year? I'm applying this coming June 2014.
Plzzz help!!!

 

[customx]

I shadowed about 60 hours in 2012 and just started again in the last month. I'll have over 200 by the time I apply and I think you would be doing yourself a service to go back and shadow. Try to get something which is hands on, as opposed to just standing, observing and asking questions. The more you can do the better.
And that question would be very valid. If you don't shadow between your graduation and the time interviews start, it will be have been 1.5 years between any dental related experience. If you're that interested in dentistry, why haven't you been involved in some capacity?

 

[sylviej]

I shadowed about 60 hours in 2012 and just started again in the last month. I'll have over 200 by the time I apply and I think you would be doing yourself a service to go back and shadow. Try to get something which is hands on, as opposed to just standing, observing and asking questions. The more you can do the better.
And that question would be very valid. If you don't shadow between your graduation and the time interviews start, it will be have been 1.5 years between any dental related experience. If you're that interested in dentistry, why haven't you been involved in some capacity?

By hands on, do you mean dental assistance? If not, what are you referring to?
Um.. yeah I think I can't find a better way to answer the question. I've been playing piano, learning some carving, going on trips, and volunteering for almost a year. I think these things really do help me relax and get ready for a next round of school for 4 years. As for the shadowing hours, I have 400+, I would hope that they'll give me a pass on that?
Also another question though, by requiring shadowing experience, what do the schools really look for? Definitely not in depth knowledge about the procedures right? If it is some experience that the schools require to help me realize whether being a dentist is what I want, then why do they care if I shadowed in 2011 or in 2013?
Anyway, yeah I agree, getting an assistant job is a good idea.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/shadowing-requirements-recommendations-2011.937196/

 

[sylviej]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/shadowing-requirements-recommendations-2011.937196/

Thank you so much