Volunteering questions...

[tendram]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does it really matter how many volunteering hours I get (hospital or dental) or do schools really care how many? I'm sure a lot of hours will look better than only a couple but I was thinking of doing some volunteering over spring and/or summer and didn't know if that would be enough or if I should try for more.

 

[yuppers]

Volunteering isn't required by most schools so there is no set number of hours like shadowing, but it can only help your application. Any volunteering would be good, but some form of dental volunteering would probably be more beneficial to you. Schools also look for longevity in the things such as this so just try to continue it after you start .

 

[tendram]

Ah, so it would look better to have some dental office volunteering under my belt than hospital. Makes sense. I was under the impression that they required it but then again I never looked I had just assumed they did. And I didn't know any schools actually required shadowing hours. I thought it kind of odd when they asked me how many hours I needed at the dentist I'm shadowing.

 

[yuppers]

Ah, so it would look better to have some dental office volunteering under my belt than hospital. Makes sense.

I'm just assuming that dental volunteering would be better. Anyway it could give you something to talk about in your PS and/or interview.

And I didn't know any schools actually required shadowing hours.

Schools definitely require shadowing... somewhere doc toothache has a thread on how much each school requires.

I thought it kind of odd when they asked me how many hours I needed at the dentist I'm shadowing.

Who asked you that?

 

[tendram]

Schools definitely require shadowing... somewhere doc toothache has a thread on how much each school requires.


Who asked you that?

I'll have to see if I can find that thread.

One of the ladies at the front desk I think. They had called my mom the other day (it's her dentist) and she asked if they allowed shadowing and said the lady asked her how many hours I needed. I've got to call and set up a day to go shadow and now that I know I'll need hours I may see if he will let me set up a 'schedule' to go shadow him and get my hours. Good thing I found this out sooner rather than later. Thanks for telling me 👍

 

[subdoc]

Does it really matter how many volunteering hours I get (hospital or dental) or do schools really care how many? I'm sure a lot of hours will look better than only a couple but I was thinking of doing some volunteering over spring and/or summer and didn't know if that would be enough or if I should try for more.

Save the shadowing for the dental clinic and volunteer with what you are passionate about. A lot of schools use their social clubs as a means for volunteering. Committees like to see involvement in your community and that is why they value volunterrism. Stick to Big Brother/Big Sister, youth sports, Habitat, church stuff, etc.

 

[tendram]

Alright, so far I've got another dentist to shadow next week (not for hours just because I want to) and I probably need to get on top of volunteering in some community help organization(s). And when I talked to the lady at the front desk of the office I'm shadowing at, she told me to bring my papers so the dentist can sign off on my hours 😕 I'm assuming that's for people who actually have a pre-dental major at their school or something. If anyone knows maybe they can help clear that up for me. Thanks again for all the advice. 👍

 

[subdoc]

Alright, so far I've got another dentist to shadow next week (not for hours just because I want to) and I probably need to get on top of volunteering in some community help organization(s). And when I talked to the lady at the front desk of the office I'm shadowing at, she told me to bring my papers so the dentist can sign off on my hours 😕 I'm assuming that's for people who actually have a pre-dental major at their school or something. If anyone knows maybe they can help clear that up for me. Thanks again for all the advice. 👍

Some schools require a certain number of hours of shadowing prior to matriculation. I assume this log of hours will be something the dentist uses to write up your LOR if you choose him to do so, or for him to validate your actual hours. Don't stress on this. No biggie. You should be happy the clinic has some ethics in regards to their accountibility.