Work as a dental assistant or something totally unrelated?

[hs113891]

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So I'm currently working as a market research analyst for a commercial real estate company, which is totally unrelated to dentistry. I've been working for here about 10 months now.

Last week, I walked into a dental office to see if I can find a job as a dental assistant. The doctor said that he's willing to train me and eventually hire me for a full time position.

So it seems like I'll have to choose between the two jobs... work as a dental assistant or continue working in commercial real estate. Which one do you think is better when it comes to admission to dental school?

I know that working as a dental assistant will really prepare me for the hands on experience and the admission committee will probably like that, but some have told me that the purpose of shadowing is not "on the job training", and since working in commercial real estate is something different and unique, it might be a good idea to stay in commercial real estate...

What do you guys think? I'd greatly appreciate your honest opinion and advices!

 

[stoopidboy54]

What's more impressive, two lines on the resume, or one? 😉 Having done both will give you more to talk about at the interview, and it does help that it's dental related... you'll still need to do your (non-paid) shadowing regardless though, typically at least 30 hours for most schools, possibly 100 depending on where you apply.

is this non-paid shadowing required?

 

[hs113891]

What's more impressive, two lines on the resume, or one? 😉 Having done both will give you more to talk about at the interview, and it does help that it's dental related... you'll still need to do your (non-paid) shadowing regardless though, typically at least 30 hours for most schools, possibly 100 depending on where you apply.

Hmmm... That's a good point...
But what would be the point of doing non-paid shadowing if I'll have a ton of experiences working as a DA?

 

[hs113891]

Because it's required. Those of us that got in, we've all done it.. it's part of the process, and it doesn't have to make sense.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523

As long as you get 30, you're fine for most schools. (make sure not to apply to NYU though, they require 100 hours shadowing)

I see... I actually have about 30 hours of shadowing experience, but they're bits and pieces of hours from a few different dentists...

15 hours from back in high school
8 hours from one
15 hours from another

Do you know if they prefer that you get your shadowing hours done from one dentists or does it not matter?

Do you think I'll be okay with the 15 hours I have from high school? She's actually the one writing the recommendation letter for me. I was not going to put that in, but I want to turn in my application by the end of June, and I don't think I'll have enough time to get a recommendation letter from another dentist by the end of June.

 

[stoopidboy54]

Because it's required. Those of us that got in, we've all done it.. it's part of the process, and it doesn't have to make sense.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527523

As long as you get 30, you're fine for most schools. (make sure not to apply to NYU though, they require 100 hours shadowing)

i do not see the reason to just stand there and watch while you can do the same thing but actually helping out...thx, ill keep shadowing in mind although the schools that I want to apply to all have NR (lol, all of them)

 

[doc toothache]

I know that working as a dental assistant will really prepare me for the hands on experience and the admission committee will probably like that, but some have told me that the purpose of shadowing is not "on the job training", and since working in commercial real estate is something different and unique, it might be a good idea to stay in commercial real estate...

On the other hand adcoms might be worrying about how much deprogramming you may have to undergo in order to reteach you their way. So doing something unrelated to dentistry might be a better choice.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=640568

 

[hs113891]

On the other hand adcoms might be worrying about how much deprogramming you may have to undergo in order to reteach you their way. So doing something unrelated to dentistry might be a better choice.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=640568

Oh is that true??
I think it was you who told me that the purpose of shadowing is not OJT... haha... what a small SDN world