Very small amount of shadowing hours. Should I be worried?

[bmack]

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Hey guys and gals! I'm getting ready to apply for the next dental school cycle, and I'm trying to get everything ready for my application. So, here's the deal. Many of the schools that I am hoping to apply to don't have a set amount of shadowing hour requirements. As of June 1st, I should be up to hopefully 45-65 total shadowing hours, shadowing 4 or so different dentists. I'm just worried that this is a really small amount, and that it might be what stops me from getting in. I know that it is recommended that you should have about 200 hours, and I'm nowhere near that.

I do have a 4.00 gpa/ 4.06 math and science gpa, and a DAT score of 22 AA/ 23 TS/ 21 PAT. I also have been working in a lab and having been conducting research for a year now, and have worked as a TA-like position for a couple of intro biology classes. I'm not trying to brag or anything, I'm just trying to sell myself honestly 🙁

Is the small amount shadowing hours going to completely screw me over? Once I get done with final exams, I'm going to work my butt off to try and get as many hours as I can while working full time this summer.

How soon after June 1 is too late to submit my application? Would it be better to wait a couple of weeks until like June 15 just to get in like 25 extra shadowing hours or so, or is it more important to get your application in right away?

Thank a bunch, guys! Hope your DATs and such go well!

Edit: Sorry to tack this on last minute. I have kind of a weird question about a letter of recommendation from a non-science instructor. So, I took a metal arts class that I did really well in, and I thought that a letter of rec from my instructor might help show that I have decent hand-eye coordination and dexterity. The issue is that the course instructor is a current graduate student, and not a full professor. Would that be an inappropriate person to ask for a letter of rec?

 

[SableFire]

I would recommend 80-100 hours of shadowing. As for when is it too late to submit? You honestly have at least until mid/late July, people need to stop stressing so much about getting it in right away. You guys are fine have it fully submitted by the end of July and you will be alright /rant

 

[I want to go to there]

100+ is recommended, but you should be fine with fewer hours with your stat. If you are so worried, just quit your job or go part-time and get more hours. With your stat, you can get into great schools that are already relatively cheap in tuition and may even get a scholarship, potentially saving you a lot more money than measly sum you will earn this summer.

Don't get a letter from the instructor. You want them to come from professors and dentists. Just mention it in the hobby section in your app.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-shadowing-requirements-recommendations.1069934/

 

[nonociceptors]

Kind of disappointed to see some serious replies in here. 1 post, adequate shadowing hours, perfect GPA, great DAT...in fact, if the OP is being genuine, I'd be even more concerned. Who thinks like this? And where have you heard 200+ shadowing hours? I guarantee not a single adcom will give you that number.

 

[doc toothache]

Kind of disappointed to see some serious replies in here. 1 post, adequate shadowing hours, perfect GPA, great DAT...in fact, if the OP is being genuine, I'd be even more concerned. Who thinks like this? And where have you heard 200+ shadowing hours? I guarantee not a single adcom will give you that number.

You should have had the disclaimer: not valid in Georgia.

 

[ajj70]

I guess that, in my opinion, shadowing hours are very telling for the ADCOMs, especially if you have average or slightly above average stats. If you are going up against applicants that have 100-200 hours and you come in with 45, well, it just doesn't look that great. Since many schools require or "strongly encourage" 100+ hours, you limit yourself with just 45 hours. For most undergrads you have 4 years, 208 weeks, to get in 100 hours....that's 30 minutes/week.

 

[bmack]

Sorry, I'm not trying to sound like I'm complaining or anything, I'm just genuinely worried. I know that it's one thing to be able to get an interview with stats, and a completely different level to get accepted through an interview based on experience. I know that I have been severely slacking on my hours, and I know for sure that that will come up in interviews if I don't step up my game. Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm going to see if I can drop to part time over the summer (just enough to make rent and to eat) to get my shadowing hours up to par. Guess I probably won't click submit on my application until I can get it up to at least 80 hours, because I don't know what I'll do if I can't get into a school.

 

[ajj70]

See if you can find a clinic that has evening hours that you can go in and shadow.

 

[Faux]

Kind of disappointed to see some serious replies in here. 1 post, adequate shadowing hours, perfect GPA, great DAT...in fact, if the OP is being genuine, I'd be even more concerned. Who thinks like this? And where have you heard 200+ shadowing hours? I guarantee not a single adcom will give you that number.

No one is saying +200 hours. He barely has 60 hours and thats only across 4 dentists. Who knows how many general dentists he did.

Just one general dentist is sufficient, with a specialist or two to add some sprinkles on your app.

 

[danchoi03]

Shadow one dentist and get your shadow up to 120 hours is good enough. Nothing more and nothing less. The rest of your time should be focusing on EC or community service

 

[ajj70]

Shadow one dentist and get your shadow up to 120 hours is good enough. Nothing more and nothing less. The rest of your time should be focusing on EC or community service

Except that most dental schools want to see you shadow a few different dentists. Some schools want to see 5 different dentists even.

 

[danchoi03]

Except that most dental schools want to see you shadow a few different dentists. Some schools want to see 5 different dentists even.

I don't know where you get your facts, but i was told by the admission people at NOVA and RSDM that you only need to shadow one dentist. I guess you can shadow more than one dentists but it doesn't hold much weight on your application.

 

[ajj70]

I don't know where you get your facts, but i was told by the admission people at NOVA and RSDM that you only need to shadow one dentist. I guess you can shadow more than one dentists but it doesn't hold much weight on your application.

It's been posted here multiple times but the ADEA guide has information about shadowing requirements and many list shadowing with more than one dentist, some want a minimum of 75 hours with a general dentist in that mix, etc.

 

[Faux]

Except that most dental schools want to see you shadow a few different dentists. Some schools want to see 5 different dentists even.

It's been posted here multiple times but the ADEA guide has information about shadowing requirements and many list shadowing with more than one dentist, some want a minimum of 75 hours with a general dentist in that mix, etc.

Kind of disappointed to see some serious replies in here. 1 post, adequate shadowing hours, perfect GPA, great DAT...in fact, if the OP is being genuine, I'd be even more concerned. Who thinks like this? And where have you heard 200+ shadowing hours? I guarantee not a single adcom will give you that number.

From the sheet posted, only several schools wanted a mix. This was Louisiana, Missouri, Case, Oregon, Pitt and West Virginia. Thats only 6 schools. And from those six schools, I applied and got accepted to CASE with only 100 hours at a general dentist. If a school you're interested in has some specifications, you should be safe and cover your corners. But most schools do not require a mix.

 

[joiedevivre86]

You can apply late June and still be first batch (I think it was sent out June 20 last summer). But with your stats you can apply pretty late and still be fine. I think you should get your hours up a bit (close to 100 as you can) - maybe you can see different practices different days of the week to get them quicker. Ask the office you've shadowed at for referrals to other offices. Keep in mind the real point of shadowing... showing both yourself and dental schools that you're seriously interested in the profession. Not just checking a pre-req off the list.

 

[smile matters]

What if you did a lot of shadowing in high school? Can you put that in your resume/ application? Also, how would they know if you actually did the hours you mentioned, do we have to have some sort of proof?

 

[zomf]

What if you did a lot of shadowing in high school? Can you put that in your resume/ application? Also, how would they know if you actually did the hours you mentioned, do we have to have some sort of proof?

They'll know if you're full of BS or not depending on how you answer in your interview.

100% they'll ask "Why do you want to be a dentist?" with low shadow hours
100% they'll ask "Tell me about your shadow experiences" if you have a lot of hours