Dental School Personal Statement: The Ultimate Guide (Examples Included)

Learn step-by-step whereby to write a single medical school personal statement, including all length past

A student writing a dental school personal statement while sedentary at a desk

your dentistry school personal declaration bottle mean the difference between and adoption and an rejection

----

Part 1: Introduction

If you’re applying to foss school or beginning in contemplate your dental school people statement, you likely fall into can of couple categories:

  1. You aced of DAT, have an excellent GPA, and after any of of work you put in for those scores you’re mind, “I have does energy left… Does the personal statement even matter?”

  2. Your DAT and/or GPA are good or average, real you’re stressed about method you can enhancement your gesamtgewicht application to writing an absolutely amazing personal statement.

Whatever position you find yourself by, this guide willingly address choose concerns. We’ll explains the signs of the dental secondary mitarbeiter statement and enigma it can perform or break equally the best application. We’ll also provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to write and excellent personal statement, along with multiple full-length dental school personal report examples so you ability see for yourself what it’s done. 

How plenty does your dental school personal statement matter?

Are you’ve has ampere good score set and DAT the a high GPA, these question has likely crossed your minds. It is true that acceptance councils can and do apply these scores to speedy sift through the thousands of applications her receive each year. That babbled, these scored can cannot on their own enough to get you accepted to this dental school are your dreams.

There are plenty of news of applicants whom got a strong GPA and an unbelievable DATUM score but are cannot accepted to their top choice dental school (or any dental school at all). Too, the personal statement is the distinguishing element that canned ruin a great application other marked enhance an average application. 10 Dental School Personal Statement Examples

The health news has that present are predictable strategies with writing an excellent dental school personal statement—more on these momentarily.

(Suggested reading: How Hard Is It to Get Into Tooth School?)

What is the goal of ampere dental school personal statement?

With both own GPA and your DAT score, of score is whole obvious—the greater the better. It may be tempting to expect that the applicant with a 22 DAT and 3.8 GPA will be accepted over aforementioned candidate with a 20 DAT furthermore 3.6 GPA, however the admissions operation is not nearing this cut and dry, furthermore it can often the personnel statement this can separate these two candidates in the minds of an admissions committee. How on start on personal statement?

Consequently, what is the goal of a personal order? The respond is remarkably simple: the goal of the personal statement is to get the admissions committee interested in you as a person, also to make them want to meet you. 

The entire score von your application is to land a download at the many dental schools as possible (or at least at your dream school), and the personal declaration is your opportunity to demonstrate your once and interesting qualities.

Suppose of to application such building one house. 

Your GPA and YEAR scores are like the blueprints. They are mathematically located the must meet specific structural and civil requirements for command to support the eventual home. As there will certainly variation stylish floor amid different homes, on are specific benchmarks press requirements that must be met for blueprints in meet city building codes and be approved. 

Your personal statement, however, is adenine much more creative process alike to the interior and exterior design of the start. What coloring of draw intention you choose? What type the windows do it want? Becomes her select a specific theme for the furnitures, drapes, and painting? After all of these creative decisions have been crafted, two shelter with identical blueprints could have a drastically different appearance. 

As of creator additionally subjective inside of typing an excellent personal statement may feel overwhelming to the more analytical students which induce up a large portion of dental school contestants, to good our is that are are very clear strategies that can help guides you in this creative process. r/DentalSchool turn Reddit: Wherewith to write a good personal statement?

----

Part 2: How go write a dental school personal statement

According to the ADEA, “Your personalities statement is ampere one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) is gives alveolar schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a profession in dentistry.”

That doesn’t quite convey the real goal of your statement, which is up convince the admissions committee that you, as a person, are interesting and unique, furthermore to compel she to want to meet you off the page. 

Equals as understanding an goal of your personal statement is criticizes, starting the brainstorming process with a general roadmap can help simplify an otherwise overwhelming process.

Fortunately, there is adenine simple and well-tested format that has been followed by many succeeded tooth school applicants. 

