Volunteering Question for Pre-dents

[cchau324]

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I understand that Dental School wants you to have volunteering hours. I am just wondering, do these volunteering hours have to be dental related? Since some school takes high value in volunteering in a dental clinic (not shadowing). I am wondering if that's what dental schools are looking for instead of other volunteering (such as tutoring in schools, etc).

 

[longhornpride]

I think volunteering at a clinic would be a good idea. However, I don't think it will impact you negatively if you don't.

I think they are just looking at whether you are active in your community or not. I don't have any dental related volunteer work, but I do have a long list of other organizations that I am involved with.

 

[smiles123]

I honestly think you should do some of both. You want to get a feel for what a dental clinic is like (aside from shadowing because it's so passive)....but you should also find someplace in your community that interests you. If you like teaching...go tutor, if you like kids...become a big brother/big sister (etc). I think it shows more personality to volunteer in more than just a dental clinic. good luck!

 

[Near]

A public clinic would be nice, but I wouldn't "volunteer" in a private practice (unless the practice in question was doing something real special, like helping unprivileged populations).

You can make just about any type of volunteer work applicable to dental school. For example, I'm volunteering in a hospital now, as someone that discharges patients, and I get plenty of time to talk to them. I think it builds interpersonal patient interaction skills, which I may emphasize one day.

 

[artsydentsy]

what's wrong with volunteering in a private practice? how do dental schools view this?

 

[DrReo]

Volunteering hours do not have to be dental related. The school wants to see a since of commitment to your community. Spending a longer period of time shows this commitment more so than a shotgun approach.

 

[BlueQuasar]

How would dental schools view, say, volunteering in medical records/reception at a community health center? I have about 120 hours so far that I started last summer and picked up on again a couple weeks ago.

 

[slm266]

what's wrong with volunteering in a private practice? how do dental schools view this?

it's called working for free, or shadowing. The service should be to the community, not the paying customers of a dentist.

There's nothing wrong with the experience, but it would be better to start the habbit of serving the less fortunate in the community.

 

[DiscoBalls]

I would say community involvement is only marginally important as well. Its most important to show that you can handle doing work. period.

 

[SeattleRDH]

it's called working for free, or shadowing. The service should be to the community, not the paying customers of a dentist.

There's nothing wrong with the experience, but it would be better to start the habbit of serving the less fortunate in the community.

+1

 

[blondie888]

it's called working for free, or shadowing. The service should be to the community, not the paying customers of a dentist.

There's nothing wrong with the experience, but it would be better to start the habbit of serving the less fortunate in the community.

The thing is, sometimes the community dental clinics do not accept volunteers, as is the case in my city.

 

[slm266]

The thing is, sometimes the community dental clinics do not accept volunteers, as is the case in my city.

No problem. Get your shadowing hours with a private dentist, and do some community service (doesn't have to be dental related).

Ps. there are more ways to do dental related service besides dental clinics. if you're set on doing dental related service, join your schools predent club to get ideas.