Undergraduate research

[Member 072792]

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How important is undergraduate research before applying to dental school? Is it looked higher upon than other extra curricular activities? Also, what do most dental schools want to see from undergraduate research?

 

[Cello]

From what I've been told by someone who reviews applications, the way they view it is this:

GPA/DAT > Shadowing/Volunteering > Research

 

[MedDevil]

How important is undergraduate research before applying to dental school? Is it looked higher upon than other extra curricular activities? Also, what do most dental schools want to see from undergraduate research?

There are a few schools that may appreciate an applicant with significant research (e.g. Harvard, UCSF), but it's by no means required for a successful application.

 

[Member 072792]

Okay. Thank you both! I appreciate it

 

[mid]

Do you plan on applying to DDS/PhD? It will matter then.

Also the research matters, there is a big difference in pipetting in some guys lab for a semester vs being like William Hwang (http://www.pdsoros.org/current_fellows/index.cfm/yr/2008#hwang)

 

[Member 072792]

I thought about it but I don't know if I want to go to school an extra two years

 

[UCSFx2017]

You want to be as well-rounded as possible.

 

[UCLAzy]

I thought about it but I don't know if I want to go to school an extra two years

lol 2 years? try 3 or most likely 4

 

[Member 072792]

Okay. Regardless of how many extra years it is, I don't think it's something I want to do

 

[Annamk]

While it is not required, it is definitely nice to be well rounded and it can help improve critical thinking and analysis skills.

 

[Arat]

*

 

[bambam92]

For Harvard, Columbia, UCSF, Penn etc it WILL matter. With that said research is becoming a big deal. If two people have identical stats and one candidate has research and a couple pubs, who do you think adcoms will choose? Tons of pre-meds do research--I am stuck between med/dental school so I am involved in research, but if you are set on dental school you should because it will give you a great advantage as not too many predents do research. Email professors they usually like taking on students for research.

 

[mid]

For Harvard, Columbia, UCSF, Penn etc it WILL matter. With that said research is becoming a big deal. If two people have identical stats and one candidate has research and a couple pubs, who do you think adcoms will choose? Tons of pre-meds do research--I am stuck between med/dental school so I am involved in research, but if you are set on dental school you should because it will give you a great advantage as not too many predents do research. Email professors they usually like taking on students for research.

Plenty of predents do research, at my school I'd say the name number of predents and premeds do research.

Anecdotal evidence: I know many people who have gone to top 10 ranked (research) med schools with absolutely no research experience.

 

[bambam92]

Plenty of predents do research, at my school I'd say the name number of predents and premeds do research.

Anecdotal evidence: I know many people who have gone to top 10 ranked (research) med schools with absolutely no research experience.

Interesting. Well to OP I would still advise to get involved in research.

 

[Member 072792]

Well I'm only a sophomore right now, after this semester ill have all my prerequisites done except biochem and physics. My gpa is at a 3.87 right now and if things go as planned it will be above a 3.9 after this semester. I also currently have 50 obv hours with two dentists and about 75 vol hours at a hospital passing out ice water to patients. My plans for the next year are to study religiously for the DAT for the first six weeks of summer and then take it, my goal is a 23 or higher. The second six weeks of summer I plan on taking psychology and statistics and the following fall/spring cycle finish my prerequisites and polish up my EC's including research. I'm the only one in my family to go to college and right now I feel like a fish in a shark tank when it comes to the competitive nature of getting accepted into a professional school. Any advice or opinions on how to improve my chances and what not would be of great help, and greatly appreciated!!

 

[drillbitjoe]

coming from a sophomore, from what Ive heard, only do it if you think you will need it to get into a certain school that you probably wouldnt get into without it. I dont think you would need it based on your gpa if you do well on the dat

 

[devz4lf]

I did research for two years and managed to get one publication done. In my opinion research did give me certain skills and assets that I know I can use in dental school. It also looks good when you apply. Now most schools prob will say it's not the most important thing but if you have it, it will only help your application. Try to understand that all of these extra curricular activities are good things to talk about on your interview. If you can connect how shadowing numerous dentists, being involved in dental clubs, research ect will make you a Better dentist than why not do it?