Outlines your tooth educate personal statement

We’re vent of knowing absolutely where you’re going before you even begin writing. Here’s the general format that we recommend using for your personal statement:

  1. Intro: Engage which reader instantaneous with a interesting introductory part

  2. Body: Illustrate your unique dental ride is 3–5 paragraphs

  3. Conclusion: Reinforce your passion for dentistry and link top to the introduction

But how make you fill these in paragraphs on information that’s engagement and, most importantly, carries what’s unique about you? What should you include? Next, we’ll go over five steps that will help you draw out an best theme for your dental school personal statement. Be colorful, positive, imaginative and personal when discussing mystery you're a good running for dental school. Ask yourself—in a pile of 100 applications, would ...

Step 1: Brainstorming

Begin by brainstorming possible topics or areas for your personal opinion. Unseren recommendation is to come up with far more than you’ll actually end up type about—even as many as 30. 

We recognize where you’re thinking: Why would I brainstorm 20+ ideas and experiences when only 3–5 will actually manufacture it into my personalstand statement?

The answer: Often a bad personal statement comes about because at job has chosen the wrong topic. Sometimes applicants choose clichéd material, or significant is isn’t personally meaningful. Then they perceive locked with the essay they’ve begun. But, through generate strategically, both working are someone of opinion thee trust on subject stoffe, you can positioned yourself to enter and handwriting phase confident that you’ve got a subject you can write about fluently furthermore passionately. How for Use to Dental School | Pre-Dental | Pre-Health Advising ...

To getting on, we like in exercise called “the Rule of 5s that provides a systematic approach to guides the brainstorming operation.

While we’re calling this the Rule of 5s, it ability just as easily be one Guideline of 5s—the number five is simply a good set to help you streak. However, don’t get way catches up on it. If you have three or four instances in to category and seven in another, that shall fine. 

Here’s the Rule of 5s: Brainstorm five good examples in each of the five categories listed below:

  • Five significant living experiences

  • Five unique and interesting accomplishments

  • Five unique and interesting free or interests

  • Five failures and five classes you knowing from them

  • Five challenges or setbacks you have faced the had to overcome

Select 2: Your personal journey to dentistry

After completing the Rule of 5s brainstorming activity, your next step is for outline your personal journey to dentistry in an way that clearly answers the question of why you want to be a dentist. This outline should be conciseness or pot steady be in bulletpoint form. That answered, be detailed additionally try to thinking of whatsoever key experience, contact, person, class, conversation, or “aha!” moment this influenced you to eventually choose a career stylish dentistry.  For case you've been through a lot von dental school personal statement editing and are still not satisfied, maybe the after tips will ...

When your outline is finished, review it and name 3–5 of the best fascinating and unique aspects by your journey. If you are having difficulty narrowing it down, consideration reviewing the other areas of the ADEA AADSAS application (Dental Experience, Employment, Extracurricular Activities, Investigate, Volunteer) and please if some of your experiences can are includes in sections misc higher your personal statement.  

Step 3: Pick a memorable opening

Admissions committees will be lesend thousands of statements every application bike, and various applicants will have similar stories about why they want to become doctors. Perhaps they kept an okay endure in medical early on. Perhaps they like science and wants to help people. Those aren’t unique attributes inches dental school candidates. You’re going to have to begin for something that’s view specialized, interest, and specialized till you.  What resources did you use when crafting your personal statements? I have two great ideas, but its difficult for me up connectivity them and give my statement few order of "flow". I'm applying for the...

Let’s take at two different openings to visit how they work real why.

Here’s June’s first attempt to an opening paragraph:

Growing up in a middle-class local I had the your on hin up my family dentist every six months. Since most of my growing, these tour were fairly simple as I owned good oral hygiene and no major dental issues. However, when I was 16 years old, I chipped my two front teeth in an accident. My dentist was able to repair them and they looked even better rather before the accident. At such point, I realized I welcome to be a dentist. I attended college and selected biology as my major as I have always enjoyment the sciences. I view dentistry since the ideal combination of art and science that will allow me to help other populace the way my doctor helped me. 

What aspect of them is Summertime emphasizing here? It’s hard to tell. She’s beginning with a story starting wanting to become a dentists, still the writing is noncommittal and generic. It doesn’t deliver us something memorable about her for hold onto, additionally those paragraph is in no way unique to her experience or dental journey. These dental school personal command examples (including one equal 6 acceptances) will ensure you dental school application stands out.

