I was a pre-health career connoisseur. When I was in undergrad, I literally was every pre-health possibility at some point. I was pre-pharm and worked as a pharmacy technician for 5 years on and off. considered nursing. I was pre-PA at one point. I was pre-med for the majority of my time, took my MCAT and was ready to apply. And, long story not included here, I ended up becoming a dentist.
But in all my experience in all the programs that I thought about applying to, I came away with 5 key tips/themes that held true regardless of program. So here they are:
1. Know what the schools are proud of and target that! – Every school has something that makes it unique, something they focused time and energy and money into that is the arrow in their quiver, the feather in their cap. Find out what it is. It will take a minimal amount of stalking since they will display it front and center, usually in a theme of repetition (you see it on their website, their Facebook page, their recruitment brochure). It may be a fantastic clinical rotation program, or a interdisciplinary education component, or an incredible health and wellness focus… whatever it is, find it and tell them that is why you love them. Tell them in your interview, in your essay, in any and all communication you have with them.
2. Do NOT underestimate your extracurricular – Every time I meet an undergraduate who is thinking of applying to a program, their grades cause them some form of insecurity. I have even met people with 3.9’s stressing about the one B they got. I will not mention them here (they need not fret), but for others with more realistic concerns, you still should not discredit the things that make you amazing. Whether that is your passion for philanthropy, your commitment to sports or any other thing that sets you apart, there is a school out there that values that (see point #1). So what that means is, find that school, apply. If you do not get in, you can always try again. But what if you get in this cycle?
3. Use the resources at your fingertips. – IgniteDDS is at the FOREFRONT of this. You are here reading this blog so you are already ahead of the game. But IgniteDDS has countless other resources, including a live event which covers all the importants of getting into dental school (Hint; these tips work for ALL programs). So use them! Perhaps you are not a strong test taker. Use the test prep courses like Princeton Review or Kaplan. And if it seems like more money that is hard to spend, remember its an investment in yourself.
4. Vet Your Profession By Shadowing – Do not ust complete the minimum hours needed of shadowing – go explore! While you are there do not try and learn the clinical aspects. You will learn those regardless when you get in and knowing what a Class II is (for you aspiring dentists) will not help you get in faster. When you do shadow, see if you would be happy doing those tasks on a daily basis. Ask the professional what they love about their job and what they would change. Walk forward with introspection: would you be okay with these tradeoffs? Could you handle the good and the bad?
5. Networking Never Hurts – In many of these fields, knowing more people helps. It may not help directly but it will absolutely help while you are a student and after you are a professional. There is no such thing are starting too early. So now, even though you are not in the program, find CE courses and new dentist networking events and attend them. Talk to people, pick their brains and get to know your future professionals. You never know how it will pay off!
But in all my experience in all the programs that I thought about applying to, I came away with 5 key tips/themes that held true regardless of program. So here they are:
1. Know what the schools are proud of and target that! – Every school has something that makes it unique, something they focused time and energy and money into that is the arrow in their quiver, the feather in their cap. Find out what it is. It will take a minimal amount of stalking since they will display it front and center, usually in a theme of repetition (you see it on their website, their Facebook page, their recruitment brochure). It may be a fantastic clinical rotation program, or a interdisciplinary education component, or an incredible health and wellness focus… whatever it is, find it and tell them that is why you love them. Tell them in your interview, in your essay, in any and all communication you have with them.
2. Do NOT underestimate your extracurricular – Every time I meet an undergraduate who is thinking of applying to a program, their grades cause them some form of insecurity. I have even met people with 3.9’s stressing about the one B they got. I will not mention them here (they need not fret), but for others with more realistic concerns, you still should not discredit the things that make you amazing. Whether that is your passion for philanthropy, your commitment to sports or any other thing that sets you apart, there is a school out there that values that (see point #1). So what that means is, find that school, apply. If you do not get in, you can always try again. But what if you get in this cycle?
3. Use the resources at your fingertips. – IgniteDDS is at the FOREFRONT of this. You are here reading this blog so you are already ahead of the game. But IgniteDDS has countless other resources, including a live event which covers all the importants of getting into dental school (Hint; these tips work for ALL programs). So use them! Perhaps you are not a strong test taker. Use the test prep courses like Princeton Review or Kaplan. And if it seems like more money that is hard to spend, remember its an investment in yourself.
4. Vet Your Profession By Shadowing – Do not ust complete the minimum hours needed of shadowing – go explore! While you are there do not try and learn the clinical aspects. You will learn those regardless when you get in and knowing what a Class II is (for you aspiring dentists) will not help you get in faster. When you do shadow, see if you would be happy doing those tasks on a daily basis. Ask the professional what they love about their job and what they would change. Walk forward with introspection: would you be okay with these tradeoffs? Could you handle the good and the bad?
5. Networking Never Hurts – In many of these fields, knowing more people helps. It may not help directly but it will absolutely help while you are a student and after you are a professional. There is no such thing are starting too early. So now, even though you are not in the program, find CE courses and new dentist networking events and attend them. Talk to people, pick their brains and get to know your future professionals. You never know how it will pay off!