Should I apply this year? Tips for asking dental shadowing?

[Peter27]

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My stats are

3.7 during community college I think the relevant classes were BIO, zoology, botany, CALC 1&2, and general chemistry.

3.5 at Davis where I took organic chemistry, physics, and the majority of science classes on my transcript.

24 TS, 22AA, 16 PAT. I’m worried about the 16 pat it’d be unfortunate if I had to retake it. Taken on 12/30 I posted a breakdown.

Currently I have no internship hours but I think I can get 40 hours by the end of the school year using the internship program offered.

Little volunteer hours in the past years. I think I have around 20-30 hours from random helping with my friends. I’m planning to increase the hours if I need to. How much hours would I need?

Currently no shadowing hours but I have half a year to build it up. I know this is very important so I scheduled my Friday’s off for it. What’s the amount that Dental schools like to see? How did you approach your dentist and ask to follow them? I was thinking of calling but I would probably end up talking to the receptionist instead of the dentist. I couldn’t find their email.

I’m from California I’m applying to all of the California Dental schools so UCLA, UCSF, UOP, USC, and Loma Linda. Ideally I want to get into UOP and UCSF because it’s closer to home. This my last year at Davis I have 7 classes left until I graduate so 4 this quarter and then 3 the next. My major is Biochemistry and molecular biology. I feel like this last 7 months will be very hectic with internships, shadowing, volunteering, and improving my GPA so any tips would be appreciated. Thank you in advance 🙂 and HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

 

[doc toothache]

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2015-job-shadowing-requirements-recommendation.1139813/

 

[bwc]

About 100 hours of dental experience should put you in a good position for many schools. Try to include at least 40 hours of shadowing within those experiences. If your university has a dental school and is a public university, email addresses are public information in the directory.

Your GPA isn't an issue. Your PAT score is not something that can improve short term, so you might as well try applying before retaking.

 

[ajj70]

A lot of schools will automatically reject you for that 16, something to look into. As for applying, sure, the rest of your scores are good but cramming in the rest of your application in the next 5 months won't look that great, but you have to do it. Many schools want 100 hours of shadowing, with 60 of those being with a general dentist. You will need at least 60 hours for just about every school out there. Volunteer work and extracurriculars are also important and having a 5 month history of those will hurt you.

 

[Peter27]

Thanks for your input everyone. I'm currently thinking of how I can incorporate dentistry with volunteer hours. I was thinking of calling dental offices and asking for tooth brushes or dental supplies to donate to my town's shelter.
Also thank you to Doc T for the aplication guide I'm reading it at the moment while I plan out my next 7 months 🙂

 

[Kkae]

Peter27, do what you can in the next couple months to improve your application. The fact that you waited for the last minute to volunteer/shadow might be a topic that comes up in your interviews so be prepared to answer those types of questions. Besides that, just ensure you interview well. You will be alright.
Good luck!

 

[acesofseven]

You forgot Western 😛

 

[NonTraDentalStudent]

Hey @Peter27 . I tried cold emailing initially, but they are very busy, so I was easily brushed off. Next time you go for a cleaning, be bold. Talk to your dentist about what you're doing. Mine was thrilled when I told her about my goals. Ask questions. Show him/her that you're truly interested & let them know you need shadowing hours and are interested in learning from them. From my experience, the docs (there were 2 in the office) were very willing to take me under their wing and even referred me to several other specialists. (They even sent them a text to be expecting my call). They all thought shadowing prior to dental school was a great idea and really wanted to help me learn. Best of luck!

 

[Peter27]

@NonTraDentalStudent Thanks! I was going to give them each a call but they really might be busy. I think I will end up visiting each dentist in my town and ask.
@acesofseven I didn't even know Western existed I'll check em out
@Kkae I'll just tell them the truth which is that I wasn't interested in dental school when I was started college. During cc I wanted to be a layer, math, and then biology major which is what I transferred with. When I got to the four year I changed it again to biochemistry which is what I'm graduating with then going into dental.

Thanks for ya replies everyone 🙂

 

[Peter27]

Just got some responses from Loma and USC about DAT minimum scores. Loma requires Pat of 18 and RC of 20 (21 is recommended). USC had a 15 minimum requirement in each section

 

[Syntav]

Search online for dentists in your area, run down the list and call them until you get a bite. I called about 15-20 offices everyday and it took about 2 weeks to get a call back to meet with them.

 

[ajj70]

Search online for dentist in your area, run down the list and call them until you get a bite. I called about 15-20 offices everyday and it took about 2 weeks to get a call back to meet with them.

I just walked into some offices, let them know I was planning on applying to dental school and asked if they took prospective students in for shadowing, they all said sure and we set up times.

 

[Syntav]

seems like that was a better plan! lol nice

 

[Peter27]

Finally got a place to let me to shadow after going to 8 places. What did you and your dentist talk about when you were shadowing them?

 

[NonTraDentalStudent]

Finally got a place to let me to shadow after going to 8 places. What did you and your dentist talk about when you were shadowing them?

Great! Getting a foot is the door is the toughest part. I ask questions about their experience in the dental profession, about running an office, about the procedures that are done....and anything else that comes to mind.