Work Experience weight?

[dm1898]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I plan on applying this upcoming cycle and for the most part things are coming together pretty well, but I do have a few concerns.

I commuted to a local 4-year university, and so I really haven't gotten all that involved in extracuricular activities. I have a few significant ones but nothing that great.

What I do have though is a ton of work experience, particularly in the small business realm.

At the end of my senior year in HS I started a lawn and pressure washing business that I have been able to grow into a decently sized operation.

In addition to this I also started an ebay store where I sell motorcycles and used parts.

I know these aren't dentistry related but do you think it would be look favorably upon by adcoms?

Also because I have put so much time (prob around 1700-2000 hrs) into my work I am just getting around to shadowing. I just had my first day of it on Monday, and hope to get up to atleast 50 hrs, but am planning to try and make it to 100. Will it look shady that I am jamming them in this last semester?

Thanks for any and all comments.

 

[dm1898]

Anybody?

 

[fermez]

Hey there,

I can't help but think that your work experience would be a good thing.

I, too, have tons of work experience, about 5,300 hours. And like you I have some online business ventures which I use to make extra money.

In my opinion, the fact that you started your own business shows a lot of initiative, motivation, and discipline. And your online store shows that you are well-rounded and knowledgeable about different things. As I once read on a DS website, "has the potential to be a self-directed, lifelong learner."

In my supplemental essays I tried to play up this work experience and how it has positively affected me, so on so on. Definitely want to amplify your strengths and, in this case, it's your work experience.

The real question is how much do they compensate for below average dental-related EC's and volunteering? I am in the same boat. Done some volunteering but nothing like my peers. About 60 hrs. of shadowing.

I don't think "jamming" your shadowing in is that bad. I would highly reccommend shadowing as many specialties as possible. I "only" have 60 hrs. but have shadowed every specialty. My interviewers seemed to like that.

I have not received an acceptance yet but can only think that my work experience, et. al. is a bonus. Maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in?

Obviously, GPA and DAT are going to be a major factor. I had below average GPA and above average DAT. Interviewed at both schools I applied to. Turned down by one. Pretty optimistic about the other.

Best of luck!

 

[wired202808]

Anybody?

Work experience is not that important and will not make you that much more competitive. Sorry. There is an ADEA survey that was taken and the link is usually somewhere on Bing12's profile or posts. It basically shows the most important factors of admission to be: GPA, DAT, Letters of Recommendation and Interview. All other factors are icing on the cake and will neither make or break you.

While its admirable that you ran your own business, its not as relevant to d-schools since most students dont need to do that to be successful dentists. Good luck to you.

 

[doc toothache]

The good news is that work experiences may come in handy if ds is a no go, the bad news is that it will not help you either as an applicant or as a dental student.

 

[dm1898]

I realize it won't make up for bad stats, but I'm not worried about that.

My gpa is in good shape, and I feel my DAT scores will be competitive. I just needed some assurance that I won't get passed up because I didn't lead some bs club in college.

Hopefully they will look at my work experience as being at least on the same level as someone who did more volunteering, and other extracuriculars.

 

[wired202808]

I realize it won't make up for bad stats, but I'm not worried about that.

My gpa is in good shape, and I feel my DAT scores will be competitive. I just needed some assurance that I won't get passed up because I didn't lead some bs club in college.

Hopefully they will look at my work experience as being at least on the same level as someone who did more volunteering, and other extracuriculars.

What's your DAT and GPA? good shape is not something one can judge you on. Schools would only pass you over if you have no shadowing experience. You need at least 100 hours.

 

[dm1898]

My gpa at the moment is 3.9, science should be something around 3.8-3.85.

Haven't take the dat yet, but have been putting in the work with studying, watching chads videos, etc. Probably will take them in mid to early June. I feel like I should be able to get at least a 20 if I keep up studying.

I do have some volunteer work, a few extracuriculars, and I am gonna do my best to get the shadowing up to where it needs to be.

 

[wired202808]

My gpa at the moment is 3.9, science should be something around 3.8-3.85.

Haven't take the dat yet, but have been putting in the work with studying, watching chads videos, etc. Probably will take them in mid to early June. I feel like I should be able to get at least a 20 if I keep up studying.

I do have some volunteer work, a few extracuriculars, and I am gonna do my best to get the shadowing up to where it needs to be.

The GPA is excellent and even with a 19 AA you'll get more than one acceptance. Get the shadowing hours and that should be good enough. During some of my interviews no one even cared about volunteer work although I had extensive amounts of it and the ECs were also IMO a waste of time because no one cared about those either.

The bread and butter of any applicant is really the GPA and DAT everything else besides the LORs is just icing and has zero contribution to an application.

 

[dm1898]

Ok excellent,

Thats what I thought and what I wanted to hear. I always pretty much thought this was a numbers game, but people on this site are always beating the drum about the extras.

 

[wired202808]

Ok excellent,

Thats what I thought and what I wanted to hear. I always pretty much thought this was a numbers game, but people on this site are always beating the drum about the extras.

Find the ADEA survey and read what sort of info the schools find important. A lot of people on this site mean well and want you to succeed but then again they're not the ones that are making the decisions for the schools. And I like to hear it straight from the horses mouth instead of making assumptions and having the he said she said subjective debates.

 

[pk62281]

Having work experience help you in a significant way is a crapshoot. I have a lot of work experience working as an engineer for a huge very well known company. However, my GPA is a 3.34, I've only received one interview in which I know that my work experience made me stick out. The interviewer was the one who recommended that I be interviewed, and he told me that it was due to my work experience. All the other schools didn't care and just focused on my GPA and DAT.

 

[ta11geese3]

I had practically zero work experience. At my interviews, I felt that those who did have work experiences had more interesting experiences and perspectives to talk about, and were able to make themselves stand out more.

Plus, a lot of what you've learned will come into handy as a future dentist if you ever choose to run your own practice. You can always talk about how your business experiences helped you to consider dentistry because you like being your own boss and managing things etc etc.

I've often been told that the hands part of dentistry isn't too hard, especially since you get so much practice over the years. The hard part is actually running the practice and dealing with people. I know dental students sometimes complain about not having much education in practice management too.

 

[wired202808]

I had practically zero work experience. At my interviews, I felt that those who did have work experiences had more interesting experiences and perspectives to talk about, and were able to make themselves stand out more.

Plus, a lot of what you've learned will come into handy as a future dentist if you ever choose to run your own practice. You can always talk about how your business experiences helped you to consider dentistry because you like being your own boss and managing things etc etc.

I've often been told that the hands part of dentistry isn't too hard, especially since you get so much practice over the years. The hard part is actually running the practice and dealing with people. I know dental students sometimes complain about not having much education in practice management too.

Awesome thread for that:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=739665