All work and no play makes you a
bad applicant!
A great GPA and transcript strewn with A's is an undeniable
plus to a prospective dental school. However, like college,
it's important that you are well rounded and have other
interests, both dental and unrelated.
Join an intramural or club sports team, write for the school
paper, or create set designs for the drama club. Many
activities show schools that you are multi-dimensional and
interesting. Social environments imply that you can deal with
many different types of people and situations. This shows
potential schools that you value teamwork, work well with
others, and can implement effective communication skills—all
abilities necessary for success in dentistry. In addition,
extracurriculars can also be a great way to relieve some stress
and take a break from your academics.
Many schools have pre-dental societies. Your non-dental friends
may call you a geek, but this is an excellent way to meet
people with similar interests and goals These organizations
also offer several fun and educational activities. They often
bring in guest speakers such as professional dentists with
various areas of concentration, representatives from test
preparation centers, deans of admission from dental schools,
and current dental students. They also may provide review
sessions or hints and tips for common classes.
Joining clubs or teams can be an invaluable asset to your
future success. These organizations not only look great on an
application, they also offer numerous educational opportunities
and the chance to gain a ton of exposure, experience, and
insight. You can make contacts through these societies, which
may prove very useful in the future—specifically in your search
for offices to volunteer at, dentists to shadow, or experts to
do research with.
Plus, professors that work in the field often serve as advisors
to such organizations. Thus, you will have a chance to
establish a close relationship with a teacher outside of the
classroom. Be nice to them, they will have tons of knowledge to
extend... and think of what a great recommendation letter they
will be able to write for you!
If your school doesn't have a pre-dental society you can start
one, and even make yourself president! Contact the
American Student Dental
Association for details.