 

[ktran17]

Research is never going to be a negative thing on your application, but make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Whether or not your research experience holds significant value, depends on the type of research you do. If you're simply washing glassware, I suspect its value would be lower than just merely shadowing or volunteering. However, if you are putting time into meaningful research and are getting published, etc then yes it will make you more competitive. Only do research if the project interests you, because trust me, it's a lot of work!

Overall, I've been doing research for almost 2 years and have 2 publications thus far. It certainly has given me a different view of academia and has definitely helped me develop my critical thinking skills. So yes, I do think my research experience will help me, but not because it's simply research, but because its an extracurricular activity I did, that highlights my commitment and effort towards something bigger than me. I think that's the most important thing, can you show adcoms that you have the tenacity to commit towards a project and produce meaningful results over an extended amount of time!

 

[UCSFx2017]

Research is never going to be a negative thing on your application, but make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Whether or not your research experience holds significant value, depends on the type of research you do. If you're simply washing glassware, I suspect its value would be lower than just merely shadowing or volunteering. However, if you are putting time into meaningful research and are getting published, etc then yes it will make you more competitive. Only do research if the project interests you, because trust me, it's a lot of work!

Overall, I've been doing research for almost 2 years and have 2 publications thus far. It certainly has given me a different view of academia and has definitely helped me develop my critical thinking skills. So yes, I do think my research experience will help me, but not because it's simply research, but because its an extracurricular activity I did, that highlights my commitment and effort towards something bigger than me. I think that's the most important thing, can you show adcoms that you have the tenacity to commit towards a project and produce meaningful results over an extended amount of time!

👍

 

[MissKay]

How would one go about re-emailing a professor about research? I contacted him through email once and he invited me to his office. He discussed what his research was about and told how I could get started and seemed genuinely interested in letting me in his lab, despite being an inexperienced freshman. He emailed me 4 articles to read to later "discuss" with him. 2 weeks later, I emailed and he didn't reply. I emailed again a week later. And then a week later. It's been a month now, and I called once to hear his voicemail saying he's out of office until the 18th....but its been a week since the 18th! I can't visit his office because visitors can only enter by appointment to his office.

I don't want to seem like a pushy undergraduate and all, but I REALLY REALLY want to be in his lab. It was the most interesting kind of stuff i'd ever heard. What to do.... 🙁

 

[DancingBull]

How would one go about re-emailing a professor about research? I contacted him through email once and he invited me to his office. He discussed what his research was about and told how I could get started and seemed genuinely interested in letting me in his lab, despite being an inexperienced freshman. He emailed me 4 articles to read to later "discuss" with him. 2 weeks later, I emailed and he didn't reply. I emailed again a week later. And then a week later. It's been a month now, and I called once to hear his voicemail saying he's out of office until the 18th....but its been a week since the 18th! I can't visit his office because visitors can only enter by appointment to his office.

I don't want to seem like a pushy undergraduate and all, but I REALLY REALLY want to be in his lab. It was the most interesting kind of stuff i'd ever heard. What to do.... 🙁

Perhaps you could find out when his office hours are and then go to one of them?

 

[Toothshucker]

For Harvard, Columbia, UCSF, Penn etc it WILL matter. With that said research is becoming a big deal. If two people have identical stats and one candidate has research and a couple pubs, who do you think adcoms will choose? Tons of pre-meds do research--I am stuck between med/dental school so I am involved in research, but if you are set on dental school you should because it will give you a great advantage as not too many predents do research. Email professors they usually like taking on students for research.

Probably not. There are a ton of people who haven't done research. The people who have a couple publications... are usually older and have been in the research field for years. The students straight out of undergrad... usually don't have publications. If they do, they're not first authors. Yes, I know there are some super students who accomplish 7 million things in undergrad and have some extremely amazing research experience, but the majority do not.

You should do research to: 1) See if you like it. It doesn't hurt to try and say it's not for you. 2) Be a well rounded applicant. Don't continue it if you don't like it. That can show up in your application or interview.

Research doesn't make or break you.

 

[thewobblytooth]

Research doesn't matter if you want to get into dental school. However, your extracurriculars, volunteer positions, and outside influences will matter to get into top dental schools. Humanitarian work, etc.

DDS/PhD however, research is a strong component and is absolutely necessary to be competitive.

 

[Member 072792]

Thanks guys! I was also wondering if anyone is familiar with an adequate or average amount of extracurriculars that most students have when applying and/or getting accepted into dental school?