volunteering experience

[BulsangHanNamja]

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ok... throughout my highschool, i accumlated alot of volunteer hours at a local hospital.. closed to 400 hours, but on the other note, i accumlated only a few hours of volunteering while in college. I'm currently a junior right now and i've yet to jobshadow dentistry either.

My question is, will my volunteer hours in highschool be much of any credit? What about the lack of volunteer hours in college? Will this be a big minus?

I'm planning to apply as soon as i can when the applications become available, and i haven't taken the DAT yet. I'm planning on maybe taking my first DAT in june and take my second around september (90 day period) Will my second DAT date be too late?

I"m also planning to jobshadow / volunteer more during this summer. Would that be too late?

I know this is alot of questions... i am really hoping someone would lend me a hand. Thanks again guys.

 

[jokerjoe12]

why are you already planning on RETAKING your dat's. Plan to do well on the first time and end ur misery early. your hours in high school are fine.

 

[PDizzle]

Well, to answer all your qustions with one swoop, I will advise you to do everything you mentioned EARLY. Earlier the better. Some schools fill up early, some don't but the early bird gets the frign worm when it comes to D-School.

If possible, have everything done by June. This of course may not be possible so if I had to do anything late it would be non-dentistry community service. But you need that by the time your secondaries come around, especially schools that emphasize that stuff (AZ, UCSF, etc).

Also, do not underestimate the DAT. Really try to nail it the first time.

Good luck.

 

[BulsangHanNamja]

Well, to answer all your qustions with one swoop, I will advise you to do everything you mentioned EARLY. Earlier the better. Some schools fill up early, some don't but the early bird gets the frign worm when it comes to D-School.

If possible, have everything done by June. This of course may not be possible so if I had to do anything late it would be non-dentistry community service. But you need that by the time your secondaries come around, especially schools that emphasize that stuff (AZ, UCSF, etc).

Also, do not underestimate the DAT. Really try to nail it the first time.

Good luck.

If i wanted to really nail it the first time... I wouldn't take the DAT in june.. and i'd rather study hardcore for it all summer and take it in august. But I feel like i also need to get the feel for the Real DAT.. but that doesn't mean i'm blowing off the first one. I've studied all winter break to see what pcat was like , preparing off of the DAT kaplan book and other materials. So should i just take my first DAT in august instead of june? Or would taking the second DAT in september be too late? Thanks

 

[Ali Cat]

I considered taking the DAT in June so I could retake it in Sept. if I did poorly. But, I decided to study hard and take it in mid August and not take it again. I really think taking it once and getting it over with is the best. As far as the volunteering, I think it is important to do dentistry related volunteering. It has given me a lot to talk about at my interviews. I think your G.P.A./DAT's are what the schools will look at 1st, but then volunteering could set you apart from someone with similar numbers.