4 answers
shajwan
Student
Plano, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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Where should i work if I'm a college student and i want to be a dentist ?
Hello, I'm 17 and I've already graduated from high school (2024) and now I'm in college.
I want to know where should i work to get some experience ?
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1750
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Shajwan !
Great question ! Congratulations on graduating high school and entering college ! That is wonderful ! It is also great that you are taking the steps to be a future Dentist !
You have asked about work while you are in college. If you applied for Financial Aid and checked the Work Study option, you would be able to quickly obtain a job on campus. I will assume that you didn't, but you can do this for next school year. Apply for Federal Financial Aid for next school year when the applications first come out and choose the Work Study Option. Once you get Work Study, go to any department or building on campus and inquire about their work study jobs. Since you are going to pursue Dental School, you may want to see if there would be work study positions in your Science Department or Health Sciences related or even the on campus clinic. But for right now, you will just have to find employment to suit your preferences and time schedule. There's no particular type of job you "should" take right now. You're not a dentist yet and you don't need experience right now, you will learn everything in Dental School.
I would suggest doing volunteer work at Health Services of Plano, your local Department of Health. They have events and various departments that you can contribute to and participate in and this will give you experience as well as health related experience to have on your Dental School applications and resume. I advise against shadowing because it doesn't give one experience and is only for people who are not sure if they want a particular career and you already seem secure in your future plans for dentistry. Plus it's kind of imposing for the patient and keep in mind how small most dental rooms are, it can be impractical and distracting. You need to be involved and actively learning as you volunteer.
If you really want to know some things about dentistry now, a very easy way to do it would be to watch videos on You Tube of people presenting information about the career. I have left four links to videos that you can watch to get some insight about the career.
So it's important to focus on your studies right now, the courses you are taking and perhaps look for extracurriculars in the health and science realm on campus. You're gaining knowledge right now, not experience. That will come later on and when you have gone through your undergraduate process with projects and activities related to your major and most definitely while you are in dental school.
My advice is to figure out if it's that you HAVE to work and if that's the case, try for a remote job doing something like data entry or customer service, something that you can work around your on campus schedule. If it's that you want some experience working, do volunteer work and projects for your science courses and seek out health science groups to join on campus. Dental school will come soon enough but you are doing all you can now as an undergraduate and also striving for high grades in your courses. You will be fine.
I hope that this is somewhat helpful and I wish you all the best in your first college semester and beyond !
HEALTH SERVICES OF PLANO, TEXAS https://healthservicesntx.org/
SO YOU WANT TO BE A DENTIST ? [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/0CFLTrPvwFY?si=IdExgWNtxasXgDE-
A WEEK IN DENTAL SCHOOL [VIDEO] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkcbKOMmWdI
TEETH AND DENTISTRY: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A DENTIST ? [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/CQfuN8HWsUs?si=IIzJuBMypl_fvseR
WHY I LOVE BEING A DENTIST [VIDEO] https://youtu.be/I5mmT22vlr4?si=U3s5bEk_CeBmH0gg
Great question ! Congratulations on graduating high school and entering college ! That is wonderful ! It is also great that you are taking the steps to be a future Dentist !
You have asked about work while you are in college. If you applied for Financial Aid and checked the Work Study option, you would be able to quickly obtain a job on campus. I will assume that you didn't, but you can do this for next school year. Apply for Federal Financial Aid for next school year when the applications first come out and choose the Work Study Option. Once you get Work Study, go to any department or building on campus and inquire about their work study jobs. Since you are going to pursue Dental School, you may want to see if there would be work study positions in your Science Department or Health Sciences related or even the on campus clinic. But for right now, you will just have to find employment to suit your preferences and time schedule. There's no particular type of job you "should" take right now. You're not a dentist yet and you don't need experience right now, you will learn everything in Dental School.
I would suggest doing volunteer work at Health Services of Plano, your local Department of Health. They have events and various departments that you can contribute to and participate in and this will give you experience as well as health related experience to have on your Dental School applications and resume. I advise against shadowing because it doesn't give one experience and is only for people who are not sure if they want a particular career and you already seem secure in your future plans for dentistry. Plus it's kind of imposing for the patient and keep in mind how small most dental rooms are, it can be impractical and distracting. You need to be involved and actively learning as you volunteer.