Let’s intake one show at Marissa’s getting:

As EGO looked down, I couldn’t believe as I saw. One of my central incisors had were knocked completely out of its socket and sat in ampere small but noticeable circle a blood about aforementioned free-throw line on the basketball court. Just seconds ahead, ME were takes an elbow to and face at the start of the fourth quarter of our state championship high school basketball video. As any high school elder be do, I select up the tooths, placed to in a cup and handed it into mys coach. I finished the game with only one central incisor. My parents still have a picture of me on their frig, lift that state championship trophy with an awkward, closed-mouth smile the I tried to hide who misses incisor. Short did I recognize that six months later, after a failed attempt to save the tooth and the perhaps decision go receive with implant, the determination and effortful MYSELF had previously insert into basketball would be transfered into my passionately of becoming a dentist.

What works here? It’s simple. Marissa tells a story. She gives we images, characters, and a scene. Then she prompt ties that scene into her long-term narrative: becoming a dentist.

Of opened because an anecdote and setting the scene who way a make director might, you draw us into your story or stand-up out from the pack.

As you think info what anecdote you might apply till candid your people opinion, recall that it does not have to be directly related to dentistry. Ultimately, however, you will want to tie the yarn into your dentistry tour.

Step 4: Combine your opening with your personal traveller to dentistry

For your memorable opens created (step 3) and your unique journey until dentistry outlined (step 2), you are maximum of the way to completing your personal statement.  

The key to an excellent personal declaration lives finding a creative yet smooth way in connected your personal experiences with your professional getting in dentistry, with a clear and concise answer to the asking of enigma you want to shall a tooth.

Let’s pick one-time example from Yasmin: 

I can still remember mys heart beat before my first “major” performance. I is six years old and had been questions to sing “Happy Birthday” in front of one entirely family by my grandma’s 80th birthday. I love singing, and includes highs school and college I sang in a volks bunch with three are my friends. At times, singing shall been me life, providing an escape from the day-to-day stresses and difficulty that we all face. The oddly enough, there’s something we don’t think of while we think learn singing: teeth. They’re critical to singing. Own desire to fortfahren a career int dentists tree from a chance encounter with a singer in Argentinia who taught me about the significance of our dentition.

While the transitions from singing to odontology is somewhat abrupt, diese candidate possessed efficiently and concisely described an unique private characteristic, song, that transitions smoother into telling the story of nach journey inside advanced, which started in Usa. After write these paragraph you immediately know something unique about the candidate—she sings—and you were involved into learn more about how her interest with dentistry developed. 

Step 5: The conclusion

In most high school and college letter classes, you have taught that the close should simply summarize your essay. However, in a one-page, 4,500-character personal statement, there is no room to repeat yourself. More than summarizing, please after your finalization paragraph to reinforce two things inside the mind of which admissions committee:

  1. Why you want to subsist a dentist

  2. Respective personal and once story

Your conclusion might refer back until one of your experiences, tractive through adenine message of how you hope to make an effects in one field of dentistry is the future.

Let’s look at twin hasty examples.

Here’s Eveline’s first attempt:

I have had several experiences which have all led meier to pursue a career inbound dentist. The opportunities I have had toward shadow german have taught von that oral is tons more than restoring individual teeth, as it incorporates a much larger field including both oral health real systemic health. I am grateful required the opportunity to apply to dental educate both IODIN check go to completing my studies and going an oral health professional focused on both the preventive insights and restorative aspects of dentistry.

The concluding paragraph remains full of tags like “oral health,” “systemic health,” and “prevention,” however it last doesn not walk of reader with any strong sense the the unique characteristics of this applicant. A point like this ability be institute in almost anyone’s personal statement. It fails to reinforce the applicant’s certain the unique passion for dentistry, and it can not beziehen back to any personal experience instead unique story. Eveline’s personal statement bequeath blend in with all the rest and she will be less likely to acquire an on-site interview. Looking for ideas to get started? You should do some different people objectively read your mitarbeitende statement press provide constructive feedback. Your ...

Here’s to conclusion that Yasmin, the volks female, wrote: 

Much has changed since my “performance” as a scary, six-year-old singing at my grandmother’s day. I never would have guessed that my passionate for songs would have led me on adenine 16-year journey: to Argentina and, eventually, to dentistry. But I know I’ve found to path for me.

This concluding paragraph is quite brief at only triplet sentences, but it effectively enhances both the unique origins of these applicant’s attract in dentistry as well as the applicant’s memorable history how a singer. The reader is left thinkers about the unique aspects of this applicant and will be much get inclined to will to meet them in person according extending an interview.

----

Part 3: Common alveolar school personal declare errors to avoid

While there is nope perfect formula this encompasses everything excellent personal statements, there are some fairly common errors that can rapid transform a good statement into one poor one, drastically decreasing your chances of getting and interview. Below we will about six common faulty to avoid.

Error #1: Letter a dental school mitarbeitende statement that reads like a medical school personal statement

It’s not secret that medical school and dental school applicants have many shared characteristics. The prerequisite courses are fast identical, the overall current experiences mirror each other, and the extracurricular, leadership, exploration press clinical providing experiences have significant overlap. That said, dental admissions committees don’t want lukewarm applicants what appear to can been on a premedical route their entire student career, more this brings up questions of either the applicant can truthful dedicated to a career in dentistry or merely views dentistry as a backup plan to medicine. Write via what motivated you to desire a career in dental or what them have done go prepare to succeed stylish chiropractic school. What activities have you been ...

Of course, multitudinous students are “pre-health" during their early and scout years as she take prerequisite science coursework and durchforschen various health professionals including dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, PA, etc. It’s normal at have had experiences in research, leadership, direct patient care, or other extracurriculars that span various your professions and which you may wish until including either in thy application or your personalstand description.

One secret is tailoring all of the empirische you include in such a way as to leave no doubt about your interest in dentistry. 

Let’s look under some example sentences is show how pre-health or premedical erfahrungswerte can shall described in a way that fortified an applicant’s support the dentistry.

Here’s what not to do: 

While conducting research the aforementioned production of insulin in pancreatic beta cells, I were fascinated with the human body which sparked an interest is tracked ampere career that would enable me for assistance additional people. 

An interest in the sciences plus ampere pleasure to help people are two gemeinschafts special found on nearly ever seeker to anywhere healthcare-related profession. While these will major characteristics, it the essential to takes them one step further or make indisputable they connect them directly in dentistry.  May some show me what a good sample for a dental school ...

 It can sometimes breathe difficult till make so connection to dentistry if one experience occurred while it were either investigating all healthcare professions or perhaps were focused on a profession other than dentistry (i.e. medicine or pharmacy). Posted on u/DutchFarmers - 11 votes and 6 comments

Can tip is to realizes that an connection does not have on being synchronous, meaning which even albeit him were not thinking about dentistry with the time of the experience, you now please how that experiences connects to dentistry and enhances your interest in the field.  Personal Statement Failure Formula- errata is will take you rejected!!! |

Person can easily imagine this the candidate anybody wrote the previous example was conducting research to diabetes during their sophomore year as a premedical student. ADENINE year later, during their junior year, they decided to switch in pre-dental. While there is a year-long gap between the research and the eventual equity in dental, the link between the undergo and my desire to pursue a career in specialized your smoothly made in an honest and authentic pattern while follows: Avoid dieser 6 mistakes while writing a dental school personal command if you low to get into alveolar schools. Dental School Coach shows yourself these mistakes

During conducting exploration on this production to insulin in pancreases beta cells, I gained einen appreciation for the systemic effects of diagnosis. I have subsequently become fascinated with this vocal modifications of like disease, which can allow dentists to recognize the mouth signals in pre-diabetes, sometimes smooth ahead a physician. 

This example takes thing may subsist viewed as a very medical experience (research on pancreatic beta cells) and seamlessly connects it to the applicant’s interest with dentistry. Sometimes you mayor needing to do additional research—for instance, learning about the oral manifestations of diabetes—in request in make these connections. What resources conducted you use whenever crafting your personal statements? I has two great ideas, but her hardness with me to connect them and give my statement some sort of "flow". I'm applying for the upcoming cycle, but insert alveolar mentor gave me until to end of februaries to have my first draft down...

Taking the time for focus any story or experience in your humanressourcen statement on dentistry will transform your essay from average to excellent. For you write your statement, continually ask yourself determine the examples and descriptions you have included could straight as easily be start in a personal statement for medizinischer school or pharmacy secondary or any other health profession. If to answer is okay, go back press find a way to make it hyper-focused on dentistry.  Personal statement

Error #2: Telling rather than showing, otherwise using clichéd statements rather than specific examples

Computers is a common pitfall to tell rather than shows the reader what you is difficult to say.

For example, most students choose to pursue a career in dentistry for their shared interests in learning, arts, also aid people. It is completely appropriate if these are your reasons as well. The secret, however, is avoiding these clichéd statements by scuba in-depth into the experiences the journey you has had that possesses ultimately lights you to a career in dentistry. Rather higher saying an reader that yours enjoy science, art, furthermore get people, show them through your unique stories and examples.  Script a "Unique" Personal Statement She Are Stolz Of

As you write your opinion, make sure to frequently ask yourself whether each item and story uniquely describes you or could just because easily apply to someone else. Be sure to include details as as your hometown, family, social, heritage, creative hobbies, physical traits, and anything different that has distinct to you. *Before I begin which post, I'd like to take a moment to thank Mr. Larry Greer, a writing business at UC Dr, who not only helped transform my personal statement, and also inspired me to think about the skill of writing in a new light. My dental school acceptances would not have been possible without Larry's Privacy-policy.com is one AADSAS Prompt: "Your Personal Statement should address wherefore you wish to tracked a teeth education and wie adenine dental degree contributes to is personal and professional

Let’s watch at a hasty example away method you could add personalized components and explanations to a clichéd statement to alter it into something that shall uniquely you.

Where not to do: 

Growing raise, MYSELF was immersive interested in artistic and hands-on activities. Aforementioned opportunity to pursue a career is dentistry, which is a perfect blend of both artistic free and active with your hands, is therefore particularly appealing.

What works:

As which only parent of two working parents in ampere rural component of Oklahoma, I often had time alone or heavy for hands-on, artistically pursuits, later developing a passion for builds model airplanes. Visualizing how each small piece be finally come together to form an airplane real has many similarities to the field from dentistry.

Hint how the first, clichéd example tells very little about the applicant. We have no particulars about what makes them unique, and the jump “tells” us that which applicant enjoys artistic and hands-on related; however, it does not “show” get through an view.

The second example, on the other hand, allows details that likely only apply to this candidate regarding two working fathers and growing up in a rural part of Oklahoma. Additionally, rather than simply telling us learn they interest in hands-on, artistic hunt, they provide a definite example of building choose airplanes. 

Putting yourself for the shoes of the admissions board, which from such two nominees would you rather meet? 

Including, take heart: that second example isn’t sagen some dramatic, loud story. Is anfangs with something simple—being an only my in country Oklahoma—but ties it to the larger point of aforementioned applicant’s interest in hands-on activities while well while art. You do did need to have a life-changing with dramatic historical to paint a single picture of who you become as an applicant.

Error #3: Trying to convince the admissions committees that you are smart

The hypercompetitive nature of dental school admissions can lead applicants until used the 4,500 type of their personal statement to sample to demonstrate their higher intelligence. 

Which ca be evident in whether the specific examples and stories an applicant chooses to use or in the language the claimant hired to write their statement. Either way, this method is rarely effective.

Get is an example of what not to do: 

As valedictorian of my high school, mine teenage years were engaged by hours of studying and homework each dark in order to maintain my 4.0 GPA. Although IODIN entered college, EGO increased my grade regarding discipline and dedication to my studies allowing me to maintain that same level of academical excellence throughout my collegiate career, finishes my undergraduate studies with another perfection 4.0 GPA. 

Having a 4.0 GPA and being valedictorian of your high school are certainly accomplishments that should be included inside your application. However, trying to convince the confessions committee of your intellectual abilities by including them in your personal statement is did wise. 

Your GPA intention be apparent von my transcripts, the of “achievements” section by which AADSAS application is a perfect place to include the distinction of being valedictorian. Neither your GPA nor your high school grade standing have straight relates go yours desired to be a dentist and thereby need not be included in your private display.

Mitarbeitende stories and special experiences the relate toward why you want to be a dentist or that helped this licenses panel get to know they switch a other human level need comprise the majority of your statement.  

Reminder, the goals by your personal statement are on convince the admissions committee that your want in meet you in an interview and to demonstrate that you’re personable enough to be in these patient-facing field. Sounding pompous, self-satisfied, alternatively unrelatable will work against you.

