Predental Week is here!

OCTOBER 2016

Volunteering - so much more than a section on your dental application

MacGregor Chase Main, University of South Florida '16

(Reprinted with permission from D5ASDA, the blog of ASDA's District 5)

Most predental students lead very busy lives with the bulk of their focus being on GPA, DAT, perfecting their applications and, for many, working to mitigate incurring student loans. With all these demands it can be hard to find time to volunteer in dental community outreach. However, the benefits of volunteering should not be minimized as they are tremendous and not only for application appeal purposes, but also for personal growth and community enrichment. The right volunteering role can improve personal growth by enhancing the understanding of an industry, providing networking opportunities, reducing stress, and improving lives and enriching communities. Read more.

Need to know

Predental Week is underway! Join ASDA predental chapters and clubs nationwide in celebrating National Predental Week with activities that include:

Webinars

The Do's and Don'ts of the Dental School Interview

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7-8:30 p.m. CDT

The Path to Becoming a U.S.-Trained Dentist

Thursday, Oct. 6, 8-9:30 p.m. CDT

Instagram Contest

Post a photo with the day's theme and tag @dentalstudents and use #ASDAPredental and #ASDA[Word of the Day] to enter for a chance at a $50 gift card! View the contest rules.

Incentives

The predental club or chapter that recruits the most predental members from now until Oct. 8 will earn a "virtual visit" from ASDA, which includes a personalized webinar with ASDA leaders, lunch provided by ASDA and raffle prizes for your members. Predental members must reference your club on the online application to earn credit.

ASDA welcomes two more predental chapters. Congratulations to the following schools for being approved as ASDA's inaugural predental chapters:

New York University
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

These chapters will serve as pilots for ASDA's predental chapter initiative. Through this pilot program, ASDA will determine guidelines and best practices for future chapters. We look forward to opening up the predental chapter application process to all schools in 2017.

Have you applied to dental school this year? Renew your membership and take advantage of benefits that will aid in your transition to dental school. Once you are accepted, your membership will:

Help you choose the right school
Provide mentors for you at the school you choose
Connect you with your school's ASDA chapter so you can participate in chapter activities
Give you access to What to Expect in Your First Year at Dental School webinar (January 2017)

You will also receive your copy of Getting Through Dental School: ASDA's Guide for Dental Students.

Make sure your transition into dental school is as seamless as possible - renew your ASDA membership today. Once you start dental school next fall, you can transition to a predoctoral member of ASDA.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Emyli Peralta, University of Central Florida '19

Why do you want to be a dentist? When I was younger, I was insecure about my smile because my teeth were oversized and crooked. I got braces in the 7th grade and was fascinated at the thought that my dentist and orthodontist seemed to be only fixing my smile, but in reality were fixing so much more. I am motivated to become a dentist because fixing a person's smile can change their entire world, and I want to be a part of that change.

Nice to know

Expand your network and horizons. Meeting dates have been confirmed for ASDA's predoctoral districts. Absorb knowledge from inspiring speakers, network with your fellow predentals and students from each of the district's dental schools and take part in exciting social activities.

Districts 6 & 7 meeting: Oct. 7-9, 2016
District 11 meeting: Oct. 8-9, 2016
District 9 meeting: Jan. 4-8, 2017
District 10 meeting: Jan. 6-8, 2017
District 4 meeting: Jan. 14-16, 2017
District 8 meeting: Jan. 27-29, 2017

Find out which ASDA district is nearest you.

The Field Guide to Dental School Interview Styles. "More dental schools are using new interview styles, not only to get to know you better, but also to test your ability to make ethical and informed decisions. Every school is unique in how they conduct the interview, so know what to expect for the different interview styles and don't be caught off guard." Read the full post on Mouthing Off.

Hot Topics: Midlevel providers and licensure webinar recording. This webinar recording introduces these two complex issues and provides understanding that will help you in interviews. For midlevel providers, the panelists defined what a midlevel provider is, provided an overview of which states approve of midlevels and what states are considering this model, and shared ASDA's stance and advocacy efforts on this issue. For licensure the panelists explained the steps it takes to become licensed, discussed the issues with licensure and shared ASDA's policy and efforts for reform.

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