If you really want to know some things about dentistry now, a very easy way to do it would be to watch videos on You Tube of people presenting information about the career. I have left four links to videos that you can watch to get some insight about the career.
So it's important to focus on your studies right now, the courses you are taking and perhaps look for extracurriculars in the health and science realm on campus. You're gaining knowledge right now, not experience. That will come later on and when you have gone through your undergraduate process with projects and activities related to your major and most definitely while you are in dental school.
My advice is to figure out if it's that you HAVE to work and if that's the case, try for a remote job doing something like data entry or customer service, something that you can work around your on campus schedule. If it's that you want some experience working, do volunteer work and projects for your science courses and seek out health science groups to join on campus. Dental school will come soon enough but you are doing all you can now as an undergraduate and also striving for high grades in your courses. You will be fine.
I hope that this is somewhat helpful and I wish you all the best in your first college semester and beyond !
Michelle recommends the following next steps:
Liz A
Financial Crimes Protection
4
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Liz’s Answer
Hello Shajwan,
Consider seeking employment at a nearby dental clinic, perhaps in a receptionist role or any other entry-level position. This could be a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. During my college years, I spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field. Even though I didn't pursue that career path, many of my colleagues did. One of my friends, with whom I worked, later became a nurse and continued working in the same hospital. Today, she's thriving as a Physician's Assistant.
Engaging with your colleagues and dentists can be incredibly beneficial. They are likely to provide encouragement and guidance as you navigate your career path. Wishing you the best of luck!
Consider seeking employment at a nearby dental clinic, perhaps in a receptionist role or any other entry-level position. This could be a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. During my college years, I spent a significant amount of time working in the medical field. Even though I didn't pursue that career path, many of my colleagues did. One of my friends, with whom I worked, later became a nurse and continued working in the same hospital. Today, she's thriving as a Physician's Assistant.
Engaging with your colleagues and dentists can be incredibly beneficial. They are likely to provide encouragement and guidance as you navigate your career path. Wishing you the best of luck!
Ernesto Rodriguez
DDS, MHA, MBA
4
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Ernesto’s Answer
Hi Shajwan,
If I were in your shoes, I would strive to obtain my Dental Assistant license and start searching for a Dental office to kickstart my career. The prerequisites for this license can differ based on the US state you're residing in, but most of them are fairly straightforward.
Once you start working in the dental field, you'll get a feel for whether dentistry is the right fit for you. You'll gain practical experience and begin to hone your manual skills.
Equally crucial is the network you'll build. You'll get to know dentists who could potentially provide you with a recommendation letter for your dental school applications in the future. This could be a significant boost when it comes to furthering your education in this field.
If I were in your shoes, I would strive to obtain my Dental Assistant license and start searching for a Dental office to kickstart my career. The prerequisites for this license can differ based on the US state you're residing in, but most of them are fairly straightforward.
Once you start working in the dental field, you'll get a feel for whether dentistry is the right fit for you. You'll gain practical experience and begin to hone your manual skills.
Equally crucial is the network you'll build. You'll get to know dentists who could potentially provide you with a recommendation letter for your dental school applications in the future. This could be a significant boost when it comes to furthering your education in this field.
Digna Penalver Salazar
Dental assistant
1
Answer
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Digna’s Answer
Hey there. I'm not a dentist but I work in the field and I am also a student. although your background and prior work history do not matter at the moment of applying to dental school, it can be a huge plus for you personally if you are already familiar with how things work and run in field prior to entering.
you could work as an sterilization tech and observe the work flow, learn and grasp as much information you can from the clinicians. you are technically shadowing and getting familiar with instruments and sterilization processes!
You could also become a Dental assistant. You will learn so much about the different dental procedures and by the time you are already in dental school so many topics will make sense faster plus you will have acquired manual dexterity.
In other for you to apply to dental school you need to volunteer and shadow if I am not mistaken. Once you pick the offices where you'll shadow; connect. That's actually how I became an Sterilization tech. Good luck!
you could work as an sterilization tech and observe the work flow, learn and grasp as much information you can from the clinicians. you are technically shadowing and getting familiar with instruments and sterilization processes!
Digna recommends the following next steps: