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In response to popular demand, we are including a sample dental school essay. Note how the author reveals a lot about herself without overtly saying "I am this and I am that." She is obviously hard working and disciplined, probably compassionate and kind. Interested in dentistry for a long time, she has clearly considered other options. And she tells a good story . Our experts can help you tell your story just as effectively -- check out our AASDAS application packages here .

I could hardly keep myself from staring at the girl: the right side of her face was misshapen and bigger than the left. Only later did I notice that Cheryl, about nine at the time, had light brown hair, lively brown eyes, and a captivating smile. When she walked into the candy shop where I worked six years ago, Cheryl told me she was a student of my former fourth grade teacher with whom I had kept in contact. We talked then and spent time talking each time she visited. She became a very special friend of mine, one whom I admire greatly. At the time we met, I was taking honors and AP classes, working about twenty hours a week, and feeling sorry for myself. Cheryl's outgoing confidence and good cheer put my situation in perspective. Cheryl was strong, kind, and surprisingly hopeful. She never focused on her facial deformities, but always on the anticipated improvement in her appearance. Her ability to find strength within herself inspired me to become a stronger person. It motivated me to pursue a career where I could help those like Cheryl attain the strength that she possesses.

At the time, my initial interest turned toward psychology. Impressed with Cheryl's outlook, I overlooked the source of her strength: she knew that treatment will improve her appearance. Focusing on the emotional aspects of her illness, I volunteered at the Neuropsychiatric Institute. There, I supervised the daily activities of pre-adolescents, played with them, and assisted them in getting dressed. I worked with crack babies, autistic children, and children who had severe behavioral problems. I enjoyed interacting with the children, but I often became frustrated that I was not able to help them. For instance, a young autistic boy frequently hit himself. No one was permitted to stop this child. We had to turn away and allow him to continually strike and hurt himself until he tired.

I was increasingly disappointed with the lack of progress I saw in my volunteer work at NPI, but my job again pushed me in the right direction. During the fall quarter of my junior year in college, I left the candy shop where I had worked for nearly five and a half years, and I began working as a senior clerk in the Anesthesiology Residency Program. Ironically work, which frequently made study difficult, helped me find the right path. There I learned about the oral and maxillo-facial specialty, which will allow me to help people like Cheryl.

To explore my interest in dentistry, I volunteered as a dental assistant in Dr. Miller's dental office. Dr. Miller introduced me to various dental techniques. Although I was mainly an observer, I had the opportunity to interact with the patients. I came in contact with a diverse patient population with different problems and dental needs. I observed as Dr. Miller dealt with each patient individually and treated each one to the best of his ability. He familiarized me with strategies for oral health promotion and disease prevention. I learned a great deal from him, and as a result, my interest in dentistry grew.

I choose to pursue a career in dentistry after following a circuitous path. My friendship with Cheryl motivated me to enter a field where I can help the severely disfigured cope with their condition. Although I initially turned to psychology, I found my work at the Neuropsychiatric Institute to be frustrating and was searching for a different way to achieve my goal. Ironically, Cheryl had told me all along the source of her strength: the knowledge that her condition was treatable and improving. Through maxillo-facial dentistry I will help others with serious facial deformities have the same knowledge and source of strength.

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10 Dental School Personal Statement Examples

Including key tips for a strong dental school personal statement.

Before you start crafting your own stellar dental school personal statement, you must review some dental school personal statement examples. Why? These sample essays can help you brainstorm and reflect on what you would like to include in your essay. This blog dives into some dental school personal statement examples from our own past successful students, and then our  dental school advisors  will go over our proven strategies to help you create your own from scratch! As you review these examples keep in mind that these are final works and the result of multiple rounds of reviews by our admissions experts as part of our  application review  programs. Writing fantastic statements for dental school requires patience and multiple rounds of revisions before a perfect statement can be written.

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Article Contents 15 min read

Dental school personal statement example #1.

In the final moments of a key game in a hockey tournament, I jumped over the boards and onto the ice without putting my mouth guard back in place. It was attached to my helmet, but I had a chance for the puck, and I took it. Moments later, an opponent’s stick caught me in the face, knocking out my front tooth. Play stopped, and my team found my tooth on the ice. I looked to the bleachers. My mom was already on the phone getting initial instructions from our dentist for saving the tooth. Within 15 minutes, we were outside the clinic as my dentist unlocked the door, despite it being a Saturday night. As I was treated within half an hour, my tooth could be saved by stabilizing it as it healed. Until that moment, I thought of my dentist as someone I only saw every six months; I hadn’t seen her as a critical part of my healthcare team.

I realized from this experience that time is a factor in dental care, and thus a career in dentistry. My tooth was saved because I lived in an urban centre and had immediate access to care, not to mention the continuity of care I’ve had since I was a child. My mother is employed and has good dental coverage, but this is not the case for many. Without timely check-ups, both oral and medical issues that could be detected and prevented can become more serious conditions.

With this awareness, I have for the last 6 years volunteered in two ways. In the time since my hockey accident, I’ve worked with my dentist on a safety awareness campaign for young hockey players and their families, teaching about the necessity of mouth guards, as well as how a quick response to such injuries may help in recovery. I’ve also worked alongside dentists for the Smiling Children Foundation in vulnerable neighborhoods, where dental neglect is not uncommon, and continuity of care is rare. Recently, we set up a mobile clinic in a school, where I record personal information and take a medical history for each child. A young boy, 10 years old, complained of constant headaches and pain in his body. Upon examination, the dentist noticed his gums were dark purple in places and bled easily. Our team alerted a community doctor of a potential immune disorder, and the young boy was diagnosed and treated, returning to good health within months. That day, I learned that oral healthcare is holistic healthcare, and that it is a privilege to support those who may not have time, resources, or access to oral healthcare.

I have had this privilege in what began as dental shadowing and is now part-time employment, where I liaise between patients and insurance companies, manage team schedules, and comfort anxious patients. This might be as simple as holding a hand while the dentist performs the procedure. Or, I might hold a baby while the father sees the hygienist. I’ve learned to read an X-ray accurately, prepare the instruments needed for a procedure, and balance the books. I have been mentored by both a medical and business professional, and I have borne witness to our patients’ high and low points. I have worked hard to understand what goes into growing and maintaining a successful dental practice and feel capable to meet the challenge of the multiple roles required in this dynamic vocation.

It bears mentioning why my first-year grades are not what I’d hoped they would be. I joined a good number of co-curricular clubs with the intention of participating in our campus community and developing my professional skills. By midterm, I realized I had oversubscribed myself. Unfortunately, willpower and desire were not enough. My grades suffered as I tried to manage my responsibilities. By attending time management seminars and learning to manage time rather than be managed by time, I was able retrieve my grades. From 2nd year forward, I’ve maintained a 4.0 GPA while moving up the ranks of student organizations and taking an active role in a research project. Resilience is like a muscle that needs time, exercise, and perseverance to build.

From a sports accident, to volunteer work in an underserved community, to employment in a dental office and an academic career that shows both mistakes and recovery, I have thought carefully about what dentistry is. A dentist is part of a larger healthcare team, and a dentist can often treat not only a single patient over decades, but provide intergenerational care to a family. I aspire to dentistry to accompany my patients through life, 6 months at a time, offering compassionate, whole-person healthcare. (4,497 characters, including spaces)

• Inciting incident: the moment that influenced the student’s outlook on dentistry as a career is highlighted in spades. Seeing the structure here as almost like a story, you’re taking the reader on a journey from point A to point B. For the personal statement, your opening should hook in the reader. This writer does this well.
• Addresses weaknesses: the student mentions how their first-year grades weren’t what they’d hoped for. They acknowledge their faults and briefly outline the circumstances without making excuses before getting into the most important part: what they did to improve or learn from their mistakes. If you’re in a position to use your personal statement as a way to address gaps or inconsistencies, then you can follow the same rule.
• Major experiences are detailed: you need to show the admissions committee that dentistry is the right career for you. The best way to do this is to describe clinical experiences, ideally in a dental setting. The student who wrote this sample described their experiences shadowing, being a part-time employee, and volunteering at a foundation. If you have many experiences like these, don’t simply list them off, but select a few to describe in more depth.

Want some tips for writing a dental school personal statement? Check out this video:

"Ready, Set, Bake,” shouted the host of Bake-Off. I was 16 and a contestant of a televised baking show. Our 6th challenge gave us 3 hours to perfectly bake the most decadent and timing consuming dessert: the mille-feuille – layers of puff pastry, filled with whipped cream and custard, and glazed on top. Despite being the only teenager in a field of contestants ranging from 20-70 years of age, I’d made it through several days of cuts for one of the spots on the show. I wish I could say that my dessert was a masterpiece, but as the timer counted down and I plated it, the filling oozed, and the pastry crumbled. I’d made to the Top Six, but the mille-feuille defeated me and I was asked to hang up my apron. As I reflect on this experience, the solo and team challenges, the practice to get on the show, the mastery needed to gain a top spot, I realize that I’m grateful even for the defeat, because I learned valuable lessons that helped me develop key qualities and skills that are in-line with the core competencies necessary for dentistry, my chosen profession. Both dentistry and competitive baking require innovation and excellence, communication and accountability, and the necessity of precision, focus, and a steady hand.

Both of my parents are dentists. While the influence of their careers on my own access to knowledge cannot be underestimated, I have been deeply cognizant of making an autonomous career decision. That decision is my own, but my parents have admittedly opened unique conversations around ethics, technology, and patient care to me. My earliest memories include attending dental conferences with them and being encouraged to explore the Exhibits Floor, where I learned about the newest dental products and treatments and “test drove” the latest innovations in dentistry. I developed an aptitude for predicting which products and technologies were gimmicks and which would effectively support excellence in patient care. This knack has made me something of an informal consultant for my parents and their colleagues, who value my insights on innovation and efficacy of new treatments.

While technology is at the forefront of change, what remains consistent over time is the importance of communication and accountability to provide excellent patient care. I’ve had the privilege to shadow Dr. Ann Lee, an oral surgeon, over the past 3 years. Among many things, she showed me that inherent in communication is accountability. Many of her patients are children and teens having teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons. The son of a family who had been Dr. Lee’s patients for over a decade arrived for a complicated wisdom tooth extraction. Despite familiarity with the family, the doctor painstakingly reviewed the extraction process to prepare them effectively. The procedure went well in the office; however, on the way home, the boy began haemorrhaging. An artery had been compromised during the surgery. I watched as Dr. Lee packed bone wax around the artery to stem the bleeding. What struck me about this experience was the standard of accountability to which the surgeon held herself, as she communicated with the family by phone, made a house call later that evening on her way home, and remained on-call over the weekend to ensure the safety and healing of the child. The family maintained their trust in Dr. Lee because of her open communication and sense of accountability. I also learned just how fragile and technical dental work is, requiring both dexterity and precision.

Volunteering in a dental brigade in Haiti, Mirlande, 6, taught me about vulnerability and trust. Mirlande was scared and reluctant to open her mouth for her first dental exam. I took her aside and, as she watched, I carved a perfect tooth from soap using dental instruments. I carved slowly and precisely, and then presented her with the gift. She put the tooth in her pocket and then allowed me to clean her teeth. I was immediately struck by the vulnerability of not only soft tissue, but of hearts, as she leaned back and opened her mouth in trust. This moment solidified my decision to become a dentist.

Though the earlier comparison between baking and dentistry is merely an analogy, it is one that suggests I have developed key skills and am aware of the core competencies a dentist must hold to best serve their patients professionally and ethically. Dentistry is my vocation, baking a hobby, but both speak to my investment in excellence, precision, and doing for others.  (4,500 characters, including spaces)

A dental school personal statement is your opportunity to show admissions committees who you are as a person and aspiring dental professional, aside from your CV, GPA, Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) score, and other quantitative data. As any personal statement essay, the dental school personal essay should be a narrative account that gives the admissions committee the opportunity to learn more about you than what can be conveyed in a dry document like a CV or transcript. 

For dental school  ADEA AADSAS  applications, the American Dental Education Association requires an essay of no more than 4,500 characters (including spaces), which must demonstrate your key personal qualities, aspirations, and reasons for pursuing a career in dentistry to the schools to which you are applying. This process isn’t as standardized in Canadian programs, so you’ll need to check the application requirements for the programs and schools to which you are applying to see if a personal statement is required. In doing so, you can also learn whether there are any specific requirements regarding the length of the essay, whether there is a specific prompt to which you must respond in your dental school personal statement, and whether there are any other application requirements.

Want some more personal statement examples? Watch this video:

Writing a Strong Dental School Personal Statement

If you're applying to  dental schools in Canada  or the US, a personal statement, or similar essay, is often required as part of your application package, regardless of whether you're applying through AADSAS or  TMDSAS . It’s important to craft a statement that draws from your experiences, such as your dental school extracurriculars. You can also refer to your dental school application experience examples , or even your dental school letter of recommendation for help. This blog will help you understand the key things you must do (and that you must avoid) in composing your essay, with dental school personal statement examples that demonstrate these strategies, so that you can draft the strongest, most compelling dental school personal statement possible.

1. Tell a story

Ideally, you will craft a story or detail a defining moment that helped you realize why this is the profession you want to pursue. Providing an anecdote or vignette – perhaps an experience you’ve had as a dental patient, an interaction you’ve witnessed as a volunteer or while shadowing a dental care professional, a story about someone you know, etc., – is often a useful way of giving the evaluators a window into your life and motivations.

2. Demonstrate why you’re a “good fit”

Your dental school personal statement should also express why you are a strong candidate and a "good fit" for the school and program, while stirring the interest of your reader. Review our blog,  dental school acceptance rates  to find out which schools are best suited for you. Admissions committees will review hundreds of these personal statements, so draw on the values of the profession and the mission of the institution to highlight your alignment with the vision and goals of this vocation, and do so in a way that is engaging and enjoyable to read. Again, narrative is a great way of doing this – people love stories and are often naturally drawn in by them. Bear this in mind as you begin drafting your essay.

Here are some more tips for writing a dental school personal statement:

3. Be authentic and readable

In your personal statement, you want to present your very best self, emphasizing your genuine passion for the field and your enthusiasm for working in a healthcare profession like dentistry. Don’t try to cram in complicated terminology or jargon, thinking it will make you sound smarter (it won’t – true experts know how to explain their ideas effectively to an audience of non-specialists), and don’t rely on clichés (e.g., “I want to help people” – this is a lovely desire, but it’s over-used and too generic). Use polished prose that represents your genuine voice and reasons for pursuing the profession, and write in a way that will be comprehensible even to those outside this particular specialization. This can take practice. You might go through multiple drafts of your essay before you’re confident in submitting it. If you’re having trouble getting to this point, consider dental school admissions consulting . 

4. Express your desired contributions to the field

Quite simply, you need to explain why you will be a good dentist, in both practical terms and in terms of devoting yourself to patient care. You need to show that you know how to become a dentist in terms of skills and experience; there will be other opportunities to address other aspects of your candidacy through things like the dental school manual dexterity question or the multiple mini interview (MMI) collaboration station . For now, answer the following questions: what does it mean to you to dedicate yourself to the profession and to patients? What experiences have you had with the dental profession so far, and how have these impacted you? What are your priorities as an aspiring dentist? Thinking through these questions, while also pointing to concrete experiences or accomplishments that support your responses, will help the committee see not just who you are now, but who you are working to become as you pursue the goal of becoming a dental professional.

Need help with your dental school application? Learn what our students say about our services:

Things to Avoid in a Dental School Personal Statement

Here are some key “don’ts” in composing your dental school personal statement:

1. Don’t summarize your CV

Your personal statement shouldn’t simply repeat information available elsewhere in your application materials. Referring to experiences discussed in those materials, for the purpose of expanding on them or contextualizing them, is fine. Just ensure that you’re actually doing that work and demonstrating the significance of the experience(s) you describe. For example, if your CV indicates that you’ve done volunteer work at a dental clinic or with an organization, it’s totally fine to discuss this volunteer work in your personal statement; however, that discussion must go beyond what is offered in your other application materials. Your dental school personal statement shouldn't be a dry recitation of events in your CV. It should be a persuasive and engaging work that draws on just a few select experiences that epitomize your interests, priorities, and the work you've done so far in working toward becoming a dentist. For example, instead of giving names, dates, and general facts about your experience as a volunteer, you can tell a story of a particularly meaningful accomplishment or interaction, reflecting on how it helped solidify your desire to pursue this career.

2. Don’t dwell on negative experiences

If you’ve overcome challenges or if there are less-than-ideal aspects of your educational experience so far (such as a term where your GPA took a dip), it’s fine to address these in a personal statement essay. However, it is crucial that you reflect on this from a perspective of growth, resiliency, and capacity for improvement, rather than focusing on the negatives. If your grades took a hit one term because of extenuating circumstances, by all means, take some time to explain this, if you think it will be helpful (and it often is). However, the discussion around the circumstances should be minimal – just a set-up for a more substantial discussion of what you learned, how you grew, etc. – and you shouldn’t use this as an opportunity to make excuses. Rather, briefly describe the event, own up to your mistake or misstep (if applicable), and then spend the most time explaining how you addressed the issue, how you moved past it, and why you will be a better future professional for having gone through it.

Probably the biggest mistake students make is to not take the personal statement seriously enough, waiting until just a few days before it’s due to even begin. You must begin early – a strong personal statement essay can take months and numerous revisions to be the best it can possibly be. You need to put a lot of thought into this document, as it is a very important component of your application. This is your chance – and often your only chance – to address the evaluators on a human level, prior to answering  dental school interview questions , including   MMI questions . So, rather than thinking of this as a chore, think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate your best self to the admissions committee. 

4. Don’t submit your dental school personal statement without getting expert feedback

The personal statement isn’t just about what you’ve done, it’s about who you are – what your values are, what your priorities are, what your reasons for pursuing this profession are, and how all of these things align with the discipline and school you are approaching with your application package. Getting expert feedback from those on the “other side” of such applications, those who have gone through the process successfully or those who have been part of admissions committees, will give you incredibly valuable insights into how to make your own personal experiences stand out and work for you most effectively. At this stage of your professional development, you face a wealth of “unknown-unknowns”; i.e., things that you don’t even know to look for or consider, because it's likely that you simply haven’t been exposed to the field or the process long enough or in an official capacity. This can be a considerable hindrance, so don’t try to take on this task alone. Seek out expert feedback, and do so early enough that you can review, revise, and implement any necessary changes to make your dental school personal statement the best it can possibly be.

8 Dental School Personal Statement Examples

Dental school personal statement example #3, dental school personal statement example #4, dental school personal statement example #5, dental school personal statement example #6, dental school personal statement example #7, dental school personal statement example #8, dental school personal statement example #9, dental school personal statement example #10.

• Starting too late. Getting your personal statement right requires multiple edits and revisions. If you start working on your statement too late, you risk running out of time for proper revisions and edits, leaving a rushed, sub-par statement. Remember, your personal statement is a direct reflection of who you are as a person, and who you'll become as a dentist. It's not something that can be, nor should be rushed.
• Showing instead of telling, for example, saying “I'm a great listener” instead of demonstrating that you're a great listener through real examples in your essay.
• Focusing on too many experiences. In general, it's best to discuss 2-3 experiences in your personal statement. You should be able to discuss each experience in-depth, and reflect on what you learned from a particular experience. Too many experiences crammed in doesn't allow you to really expand on each experience and doesn't provide an in-depth analysis of how this experience was transformative on your path to becoming a dentist.
• Listing information that's already found in your application materials. Your personal statement is not a list, instead, it should be a story of your journey to dentistry.
• Jumping around in time. Your personal statement should be in chronological order, beginning with your initial interest in dentistry and evolving to your absolution that dentistry is the right career path for you. Jumping around in time makes for a disjointed essay that will come across as confusing to admissions committee members. In addition, you want to ensure that you utilize strong transitional sentences, as these tie together paragraphs and aid in the overall flow of your essay.
• Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Mistakes and errors in your personal statement are harmful because they tell admissions committees that you're not detail-oriented, you rushed your statement and because of that, you don't really care about it, or their program. Ensure your statement is reviewed multiple times, ideally with a professional's help, to ensure your essay puts your best foot forward and is free from any spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
• Boasting. While you can certainly highlight a few key accomplishments in your statement, such as finishing at the top of your class or raising money for a good cause, it's important that you are tactful in how you phrase your accomplishments. You always want to be humble, and think about what an achievement means to you and why. Lastly, it's a good idea to reflect on what you learned from your achievements and how that can translate in your career as a dentist.

While the majority of your personal statement should be about you - your experiences and how they relate to your decision to pursue dentistry, you can certainly include information relating to another person. For example, you could mention a family member's struggle with a disease, a patient's story, or a conversation with a dentist. As long as you circle back to why this story is significant in your pursuit of dentistry, what you learned from the experience or even how an experience changed your point of view.

Your personal statement must adhere to the ADEA's character count of 4500 characters, including spaces. However, this doesn't mean that you must include this many characters. As long as your essay is below the count, it's most important that you focus on creating a powerful, in-depth essay that proves to the admissions committee why you want to be a dentist and why you would be suitable for a career in this field, then it's perfectly acceptable.

Your personal statement is one of the most important aspects of your entire dental school application. It will serve as your introduction to admissions committees – letting them know who you are a person, who you are as a candidate, and essentially, that you're suitable for a career in dentistry. A poorly crafted personal statement can result in rejection from dental school, so it's essential that your statement is both engaging and memorable to secure you an invitation to interview.

No, remember, this information will be included elsewhere in your application, so it's not suitable to include this in your personal statement.

• Brainstorm ideas.
• Create an outline.
• Focus on body paragraphs first using a maximum of 3 experiences.
• Ensure you SHOW what you learned (don’t tell) by using examples.
• Write your conclusion.
• Write your introduction last.
• Attention-grabbing introduction: Not just a thesis statement, but something interesting to draw the reader in, like a quote or a story.
• Transitions: These should lead from one paragraph to the next, creating flow. Use linking words such as however, additionally, also, next, etc.
• Strong examples: This way you are showing, not telling.
• Clear and direct language: Your language does not have to be fancy, what's most important is that it's easy to read and follow. For example, “utilize” is one of the most over-used words in academic essays and “use” works just as well.
• Conclusion: This should summarize your main points, but also leave the reader with a compelling closing sentence that makes them want to find out more about you. For example, include a call back to your opening anecdote and highlight how far you have come.

Dental school personal statement editing, just like medical school personal statement editing , is very important. Begin by writing the BEST first draft you can and then begin your edit. Don’t write something of average quality, half-done, or way over the character limit. Trying to work from these copies will only create confusion and delays. Next, you should read your essay out loud to yourself sentence by sentence to ensure it flows well and to catch any grammatical errors. Each sentence should be contributing to the overall point. If you find yourself repeating your thoughts in multiple forms, think about paring your sentences down. Quality is more important than quantity.

Next, repeat this process 2-3 times. Resist the urge to keep tinkering over and over again. There are multiple strong ways to word sentences and express your thoughts. There are probably even multiple experiences you could highlight and have an equally strong personal statement. However, obsessing over each sentence and word once you have written a strong statement will just lead to changing too many things, delays, you feeling nervous, and sometimes even a weaker essay than you started with!

Yes, you can definitely mention experiences in your personal statement that are non-academic or not related to dentistry. A strong experience to mention should be one that taught you important skills and that influenced your decision to pursue dentistry. Personal experiences can also have a strong influence on which profession you pursue, so you can definitely mention non-academic experiences.

It’s certainly normal to want input from others when we are crafting personal statements. A strong reviewer is one who has experience and expertise with professional school applications and has helped other students before. For example, someone with an advanced degree like a practicing dentist or other professional. Even though you may feel tempted to ask friends and family, you may want to refrain from this, as they are often invested in your success and may find it hard to be objective.

Try to find someone who does not know you so well so they can give objective guidance. The other thing you want to avoid is having “too many chefs in the kitchen.” Too many different people reviewing your statement is only going to pull it in too many different directions, ultimately leading to confusion and even more delays. And again, some students might feel more comfortable using a dental school admissions consulting service for this aspect of their application.

Just like you would address this during an interview, your statement can address areas of concern by following these steps:

• Take responsibility.
• Explain mitigating factors.
• Don't make excuses.
• Share strategies for what you learned and how you would avoid a situation like this in the future. 
• Make sure you end on a positive or proactive note.

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Yutika Maharaj

Hi there Do you have any sample personal statements for a foreign trained dentist applying to ADEA PASS and ADEA CAAPID. Thanks

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hi Yutika! Thanks for your comment. As an international applicant, your personal statement should follow the same structure and contain pertinent info about yourself and your application. Use these samples to construct your own, unique narrative!

It is remarkable, very good information

Thanks, Code!

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Sample Dental Personal Statement — AADSAS

Got accepted to penn, ucsf, nyu, nova, umich, maryland, uf.

A terrified girl with a swollen upper lip trudges into the endodontic clinic. She needs an emergency retreat of her root canal due to a poor previous obturation. As the needle pierces her gums, childhood memories of getting root canals without anesthesia flood her body with even greater pain and fear. Her student dentist wipes away her tears and holds her hand tighter. “The worst part is over,” remarks the soothing voice of the resident as she puts away the syringe. She is amazed by how fast the pain goes away. This girl was me three years ago, and it was this moment that I first envisioned dentistry as my career. [MZ1]  

I was born and raised Uyghur, a Turkic ethnic minority in Central Asia. Growing up in a mixture of Turkish, Middle-Eastern, and Asian cultures helped me appreciate cultural diversity and collaborative environments later in life. Shortly after my high school graduation, I made the biggest decision of my life: to pursue an undergraduate degree in the United States, where I would be able to blossom in a free academic environment. I packed my ambitious heart and dreams into a suitcase and headed for the U.S.

