Catalyst

With my sister stressing about her finals right next to me, I thought this article to be totally appropriate.

Hey Predents. I'm ba-aack and I owe you an explanation for why I went off the radar for awhile. Since my last post in April, I started interning at an oral health company called GLO Science. Now, I work for them part-time, while doing grad school full-time. On top of all that I joined student council. 

Anywho, I'm back and honestly, you guys gave me the motivation to do it. i know I've said this before but even with no new posts, I've been getting notifications about new followers, which means the WORLD to me. I'm so happy to be of help.

Feel free to ask me anything, anytime. Just go to the "Ask Me Anything" tab  and submit. 

Much love,

Hey Predents!

I wanted to apologize for being MIA. Recently, I got some notifications about new followers, which is sooo amazing! That means that people still find my blog helpful and that makes me so happy. So from now on, I'm gonna get back to it and make sure you hear from me every week.

Much Love,

Hey Predents, you did it! Midterms are over, Halloween is gone, and now you're probably settling in from that little break you took. Hopefully, your midterms went well. As your midterm results trickle in remember that the semester is not over. You still have a good 6 weeks to make up for any shortcomings. So here is a list of things to do from now till finals:

1. The best thing you could do is to go over your midterm. Focus on the questions you got wrong. Ask your teacher to go over it with you. I know reaching out to your teacher takes effort, but do it!!! You'll be happy you did because first of all, it shows the professor that you're dedicated to doing well. Second, good impressions go a long way. Third, you may address any questions and misunderstandings. Think of this review as a mini private tutoring session. Plus, it is the teacher's duty to help out their students, so take advantage.

2. After going over your midterm, take it again to see how much of the new content you were able to grasp.

3. Commit yourself to school. Aside from the required readings, assignments, you must make a habit of reviewing the material frequently. If you think you need a tutor then get one!! Some schools have peer tutoring or crash courses for particular subjects. Otherwise, ask your teacher if he/she knows anyone they would recommend. Ask your friends too (trust me, you're not the only one whose looking for extra help).

Hi Predents! I'm sure most of you are busy studying for midterms. Just wanted to wish you guys good luck. I find that I am better prepared when I organize my time. Make a daily schedule for the work you need to get done. Prioritize your subjects and then write down the time slots you're going to designate to each of them. 

For example,

Org 1 [1pm - 3pm]

Bio     [3:30pm - 5:00pm]

Another thing I find helpful is repetition. Rewriting your notes is key!! It doesn't matter if they are text notes or class notes. Don't rewrite the information you already know. Doing that would be a waste of your time and you wouldn't be focusing on any new material. When you're done, go over them highlighting key points and then again, making side notes (i.e., little reminders).

Doing well in school is not just about knowing the material, it's also about time management. So, having a good study ethic will be really useful. Anyway, good luck! Remember, take on one task at a time. You can do it :)

In my last year of university, I participated in a volunteer trip to Nicaragua. Volunteering abroad was something I always wanted to do but didn't know how to get involved or who to signup with. The best way is to go with a familiar group who has previous experience. Our school organized a trip with Global Medical Training (GMT), a new chapter at my university. GMT hosts trips across Central America throughout the school year. They focus on providing medical and dental services to rural areas. Even though your focus is dental, you can also peek into the medical side and vice versa.

I highly recommend going abroad. The experience is priceless. Not only do you get the opportunity to experience hands on work, but you experience what I call raw dentistry (i.e., no luxury clinic or utilities). I remember my first few days were definitely challenging. There was just so many patients, so little help, and an unfamiliar environment. By midweek, I became comfortable with my work and I came to realize the difference I can make with my own hands. The help you provide means a world to them.

I remember I was examining a 5 year old girl and her whole mouth was covered in cavities. Her teeth were all broken, filled with puss, and all black. Some older patients had terrible calculus and cleaning it felt like I was chipping away their actual teeth.

Not only did we get a chance to help but we also got the chance to explore the country. We found the time to go for group dinners and go sightseeing. A trip like this one may be costly but what better reason to travel? Plus, the money goes directly to helping out the less fortunate. Till this day I speak of my trip to Nicaragua.

Check out the GMT website for any university trips or coordinate a time to travel alongside any school! http://www.gmtonline.org/ 

Start volunteering part time. It could even be once a week, as little as 2 hours a week. It’s not about how much time you commit to every week but about the fact that you are engaging with your community. By volunteering, you demonstrate leadership, sensitivity, and responsibility.

Shadow a dentist. This is important because you need to know what you are getting yourself into. A few hours a week will do. First, start with a general dentist. Ask your own dentist about shadowing them. Later on, if you’re still interested, you can shadow a specialized dentist.

DAT is a standardized test that must be taken for acceptance to dental school. It is similar to the MCAT. It covers bio, o-chem, gen chem, math, reading, and perceptual ability. The test is valid for three years so, take it when you have the time. Best to take it a year or two before you intend to go to dental school. There are a few ways to study for this. I took the Kaplan On Demand and received the course material plus online resources. I had access to 20 full length practice tests plus hundreds of quizzes and subject tests. I recommend studying an intensive 6 weeks. It’s doable. I studied everyday, 16 hours a day till test day. Don’t forget to register for a test date! Having a set test date will motivate you to study.

Note that there is a difference between the Canadian and U.S. DAT sections. The Canadian DAT doesn't have the math or organic chemistry. However, it does require a manual dexterity test, where you have to carve a cylindrical bar of soap into a specific shape. This section is difficult and the grading is strict, so purchase the soap and carving utensils early on and practice, practice, practice!!