Dentistry Shadowing etc.

[Eisley]

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So I'm a senior in HS, going to enter undergrad in Fall.
There's a high chance I'll end up going to UC Davis, which is about a half hour from my mom's dental office.

Will dental schools treat me differently (negatively or positively) if most if not all of my shadowing/other dental experience during my undergrad is done at my mom's office?

 

[Maygyver]

So I'm a senior in HS, going to enter undergrad in Fall.
There's a high chance I'll end up going to UC Davis, which is about a half hour from my mom's dental office.

Will dental schools treat me differently (negatively or positively) if most if not all of my shadowing/other dental experience during my undergrad is done at my mom's office?

Hey, the one problem I can see with that is that it would be helpful to get a letter of recommendation from a dentist you shadowed/interned with, but if you did all of your shadowing solely with your mum, then you probably couldn't use her as a letter of recommendation. Also, I think it might be better for you to shadow people who you don't know. Not only does this give you a different view of dentistry than you might see from your mum, but you also might feel more of a business environment versus a more casual environment. All in all, it is best to shadow different specialties of dentistry as well as different dentists.

 

[Eisley]

Ok, thanks. I guess I'm lucky I know a lot of dentists in this area 🙂

So I'll do some shadowing with my mom, but also make sure to try to talk to the dentists/orthodontists/endodontists/whoever she knows.

 

[Maygyver]

Ok, thanks. I guess I'm lucky I know a lot of dentists in this area 🙂

So I'll do some shadowing with my mom, but also make sure to try to talk to the dentists/orthodontists/endodontists/whoever she knows.

Yeah, it is definitely helpful to already have that network made. Ask your for suggestions on who she thinks would be helpful. I know when I shadowed my dentist he offered to talk to some dentists in the hospitals up in Columbus where I go to school and also some other ones in the Cincy area. Good luck! 🙂

 

[huskerdye]

Yeah, like you said start up a network..

I think it would also help if you shadowed orthodontists, etc.. That way you can say you got a feel of dentistry from different types of the profession.

 

[DrReo]

Yeah, like you said start up a network..

I think it would also help if you shadowed orthodontists, etc.. That way you can say you got a feel of dentistry from different types of the profession.

Shadowing different specialities is always great. Yes, your mother will not be able to write a recommendation. Some schools, for example, Tufts, require 30 hours of shadowing from a general dentist.

As you probably know, have a lot of volunteering, leadership, etc. Best of luck!

 

[Maygyver]

Yeah, if you check the predent forums, there is a post with the required shadowing hours of schools.