Being away from home for the first time, I was thrilled to explore the world on my own. Determined to overcome the language barrier, I took every possible opportunity to practice my English skills while attending a language institute. Within six months, I passed the placement test and started taking college-level courses. Small victories like this strengthened my determination, and prepared me to overcome future obstacles that I faced while pursuing undergraduate studies and finding my career path.

[MZ2]  

Dealing with frequent illnesses as a child led me to spend a lot of time in the care of others. Nurses, doctors, and dentists became my heroes, and I dreamed of being like them one day. In order to gain more experience in the healthcare field while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, I became a Certified Nursing Assistant and began working in an assisted-living facility caring for residents with Alzheimer’s disease. The bonds I built with these kind people and their families helped me realize how much I love caring for others and making positive impacts on their lives. [MZ3]  

Around the same time, I became a patient at the University of Florida College of Dentistry team clinics. A long history of poor dental care led me to undergo an extensive amount of dental work at the clinic. This is where I first met Magda, my student dentist from the root canal story. As soon as I expressed my interest in the healthcare field, Magda enthusiastically began explaining dental procedures to me, teaching me to recognize dental instruments and even how to interpret x-rays. Her proficient skills, professionalism, and concerns for patients truly inspired me to further explore dentistry as my prospective profession.

I subsequently started shadowing at the team clinic, which enabled me to gain a closer look at dentistry. From various types of periodontal therapies, restorations, and extractions – every procedure I assisted with, pumped my body full of adrenaline. I fell in love with how much creativity is utilized in dentistry and relished every bit of patient interaction.

The knowledge from the team clinic further inspired me to pursue a community-based dental experience. I began to shadow Dr. XXXX, a general dentist at ABC Dental Clinic. ABC is a community for people with developmental disabilities. Volunteering at the clinic has been the most eye-opening and rewarding experience I have had in my limited exposure to dentistry. Most of the patients are not verbally responsive and are very challenging to work with. Despite these obstacles, Dr. Garvey’s patience and empathy makes everything possible. His unwavering commitment to serve the underserved population is inspiring me to become a dentist like him. From there, I started working at the UFCD Pediatric Dental Clinic as a dental assistant. [MZ4]  

Luckily, I never had to return to the endodontic clinic again as a patient, but my unflinching determination in pursuing a dental career has only grown stronger since. Utilizing both creativity and discipline in caring for patients, serving the underserved, and relieving pain is what I have found I love doing the most. If that can become a lifelong career, then I am confident that dentistry is, absolutely, my future vocation. Even better, I will be the first Uyghur dentist in the U.S., now wouldn’t that be something? [MZ5]  

Got accepted to Midwestern University (IL) (Re-applicant with a 2.9 GPA and 19 DAT; Got 5 interviews)

My grandfather made me fall in love with the quote: “Use your smile to change the world, don’t let the world change your smile.” I grew up without my parents, and faced adversity and bullying throughout my childhood. It took a toll on my confidence, made me shy, and discouraged me from smiling. Whenever I feel discouraged, my grandfather’s words always comfort me and push me toward my goals. Last year, I found it incredibly painful to deal with his passing after he battled nasal cavity cancer for eight years. He persevered through harsh medical treatments and never stopped smiling in front of me. Even after his dentures stopped fitting him, he would still smile. He gradually lost his appetite and without dentures, he became nutrient deficient since he could not consume the range of food that he needed. This was when I learned about the importance of dentures and their impact on a person’s health.  Watching how strong he was, I yearned to make him a perfect set of dentures as a special gift one day. My ambition was to watch my grandfather enjoy a wide variety of food and to see his old smile again. Since then, I began to see the power behind my grandfather’s smile. His smile speaks for the positivity, courage, and strength that taught me to embrace obstacles and challenges because they will help me thrive as an independent and a mature adult. Although I lost my grandfather, the pain of losing him strengthened my character and pushed me to pursue my dream to become a successful dentist.  [MZ6]  

During my last quarter at UC San Diego, my grandfather’s condition worsened. I constantly worried about him, as he was the only close family I had. There were times when I struggled to balance family responsibilities with academics, and I had felt mentally and physically exhausted every day. Every time I went to see him in the hospital, he told me not to worry about him and to focus on my academics. My anxiety took a toll on my grades and I realized that it helped neither my dream nor his health. Gradually, I learned to manage my time and my stress, and improved my grades later on through more coursework in post-baccalaureate program . Luckily, my aunt is capable of taking care of my grandmother now, so I can further my studies and work as a dental assistant during my free time. [MZ7]  

As a dental assistant, I channeled my desire of taking care of my grandfather into taking care of patients. [MZ8]  During the preparation for an implant case, I noticed a patient was clenching her fists anxiously. I offered her with a cup of water and started a conversation to ease her worries. Later, she calmed down and was ready for the procedure. She was cooperative when I took a periapical x-ray on the difficult position of tooth #15.  Fortunately, the picture turned out clear and the dentist was able to see the depth of the post and the distance between her sinus. When I greeted the patient during her next visit for abutment, she said “thank you” and gave me the most heartwarming hug that I could ever ask for. Her expression of gratitude kindled my desire to serve more patients as an aspiring dentist. [MZ9]  

Knowing that my grandfather lacked oral health education and had limited dental care during his lifetime, I felt a sense of duty to help those who lack access to dental care [MZ10]  . I helped serve the underprivileged by volunteering at the California Dental Association Free Clinic. In particular, I remember a forty-year old Hispanic immigrant named Julio, who was also a low-income immigrant and a father of four. Majority of his teeth was decayed and in need of urgent restoration. After talking to him, I learned that his condition was the result of a lack of access to quality dental care. Due to financial constraints, he could not afford to visit a dentist for a long time. He was grateful that the Free Clinic had given him this opportunity to restore his teeth. Talking to Julio was eye opening, as it inspired me to reach out to the disadvantaged population and educate them about oral health. One day, I wish to provide equitable access to dental care to all. [MZ11]  

After my grandfather’s death, I wrote a letter to him that ended with this passage: “Thank you, Grandpa, for helping me find my passion and for making me realize the power that genuine smiles can bring. Although you are no longer with us, your wisdom continues to motivate me to spread beautiful smiles and to improve the lives of others. As a tribute to you, I am ready to dedicate myself to the career of dentistry.” [MZ12]  

Got accepted to Penn, UCSF, NYU, Pitt, and Rutgers

‘ Shri Ramajeyam!’ chanted the village magician back in Bangladesh, as he tried to heal my grandmother’s toothache for 40 Taka (equivalent to $0.50 in the US). The cheap hocus pocus failed and ultimately, an oral screening at a local hospital diagnosed an oral lesion in her mouth. However, it remained untreated because of my family’s limited finances. [MZ13]  

These financial challenges that have continually haunted my family have helped ingrain the value of patience within the very essence of my personality. Our patience in reapplying for the Diversity Visa Lottery over and over finally paid off the 9 th time, when we won. We thought our financial distress would improve, so we happily left for America. But, surprises ensued. Extreme poverty, accompanied by a sudden cut in Medicaid forced me to curtail my visits to the orthodontist, but I continued to wait, as I had always been, for a change in fortune. [MZ14]  

That change came when my orthodontist halved my fee after sympathizing with my situation. This drew me to a dentist’s prerogative to demonstrate compassion. The importance of a good patient-doctor relationship stood out even more when I shadowed Dr. Pinto, an oral surgeon. During his interaction with a medically compromised patient, who was suffering from a prior iatrogenic procedure, I saw how dentists not just treat the local symptoms of pain, but also address it in a systemic way. This interactive process reminded me of my time leading mentoring program as an International Youth Scholar, in which I mentored a Somali refugee named Abdi. Being psychologically vulnerable as a result of having faced a civil war, initially, he appeared reserved. With my consisted efforts, I built rapport with him as he slowly opened up about his struggle in the refugee camp, his love for soccer, and his dream to study in the U.S. With my encouragement, he applied and received a scholarship at Syracuse University. I will never forget his smile when he gave me the news.  It reaffirmed the holistic nature of a dentist’s influence on an individual’s systemic as well as psychological health.  [MZ15]  

In addition to treating individuals, I want to expand the influence of dental awareness on a community-wide scale and I began this by targeting my local Philadelphia community. I co-founded the Community Dental Disease Prevention Society aiming to reduce the prevalence of dental diseases. We conducted workshops at low-income schools in the city. Despite the initial lack of interest among students, gradually the number of workshop participants grew as they could relate the workshops to their real life experiences. Here Tagita, a first grader shared her story of waiting for a dental appointment due to her family’s financial incapacity, reiterating the inaccessibility of the dental care provision. Meanwhile, high school students expressed concerns about the increasing prevalence of dental malpractice. This made me extend our goals to educate dental providers of iatrogenic dentistry. Additionally, we also set about spreading scientifically based awareness in dispelling damaging propagandas such as those spread by the Fluoride Action Network about the harmful effects of water fluoridation. [MZ16]  

Aside from my involvement with the community, I found personal gratification and further enhancement of my endurance while I was taking a sculpture course.  After the caffeinated nights and clay-stained hands at the studio, looking at my first project – a clay bust of Abraham Lincoln, an unprecedented sense of pride flooded through me. Right then, I knew that in order to be fulfilled I would need manual involvement in my future profession. [MZ17]  

The unique opportunity offered by dentistry to integrate my manual dexterity with my love for science further drew me in. My passion for science grew in a crowded lab-hood at my organic synthesis lab, where I endured repeated tedious phases of optimization of the reaction conditions. Ultimately, I experienced a deep sense of satisfaction as I produced newer molecules in high yield culminating in a co-authorship of a paper in Organic Letters. [MZ18]  

Perseverance gained throughout my life and from my involvement in science, arts and community activism makes dentistry a perfect match for me. Be it campaigning against iatrogenic dentistry via CDDPS, or making someone like Abdi smile confidently, dentistry has allowed me to consolidate my ideals. As I continue to advocate for increased accessibility to dental care for financially disadvantaged patients, I understand that progress will be slow; for now, I vow to stay focused, stay patient. [MZ19]  

  [MZ1] Terrific hook. The story is engaging and vivid. She also amazingly ends the paragraph with her interest in dentistry. Perfect first paragraph.

  [MZ2] Author provides sufficient background and talks about her personal journey to depict her personalities. She shows us a glimpse into her world and provides a subtle glimpse at her personalities

  [MZ3] Explains what she has done during college. It falls under extra-curricular/leadership bucket. But definitely shows her career interest progression. This paragraph does not employ any vivid story, but at this point it’s not needed anymore because she already earned your trust and you’re reading this.

  [MZ4] The last three paragraph provides the picture of how the author pursued her interest further. It’s a logical continuation of her journey.

  [MZ5] Great concluding sentence! Super-catchy. Creates an unique identity for the author.

  [MZ6] Absolutely great introduction. Author takes you into her world and tells you about her personal life. She provides a nice story to back up why she wants to be a dentist. Great introduction, although a bit too long.

The essay revolves around her grandfather and she continually ties back to this theme.

  [MZ7] She explains her situation but reassures the reader that she will be able to handle the tough workload at dental school.

  [MZ8] Great topic sentence brings back the theme of her grandfather.

  [MZ9] Through telling us a story she provides a glimpse into her personality. From this story, we can make assumptions about what kind of dentist she will become – a compassionate, kind hearted one.

  [MZ10] Again, tying back to the theme

  [MZ11] This is called future pacing. She’s basically telling you her dream as a dentist.

  [MZ12] Slightly unconventional ending, but worked really well for her.

  [MZ13] Unique beginning, proven to be quite effective for the author. The story also hooks you right away. You feel a certain level of sympathy for the author’s family.

  [MZ14] Author is using life story to focus our attention on his personality. It’s very subtle and crafty.

  [MZ15] This paragraph is AMAZING because it talks not only about the things that author admires in his dentist, but he also demonstrate how he implemented those qualities into his extra-curricular activities. This is an advance concept and hard to implement, but if you can do it successfully, you have a great shot at getting into many dental schools (just like the author)

  [MZ16] Tells us a STORY about his community service involvement.

  [MZ17] Manual dexterity can be part of your personal statement but add it such that your essay does not lose flow. This is a strong example of how to talk about your manual dexterity.

  [MZ18] Most people don’t have publication as an undergraduate; if you do, talk about it! It will 20X your chances at getting into a dental school. You should not shy away from talking about your accomplishments.