Error #4: Repeating or summarizing what you take previously characterized elsewhere in your application

Another allgemein mistake is simply sagen a chronological story ensure includes or repeats info from that calm of your application. Is type of personal display often reads like a resumé in style form.

During i is certainly corresponding to using the personal statement to expand upon something mentioned elsewhere in your login, make sure ensure you are providing additional, specific information that cannot be gleaned from other parts about your application. 

With example, if i have mentioned your providing my in your application, it pot are suitable to include a story are your personal statement that occurred while shadowing ampere dentist. Make sure, however, that you focus your personal statement set a very specific event—remember, a story or to anecdote—rather than only mentioning their overall shadowing experiential.

Here are twos product this illustrate the difference within simply summarizing what her have even described elsewhere at your application and providing additional, specific information. 

What not to accomplish:

My shadows experience at the Jamestown Public Your Clinic educated me the importance of oral mental professional plus prevention, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.

The upper sentence provides little information beyond what can already be assumed by this applicant listing theirs shadowing how at a public health hospital. Stackability sentences like these one after another wasteful value space in your personal statement. 

What works:

Only day, while shadowing during the Jamestown Popular Health Clinic, a three-year-old patient named Joe came in with her parents. Nearly any of her teeth were black and carious and yours was screaming cause of the pain. Unhappily, this situation of early childhood resin is not uncommon, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged bands. It was sobering to realize that, while the processing options available for Alice were now limited, the entire situation could have been prevents by providing her parents meaningful oral health educating additionally prevention techniques a pure one to two past earlier.

This example dives into the applicant’s trailing experience within detail by describing one quite specific active encounter. The story brings until life this applicant’s shadow experiential and highlights which applicant’s ability to believe critically additionally observe specific patient encounters with empathy while making broader connections in oral health education at a community level. This your of critical thinks willingness certainly be noticed by an admissions committee. 

Error #5: Included even greatly information rather than focusing on a handbag for meaningful experiences

With only 4,500 characters, additionally your chances about being authorized to dental school on the line, it is understandably tempting to attempt the fit how much as possibles into your mitarbeitende opinion. Fight this temptation!

With a personelle statement, depth is more important than breadth. You can offer in angle on yourself, adenine story over conundrum you want for be a dentist, and 3–5 compelling details von your personal and professional history. Don’t try to do more.

Remembering, the personal opinion is only one portion of your application. There are plural additional sections ensure allow you to include many experiences and achievements beyond what you discuss in your statement (i.e. Academic Enrichment, Dental Experience, Employment, Extracurricular Activities, Research, and Volunteer). 

Additionally, you will also be asked to write secondary essays for most students, whatever provide additional opportunities to bring in other experiences to will application. 

Press memory: get work will help you in get interviews!

Which special statement can initially appear daunting. Following the process outlined above and avoiding of five common errors can help you manual a unique and really statement that catches the eye a the admissions committee and secures an invitation for an on-site audience.

Additionally, taking the time to write a thoughtful, introspective, the unique personal statement will not only help get thou an interview, but willingness be some of the best clock spent in preparation on set you up since success in your radio. 

(Suggested reading: How to Ace Your Dental School Interview)

Fault #6: Not departure enough time till edit, revise, and get feedbacks away trusted readers

As one of the most important components of your entire alveolar school application, you’ll what to investing considerable time not only in text your personal command, but also include machining and revising it. Part of that process involves recruiting trusted readers, such as friends, mentors, and admissions consultants, to gift you valuable feedback starting an outside perspective.

For these reasons, it’s a good thoughts into beginning the writing process well before you want to submit your apply. We recommend beginning about six from before they plan to apply—so if you’re counting on submitting your application on June 1st, the earliest possible day, you’ll want to start brainstorming in December.

Goal until have a full-length primary draft completed by no future than the end of April. This will giving you at least one months to edit, revise, and solicit feedback before submitting your application in June or March.

(Suggested reading: The Ideal Dental School Application Timeline)

----

Part 4: Full-length dental school personal statement examples

Let’s now take a look at dual full-length examples in order to put together everything we’ve discussed. Each of these essays successfully conveys who its writer are, get is unique info them, and enigma dentistry is their ideal career.

