Tips From Current D.D.S. and Dental Hygiene Students

Building Your Application: Shadowing and Beyond

Posted by Brianna Kosecki on September 28, 2021
“Applying to dental schools typically requires extensive job shadowing hours to submit with your application,” says Brianna Kosecki, a third-year dental student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. “Generally, people shadow at a handful of private practices before applying to dental school, and while there is nothing wrong with that, shadowing can be a creative and unique aspect of your application! Read on to learn Kosecki’s general ideas on shadowing opportunities outside of general private practice that can help you set yourself apart from your peers. ... See More

Preparing for the ADEA AADSAS Application

Posted by Parinaz Esteghamat on May 24, 2021
“If you are planning to apply to dental school in the United States, ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) is the main platform that simplifies the application process, allowing you to save time and energy by completing just one application for multiple dental schools,” says Parinaz Esteghamat, a first-year dental student at Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. “If you are aiming to apply for dental school right after your undergraduate degree, ADEA AADSAS should be filled out during your junior year. Otherwise, please keep in mind that the application to dental school is a year-round process which opens in early May and closes in February, and it is on a rolling basis (first come, first served). The earlier you apply by submitting the complete application, the higher your chance of getting an invitation for early interviews.” ... See More

Deciding Where to Apply

Posted by Brian Chang on May 24, 2021

“If you only retain one thing from this article, it should be that when deciding whether to apply to a certain school, ask yourself if you would attend that school if it was the only one that accepted you,” says Brian Chang, a second-year dental student at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. “Turning down an acceptance to reapply elsewhere can easily be a red flag!” 

Read on for more advice on how to carefully select your dental school designations ahead of the June ADEA AADSAS® (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service) submission date. 

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Navigating Your Experiences in Public Health During a Public Health Crisis

Posted by Poonam Furmah on January 21, 2021

“The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly altered the traditional predental experience. Due to this public health crisis, there are a number of requests from community-led initiatives, government agencies, charitable organizations and nonprofits in public health for volunteers in a variety of roles,” says Poonam Furmah, a second-year dental student at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine. 

“This pandemic, although dreadful, offers unique opportunities for prehealth students to serve their local community. However, students must make informed decisions and maintain a superior standard of care to prevent further community spread to themselves and others,” Furmah said. “Not only will this add valuable skills to your repertoire, but it will also benefit those who need it most during this uncertain time.” 

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Student Profile: Thoughts From a Career Changer

Posted by Wendi Clanton on December 16, 2020

Wendi Clanton, third-year dental student at Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, recently connected with the ADEA GoDental team to share her experiences and advice as someone who recently made a career change to dentistry. Read on to learn how she made her way back to her first love of the dental professions later in her career. 

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Happy and Healthy in Dental School: What Does Wellness Mean to You?

Posted by Joan Daniel on December 18, 2019

“Dental school comes with a different set of stressors than college or the working world,” says Joan Daniel, a second-year dental student at the University of New England College of Dental Medicine. “All at once, you are expected to learn a variety of new, challenging concepts and clinical skills, balance school with family, friends and other responsibilities, all while making it look completely manageable the whole time. Free time is rare and it’s easy to feel fatigued by the end of the day.” Read on for Ms. Daniel’s words of advice on how students can avoid feeling burned out. 

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