Volunteer

[Patch34]

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Hello all!

I have a question regarding my experience as a volunteer.

So here is the case, I have volunteered at the same dental clinic for the past three years, and I have quite a number of hours for volunteering there. But here is the weak point, this is the only volunteer experience I have. Will dental schools look down on the fact that I've only volunteered at a dental clinic, and no where else? Should I start looking at other places to volunteer that are more community oriented-- or will that be too obvious of me trying to beef up my resume if I'm trying to apply this year?

I ask you this because I want to apply to dental schools this year, and I'm debating because I feel like my volunteer experience is weak compared to others applying.

Thanks. And PLEASE be nice 🙂

 

[UCSFx2017]

You should branch out. Try a local hospital, congregation, pet shelter, community outreach programs for low-income families, or research lab. Your university should have a list of numerous volunteering groups that you could participate in. If you only have one item on the volunteering heading on AADSAS application, your application will look very thin and boring. This is a good place to showcase your interests and passions so that you're more than just a few numbers.

 

[mid]

I had next to no volunteering and got in, Schools will look at your application as a whole, don't just do something to check off a imaginary box that you volunteered for x hours in a soup kitchen or spent a semester doing research. Do what interests you and express that on your application.

As a side note I think DAT and GPA are what gets you interviews and at that point its up to your interview and LORs. As long as you can get a steller LOR from a dentist I think you'll be on fine on shadowing/volunteering.