Working at a dentist office while applying to medical school

[confusedr]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So, I am applying to medical schools this cycle and I can't seem to find a job to keep myself occupied! However, there is a possibility I could start working at a dentist office soon.
I was just wondering how medical schools look at that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[wasabee]

Pretty sure no one would care. You need the money, there is a job opening. It's practical. If you don't get accepted into any medical schools, it's most likely because of your stats or lack of ECs, poor rec letters, etc, not the fact that you worked at a dentist's office...

 

[Doctor Strange]

A job is a job. You don't even have to list it on AMCAS...

 

[ShenanigansMD]

Just say this during the interview: "I promise I wasn't shadowing the dentist! Forgive me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111eleven111one"

 

[neurowriter]

Too funny--I was just in the same situation and took the job. It's just for a few months, but I needed work, the people at the office are really nice, and I'm seeing how a private practice is run, even if dentistry is incredibly different from medicine in terms of insurance, etc. I felt a little strange about it at first, and hope I don't have to defend my choice in interviews, but so far it seems to be turning out well.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

If you need a job, you need a job--that's all there is to it. Hell, some people have to wait tables at Applebee's. Besides, the business practices of running a dentist's office are fairly similar to those of a primary care doc. I'm sure you can learn a lot.

 

[KindofBlue]

A job is a job. You don't even have to list it on AMCAS...

Why not list it?
The general consensus is to list even the summer job you took at a local grocery store, not to mention a job that is actually in the healthcare field.

I'm actually working in an optometry office and I'm surprised how much I'm learning about the healthcare system, having to deal with insurance and Medical and all the good stuff.

Anyway, if it's a job that pays well enough, and in the healthcare field, hell yes.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Why not list it?
The general consensus is to list even the summer job you took at a local grocery store, not to mention a job that is actually in the healthcare field.

I'm actually working in an optometry office and I'm surprised how much I'm learning about the healthcare system, having to deal with insurance and Medical and all the good stuff.

Anyway, if it's a job that pays well enough, and in the healthcare field, hell yes.

Well, you might not want to list just a summer job if you have more important things to list. For me, "summer job" was one of the last things on my list to put on AMCAS...

 

[Haislip]

You can use it to strengthen your application. it will show that you have explored career options and have solidified your interests in medicine

 

[MusicJunkie]

Why not list it?
The general consensus is to list even the summer job you took at a local grocery store, not to mention a job that is actually in the healthcare field.

I'm actually working in an optometry office and I'm surprised how much I'm learning about the healthcare system, having to deal with insurance and Medical and all the good stuff.

Anyway, if it's a job that pays well enough, and in the healthcare field, hell yes.

I'm going to agree.

I believe the general consensus is that if you worked for any significant length of time, it can't hurt your application. I worked 4 years while going to school full-time and my pre-med advisor was adamant that I list that. It's nice to show what you have been doing with your time (ex: not only was I shadowing, getting clinical experience, etc, but I was also working X hours a week at Wal-Mart, bagging people's items like a boss).

I don't know how long you anticipate working at this place, but if you have extra space, then why not include it?

And the fact that it was at a dentist's office is a non-issue. Seriously.

 

[MedicinaeDoctor]

Make that paper!

 

[Haislip]

make that paper!

+1