In my opinion, adcoms really like to see that people are multifaceted and enjoy doing things that may be completely unrelated to dentistry. I had heard this before, but I didn't really fathom it until I went through several interviews.
For instance, I think I had excellent research experience-- I was one of the lead researchers that studied and found a new immunodiagnostic procedure for a systemic fungal disease, which was essentially unparalleled to how diagnosis was done at the time. My research was published nationally and was very well received. I also studied bacteria in a local pond and isolated a new genus of microorganisms. In my interviews, only one individual commented on any of my research.
However, I had two other experiences on my application that every single interviewer asked me about. The first was the fact that I was the co-founder of Scrabble Club at my university-- I've always had a blast playing the game and a buddy and I started the organization to create friendly competition around the University.
The second activity was a job that I started after graduation from college, where I ran (and still run) a federally funded research project focused on decreasing the mortality rate of American Indians and Alaska Natives who have been diagnosed with cancer (through education, health care navigation and community outreach).
Do things that YOU find interesting, and if you are truly passionate about it, you will find a way to naturally make it seem interesting and stand out to adcoms.
) and thats pretty much it!!! I have no life lol
