worth putting a 6 hr shadowing experience on app?

[freckles91932]

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I shadowed an orthodontist (the only specialist I shadowed) for only 6 hours. Is that worth putting on the application? I plan on shadowing him again in the fall, but that will be after I turn I application. I have done other shadowing at one dental office ~90 hours so I'm not too desperate for hours, but it would look like I've only spent time at one office.

 

[txaggie03]

I put everything I had any record of doing on mine.

If anything, it shows you met another dentist, formed a relationship, and likely asked a few questions.

 

[dentalWorks]

I shadowed an orthodontist (the only specialist I shadowed) for only 6 hours. Is that worth putting on the application? I plan on shadowing him again in the fall, but that will be after I turn I application. I have done other shadowing at one dental office ~90 hours so I'm not too desperate for hours, but it would look like I've only spent time at one office.

Are you sure it was 6? and not 10?
I say include them, it doesn't hurt.

 

[Teeth12345]

I would say include it. Even 6 hrs shadowing reveals a lot. Maybe you could shadow 4 more hours so you could have a nice even 10 hours.

Since we're on the topic, what is considered a good number of hours? I hear crazy things like 1000+ hrs. I've done about 100 hrs in a general dentist's private practice. I was thinking of shadowing a specialist all of next week to get another 20 bc I'm starting to worry that my hours won't be enough.

I don't have an awful lot of EC bc I didn't know I want to be a dentist until later. Aside from the 100 hrs shadowing and the volunteer work that I'm currently doing with a public health dental program, I haven't done much in the dental field. I have research and jobs but those are not directly related to dentistry.

The reason why I'm kinda worried is because I have a low GPA. I just want to make sure that the other parts of my app look good. Thankfully I have a high DAT but I know that the other parts of my app are important too.

I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

 

[justdandi]

I'd say to put down the 6 hours, especially if it's a specialist. You can learn a lot in 6 hours.

I'm curious, though: Do you put each dentist in a separate box / activity?

I was thinking I'd put "Shadowing" down for one activity, and in the description, break down how many dentists I've shadowed and the hours for each.

 

[jeffity]

I hear crazy things like 1000+ hrs.

I'll comment on the shadowing. From what I understand from the boards and the information from various schools, the 100-hour range is good for shadowing. Anyone who has 1000+ hours has proven nothing more than they are really good at standing in the corner. Your active volunteering in dentistry shows you've moved on to a more proactive and hands-on approach to learning about the profession.

An extra 20 hours wouldn't hurt, but it's not really going to make a difference on your application at this point.

 

[MacPreDent]

What I'd do is make it 10 hours one way or another and include it.
Can't hurt

 

[beatsdre]

I shadowed an orthodontist (the only specialist I shadowed) for only 6 hours. Is that worth putting on the application? I plan on shadowing him again in the fall, but that will be after I turn I application. I have done other shadowing at one dental office ~90 hours so I'm not too desperate for hours, but it would look like I've only spent time at one office.

Heres a tip:

Round up

 

[dentalWorks]

I would say include it. Even 6 hrs shadowing reveals a lot. Maybe you could shadow 4 more hours so you could have a nice even 10 hours.

Since we're on the topic, what is considered a good number of hours? I hear crazy things like 1000+ hrs. I've done about 100 hrs in a general dentist's private practice. I was thinking of shadowing a specialist all of next week to get another 20 bc I'm starting to worry that my hours won't be enough.

I don't have an awful lot of EC bc I didn't know I want to be a dentist until later. Aside from the 100 hrs shadowing and the volunteer work that I'm currently doing with a public health dental program, I haven't done much in the dental field. I have research and jobs but those are not directly related to dentistry.

The reason why I'm kinda worried is because I have a low GPA. I just want to make sure that the other parts of my app look good. Thankfully I have a high DAT but I know that the other parts of my app are important too.

I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

you called it bud... "crazy"

After achieving 100-150 hours worth of shadowing, you are literally wasting your time when you could be doing other (more meaningful things) like volunteering hours.

 

[TheScienceGuy1]

100 hours of shadowing is more than enough.

To OP, try contacting the dentist and shadowing him/her for a couple more hrs (till you get to 10).

But, even if you don't get any more hours with that dentist, I am pretty sure its OK to round up to 10.

 

[Doc Smile]

you called it bud... "crazy"

After achieving 100-150 hours worth of shadowing, you are literally wasting your time when you could be doing other (more meaningful things) like volunteering hours.

True that. include everything but dont do anything crazy like waste your time, Might as well spend that extra hours you saved and start studying for Boards Part I

 

[freckles91932]

Thanks for the reassurance. I'll be going in next week to make it 12!

Also I was wondering if there was a difference between shadowing vs assisting. When I said I spent ~90 hours at a dental office, I meant I volunteered as an assistant...............which means I only have ~10 hrs shadowing + ~80 hrs assisting + 12 hrs shadowing orthodontist. Is this okay?

 

[Noelle23]

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I have been working in the field for almost 8 years now but in ortho... I have volunteered in dental assisting and went to dental assisting school to become a RDA before I became a ortho assistant / TC. I was thinking about shadowing a dentist. Should I?

 

[Teeth12345]

Thanks for the reassurance. I'll be going in next week to make it 12!

Also I was wondering if there was a difference between shadowing vs assisting. When I said I spent ~90 hours at a dental office, I meant I volunteered as an assistant...............which means I only have ~10 hrs shadowing + ~80 hrs assisting + 12 hrs shadowing orthodontist. Is this okay?

Hmm, to me, 90 hrs assisting is better than 90 hrs shadowing because you're essentially shadowing AND gaining hands-on experience.

Is hands-on experience through assisting a requirement?

 

[anonymouse1]

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I have been working in the field for almost 8 years now but in ortho... I have volunteered in dental assisting and went to dental assisting school to become a RDA before I became a ortho assistant / TC. I was thinking about shadowing a dentist. Should I?

i dont think you need to. you've done enough work already.. if someone else know otherwise...feel free to add in.

 

[dentalWorks]

Thanks for the reassurance. I'll be going in next week to make it 12!

Also I was wondering if there was a difference between shadowing vs assisting. When I said I spent ~90 hours at a dental office, I meant I volunteered as an assistant...............which means I only have ~10 hrs shadowing + ~80 hrs assisting + 12 hrs shadowing orthodontist. Is this okay?

The problem with identifying your dental exposure as "assistant" vs "shadowing" is.... it could run you in trouble if interviewer thinks you know "more".

An assistant (presumably) knows more than the shadow-ee... so you might get a few "procedural questions" during the interview.... if you don't know how to answer them or answer them incorrectly, its.... well you get what Im saying