  [MZ19] Great ending. Author used a catch phrase at the end. Quite cliché, but it is executed properly and makes you remember the author.

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Writing a personal statement for dental schools

Is what I’m writing too personal or not personal enough? Should I be writing more about teeth?  How do I shorten my personal statement without omitting important details? Am I even answering the prompt!?

Writing a personal statement can be an intimidating step in the application process for dental school. I remember reading dozens of example essays online trying to find the “perfect one” that would inspire me and guide my writing so that I would end up with a personal statement that could sum up my entire personality and life goals in just 4,500 characters. The reality is that trying to display who you are and the experiences that make you who you are in one page can be daunting and challenging. But is not impossible! Passion is something that can be detected through writing, so make sure to write about something that you are passionate about and it will be evident to the reader. A common misconception is that your dental school personal statement should be a list of dental experiences or how much you know about dentistry. Although you should be answering the question “why dentistry," the main objective is to paint a picture of who you are and what led you to pursue this career. So, where do  you start? 

Here are 3 tips on writing a personal statement that will make you stand out:

1. always keep the prompt in mind.

The personal statement prompt for dental admission usually doesn’t change and is posted on the ADEA website as the following:

“Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry.”

Make sure that every sentence- every word- you write serves the purpose of answering the question above. If you find yourself writing about something that you feel doesn’t answer the prompt in one way or another, then it doesn’t belong in your PS. The allotted characters are concise and don’t allow for fluff or fillers. Once you have understood the prompt and the message you want to get across to admissions, then picking your words and what you want to share is made easier. 

2. It is okay to be vulnerable

If there is a life changing moment that you believe ties in to why you are pursuing dentistry, then don’t feel shy to write about it. We all have vulnerable moments, and you might be on the fence on whether to include those moments or not. My advice is to go for it! These moments give the reader a chance to get to know you outside of an academic context. In a pile of 1,000s of essays, you want the reader to connect with you, stories of vulnerability help make that connection.

3. If you talk about an adverse event, make sure to write an ending 

Many applicants do a great job at setting the scene to their stories but forget to write the ending! Let’s say, for example, that I write about the time I worked at a bakery (I wish!) and had many complex orders that needed to be done by the end of the day. I write about how difficult the task was and how impossible it first seemed. Then, I write that I was able to finish everything up and felt good about it. There are many things missing that highlight the significance of why I am writing this story. If you write about a certain experience in a story format, it should answer some of these questions:

• What have I learned from this experience and how can I implement it to answering the prompt?
• What skills (leadership) traits did I gain from this experience?
• In adverse times, what/ who do I find myself turning to? And why?
• What did I learn about myself through this experience?

By adding dimension and reflection to your stories, the reader will have a better understanding of who you are and how you react to difficult situations. Remember, this point circles back to tip #1: always keep the prompt in mind. By showing growth through your experiences, you demonstrate the resilience that you have that is needed to get through dental school!

Hoda is a dental student at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. She previously earned a BS in Biological Sciences with minors in Chemistry and Psychology at the University of Illinois in Chicago, graduating summa cum laude.

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College of Dentistry

How to craft a winning personal statement for dental school application.

Have you put some thought into how you will write your personal statement for application? How will you stand out among the hundreds of other applicants?

With over 11,000 potential candidates applying annually to US dental schools, competition has never been stronger. Above average DAT scores and GPAs aren’t good enough anymore to truly stand out. 

That's why Helen Yang, DMD, a Harvard Dental School graduate and current endodontics resident at UIC, has written a  new book to help applicants become more successful.

In her new book, Your Essential Guide to Dental School Admissions: 30 Successful Application Essays and Collective Wisdom from Young Dentists , Dr. Yang and collaborators offer a holistic strategy for a winning dental school application. The second half of the book focuses on the personal statement and consists of 30 essays written by dental students across the country.

With a background serving on Harvard Dental School’s admissions committee and working in admissions counseling, Yang offers an invaluable and highly beneficial perspective.

“I looked at what kind of books were already out there. They tended to be written by a single person, so just featuring one person’s experience. Also, they focused a lot on the statistics of getting into dental school, Yang explained, as her inspiration for writing this book.

About half of the book is devoted to crafting a compelling personal statement, because “the personal statement of all the things in the application plays such a big role in making the applicant seem like a real human being.”

“I wanted it to have a strong emphasis on the human aspect of getting into dental school. How can I present myself as a more interesting applicant, and what are the admissions officers looking for?

"The book really focuses on how to make yourself seem more interesting, more human and more like a valuable member of the community. I think that’s what really makes people stand out.”

Four key components of getting into dental school.

Each of the four chapters covers a different key aspect of getting accepted into dental school.  These aspects of the admissions process are explored in detail in Yang’s practical and inspiring guide for dental school admissions.

1. Assemble an Outstanding Application. Creating an application package that is so compelling that it can’t possibly be ignored. This means going beyond application prerequisites  such as competitive GPA, required coursework, and dentist shadowing .

2. write a winning personal statement. retaining individuality and standing out from the deluge of applications with the personal statement. structuring it for success and individuality., 3. ace the interviews. successfully preparing for and dominating the dental school interview..

RELATED:  How to Prepare for the Dental School Interview

4. Map Your Road to Dental School. Deciding on worthwhile extracurriculars and hobbies. Making a seamless and successful transition to dental school.

RELATED:  Roadmap to Dental School  

Succeeding with the Personal Statement

The personal statement is crucial in terms of presenting your individuality as part of the dental school application. It helps admissions representatives understand who you are, your unique experiences and why you chose to become a dentist. Despite it's importance, there is often great uncertainty regarding how it should be structured, what it should focus on, and how to make the best use of it to stand out.  

From ADEA Go Dental:  What is the personal statement for?

Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry.

Read more @ ADEA Go Dental

Given how important the personal statement is to a successful application, Yang dedicated the entire second half of her book to it. In this section, 30 successful traditional and non-traditional dental students from diverse backgrounds share the personal statements they used to gain admission into a top school of choice.

These students crafted personal statements that genuinely impressed admissions committees and got them into dental school – the exception, not the norm.

 “We got over 50 submissions [for personal statements]. They were all very good. I worked with a team of eight other young dentists to distribute them, had them blinded, and had each essay critiqued and ranked based on quality of writing, how substantial the essays were and how effective they were.”

This process ultimately resulted in 30 top selections. Yang never thought she would get the submissions needed to fulfill the project, but the interest of young dentists to share their statements and help others was clear.

The personal statements showcase helpful examples of what works, and more importantly, expert feedback on why they worked. They offer practical guidance on how to present a story and background to gain an edge in one of the most competitive admissions processes out there.

“When I talk to pre-dental students, most people don’t think of themselves as unique or interesting or impressive. They are like ‘my grades are average, my stats are average. How on earth do I stand out?”

It’s a very common problem, but Yang recognizes that every applicant has something genuinely worthwhile to share, “The first thing I do when I meet with any pre-dental student is I get them to talk about themselves. From that, you can tell that everyone has a unique story that no one else has.

So even though they may not feel special because they lived with that their whole life, you can say ‘Look, no one else has your story. If you can wisely tell that story, that would make you seem different and more outstanding than other applicants.’”

Dr. Yang holds little back in this thorough book. She provides an unadulterated and authentic account of what it takes to thrive in the admissions process, present a compelling story and individuality, and plan for the long-term commitment that a career in the field demands.

Dr. Yang exudes a genuine passion for helping pre-dental students accomplish their dreams. Her book is an invaluable resource that has culminated from her years of experience in dental admissions and her desire to offer a more holistic strategy than the formulaic types of admission tips that are often seen.

Available on Amazon Now

The book has received highly positive reviews since its recent release in 2018.

Your Essential Guide to Dental School Admissions is available in softcover for $14.99 and Kindle for $9.99 on Amazon .

Get ready for dental school, get the information you need to begin your journey into an outstanding career in dentistry today.

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Writing a Winning Dental School Personal Statement

Learn the art of crafting an irresistible personal statement, a key element in the dental school application process. Discover the essential steps and techniques to create a captivating narrative that impresses admissions committees and showcases your unique qualities and aspirations.

Posted September 14, 2023

Table of Contents

If you're planning on applying to dental school, then you'll need to have a strong and compelling personal statement. Not only is this statement your chance to highlight your unique qualities and experiences as they relate to dentistry, but it's also a way to demonstrate your passion for the field and your dedication to pursuing a career in dentistry. In this article, we'll be discussing what it takes to write a winning dental school personal statement and how to make your application stand out.

An Introduction to Crafting a Compelling Dental School Personal Statement

First things first, let's start with the basics. Your personal statement is a one-page essay in which you have the chance to tell the admissions committee who you are and why you want to pursue a career in dentistry. This essay is a critical part of your dental school application and will be evaluated alongside your academic record, letters of recommendation, and any other supplemental materials.

When crafting your personal statement, it's important to keep in mind that the admissions committee is looking for more than just a list of your accomplishments and experiences. They want to see your personality shine through and get a sense of your passion for dentistry. This is your opportunity to showcase your unique perspective and explain how your experiences have led you to pursue a career in dentistry.

It's also important to remember that your personal statement should be well-written and free of errors. Take the time to proofread and edit your essay, and consider having someone else read it over as well. A polished and professional personal statement can make a big difference in the eyes of the admissions committee.

Understanding Your Purpose

The purpose of your personal statement is to demonstrate to the admissions committee that you have the qualities and experiences necessary to succeed in dental school and in a career as a dentist. You should use this essay to showcase your personal attributes, your relevant experiences, and your passion for the field of dentistry.

It is important to note that your personal statement should not simply be a list of your achievements and experiences. Admissions committees are looking for applicants who can reflect on their experiences and demonstrate how they have grown and developed as a result. Your personal statement should tell a story about who you are and why you are passionate about pursuing a career in dentistry. It should also highlight any unique perspectives or experiences that you bring to the table, such as a background in a related field or a commitment to serving underserved communities.

Identifying Your Unique Qualities and Experiences to Highlight

To stand out in your application, you'll need to highlight your unique qualities and experiences. Think about what sets you apart from other applicants and consider how those qualities or experiences demonstrate your potential as a dental student and future dentist. Brainstorming these qualities can help you craft a more impactful and memorable essay.

One way to identify your unique qualities and experiences is to reflect on your personal and professional background. Consider your upbringing, cultural heritage, and life experiences that have shaped your values and perspectives. These can provide insight into your character and motivations for pursuing a career in dentistry.

Another approach is to think about your academic and extracurricular achievements. What have you accomplished that demonstrates your leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving skills? How have you contributed to your community or made a positive impact on others? These experiences can showcase your potential as a well-rounded and compassionate dental professional.

Tips for Crafting an Engaging Introduction to Your Personal Statement

Your introduction should be engaging and compelling enough to grab the attention of the admissions committee. You can begin with a story that shows your passion for dentistry, or you can start with a quote that resonates with you. A good introduction should make the reader feel interested in your story, and want to keep reading.

Another effective way to start your personal statement is by posing a thought-provoking question that relates to your field of study. This can help to immediately engage the reader and make them curious about your perspective on the topic. Additionally, you can use statistics or data to highlight the importance of your chosen field and why it matters to you.

It's important to remember that your introduction sets the tone for the rest of your personal statement. Therefore, it's crucial to avoid cliches and generic statements that don't add any value to your story. Instead, focus on showcasing your unique experiences and qualities that make you a strong candidate for the program. By doing so, you'll be able to capture the attention of the admissions committee and leave a lasting impression.

Key Elements to Include in the Body of Your Dental School Personal Statement

Your body should include information about your relevant experiences and how they helped you develop the skills that are essential for success in dentistry. You should also discuss your academic background, specifically any science courses that you have taken, as these are highly relevant to your dental education. It is also important to discuss any extracurricular activities that demonstrate your various skills and qualities.

In addition to discussing your experiences, academic background, and extracurricular activities, it is important to highlight your motivation for pursuing a career in dentistry. This can include personal experiences that sparked your interest in the field, as well as your long-term career goals and how dentistry fits into those goals.

Another important element to include in your personal statement is your understanding of the challenges and responsibilities that come with being a dentist. This can include discussing the importance of patient care, the need for strong communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. By demonstrating your understanding of these challenges, you can show admissions committees that you are prepared for the rigors of dental school and a career in dentistry.

The Importance of Authenticity

It is important to be authentic and honest in your personal statement. Do not try to create a persona or present any inaccurate information. Admissions committees are experts at gauging authenticity, and any deception can be highly detrimental to your application. Write from your heart and keep in mind that the purpose of your personal statement is to allow the committee to know you better.

One way to ensure authenticity in your personal statement is to reflect on your personal experiences and how they have shaped your desire to pursue dentistry. Share your unique story and highlight the qualities that make you a strong candidate for dental school. This can include your passion for helping others, your attention to detail, or your ability to work well under pressure.

