Are you looking for dental school application experiences examples? We’ve got you. Dental school acceptance rates are very competitive, so you will need to submit the most compelling application possible to get into your chosen dentistry program and learn how to become a dentist. We know that sometimes you need to look at great examples to get inspiration for your own, so we’ve put together a few for you to review. We’ve also included some additional information about the ADEA AADSAS experience section that you’ll definitely find helpful.
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What is the Dental School Application Experiences Section?
The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) has a professional experience section. This section acts the same way an MBA resume or a CV for grad school would, by giving the admissions board an overview of your professional background.
When applying to dental school, you want to highlight the best characteristics to portray the version of yourself you want the committee to consider. Extracurricular activities and experiences are a great way to demonstrate qualities like leadership, communication skills, teamwork, and commitment; all ideal qualities for an applicant.
In my case, I knew I wanted to be a dentist when I was 8 years old, so as soon as I could spend some time on anything dental related, I dove right in. I was 14 years old the first time I spent an afternoon shadowing my orthodontist. I had my wire change appointment in the morning and then spent all afternoon watching, learning, even pouring impressions and casts! I remember my teeth were feeling tight and a bit sore, but it was such a memorable experience that I didn’t even care about the teeth pain. It was the beginning of my many shadowing days. I am sure the committee enjoyed reading the early dedication I displayed through this experience.
What to Include in Your Dental School Application Experiences
Remember that it’s not just the activities that you include, but also the impact of each experience and how it shaped your interest in dentistry and contributed to your personal and professional development. The admissions committee is interested in understanding how well prepared you are for this career and how you will contribute to the dental community.
Here are some of my suggestions to include in your dental school experiences section, by category:
I truly believe that all these sections allow you to draw the best image of the dentist you aspire to be. Some activities will radiate characteristics more than others but the important thing is to communicate the desire and commitment to the field. Based on what I know now, I would say that the more involved and active in the community you are, the better. Networking is very important, you never know who knows who and who could give a hand.
Once you know what extracurricular activities you are going to focus on mentioning in the extracurricular activity section, be sure to elaborate on what it did for you as a person. When I was brainstorming, I wanted to make sure I appeared as the dedicated, excited, aspiring dentist I felt like. I wrote down different experiences I remembered and prioritized them on the most impact they had on me. It is always easier to talk about something that feels good to you, so go after those experiences. Talk about things that illuminate your dental passion and the committee will see and feel that light shine through this section!
For all of your entries, you will have to provide the following information:
Dental School Application Experiences Examples
To put this in context for you and give you an idea of what your role descriptions should look like, here are a few examples of dental school application experience entries:
FAQs
1. What is the dental school application experience section?
It is a section of the AADSAS that gives the admissions committee an overview of your professional background, kind of like a resume would.
2. What is AADSAS?
American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) is a centralized application service for predental applicants created by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
3. How many categories are there for dental school application experience?
There are six categories: academic enrichment, dental shadowing, employment, extracurricular activities, research, and volunteer positions.
4. What should I include in the dental school application experience section?
For each entry, you will need to include the name and address of the organization where the experience took place, the name and contact information of your supervisor, the dates of the experience, the title you held, average weekly hours, and a brief description your key responsibilities within the role.
5. How many entries do I need for dental school application experience?
There is no specific number of entries, but you should focus on relevant, recent experiences. Preferably those from your college/university years and after.
6. How should I select my ‘most important experiences’?
It would be best to select experiences that showcase the qualities that dental schools value. Try to pick out the experiences that show that you have compassion and that you are dedicated.
7. What if I didn't have a supervisor for one of my experiences?
If you did not have a supervisor or advisor, you could provide the name of another member of the organization who can confirm your participation.
8. Can anyone help me look over my dental school application experience entries?
A dental school advisor can help you write your descriptions in the most compelling way possible. They can also help you with the other components of your dental school application.
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