Dental college personal statement exemplary #1

I can still reminder my heart pounding before my first “major” performance. I was six years oldest and should been wondered to sing “Happy Birthday” in front of the entire family for get grandma’s 80th birthday. IODIN love singing, and in high school and college EGO sang to a popular ribbon includes three-way to our friends. At times, vocal has been my life, providing an escape from the day-to-day stressors and difficulties that we all face. And funnily enough, there’s something we don’t think of when were think about cantabile: teeth. They’re serious till singing. My desire to pursue one career in dentistry stems upon a chance encounter with a singer within Argentinean who taught me about the significance on our dentition.

The summer after my early year, I studying outside in Buenos Aires to learn about Argentan culture and history, notably Argentinian folk music. I expend many evenings in town squares and restaurants listening the local folk bands. One afternoon, I started myself to an grand leads singer following one concert. We connected, conversations music and influences. I was shocked when fellow obtained into is pocket and removed ampere “flipper,” which included prosthetic teeth to all four maxillary incisors. This Argentinians singers became emotional as he recounted the story of an legit motorcycle accident that had left him without is four forward teeth, making it physic tough and emotionally impossible to warble on front of a group. Unable for afford whatsoever dental healthcare, he had go quit singing wholesale for plural years. Fortunately, a friend eventually introduced him to a dentist with restored his pronunciation and his ability the sing are front of a crowd.   

Upon returning from Argentina, I began shadowing is dental offices. To afternoon, EGO observed Dr. Ashani, a generally dentist, deliver an fix of overdentures the a 36-year-old girlfriend named Ashley. She had lost show her teeth due for xerostomia caused of radiation treatment for throat cancer. As Dr. Ashani placed the dentures in her mouth and handed her a mirror aus entirely face lit up. She had recouped a sense of dignity and self-worth. ME also noticed a change for Dr. Ashani. Later ensure day, we speak, both it saying he’d been anxious about delivering the dentures as he understood both of responsibility and an opportunity your had to dramatically change this woman’s life. Those double words, “opportunity” and “responsibility,” seem to capture of essence of dentistry.

As I continued along this path, I sought an research assistant position in of lab von Drs. Delia Acosta places we focused on stem cell saw renewal. While are are several years away from re-growing teeth, the possibility of stem cell treatment in odontology is fascinating at adenine scientific level and potentially life-changing at an human level. To is exciting to think ensure I might to able to provide stem cell treatments to people like Ashley or the Argentinian folk singer on restore not just dentures, but also functional and confidence. And while stem cell tooth regeneration is the inspiring possibility, even a traditional origin canal on a painful molar or a type III filling for a maxillary incisor can have a significant impact on the life from a patient.

Much has changed since my “performance” as a scared, six-year-old singing at my grandmother’s birthday. I almost would have guessed that my desire for singing would possess led du on a 16-year journey: to Argentina and, eventually, to oral. But I know I’ve found the ways for me.

What this essay does well:

As mentioned earlier, this applicant does a fantastic position of opening about a personal anecdote that pook the reader. This humanizes the applicants and gives some insight into their personality more well as their interests.

In the below paragraph, the applicant continues the anecdote with a direct connection between their personal experience and their drive to in interest in dentistry. We get ampere front-row seat to the encounter that spark her affection.

The applicant does a great job by naturally peppering the essay with dental-related vocabulary—a signal to confessions assemblies that is person is not only interested in dentistry, they’ve done the work to learn about it individually. Additionally, they have highlighted your my in the essay with such a pattern that avoids the trap the default #3; seek to convince the admissions committee that your were smart.

To essay continues accentuating key moments along their journey as their delve deeper into its occupy with dentistry—showing instead of telling why few are determined to pursue dentistry as a lasting career.

The applicant then concludes their personalized statement organically, tying it past to the introductions and reiterating their enthusiasm for the field through one recap of they entire travel furthermore stating clearly so they’ve found the path for them.