Additionally, it is important to tailor your personal statement to the specific dental schools you are applying to. Research each school's mission statement and values, and incorporate them into your writing. This shows that you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in attending that particular school.

Examples of Effective Ways to Convey Your Passion for Dentistry

The admissions committee needs to see your passion for dentistry in your personal statement. You can begin by telling a story about a dental experience that inspired you, or you can describe your interest in a specific aspect of dentistry, such as orthodontics or oral surgery. You can also discuss how your past experiences or academic background has prepared you for your future in dentistry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Writing Your Dental School Personal Statement

There are some common mistakes that can significantly decrease the quality of your personal statement. One of these mistakes is writing in a generic way without discussing your unique experiences. Another is writing a statement that focuses solely on your academic background without demonstrating your qualities and experiences of relevance to dentistry. You should also avoid writing personal statements that are too long or too short, making sure to follow the specified guidelines.

How to Edit and Revise Your Dental School Personal Statement for Maximum Impact

After you have finished your first draft, it is highly recommended to take the time to edit and revise your personal statement. One essential tip is to take a break before starting to revise so that you can look at your personal statement with fresh eyes. As you revise, ensure that your statement is clear, concise, and effectively conveys your message. You may also want to get feedback from friends, family, or professors as well as use online resources such as grammar checking tools.

Tips for Tailoring Your Dental School Personal Statement to Specific Programs or Schools

An effective way to make your personal statement stand out is to tailor it to the specific dental school programs you are applying to. Research and find information about each school's curriculum, facilities, and mission statements, for example, and choose to include information that shows your interest and compatibility with the program specifically. This approach will show the committee that you are serious about attending their specific program and that you've done your homework.

Strategies for Standing Out Among a Pool of Competitive Applicants

Standing out in a pool of competitive applicants can be challenging, but it is vital to remember that if you stay authentic and communicate your passion for dentistry effectively, you have a good chance of making a lasting impression. Additionally, take the time to review what you wrote before making the final submission, use the appropriate formatting guidelines, and be certain you have represented yourself and your aspirations as holistically and accurately as possible.

Making the Most of Supplemental Essays and Interviews as Part of the Application Process

In addition to your personal statement, there may be supplemental essays or interviews that are included as part of the dental school application process. It is essential to take these components seriously as they can play a significant role in the final decision. Be sure to prepare for these essays and interviews carefully, using tips and tools online and even seeking advice from current dental students or former colleagues. Remember, by taking advantage of all aspects of the application process, you can make your candidacy stand out.

Navigating the Admissions Process and What Comes Next After Submitting Your Personal Statement

The admissions process can be stressful, but always remember why you're applying and what your end goal is. It is important to stay organized throughout the application process, keeping track of deadlines and all required documents. After submitting, you can breathe easy, awaiting a decision. However, if you're putting all your eggs in one basket, you may want to consider applying to multiple dental schools. Knowing what to expect and what you'll need to do can help put your mind at ease and prepare you for whatever may come next.

Writing a winning dental school personal statement takes time, effort, and commitment. By keeping the tips mentioned in this article in mind and staying true to yourself and your motivations, you will have an excellent chance of getting admitted to the dental school of your choice, and ultimately following the path you envisioned for your professional life. Good luck!

Want to learn more about the process for applying to dental school? Take a look at these resources to take your application to the next level:

• How to Prepare for Your Dental School Interviews
• Navigating Dental School Acceptance Rates: Strategies for Success
• How to Get Into Dental School: Essential Tips and Guidelines
• Letters of Evaluation for Dental School: Everything You Need to Know
• How to Get Volunteer Hours for Dental School Applications
• University of the Pacific Dental School: Application Requirements and How to Get In (2023-2024)

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Thinking about a future filled with flossing and drilling? Dive into this captivating piece as we unravel the intricate web of dental school curricula, equipping you with the knowledge needed to pursue a smile-worthy career in dentistry.

February 23, 2024

Everything You Need to Know About the CASPer Test

Uncover all the essential information about the CASPer test in this comprehensive guide.

How to Write a Powerful Dental School Letter of Intent

Learn how to craft a compelling and impactful dental school letter of intent that will set you apart from other applicants.

February 27, 2024

Medical School Early Decision Programs: Overview & Guide

Explore the advantages and considerations of applying to medical school through early decision programs.

August 18, 2023

Personal Characteristics Essay: Top Examples and Tips for Successful Writing

Looking to write a compelling personal characteristics essay? Our article offers top examples and tips for successful writing.

May 19, 2023

Crafting an Effective Personal Statement for SOAP: Tips and Guidelines

Crafting an effective personal statement for SOAP can be a daunting task, but with these tips and guidelines, you can create a standout statement that showcases your strengths and experiences.

April 1, 2024

Best Majors for Dental School: A Guide for Pre-Dental Students

If you're a pre-dental student, choosing the right major can be crucial for your future success in dental school.

May 4, 2023

Why ChatGPT Can’t Write Your Personal Statement

While ChatGPT is multifaceted, there is a compelling argument against using AI for your personal statements. Here is one expert's take on the revolutionary technology and application essays.

March 14, 2024

UNC Adams School of Dentistry: Application and Program Overview

Are you passionate about oral health and looking to apply to the UNC Adams School of Dentistry? Explore the application, admissions process, and DDS program in our article.

May 5, 2023

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Graduate School?

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January 9, 2024

Marquette Dental School: Application Requirements, Acceptance Rates, and How to Get In (2023-2024)

Considering applying to the Marquette Dental School? Familiarize yourself with the application requirements, gain insights into the acceptance rates, and understand how to increase your chances of securing admission.

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Application Services

Applicant essay.

 You will NOT be able to revise this section after your application has been eSubmitted to ADEA PASS. Review your entries carefully before eSubmitting.

The response you type will appear in your application exactly as you type it. Using all capital letters or not capitalizing properly does not present a professional image to your application.     

The Applicant Essay provides you an opportunity to explain why you want to pursue postdoctoral dental education.   

Text Instructions

• Limit your response for the Applicant Essay to 5,200 characters (e.g., 650 words at eight characters per word).   
• It is suggested that you use word processing software to type your essay. Be sure to check for spelling and grammatical errors.   
• Be sure to proofread your essay carefully. The essay may not be changed after it has been e-Submitted to ADEA PASS.   
• Do not indent paragraphs or sentences.   
• Press Enter twice prior to beginning the next paragraph.   
• Copy and paste your text into the space provided. Do not edit the spacing once it has been pasted into the essay space.   
• If you notice errors in your text after copying the text into the response space, remove the entire text. Make corrections in your word processing software, copy, and re-paste all of the text into the essay space.   

Customizing Your Essay

You may customize your application by creating and designating different essays to your selected advanced dental education programs at no additional fee. You will be able to select an essay for each program in the Program Designation section of your ADEA PASS application.   

Helpful Hints

• The text within the response space will be formatted correctly when ADEA PASS downloads your application.   
• Click on the blue icon in the Preview column to review the text that will be submitted to ADEA PASS as it will appear on your application.

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The time has come for you to complete the essay portion of the application. This is your opportunity to shine in a way that is less driven by data and more driven by your personal experiences and your unique perspective.

4 Things to Remember About Essays

• Timing - The application can time out on you, especially when completing this lengthy portion. Avoid losing your essays or other data by saving frequently!
• Spacing - Watch your spacing! Remember that the character count includes spaces.
• Abbreviations - Spell out all words. Do not use shorthand or abbreviations.
• Formatting - Avoid formatting issues by typing your essay directly into the TMDSAS application, rather than copying and pasting your essay from word processor programs. Copying formatted text into the application may result in issues that cannot be edited once your application has been submitted.

Dental Applicant Personal Statement  

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in dentistry. You are asked to discuss your philosophy of the dental profession and indicate your goals relevant to the profession.

The essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces.

Medical Applicant Personal Statement  

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Podiatry Applicant Personal Statement 

The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in podiatry. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

Veterinary Applicant Personal Statement 

The personal essay asks you to describe opportunities and challenges (veterinary-related and non-veterinary-related) you have experienced and how these have helped to prepare you to enter the veterinary profession.

Personal Characteristics 

Required of all applicants - new prompt for ey 2025.

A key aspect of holistic review includes the consideration of applicants' attributes within the context of their experiences and academic metrics. 

Describe any personal qualities, characteristics, and/or lived experiences that could enrich the educational experience of others. (5000 Characters)

Optional Essay 

There is one optional essay available for all applicants. This essay is an opportunity to provide the admissions committee(s) with a broader picture of who you are as an applicant. The essay is optional; however, you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Optional Essay:

Briefly discuss any unique circumstances or life experiences that are relevant to your application, which have not previously been presented. Optional Essay is limited to 2500 characters, including spaces.

• Additional Essays

DO/PhD & MD/PhD Program Essays

• Explain your motivation to seek a MD/PhD or DO/PhD dual Discuss your research interests and career goals as an applicant to a dual degree program.
• Describe your significant research Include the name and title of your research mentor as well as your contributions to the project. List any publications that have resulted from your work.

Each essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces.

DDS/PhD Program Essays

• Explain your motivation to seek a DDS/PhD dual
• Describe your significant research experiences, research interests and career goals as appropriate for an applicant to the DDS/PhD dual degree program.

Table of Contents

• Dental - Personal Statement
• Medical - Personal Statement
• Podiatry - Personal Statement
• Veterinary - Personal Statement
• Personal Characteristics
• Optional Essay

↑ Back to top ↑

Dental School Secondary Questions

AL - University of Alabama School of Dentistry (UAB)

Supplemental questions location: emailed to everybody IS, only selected OOS applicants.  

Required for all applicants:

• What ties do you have to Alabama, if any? (no word/character limit)
• Why do you want to attend the UAB School of Dentistry? (no word/character limit)
• How would you describe your healthcare exposure? This may include shadowing, employment/volunteerism in healthcare setting, medical/dental mission, research, etc. Include your role/duties. (no word/character limit)
• To what activities or hobbies do you like to devote your time and efforts? (no word/character limit)
• What else do you want the admissions committee to know about you? (no word/character limit)

AZ - A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (ASDOH, ATSU-AZ)

Supplemental questions location: mailed to all applicants that meet requirements.

• Why are you applying to ASDOH? What makes our school different from other dental schools? (500 words)
• What changes do you think we will see in the profession in the future? (500 words)

Optional for all applicants:

• Please list any changes or updates to your AADSAS application. If your AADSAS application is complete and accurate, please move on to the next question. (no word/character limit)

AZ - Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine (CDMA, MWU-AZ)

Supplemental questions location: emailed to all applicants that meet requirements.

Required when applicable:

• If you were a non-science major, how has your major course of study prepared you for a career in the health professions?
• If you have any C- or lower grades and/or any course withdrawals on your transcript, please explain the circumstances of these grades and/or withdrawals.
• Is there any additional information that you would like Midwestern University to have that is not included in the AADSAS application?

CA - California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine (CNU)

Supplemental questions location: AADSAS.

• What is important in selecting a dental school? What factors do you take into consideration when deciding which dental school to attend? (3000 characters)
• Why do you want to join the California Northstate University College of Dental Medicine Family? Please state briefly how you will contribute to CNU College of Dental Medicine. (3000 characters)

Optional for all applicants:  

• Please use the following space to tell us anything additional that you believe is relevant to your application. (5000 characters)

CA - University of Southern California, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (USC)

• Have you previously applied to the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC? If so, did you participate in an interview? (2000 characters)
• Have you taken any classes at a community college? If so, list each institution’s name and the number of units you have completed. (2000 characters)
• Please list your professional achievements and include when and how long. (2000 characters)

CA - Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (LLU)

Supplemental questions location: emailed to all applicants.

• Tell us what characteristics of Linda Linda University are particularly attractive and meaningful to you and why you have chosen to apply for advanced education. (4000 characters)
• Discuss how your spiritual origins, development, and experience have influenced and been integrated into your daily life. (4000 characters)
• Tell us the desirable qualities that you see in yourself that you believe would aid us in considering your application. (4000 characters)
• LLU believes deeply in integrated values into the educational experience. As a result, religion courses and chapel attendance are part of the curriculum. Tell us why you believe that a faith based education would be a special benefit to you. (4000 characters)
• As a Seventh-day Adventist institution, LLU has lifestyle expectations which include abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug/substances in all forms while enrolled. If you are accepted to Loma Linda university, are you willing to abide by the lifestyle policies of the university while enrolled? (4000 characters)

CA - University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry (UCLA)

• How do you deal with failure? (350 characters)
• How would you assess your ability to ask for help and give one example of when you had to do so? (350 characters)
• Please LIST 3 ways you deal with stress. (100 characters)
• Are you making, or have you already made, a career change prior to applying to dental school? Please explain. (350 characters)

Required for applicants not currently in school:

• If you are not currently enrolled in school, what have you been doing since graduation? (600 characters)

Required for applicants interested in the DDS-PhD program:

• Please explain your future plans for your DDS-PhD career. (600 characters)

CA - University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry (UCSF)

• What is important to you in selecting a dental school? How will you make your decision about which school to attend? (1500 characters)
• Why do you want to join the UCSF community? Please state briefly how you will contribute to the UCSF School of Dentistry. (1500 characters)
• Please use this space to tell us anything additional that you believe is relevant to your application. (5000 characters)
• If you intend to apply to the DDS/PhD program, you must submit an additional essay below which outlines your reasons for your interest in the DDS/PhD program. Your application will not be considered for the joint program if you do not supply this additional essay. If you selected "no", please enter "N/A" (1600 characters)

CA - University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UoP)

There are no supplemental questions that require an essay response.

