Volunteer Work: How To Get a Position

[Citizen]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey there,

I'm a freshman at a 4-year college and I've already had my sights set in on Dentistry for some time. I get good grades but I could get better so I have signed up for free tutoring and I study whenever I can and go through extra materials given the time so as to further my studies. I am not majoring in a science because I was told dental schools like diversity but I am still planning to get all the science I need and even knocking out some recommended classes. Things I have done in the past to boost my profile have been being in the position of Student Body President in high school and also achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

What I would like to add to my resume is volunteer work. I want clinical experience before going into dental school. I looked up dentists in my area and I was wondering what the best way is to introduce myself and see if I can get a volunteer position. Anyone have ideas on what to say, do, or look like?

Any help is appreciated, so thank you!
-Citizen-

 

[lzbthcox]

My advisor set it all up for me. Go talk to yours and see if they are willing to do the same for you. Also, your family dentist is a great place to start.
HTH,
Liz

 

[Montserrat]

Hey there,

I'm a freshman at a 4-year college and I've already had my sights set in on Dentistry for some time. I get good grades but I could get better so I have signed up for free tutoring and I study whenever I can and go through extra materials given the time so as to further my studies. I am not majoring in a science because I was told dental schools like diversity but I am still planning to get all the science I need and even knocking out some recommended classes. Things I have done in the past to boost my profile have been being in the position of Student Body President in high school and also achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

What I would like to add to my resume is volunteer work. I want clinical experience before going into dental school. I looked up dentists in my area and I was wondering what the best way is to introduce myself and see if I can get a volunteer position. Anyone have ideas on what to say, do, or look like?

Any help is appreciated, so thank you!
-Citizen-

As an eagle scout, you probably had a community service project of some sort towards earning your last scout rank. Approach this in the same way - make phone calls, walk/drive/pedal your way to a local office and ask directly. I've found that to be the best way to get involved. If you are looking for volunteer work and shadowing experience, try a health center/clinic. if you currently reside in an urban area, volunteering at a city health center is also a good option. however, in additional to observing dental work, you'll also be asked to perform other odd jobs/tasks.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Do you mean shadowing? I'm not sure a dentist office would need volunteers for anything.

 

[BamaJo]

It sounds like you are on the right track. The dentists I know take some part in a volunteer project at least once a year and some even more. I became friends with many dentists by observing them and was invited by some to take part in projects. Just do some observing and talk to different dentists about volunteering. I helped at a volunteer dental clinic because my dentist worked there once a month. I gained more experience there than anywhere else.

 

[Citizen]

Thanks for the help everybody! I have already found dentists in the area so I guess the next thing I gotta do is just start talking to them 🙂

And from Montserrat said, it sounds like e-mail is not the best way to get in touch and that phone calls are iffy but meeting in person is the way to go. Would I be correct in this assumption?

 

[Montserrat]

Thanks for the help everybody! I have already found dentists in the area so I guess the next thing I gotta do is just start talking to them 🙂

And from Montserrat said, it sounds like e-mail is not the best way to get in touch and that phone calls are iffy but meeting in person is the way to go. Would I be correct in this assumption?

Pretty much what I did. But just some advice - call in first before showing up, basically to see if they would be amenable to another pair of eyes and feet in their office. Depending on their patient volume on a given day, you might arrive at a bad time and that will throw off their first impression of you. If they say sure, schedule a time to drop by.

Let them guide the conversation, allow them to finish their sentences and thoughts, and then almost assuredly get a question like "Why are you interested in dentistry?" Let them know you are interested in dentistry, and be able to explain it succinctly and clearly. If it seems like they are personable, let your experience start from there.

Also, another person in the thread brought this up. If you go to your advisor and network a bit, you might be able to get hold of an alumni from your undergrad school. If they are willing, you'll have something in common with them before you even enter their door, and they might be more sympathetic to your endeavors. Just something else to chew on.

 

[Citizen]

Awesome! Thanks that's great advice and I'll report back on how this all works out.

Thanks again.

 

[blankguy]

If all else fails, pull out the yellow pages and cold call dentists. Some of them may say no but you should eventually find somebody who will allow you to shadow.

 

[Citizen]

I definitely would, but I don't have a car and there are only three or four dentists within biking distance... Thats kinda why I wanted to get all of your opinions on this so I would have down exactly what I needed and could get the opportunity the first (if not, the second) person I go to.

 

[bodiddely]

You could also check to see if there's a public health service dental clinic in your area. There's an Indian Health Service clinic near me and they were happy to let me shadow. The second time I came in the director offered to let me be a volunteer dental assistant (for which I am currently filling out a mountain of paperwork for a federal background check 😱 )

 

[cherr1pop]

I'm working at one of the labs on campus as a volunteer.. I have to do some maintenance stuff like making solutions but I get to observe a bunch of cool experiments & get my hands dirty on some of the procedures they prefer to skip in the bio course labs... I think it's the best volunteer job I've ever had cause it'll let me start research whenever I want to (they've already told me I can start any research I want in their lab) and not be too confused.
P.S. I asked my first year biology professor about this to get started. I've been in his lab for about 7 months now.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

I am interested in this as well. It has been extremely hard for me to find a dentist to shadow. I emailed a couple but all no since they dont know me. I dont have my regular dentist so it is hard to ask... I think I've done enough other volunteering stuff. 1.5 yrs of stem cell research, 1/2 year of student instructor for general bio lab, 1/2 year of working at hep b clinic, but the most important dentist shadowing is very problematic for me 🙁. What do you guys mean by an advisor? Like faculty advisor at school? I am surrounded by engineers...

 

[blankguy]

I am interested in this as well. It has been extremely hard for me to find a dentist to shadow. I emailed a couple but all no since they dont know me. I dont have my regular dentist so it is hard to ask... I think I've done enough other volunteering stuff. 1.5 yrs of stem cell research, 1/2 year of student instructor for general bio lab, 1/2 year of working at hep b clinic, but the most important dentist shadowing is very problematic for me 🙁. What do you guys mean by an advisor? Like faculty advisor at school? I am surrounded by engineers...

Cold call dentists. You are bound to find somebody that will let you shadow. It sounds like you don't have any body to help you out since you are surrounded by engineers. The bonus of finding dentists to shadow is that you may develop contacts in dentistry. You may even get to know more dentist through discussions you may hear at the dental office.

 

[toffinoodle]

if you would like to gain ongoing clinical experience, you can look up free clinics in your area. They generally need volunteers more than regular hospitals and they allow you to have more hands on experience as well.

if you are interested in doing work over seas, i am currently working with Global Medical Brigades, a student-run organization that goes to Honduras to provide much needed medical treatment to people who would not receive care otherwise! My school went for the first time over the summer, and words can not describe how amazing the experience was!

if you are interested in GMB, like what it is, how to start a brigade, etc. just let me know and i would be happy to give you more information!

if not you can check out the website www.medicalbrigades.com

happy hunting!