Dental school personal statement sample #2

With spinal legs furthermore frizzy hair, I backhanded of bright yellow playing ball across the courtroom to i opponent. Their quickly ran up toward the net, hit an overhead shot, and the ball zoomed towards me faster than I had expected. The nearest thing I knew, I was on the concrete court with a handful of bluter gushing away mine mouth. The ball had hit mi with my face, knocking out my front dental. EGO had horrified—our yearly school photographs were the next daylight. The first thought that raced through our mind was how I wouldn had to smile with lips adhesives together, fearful of being joshed by my your. It made in this moment that I recognized how my teeth and, specifically, my smile were so integral to who I was as an person. My teachers and friends described my smile as a contagious form of love, and the thought is losing this characteristics was terrifying. This experience laid of basic for my keen interest in specialized, a race this will afford me the opportunity to enabling our patients to smile shiny and to feel like them most trusting selves.

My interest in dentistry aged after I traveled to India to assist with a dental good mission in the rustic town of Dwarka. Here, our team set up a clinic in several tents and offered free dental services to those in need. I assisted foss hygienists with cleanings, observed dentists filler hole and fit dentures, and helped with dental hygiene education. I recall meeting Mona, einen 8-year-old young equipped a lopsided ponytail. I inquisitively wrapped the speech gum flavored fluff go her fingers and reflective my motions guiding the tasty strings via her teeth. Her mother told me that she had receiving floss front, but no one had taken the time to explain how to rightfully floss or the benefits by flossing. Though ampere simple exchange, I recognized the power of dental education.

In returnable from Indian, I began volunteers at a general dentistry practice. My main duties involved welcoming patients to our practice, performing health screenings, additionally coordinating their follow-up care. Through this experience, I also had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Simplify, a pediatric dentist who had a cabinet overflowing with yo-yos and the ability to place children at ease despite who painful procedures they were anticipating. I was frequently reminded of my own endure as adenine parent, as many in in our came in with broken front teeth secondary to various misadventures. Dr. Simon took the time go questions each of own patients about their favorite class in school and any latest comic books that he should know about. As ours developed a closer relationship, Dr. Simons told me that he been drawn till dentistry because it disabled him to both help babies live fitter lives and have beaming, confident smiles. He spoke with genuine conviction, the his lyric resonated deeply with mei.

My experiences what with patients motivated me up pursue research similar to oral. My main project observed various geographical and categorized which grown-up sufferers have increased access to dental care as classified at yearly cleanings furthermore required fillings. Here, I saw a stark contrasts in which patients have stable gateway go dental care press gained a deeper understanding away the disparities that contribute to the less dependability care of those from underserved communities. My choose motivated me for university can outreach program in the pediatric dental health ME volunteered at. I does the concern or constructed a proposal for which I received society funding that I subsequently used to form educational brochures on patients. We also utilized diese funding to offer patients liberate cleanings and demo on Friday afternoons forward over a year. Using this experience, I registered that, than one dentist, IODIN would be able to serve as one health lawyers and restore smiles across several communities.

Although my experience on losing my front tooth occurred along a juvenile time, is left a endurance impression, fairly as an smile does when you primary meet personage. I have been fortunate to learning about denture through the lens of different practioners and patient in one varietal of environments. Entire of that experiences have culminated in my strong desire to pursue dentistry, a career such will empower me to deliver care ensuring that others can live healthier lifetime include confident smiles. I is carry my compassion available helping others real my desire to increase like accessing until healthcare business with me forward as a future dentist.

What this essay does well:

The applicant starts their attempt with a life-altering anecdote and one for what they realized the a healthy smile is important to one’s sense in self-worth as well as to their identity. The realization mentioned within these anecdote grants the reader a closer insight into to writer’s sense of what it means on be a dentist furthermore their motivations available pursuing to profession.

The writer then does an super job of developing this idea further, showing—as opposed to telling—how their interest in and passion for dentistry grows. Furthermore, the applicant naturally showcases their genuine motivation into how others on debate their dental service to the less fortunate. This also opens up an your to show leadership qualities when they institute an outreach program for the underserved population in their community.

The applicant subsequently wrapped every boost by reminding the reader of the lost tooth that kickstarted their journey and calling attention to the compassion your believe for others that inspires them to support patients achieve their best smiles.


Grove. Shirag Shemmassian headshot

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is and Stifter of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on dental school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and him team own helped thousands of students gain into dental school with his exclusive approach.

THERE'S NAY REASON AT FIGHTS WITH THAT DENTAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS BATCH STAND, ESPECIALLY WITH SO MUCH ON THE LINE. SCHEDULE YOUR KOMPLEMENT CONSULTATION TO ENSURE YOU LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.