CA - Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine

Supplemental questions location: admissions website.

• Please explain why you chose to apply to WesternU’s College of Dental Medicine (500 words)
• If you have any additional information you would like the Admissions and Selection Committee to consider or aspects of your application which you think may seem confusing or incomplete as they are stated elsewhere, you can upload a Word or PDF document (limit to one page).

You may also use this as an opportunity to explain factors such as: factors that may have had a negative effect on some aspect of your academic performance, experience in dentistry, including virtual experiences, extracurricular/volunteerism/community service, and why you are applying to the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine specifically.

CO - University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU)

Required for applicants with outstanding prerequisites:

• The University of Colorado requires that all prerequisite course work be completed at the conclusion of the spring term of the year accepted with a letter grade of C or better. If you have not completed all of the prerequisite courses (including upper division course work), please provide us with your timeline for completion of all prerequisite courses. (Not answering this question could delay processing your application) (1000 characters)

CT - University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine (UConn)

• Do you meet the 50 hour general dentist shadowing requirement? If yes, please list your shadowing experiences. If no, please explain how you will meet this requirement. (500 characters)

DC - Howard University College of Dentistry

• Explain what motivated your decision to apply to HUCD. (5000 characters)
• How does our program fit with your career plans? (5000 characters)
• Describe any experiences and/or skills that have made you more appreciative or sensitive to other cultures or the human condition. (5000 characters)
• Provide a specific example of how you promoted diversity in your community or school. (5000 characters)
• If you could appear before the Admissions Committee what information would you want them to know that is not already included in your application? (5000 characters)
• Tell us about your childhood/adolescence. Briefly describe your family, community, and disadvantage(s), and any other information that is important about your background before college. (5000 characters)
• How did you prepare for you DAT? If you took the DAT more than once, describe your preparation for each. (5000 characters)
• Please describe and explain any academic problems that occurred in college and / or graduate/professional school. This may include withdrawals from courses or school, incomplete grades, and grades of D or F (or their equivalent). (5000 characters)

FL - Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine (LECOM)

Supplemental questions location: emailed to everybody that qualifies.

FL - Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (NSU)

Fl - university of florida college of dentistry (uf).

Supplemental questions location: emailed to selected applicants.

There are no supplemental questions that require an essay response

GA - Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University (DCG)

• Are there any factors that may have affected your academic record? (1500 characters)
• Please explain any other responsibilities you may have outside of being a student. (1500 characters)
• Do you feel that the area where you grew up has health disparities such as medically underserved, dentally underserved, or reduced and free lunches provided for high school students? If yes please explain. (1500 characters)
• Why are you interested in receiving your dental education from The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University? (1500 characters)
• Please describe your plans for practicing dentistry after graduating from dental school. (1500 characters)

IL - University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry (UIC)

Il - midwestern university college of dental medicine (cdmi, mwu-il).

• If you were previously accepted into a health profession but did not enroll, or enrolled in a health profession program but withdrew, please explain.

IL - Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU)

Supplemental questions location: AADSAS and admissions website.

• What is your particular reason for wanting to attend SIU School of Dental Medicine? (1500 characters)

IN - Indiana University School of Dentistry (IU)

Applicant’s choice, choose one out of the three:

• Discuss an accomplishment, event, realization or change of career plans that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. How has that illustrated resilience, determination, perseverance as part of your authentic character? (250 words)
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (250 words)
• Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, or an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain the significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution (250 words)

IA - University of Iowa College of Dentistry (UI)

• Why do you feel that you are well prepared for a career in the dental profession? (2000 characters)
• Tell us about a time your integrity was challenged. (2000 characters)
• Besides dentistry, what are you passionate about? (2000 characters)
• Share obstacles that you may have overcome to achieve your goals. (2000 characters)
• In which type of community or setting would you like to practice? (2000 characters)
• How do you plan to use your dental education after you graduate? (2000 characters
• Why the University of Iowa College of Dentistry? (2000 characters)

Required for applicants who answer they are part of a community that is underserved:

• Please elaborate. (2000 characters)

KY - University of Kentucky College of Dentistry (UK)

• Describe an instance where you failed to achieve a goal (personal, professional, or academic) that you set for yourself. (2000 characters)
• Explain how you handled this situation.
• What did you take away from this situation?
• What failure might you anticipate as a dental student?
• Describe an instance where you received feedback from a mentor, supervisor or instructor that was critical of your performance. (2000 characters)
• Explain how you handled this feedback.
• Describe a time when you believe you were treated unfairly. (2000 characters)
• How did you handle this situation?
• Please identify one of your long-term service activities. (2000 characters)
• How did this service activity directly impact another individual?
• Explain how this service activity impacted you.
• Is there anything additional you would like to share that is not found in your application? (2000 characters)
• To assist us in reviewing your coursework, please explain your performance in any course in which you received a C+ or lower or chose to withdraw. (2000 characters)
• To assist us in reviewing your DAT scores, please explain any scores of 17 or below. (2000 characters)

KY - University of Louisville School of Dentistry (U of L)

Supplemental application location: AADSAS

• Briefly describe your personal or professional reasons for choosing the University of Louisville's DMD program. (1000 characters)
• What contributions do you see yourself making to the field of dentistry? (250 characters)
• Is there anything else you want ULSD to know that is not included in this application? (2000 characters)
• If you have not taken classes in the past year, please explain what you have been doing. (500 characters)
• Please briefly explain why you earned any D's, F's and/or W's on your transcript. (1000 characters)

LA - Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Dentistry (LSU)

Supplemental questions location: emailed to qualified applicants.

Required for OOS applicants:

• If you were fortunate to be accepted to more than one dental school, how would you decide where to attend? Note: we are not looking for you to say, “LSU is my number one choice”. What we really want you to discuss is the process you would use and, more importantly, the criteria you would use to make your decision. (no word/character limit)

ME - University of New England College of Dental Medicine (UNE)

• Why do you want to attend a dental school with a mission grounded in public health? (3000 characters)
• Please describe a healthcare or social issue that you are passionate about, and explain why. What role can you play in addressing this issue? (3000 characters)          
• How has your background and experience prepared you to contribute to an environment that holds diversity as a core value? How do you see yourself demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a dental student and future dentist? (3000 characters)

Required for applicants that have not met shadowing hour requirements, optional otherwise:

• How have you engaged with the dental profession during the pandemic? (3000 characters)

MD - University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMB, UMD)

Ma - boston university, henry m. goldman school of dental medicine (bu, gsdm).

Supplemental questions location: AADSAS

• Consider your interests, experiences, characteristics and skills. What makes GSDM a good fit for your dental education? As a dental student, how will you contribute to the school community? (800 characters)
• Comment on any aspect of your application, if desired. (500 characters)
• If COVID-19 affected your dental school application preparations, please explain. For example, indicate affected courses, changes to instruction or grading policy, and outcomes. (500 characters)

MA - Harvard University School of Dental Medicine

Supplemental questions location: emailed to applicants invited to interview

MA - Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

Supplemental questions location: emailed to applicants invited to interview.

Required for applicants invited to interview, must be handwritten:

• Fear can sometimes have an immobilizing effect.  Explain a situation in which you were fearful, and what if anything, you did to overcome fear.
• Imagine being colorblind, what does that mean to you?

MI - University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry (UDM)

Mi - university of michigan school of dentistry (umich).

Required for applicants claiming disadvantaged status:

• Provide any information about your background that can help clarify your disadvantaged student status. (1000 characters)

MN - University of Minnesota School of Dentistry (UMN)

• Please provide context for any Incomplete "I", Withdraw "W", "C-", "D" and/or "F" grades. (3000 characters)

Required for reapplicants:

• If you have previously applied to ANY dental school (not just UMN) and were not accepted, please explain why you feel you are better prepared or better qualified as a candidate this year than when you last applied. Please specify changes/improvements made to your application. (3000 characters)

MS - University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry (UMMC)

Mo - a.t. still university, missouri school of dentistry and oral health (atsu-mo, mosdoh).

• Why did you participate in the volunteer activities you listed in the Clinical, Volunteer and Community Service section of your AADSAS application? What did you gain from participating in these activities? (500 words)
• Why do you want to attend the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health? (500 words)
• Please list any changes or updates to your AADSAS application. This section may be left blank if your AADSAS application is complete and accurate. (no word/character limit)

MO - University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry (UMKC)

• Why are you interested in attending the UMKC School of Dentistry? (500 characters)

NE - Creighton University School of Dentistry

• What is your reason for choosing Creighton? (no word/character limit)
• Please state if there is anything of particular importance that the Admissions Committee should know about you. (no word/character limit)

Required for applicants with breaks in education:

• If there was a break in your education (other than the normal school vacations) please explain fully your occupation or activities during that time. (no word/character limit)

NE - University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (UNMC)

• Please describe the most challenging situation or obstacle you have had to overcome. (500 characters)
• What was the life lesson you learned from this experience? (300 characters)

NV - University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine (UNLV)

Nj - rutgers school of dental medicine.

Supplemental questions location: none.

NY - Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

Ny - new york university college of dentistry (nyu).

• Why do you want to pursue your dental education at New York University College of Dentistry? (5000 characters)

Required for reapplicants who did not previously apply to NYU:

• Please explain why you are submitting an application to NYU Dentistry this cycle when you did not previously apply here? (500 characters)

NY - Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine

• Have there been changes in your preparation from the application to dental school? (500 characters)
• Is there anything you want us to know that we have not asked you? (500 characters)

NY - Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College

Ny - university at buffalo school of dental medicine (ub).

Supplemental questions location: none

NC - East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine (ECU)

• What specifically led you to apply to East Carolina University's School of Dental Medicine? (1000 characters)
• Describe a time that you collaborated with others in working toward a common goal. What did you learn from that experience? (1000 characters)
• Describe a crisis in your life and what you learned from it. (1000 characters)
• In times of academic or personal challenges, who is among your support network? In what specific ways has that person(s) been supportive? (1000 characters)            
• Describe a situation where your attempts at leadership were not successful? Why do you think that was? (1000 characters)

NC - University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Adams School of Dentistry (UNC)

Supplemental questions location: AADSAS and emailed to all applicants.

• Please describe your interest in choosing University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry for your dental education. (1500 characters)            
• We all have unique values, aspiration, and a sense of purpose that define who we are and how we live. What is your personal mission? Describe how your personal mission and professional goals align. (250 words)
• Comment on your ability to work with a team, both as a leader and as a productive team member. (250 words)
• The dental patient population is becoming more diverse with time. Share your experiences working with diverse groups of people. (250 words)
• Communication is key in modern healthcare. Share your skill set, experiences, and strengths/weaknesses in communication. This may include experiences in expository writing, public speaking, drama/acting, debate, etc. (250 words)
• Comment on your college course performance. (250 words)
• Comment on your DAT performance. (250 words)
• What have you done to explore dentistry as a career? (no character/word limit)

Applicant’s choice, choose one out of the two:

• Accessing dental care, for a variety of reasons, is a challenge for many Americans. In your opinion, what role should dentists play in addressing this issue? (250 words)
• Describe an ethical dilemma you have faced. How was it resolved and how might this experience influence your future career or your time as a dental student? (250 words)
• Describe a meaningful experience you have had either in a clinical encounter or with a dental role model. What did you learn and how will this influence the type of clinician you will become? (250 words)
• Describe a time when you have faced conflict. How did you work to resolve it? (250 words)
• Describe a time when you experienced failure. How did this change you? (250 words)
• Describe a time when you worked on a team to solve a problem or develop a project. What did you learn about the challenges faced by teams? (250 words)

OH - Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine (CWRU)

Required for applicants interested in the DMD/MPH program:

• Please write a statement about why you are interested in the MPH/DMD program and how this program fits into your long-term professional goals. (500 characters)

OH - The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (OSU)

• How has your undergraduate experience influenced your outlook on life? (500 characters)
• Describe a community to which you belong and share a way in which you have made a difference in that community. (500 characters)
• Describe a challenging circumstance in your life and how you coped with the challenge. (500 characters)

OK - University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (OU)

Or - oregon health sciences university school of dentistry (ohsu), pa - university of pennsylvania school of dental medicine (upenn).

