Should I be concerned about lack of ECs?

[srbm1786]

I'm a nontraditional student (25, married, 3 children) applying next cycle. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about my lack of extracurricular activities.

I have a 4.0 GPA right now (Biology major with a Chemistry minor) and based on practice exams I'm expecting a 20+ AA on the DAT (hoping for 22 or better). I have 50 hours of shadowing with a general dentist and about 20 more hours with various specialists (and I'm still observing when I'm able).

So I think my stats are competitive (assuming of course that perform well on the DAT). My only concern is ECs. I'm in school full time (have been taking 16-20 hours a semester and attending all summer and winter sessions). My husband frequently travels for work. With small children (my son was 4 when I went back to school and my twins were 6 months old), it's kind of impossible to find time for many extracurricular activities and keep up with schoolwork (it's been hard enough finding time to shadow).

Do you think this will be a major disadvantage? My pre-dental advisor seems to think just keeping up my grades with my other responsibilities is impressive enough, but I don't want to come off as boring or unimpressive. I do lead a Relay for Life team every year that raises quite a lot of money, and last year I helped organize a 10K for ovarian cancer research in honor of my aunt (we're now making it an annual event). But other than that...I don't really have much.

Can anybody ease my mind about this? Or does anybody have any suggestions for activities that I could fit into my schedule?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[amanda9717]

Do you think this will be a major disadvantage?

I don't think so. Extracurriculars are nice to have, but at the end of the day schools really want to know if you can handle their curriculum. The fact that you're going to school full time, raising three kids, and maintaining a 4.0 is seriously impressive!!

 

[YoHomey]

I don't think so. Extracurriculars are nice to have, but at the end of the day schools really want to know if you can handle their curriculum. The fact that you're going to school full time, raising three kids, and maintaining a 4.0 is seriously impressive!!

Disagree here. This may hold true for some schools but the fact is, as confirmed in my most recent interview, schools want applicants who will get involved outside of the classroom while attending dental school (clubs, community outreach events, etc.) and the best indicator of this is your ECs (preferably with leadership positions). In fact, my faculty interviewer said something like this to me: "We are looking for well-rounded people like you who will get involved when they come here...." Most competitive candidates have the grades and scores to handle ds. The last thing they want is some big nerd who will keep to themselves and be a loner in the class.

In the OP's case, since he/she is raising a family, ECs won't be necessary.

 

[Ghostface17]

Remembering how I was when young, I would put raising kids as an EC, haha. But honestly I think you are good with the Relay for Life and the other EC event. It seems you take a big part in both which displays leadership qualities. Quality over quantity in my opinion. Plus with a 4.0 and possible 20+ on the DAT. I think you are golden!

Good luck!

 

[amanda9717]

Disagree here. This may hold true for some schools but the fact is, as confirmed in my most recent interview, schools want applicants who will get involved outside of the classroom while attending dental school (clubs, community outreach events, etc.) and the best indicator of this is your ECs (preferably with leadership positions). In fact, my faculty interviewer said something like this to me: "We are looking for well-rounded people like you who will get involved when they come here...." Most competitive candidates have the grades and scores to handle ds. The last thing they want is some big nerd who will keep to themselves and be a loner in the class.

In the OP's case, since he/she is raising a family, ECs won't be necessary.

haha sorry if I wasn't clear. I wasn't trying to negate the importance of EC's in this process, I just meant that minimal EC's aren't necessarily a dealbreaker for OP.

 

[BobLoblawDDS]

Dental schools like non-traditional applicants. If every applicant was a high-achieving, gung-ho-pre-dental 4-year science degree student whose only goal is to become a dentist, dental school itself would be very boring indeed. Half of it is the education, the other half is the connections you make while in school.

I'd say you're fine, but if you want to get involved in something, it doesn't require too much of a time commitment. Schools don't necessarily want to see you doing 10-15 hours of volunteer work a week or anything like that. A single volunteer shift (3-5 hours) at a hospital or clinic or club, whatever interests you, per week, should be more than enough, and it may be something you can work in each week with a sitter or with daycare service for your kids.

Don't assume you need to get a crap ton of things in. School just want to see commitment and consistency. Quality over quantity.

 

[doc toothache]

Disagree here. This may hold true for some schools but the fact is, as confirmed in my most recent interview, schools want applicants who will get involved outside of the classroom while attending dental school (clubs, community outreach events, etc.) and the best indicator of this is your ECs (preferably with leadership positions). In fact, my faculty interviewer said something like this to me: "We are looking for well-rounded people like you who will get involved when they come here...." Most competitive candidates have the grades and scores to handle ds. The last thing they want is some big nerd who will keep to themselves and be a loner in the class.

The school in question must be easy sailing for the enrollees.

 

[belochka]

I am in a same boat actually... Three kids, high GPA, not very impressive ECs. I was in college while pregnant, had a baby and in a week I was back in school for my midterms... Everybody was just shocked, students and proffessors. Got all As. Had a an hour or two of sleep between taking care of a newborn and studying. Hard... But I think it does shows a lot of strength and determination. I would love to have joined different clubs, but I had no spare minute since I always had to rush back home. Money were very tight ( still are with such an economy)so i couldn't afford an extra hour for a babysitter. I really hope the Adcom will see that strong desire in such applicants to peruse the dream no matter what!

 

[Baker2010]

I'm a nontraditional student (25, married, 3 children) applying next cycle. I'm wondering if I should be concerned about my lack of extracurricular activities.

I have a 4.0 GPA right now (Biology major with a Chemistry minor) and based on practice exams I'm expecting a 20+ AA on the DAT (hoping for 22 or better). I have 50 hours of shadowing with a general dentist and about 20 more hours with various specialists (and I'm still observing when I'm able).

So I think my stats are competitive (assuming of course that perform well on the DAT). My only concern is ECs. I'm in school full time (have been taking 16-20 hours a semester and attending all summer and winter sessions). My husband frequently travels for work. With small children (my son was 4 when I went back to school and my twins were 6 months old), it's kind of impossible to find time for many extracurricular activities and keep up with schoolwork (it's been hard enough finding time to shadow).

Do you think this will be a major disadvantage? My pre-dental advisor seems to think just keeping up my grades with my other responsibilities is impressive enough, but I don't want to come off as boring or unimpressive. I do lead a Relay for Life team every year that raises quite a lot of money, and last year I helped organize a 10K for ovarian cancer research in honor of my aunt (we're now making it an annual event). But other than that...I don't really have much.

Can anybody ease my mind about this? Or does anybody have any suggestions for activities that I could fit into my schedule?

Honestly, I believe that your situation sounds better than having a whole bunch of extracurriculars.
The things you are doing require so much time and effort (especially since your performing very well), I personally believe you would have an advantage over the typical applicant with the usual list of EC's.
Just reading your story really impressed me and I think that adcoms will feel the same way.

Good luck!