Do I have to pursue dental-related opportunities to be a strong dental school applicant?

dental admissions pre-dental strategy
By Amy L.

Whether you are someone who has known since forever that you want to become a dentist or someone who discovered only recently that dentistry is the career for you, you may be asking yourself the question: how many dental-related opportunities do I need to be a strong dental school applicant? Is it worth going in depth describing activities and commitments that are unrelated to dentistry? These were similar questions that ran through my mind when I was thinking about my application to dental school, so let’s take a moment to see what lessons I learned from my own experience going through the process.   

Do I have to shadow for a certain number of hours? 

There is no hard-and-fast rule when it comes to the minimum number of dental-related opportunities that you need to be involved with to make your application stand out. While most schools will have shadowing requirements, the number of minimum shadowing hours varies for each school. Don’t be so preoccupied with the number of hours, as the shadowing requirement is put in place to help applicants become engaged with the field and observe the scope and breadth of work that dentists do. Think of it as time you are investing into your future self to learn some basics while gaining a better understanding of what your life as a future dentist could look like. In observing the dental work performed and patient care interactions, it also serves the purpose of helping you reflect on whether dentistry is the right career for you. The takeaways from this experience that you can articulate on your application hold much more value than the sheer number of hours spent shadowing. You may consider keeping a running log of impactful patient encounters or interesting dental procedures you saw while shadowing so that you don’t forget the details when the time comes for applications.   

How many dental-related opportunities do I need? 

You may be asking then, do I have to do more than shadowing and work at an office as a dental assistant or receptionist? Do I have to pursue research projects on oral health topics? When curating the list of schools you want to apply to, make sure to go to their website and look at their requirements for applicants. Different schools have different requirements, and if certain things are not listed as a requirement for the schools you are interested in applying to, then focus instead on the experiences that are the most meaningful to you. Be a dental assistant or do research on topics related to oral health if it interests and excites you. However, don’t do extracurricular activities for the sake of checking a box or two as an applicant, because what you’re genuinely passionate about will shine through on your application.  

Is it worth detailing non-dental activities on my application? 

The short answer to this question is a resounding YES! Even if you have a larger number of non-dental-related activities than dental-related ones, dental schools are interested in understanding the breadth of your experiences. It is wonderful to be a well-rounded applicant who has maybe explored other career paths and has passion projects outside of dentistry. However, the lessons learned and the worldview that it has shaped for you as an applicant can go a long way. In fact, much of the insight and skills you gain from your time volunteering with a vulnerable population, making pottery, or being a teacher are equally as important in dental school and beyond. Remember to not leave out parts of your identity simply because you feel it dilutes the direct dental experiences you have. Rather, focus on what you are most passionate about and maybe you’ll be surprised to find that dentistry is a profession that can tie in those exciting endeavors.  

Some parting thoughts...

Particularly during application season, make sure to not become consumed by the online forums with students discussing what schools are looking for in their applicants. Focus on your experiences and crafting your story. No experience is too insignificant or small to include on your application! Your unique experiences helped shape you into who you are today, and the application is where you want that to shine through.   

 

Amy attended Wellesley College, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa pursuing a double major in Chemistry and German Studies. She is currently a dental student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM).

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