• What ethical dilemma(s) have you encountered during your education? Please describe. (1000 words)
• How will you judge if you are a successful dentist?  Please describe. (1000 words)
• What qualities of Penn Dental Medicine do you feel will help you achieve your professional goals and how? Please describe. (1000 words)
• Please list any additional predental experience not included in your AADSAS application. This experience can include but not limited to observation in a private practice, dental clinic, or hospital setting; dental assisting; dental laboratory work; dental research, etc. Please include time allotted to each activity, dates of attendance, location, and description of your experience. If you do not have any predental experience, please indicate what you plan to do in order to explore dentistry as a career prior to matriculation. Do not include, expand, or repeat information submitted on your AADSAS application in the Dentistry/Shadowing experience section. You may leave this question unanswered if applicable. (1000 words)
• Please use this space to add additional information regarding your application if needed.  You may use this space to provide information regarding courses (including AP or IB courses) used to meet your prerequisites, clarify areas of your application, provide additional information if you are reapplying this year, and other information relevant to your application. (500 words)

PA - University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (Pitt)

Required for applicants interested in DMD/PhD:

• In order to apply for the program, please include an essay that addresses the following questions. This statement is a vital part of the application, and carries the most weight in our admissions decision for the simultaneous degree program. Please describe your intellectual and professional interest in graduate study in Oral Biology. What are your primary interests within your chosen field of study (i.e., Craniofacial Genetics or Tissue Regeneration) and list any relevant background experience that might make you a good candidate? Which faculty mentor and lab would you like to work with? Where do you see yourself after graduate school (what type of career are you training for)? (5000 characters)

PA - Temple University, Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry

Pr - university of puerto rico school of dental medicine (upr), sc - medical university of south carolina, james b. edwards college of dental medicine (musc).

• For the Essay section, write a brief essay that includes discussion of the following: Previous research experience(s); Current research interests; Why you want to pursue the combined DMD/PhD degree; Why you are applying to MUSC; Your long range goals. (no word/character limit)
• For the Resume/Personal History below, provide the following information in resume or curriculum vitae format: Past employment; Undergraduate or summer research experience(s); Publications; Academic honors, awards; Extracurricular / community / professional activities; Membership in professional organizations. (upload file no larger than 10 MB)

TN - Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry

• Please indicate why you wish to attend Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry? (no word/character limit)

TN - University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry (UT, UTHSC)

Tx - texas a&m university college of dentistry, tx - texas tech university health sciences center el paso, woody l. hunt school of dentistry, tx - university of texas health science center at houston school of dentistry (ut-h, uthsc-h), tx - university of texas health science center at san antonio school of dentistry (ut-sa, uthsc-sa), ut - roseman university of health sciences college of dental medicine, ut - university of utah school of dentistry (u of u).

Supplemental questions location: AADSAS and emailed to qualified applicants.

• Please tell us why you are interested in the University of Utah School of Dentistry? (9999 characters)
• Please tell us any additional information about yourself not already in your application. (9999 characters)
• Please list three obstacles that you have encountered in your preparation for dental school and how you have or are managing each. (9999 characters)
• Please describe how your prior employment has helped prepare you for dental school. (9999 characters)

VA - Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry (VCU)

• Is there any information not included elsewhere in your application that you would like us to know? (no word/character limit)

WA - University of Washington School of Dentistry (UW)

• Embracing equity, diversity and inclusion is a value the UWSOD seeks to uphold in its teaching, service and research. We don’t take these values for granted, they are things that everyone in our dental school community must actively practice. If you are selected to be a member of the incoming predoctoral class, how would you contribute to developing and maintaining a sense of belonging for all of your classmates? What challenges do you think you might encounter? What benefits would you expect? (1500 characters)
• Service to others is highly valued at UWSOD. Please describe a memorable experience within the last two years in which your service to someone or to a community in need was enriching to the recipient(s) of your action. What was your motivation to pursue this particular area or theme of service and what was the most meaningful part of the service for you personally? (1500 characters)
• Please describe a challenge or barrier you have faced in your life. How has that influenced who you are today? (1500 characters)
• Is there an area of your application that you think is not an adequate representation of your abilities? If so, please explain. (1500 characters)

WV - West Virginia University School of Dentistry (WVU)

Wi - marquette university school of dentistry.

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What’s Next: How to Plan for the Dental Career of Your Dreams

As you think about the end of dental school, or how to plan your career, you’re probably wondering, “What's next?”

Far too often, I hear dental students say something like, “My only option is to grab the first job I can find. I know I’m going to be miserable while I increase my speed and clinical skills.” But you don’t need to feel that way!

Last week I discussed exactly that during the most recent ADA Practice Transitions Coffee Talk webinar. I offered advice to plan for the dental career you have always dreamed of, including:

• How to consider different paths (including some that may even offer loan repayment )
• How to balance your immediate priorities and long-term goals
• Why you don’t have to rule out buying early in your career
• Methods to evaluate your options – and keep them open

We also had an active Q&A session, during which we discussed:

• What are the most important things to consider when negotiating a contract for practice acquisition?
• I’m thinking about moving out of state after dental school but I don’t have a mentor or any professional connections out of the state I am in. Any advice for how to establish yourself as a new dentist out of state?
• What is the best way to get ahead business- and finance-wise while in dental school? (See: 5 financial must-dos before buying a dental practice .)
• What resources are there for finding opportunities?
• What does an owner look for when hiring? What factors into their decision to hire someone?
• What should I know about negotiating an associate contract ?

Additional resources mentioned during the session

The American Dental Education Association , if you are interested in pursuing a career in academia

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) , if you are interested in learning one of the twelve recognized specialties

Ebook: What You Need to Know Before Signing that Contract

Guidelines for Practice Success from the ADA Center for Professional Success, to help learn the “business” of dentistry. This can help you better evaluate potential practices!

Should You Take the Money? The True Cost of a Signing Bonus  

What Went Wrong series , with tips to avoid all-too-common scenarios

We also shared a testimonial video from Dr. Jessica Sikora. Dr. Sikora wanted to find the right practice after graduation, but lacked connections in her adopted state of Maine. Through ADAPT, she found the ideal practice where she can get the hands-on mentorship she craves while building the foundation for eventual ownership. As she explained, “If I hadn’t found ADAPT, I probably would have ended up in a group practice and that is not what I wanted.”

Pre-Dentistry, Focus

The first steps toward a career in dentistry..

The pre-dentistry focus is an advising program to help students select courses and become well prepared for application to dental school.

The steps toward your career as a dentist begin by taking the required pre-dental courses, completing your undergraduate degree, and gaining valuable experience. At a minimum, coursework will include chemistry, physics, biology, and organic chemistry. Common pre-dentistry majors include biology, medical sciences, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, psychology and nutrition. You will also need to complete community service hours and seek out opportunities to shadow dentists in order to evaluate your interest in the profession and build a well-rounded application.

Completing these steps are prerequisites for applying to dental school for four additional years of specialized training.

This program is a good fit if you:

• Enjoy science and math
• Are a good problem solver
• Enjoy working with your hands
• Like to work with people and to help others
• Are interested in dental health

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Prepare to become a physician with the knowledge and clinical experiences you need to enter medical school.

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Learn how to manipulate chemicals and other substances to solve practical problems related to medicine, food, materials, national security, energy and more.

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The impact humans have exerted on earth is the core of what makes up the Earth and Spatial Sciences.

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Study mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy and more and earn hands-on experience with field experience led by expert faculty.

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Gain the specific knowledge and clinical experiences required for a career as a physician assistant.

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Learn to apply statistical principles and data analysis to help develop new products, address scientific questions, solve problems in business and government, and much more.

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Take your first steps toward a career as an eye doctor with the knowledge and experiences required for optometry school.

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Dental Grads: Tell Them UMB Sent You

May 21, 2024    |   By Laura Lee

A sense of accomplishment, gratitude, and a commitment to compassionate patient care filled the air at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry's (UMSOD) Honors Convocation on May 17. Held at the Hippodrome Theatre, the ceremony celebrated the hard work and dedication of the newest class of dental and dental hygiene graduates.

School of Dentistry graduates read the Convocation Oath.

With the notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” filling the room, family and friends clutched colorful bouquets as they craned their necks trying to catch a glimpse of their graduate processing down the aisle robed in the lilac and black academic regalia of the dental profession.

University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS , conferred the degrees and praised the graduates' accomplishments. “I know you are each very proud of each other, and the faculty and staff are very proud of you,” Jarrell said. “But there’s a whole lot of other people in this room that are even more proud of your accomplishments,” he said, motioning to the packed theater.

Samantha Vernet beamed while extolling her cousin Laurie France , who was one of four graduates to complete the Clinical Dental Hygiene Leader dual BS/MS degree.

“It’s been a testament of her perseverance and endurance,” Vernet said. “There were some tough times and some good times, so seeing her being able to finish is really awesome.”

(See photo gallery below.)

During welcoming remarks, UMSOD Dean Mark A. Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, praised the Class of 2024’s technical skills while emphasizing the importance of connecting with patients. “It is of utmost importance to strive for excellence in your clinical work,” he said. “But it is equally important to learn to treat patients with empathy and compassion.”

UMSOD graduates learn to work with patients by serving the oral health needs of Baltimore and other Maryland communities. During the last fiscal year, faculty, staff, and students provided clinical care — on and off campus — for more than 21,500 patients.

The dental hygiene graduates were recognized first, with Suzanne Burgee, RDH, BS, MS , clinical instructor and academic director of the Dental Hygiene Program, commending their diverse backgrounds and their dedication to improving access to oral health care. “This exceptional group has representation from Vietnam, Egypt, Thailand, the Philippines, Ecuador, Brazil, Italy, Haiti, and China,” Burgee said.

Julia Boras , president of the dental hygiene Class of 2024, encouraged her classmates to prioritize the human connection in their practice. “We must remember that we’re not merely treating teeth. We are caring for individuals, each with their unique fears and aspirations and needs,” Boras said.

During the doctoral hooding ceremony, Justin Tabatabai, DDS , president of the dental Class of 2024, reflected on the ups and downs of the four-year journey, which started in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was all worth it, because here we are today at the end of our wild ride,” he said. “Soon-to-be dentists graduating from the world's first dental college.”

In all, 140 graduates walked across the Hippodrome stage eager to take the next step toward a fulfilling career improving lives through oral health.  

In her closing remarks, Burgee left the graduates with a powerful call to action: “I ask you to be creative, be ethical, and be kind. Work together with other professionals outside of oral health to close the gaps in our health care systems so no one is left behind. Now it’s your turn to go make the world a better place. And tell them UMB sent you. Congratulations.”

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UB dental school professor discusses how AI can advance periodontic treatment

By LAURIE KAISER

Published May 28, 2024

When Nathalia P. Andrade joined the faculty of the School of Dental Medicine as a clinical assistant professor of periodontics and endodontics last September, she noticed that her department had impressive technological equipment and software with artificial intelligence capabilities. She also saw an opportunity to leverage the quickly evolving technology into her teaching.

Within a week of being hired, Andrade applied for and was awarded a $5,000 seed grant from UB’s Office of Curriculum, Assessment and Teaching Transformation to create a new course weaving AI into periodontics. This dental specialty focuses on the health of periodontium, the tissues that support teeth.

She taught “Transforming Periodontal and Dental Care Powered by Artificial Intelligence” for the first time this spring. While tailored specifically for periodontal residents, the course was open to all dental school residents and will be offered again in 2026.

Andrade, who started studying AI while completing her residency, published an article in the March 2022 issue of Clinical Advances in Periodontics about successfully using AI in a procedure to lengthen teeth shortened over time or because of teeth malposition, which causes the gums to be more exposed. “Dual Digitally Guided Crown Lengthening in Esthetic Area Compromised by Disharmonic Implant Crown” ranked as a top-cited paper for the publication.

Andrade recently spoke with UBNow about how AI is transforming periodontics and how dental students at UB are using it.

When did you first become interested in AI as it relates to dental care?

I was always passionate about technology of all kinds. I never took a course in using AI, but during my residency, I would sit in front of the computer and figure out how to do it. I saw how it would make periodontic surgery faster and more precise. I started to love using it, and I wanted to teach others how to use it, too.

What is the main focus of your AI research?

AI can be used in three different stages of care: diagnosis, treatment and maintenance. My work is mainly focused on diagnosis and treatment, such as the procedure on lengthening crowns. With AI, we precisely know where to cut the gum and where to remove the bone behind it. When you go freehand, it’s hard to get the measurements right. With AI, you do all the thinking process before the procedure and at the time of the procedure you just need to follow the guide.

