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"I’ve got some free time this summer before starting as a pre-dental freshman. What would you suggest I do that could help me grow or prepare whether that’s related to dentistry, academics, or even broader skills?

I already have 30 shadowing hours under my belt, going into freshman year, and will continue shadowing. Besides shadowing, I do jiu-jitsu, and I know that doing meaningful things in the summer could help differentiate me in the future.

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Najjiyya’s Answer

I think it would be good to explore community service and volunteer hours. Not only are you being of service to your community, but there are skills and perspectives that you can develop by working with populations that you may not interact with otherwise. As someone whose interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, it is imperative to understand the people you serve. As health care practitioners, we are unpacking and auditing our implicit bias daily, but one sure way of starting this journey is by connecting with various people. Before I began my program in occupational therapy, I volunteered as a camp counselor at a camp that served children and teens with muscular dystrophy. While I do not work primarily in pediatrics, interacting with and building relationships with those children helped me understand how this group of conditions varied from person to person, how it changes with age, and how it impacts one's day-to-day life. More importantly, it helped me develop my empathy. These skills cannot be taught solely from a textbook.
As it pertains to your field of interest, I would research free-dental clinics in your area that you may assist with if you want it to be relevant to your career path, but don't limit yourself.
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Taylor’s Answer

First and foremost, enjoy your summer break! You have worked hard throughout high school and deserve time to relax and recharge before beginning your pre-dental journey.

Although it is not necessary, you may want to explore shadowing specialists in addition to general dentists in order to gain a broader understanding of the dental field. When shadowing, I found it especially helpful to focus less on the total number of hours and more on the specific experiences and lessons gained each day. If you have opportunities to shadow at different practices, take advantage of them, as every office operates differently in terms of patient communication, business management, and team dynamics between dentists and staff.

It is also a great idea to begin or continue developing your hand skills, especially during summer break when you have more flexibility to explore hobbies you genuinely enjoy. Activities such as drawing, sketching, painting, playing an instrument, decorating baked goods, or other hands-on creative hobbies can help strengthen fine motor skills while also giving you a healthy outlet outside of academics.
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