Blog 5

Since I am planning on going to dental school after graduation, I looked up different dental programs:

http://www.dental.uab.edu:16080/students/prospective-students/dmd-program/helpful-tips.html
http://dentistry.umc.edu/students/prospective/predoc/admissions_process/
http://www.lsusd.lsuhsc.edu/ddsadmissions.html
http://www.utmem.edu/dentistry/Admissions/DDS/DDSgenpolicy.html

Some Qualifications, skills, and experience they are all looking for:

-thorough knowledge of the basic biological and physical sciences and proficiency in communication skills
-good social skills, as dentistry is considered the ultimate ‘people profession’
-knowledge of the profession, integrity, motivation, leadership, maturity, and social awareness
-Possession of appropriate hand-eye coordination is considered essential to a successful application
-experience or shadowing in a dental clinic
-All dental school applicants must take the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) that is administered by the American Dental Association

I feel that I possess the necessary skills and knowledge to be considered for dental school. I have a broad background in biology, and am knowledgeable in chemistry and physics. During the latter years of high school and throughout college, I’ve become an effective communicator in groups, and am an even more proficient one-on-one communicator. My social awareness is more acute than that of most college students, and feel that I know how to act appropriately in different social settings.
My interest and knowledge of the dental profession has increased dramatically since I began shadowing two general dentists and two orthodontists. I realized very quickly what part of dentistry I wanted to pursue: general family dentistry. I was surprised by some of the patients that came in to the office, and felt that oral health was largely overlooked by society. I have very strong feelings about this, and want to bring it to the public’s attention – we need dental care in addition to health care for everyone. There is a very strong correlation between your overall health and your oral health.
In between work and planning a wedding, I studied for, and took the Dental Admission Test this past summer. I have been told that my scores are good enough for an interview, and are within the range of averages at the schools I am applying to.
In the past year, I have been elected to two leadership positions within the student organizations to which I belong, and really enjoy what I do with the groups, and am trying to bring in more members, and increase the involvement of current members.
While I was still a dependent of my father when I went to college, I was already very independent. At home, I was allowed to make many decisions about my life, but I was responsible for a lot of my own belongings, as I paid for them myself. I knew a lot of basics as a young adolescent, such as how to properly clean, cook, do laundry, and yard work. I was shocked to find that many of my peers had not touched a lawn mower or could not do their own laundry.
Artistic ability and manual dexterity have been prominent in my family. My mother was an art major and very skilled designer. My father has always been a hands-on, do-it-yourself man, and taught me how to work on household machines, as well as my own cars. So naturally since I was child I have enjoyed getting my hands dirty by working on art and design projects, and working with my dad fixing things. I got into sewing and cross-stitching when I spent time with my grandmother during the summers, and really enjoy creating things with my bare hands.
I am applying to three different schools, but would really prefer to be a part of the University of Mississippi Dental School. I am a resident here, and the tuition is considerably less when you are a resident. The application is due November 1 to this school, and I’m in the home stretch with only my application essay left, which is essentially a Personal Statement. It asks that you write about your self as a person, including achievements, awards, overcoming adverse conditions, and any other material you deem important. I tend to have a really hard time talking about myself, and find this to be a daunting task.