How does the guide work?

For the crown-lengthening procedure, for example, we use AI to determine how the smile will look after the procedure. Once the patient signs off, we create a guide for the exact position where we need to cut. We print it and put it in the patient’s mouth. In another example, when doing an implant with a patient, a guide can show us the correct position and angulation of the implant. It’s particular helpful in cases with multiple implants.

What are other ways that AI aids in periodontic care?

It can highlight the treatments that the patient most likely needs by the X-rays, periodontal chart and the information that’s in the patient’s record. It can also tell you if the patient is missing a treatment or is due for a cleaning.

AI can also help diagnose a patient quicker and more accurately. For example, when an X-ray indicates a problem, there are a lot of variables. One clinician can look at the image and say, “There’s 50% bone loss,” while another clinician will say, “No, for me, it looks like 60%.”

I think AI is going to help us create a standard that will be the same for everybody.

What are some of the main points you’re teaching students about using AI?

My main goal is to teach students to use critical thinking while using AI tools. It is a technology in development and can make mistakes. Different kind of procedures have different kind of mistakes; we have to explore them so that we teach the machine how to do the procedures properly in the future.

Talk about the new course and how you used the seed grant to fund it.

The course is designed to supplement the clinical experiences of students in postgraduate programs in 3D surgical digital planning, microscope surgery and AI as applied to periodontics.

With the funding, I brought in experts from other schools who taught different aspects of AI. Four came in person and two presented the lectures virtually. They also worked with me on how to apply AI techniques on a larger scale and how to handle HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) regulations.

How do you think the course went overall?

I was very happy with it. I initially planned for 11 periodontic residents, but in the end, about 25 residents from other dental programs, as well as periodontics faculty, came in to observe the class. I did a survey with students at the end, and they really liked the lectures and the guides because it allowed them to be up to date on new technologies. I can tell that the lessons worked because I see students using AI now. They’re digitally planning the surgical periodontal cases of real patients, using it for crown-lengthening procedures, advanced bone graft cases — like a sinus lift — and implant placement.

When will the AI course be offered going forward?

We plan to offer the course every other spring. The activities and access to new software and intraoral scanners are expensive. So, we will look for solutions and support to have it available to the students more often. The students indicated in the survey that they would like to learn more procedures using AI software. I also would like to introduce the AI-based software to dental students by adding this component to the periodontal course they already take and focus more on the diagnosis of the patient and risk assessment.

Do you have questions or comments for the Office of the Provost? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll be happy to get back to you.

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• Published: 23 May 2024

Effectiveness of school oral health programs in children and adolescents: an umbrella review

• Upendra Singh Bhadauria 1 ,
• Harsh Priya 2 ,
• Bharathi Purohit 1 &
• Ankur Singh 3  

Evidence-Based Dentistry ( 2024 ) Cite this article

34 Accesses

1 Altmetric

Metrics details

To evaluate the systematic reviews assessing the effectiveness of any type of school-based oral health programs in children and adolescents.

Methodology

A two-staged search strategy comprising electronic databases and registries based on systematic reviews was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based interventions. The quality assessment of the systematic reviews was carried out using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) tool. The Corrected Covered Area was used to evaluate the degree of overlap.

Nine reviews were included in this umbrella review. The Critical Covered Area reported moderate overlap (5.70%) among the primary studies. The assessment of risk of bias revealed one study with a high level confidence; one with moderate whereas all other studies with critically low confidence. Inconclusive evidence related to improvements in dental caries and gingival status was reported whereas, plaque status improved in a major proportion of the reviews. Knowledge, attitude, and behavior significantly increased in students receiving educational interventions when compared to those receiving usual care.

Conclusions

The evidence points to the positive impact of these interventions in behavioral changes and clinical outcomes only on a short term basis. There is a need for long-term follow-up studies to substantiate the outcomes of these interventions.

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Bhadauria, U.S., Priya, H., Purohit, B. et al. Effectiveness of school oral health programs in children and adolescents: an umbrella review. Evid Based Dent (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-024-01013-7

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In Former Soviet States, a Tug of War Between East and West

Geopolitical rivalry, intensified by fighting in Ukraine, is amplifying domestic struggles in countries like Georgia and Moldova whose people are split on which side to support.

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By Andrew Higgins

Andrew Higgins reported for many years from Russia, Georgia, Moldova and other states of the former Soviet Union.

In Georgia, protesters waving European Union flags have rallied against what they see as their pro-Russia leaders. Moldova’s government is pushing to join the bloc, enraging citizens hoping for closer relations with Moscow. Armenia, too, has reached out to Europe, angered that Moscow, a longtime ally, is courting its enemy, Azerbaijan.

Fueled in part by the Ukraine war, tensions have been mounting within some of the former lands of the Soviet Union, pitting those favoring closer relations with Russia against those orientated more toward Europe.

Many of those tensions predate the war, rooted in longstanding domestic struggles over power, money and other issues, but they have been amplified by geopolitics, with both Russia and the West pushing countries to choose a side.

Across the former Soviet Union “the whole context is now shaped by how the Ukraine war has radicalized competition between Russia and the West,” said Gerard Toal, author of “Near Abroad,” a study of Russia’s relations with former Soviet territories.

Fearful of losing influence, Moscow has issued blunt warnings to countries like Georgia and Moldova: Remember what happened in Ukraine. Without threatening to invade either country, it has pointed to the tumult and bloodshed that followed Ukraine’s tilt toward the West after a popular revolt in 2014 ousted its pro-Russian president.

Russia is also hoping that recent successes on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine can help reverse the many setbacks it suffered to its prestige and influence in a string of former Soviet states earlier in the war.

“Russian information campaigns have been fueling this idea that closer alignment with the West threatens a war that only Russia can win,” said Nicu Popescu, the former foreign minister of Moldova. “Everything depends on Ukraine.”

With the war’s outcome looking increasingly uncertain, “Russia is enjoying the West’s discomfort,” said Thomas de Waal, an expert on the former Soviet Union with Carnegie Europe, a research group.

Russia has much ground to regain, and some of its losses may be irreversible.

Distracted by the war and determined to expand relations with Azerbaijan, a rising energy power, Moscow last year alienated one of its closest allies, Armenia, by ordering Russian peacekeepers to stand aside when Azeri troops took over Nagorno-Karabakh, a disputed mountain enclave. Armenia later said it was considering applying to join the European Union and leaving a Moscow-led security pact.

Moldova has ramped up its efforts to join the European Union, which in 2022 granted it candidate status. Last week, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken visited Moldova to show American support for Ukraine and neighbors that could potentially be at risk.

But even in Georgia — which was invaded by Russia in 2008, lost 20 percent of its territory to Moscow-backed separatists and harbors deep anti-Russian sentiments — a substantial minority still want to improve at least economic ties with Russia.

“This is not because they like Russia but because they are afraid of Russia,” said Koba Turmanidze, director of the Caucasus Research Resource Center, a research group in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital.

Mr. de Waal of Carnegie Europe said that while Georgia wanted to stay out of the Ukraine conflict, “It sees that the war is blowing more in Russia’s direction. It is tilting more toward Russia while trying to stay nonaligned.”

The Georgian government, though officially striving to join the European Union, a goal widely supported by the population, has used fear of Russian retaliation to justify its refusal to join European sanctions against Moscow.

The governing party, Georgian Dream, Mr. Turmanidze said, would never say it is siding with Russia against Ukraine because “that would be political suicide,” given public hostility to Moscow. But it has taken steps, notably a controversial law on foreign influence that set off weeks of street protests, that “are Russian in style,” he added.

Maintaining influence over former Soviet lands, has been a goal of Moscow since the early 1990s but was given new emphasis in a revised “foreign policy concept” signed by President Vladimir V. Putin last year.

The document committed Russia to preventing “color revolutions,” Moscow’s term for popular uprisings “and other attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Russia’s allies and partners” and “preventing and countering unfriendly action of foreign states.”

Casting recent street protests in Georgia as a replay of what, in Moscow’s view, was a C.I.A.-orchestrated coup in 2014 in Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry warned last week that the demonstrations in Tbilisi were “just like what happened in Ukraine.”

And “look how the situation is developing in Moldova,” the ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, added, referring to tensions there ahead of an October referendum on joining the European Union. Opinion is divided in Moldova between those who favor closer integration with Europe and those looking to Russia.

“This looks like the very scenario that was prepared by Western masters for Ukraine,” Ms. Zakharova said.

The 2014 street protests in Kyiv that toppled Ukraine’s elected president, Viktor F. Yanukovych, were triggered by public outrage over his rejection of a trade and political deal with the European Union that he had pledged to sign.

“Russia’s general narrative is that there is a geopolitical conspiracy by the West to subvert the sovereignty of independent states,” Mr. Toal said.

The West, too, has its own Ukraine-framed story, one that Mr. Blinken recited last week in Moldova.

“Moldovans are acutely aware that what happens in Ukraine matters not just to Ukrainians, but to Moldovans, too,” Mr. Blinken said at a news conference with Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu. Left unchallenged, he said, Russia “would not stop at Ukraine.”

A few weeks earlier, customs officers at Moldova’s international airport found more than $1 million in cash in the luggage of some Russia-aligned politicians returning from Moscow.

Mr. Popescu, who stepped down as Moldova’s foreign minister in January and is now a fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the money was for financing political activities ahead of the October referendum and a presidential election at the same time.

“You are allowed to do politics, but you cannot bring in bags of cash from Russia,” he said.

He said the danger of a direct military intervention in Moldova by Moscow, a serious fear at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has receded. But recent advances by Russian troops “are a worry,” he added. “They are still a long way from us, but everything hinges on the outcome of the war.”

The war has become the organizing principle around which even narrow domestic disputes now revolve, turning domestic quarrels into high-stakes geopolitical confrontations.

The recent tumult in Georgia over the foreign influence law was in many ways “a local power struggle between different political networks,” Mr. Toal said, but, the war turned it into a “battle shaped by geopolitics.”

But what protesters see as evidence of their government’s shift away from the West toward Russia is, in the view of some analysts, a sign of narrower concerns ahead of an October election — like getting a Swiss bank to unfreeze billions of dollars belonging to the country’s most powerful oligarch, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the Georgian Dream party.

Mr. Ivanishvili has been involved in a long dispute with Credit Suisse bank over his money. After winning several court cases and recovering some cash, the Ukraine war added a new hurdle with the 2022 freezing of $2.7 billion because of concerns over its potential Russian origin.

His party believes that Washington forced the freezing of the money to try to get Georgia to side with the West against Russia.

Whatever the truth, the financial blow made him more determined to confront his perceived domestic enemies whatever the cost, Mr. de Waal said.

“He is paranoid and thinks this is part of a worldwide conspiracy against him,” he said.

Andrew Higgins is the East and Central Europe bureau chief for The Times based in Warsaw. He covers a region that stretches from the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Kosovo, Serbia and other parts of former Yugoslavia. More about Andrew Higgins

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The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia  with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv  that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

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Top Ukrainian military officials have warned that Russia is building up troops near northeastern Ukraine , raising fears that a new offensive push could be imminent.

Zelensky Interview: In an interview with The New York Times, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine challenged the West  over its reluctance to take bolder action.

Fleeing a War Zone: A 98-year-old Ukrainian grandmother stumbled past corpses and bomb craters  to escape Russia’s attacks.

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50 years ago in Expo history: Arkansas, New Jersey, Missouri, New Hampshire, Moscow? Governors and a Soviet tourism official had their day at the fair

Plenty of dignitaries were on hand at Expo ’74, including four governors and a Russian delegation.

The governors were Dale Bumpers of Arkansas, Brendan Byrne of New Jersey, Christopher Bond of Missouri and Meldrim Thompson of New Hampshire.

Two other governors had visited the day before: Philip Noel of Rhode Island and Bruce King of New Mexico.

The U.S.S.R. delegation included Alena Porkhatcheva, a Moscow official with Soviet tour company Intourist, who urged Americans to visit Russia. She said the average cost of accommodation in Moscow was $27 a day – and that included breakfast. She also said it was easy to get a visa.

From 100 years ago: Raymond Brown, 14, an orphan at the Hutton Settlement, died when he and two other boys attempted to dig a cave in a nearby sand bank.

Another boy, Roy Van Cleave, 12, was able to wriggle out before the sand covered him. He and another boy ran a quarter-mile to the orphanage to get help, but when rescuers arrived, it was too late. It took them 15 minutes to dig the boy’s body out of the sand.

The Hutton superintendent said that “everyone here is grief-stricken.”

Also on this day

(From onthisday.com)

1862: Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederate armies of North Virginia during the American Civil War.

1896: Italian engineer and inventor Guglielmo Marconi applies for the first ever patent for a system of wireless telegraphy in the United Kingdom

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