There is nothing like the deprivation of something to enable a person to understand its true value. Being raised in rural India, I and my family thoroughly understood the value of the medical and dental services that were so scarce. I also learned to value education in an environment in which expert educators and adequate educational facilities were comparatively rare. I was determined to use the limited educational opportunities available to me to qualify to do something useful in life. Dentistry appealed to me at an early age because I had seen grimaces of pain turn into smiles of relief, I had seen marred appearances transformed and seen dietary choices extended at the hands of caring experts and decided that I should like to emulate them. I chose to study Biology and Chemistry at advanced level in my middle and high schools with the specific aim of qualifying as a dentist and did so with exceptional dedication and determination. I received awards for academic excellence which will attest to my diligence and work ethic. With the invaluable support of my family, I achieved my goal and became the first college graduate and medical professional in my family. My passion for dentistry, which has provided me with great satisfaction, has only increased over time. I am also extremely excited to be involved in a field in which so many advances are being made in techniques, equipment and materials and hope to assist in further advances through research. It is now my goal to qualify to practice in the US, to acquire further experience and, ultimately, to run a clinic specifically in an underserved area and to undertake research, teaching and education in oral and dental health especially among the young and those caring for them. I was trained at the prestigious Yenepoya Dental College. The program provided excellent training in general dentistry with exceptional levels of exposure to a wide range of patients and conditions during the program and in the year-long internship which followed. I am a founding member of the college’s Student Charitable Trust which provides community dental services in underserved areas at no or low cost. I also had the opportunity to assist in research projects and developed an interest in research which has increased over time. The undergraduate research in which I assisted related to the effects of emotional stress on canker sores in women and the effect of fluoride application and caries reduction in children. Following graduation and my internship, I joined a multi-specialty clinic in my hometown which was the fulfilment of a dream and further extended my exposure to a very wide variety of conditions and age groups. I also sought to perfect my ‘chairside manner’ and find effective ways to soothe and reassure the young or anxious patient and believe that I have skills in this important aspect of dentistry. The interpretation of non-verbal signals is an especially useful ability in dentistry and one that I seek to cultivate to a high degree. Because of a special interest in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, I was invited to become a junior lecturer in these specialties in an Indian dental college. I enjoy teaching and the feedback I received from students and faculty was always positive and encouraging. I found special joy in helping those struggling over certain aspects of their studies or practical work. I have always carefully observed the techniques used by the best of my own teachers during my academic career and attempt to apply them myself. I have been living in the US since 2012 and have acquired significant exposure to the US dental environment. This exposure began with the shadowing of a highly experienced general dentist at a large clinic. I was able to observe a wide range of procedures including the use of rubber dams, root canal treatments, orthodontics, and prosthodontic procedures. I witnessed the life changing effects that even minor procedures can engender which were often quite moving and inspiring. I was also able to assist by providing translation services for Hindi, Arabic and Malayalam speakers. Recently I undertook an observership shadowing the faculty at TMD & Orofacial Pain Clinic at the School of Dentistry at the University of XXXX.  This has helped me acquire a better understanding about the diagnosis, and treatment plans and dental procedures in university settings.  I was also exposed to various ongoing and remarkably interesting research projects at the university, for future advancements in dental care. I am now working as a Research Coordinator at XXXX Life Sciences, XXXX, NJ where I am involved in various stages of clinical trial life cycle for research studies and act as a key contact between research lab, study team and study site. To summarize: I hope to be accepted to a doctoral program for international dentist because I have considerable experience with a wide range of patient types, ages, and conditions; I have some research and teaching experience. However, my main recommendation is a love of dentistry and a determination to qualify and practice for the benefit of many, especially those living in the kind of underserved community in which I was raised. Conservative Dentistry Personal Statement Example

I am a young Black female artist, born and raised in Los Angeles, California, who wants to become a dentist. My parents are from Nigeria, and I am enormously proud of my African heritage. I want to contribute to progressive social change in America and become a role model for other family members, to set an excellent example as a Black female professional for other young Black women. When one thinks of dentists in America, the Black woman does not immediately come to mind, and I am proud to be one of the Black women actively working on challenging this stereotype. I earned a BS in Biochemistry from the University of XXXX in 2005. This year, I graduated from XXXX University in Florida with an MS Degree in Biomedical Science. Someday, I would like to have dental practice. I especially look forward to having the privilege to serve the dental needs of underprivileged or underserved communities. I am firmly convinced that teaching needy families the importance of good oral hygiene and treating those families based on a sliding fee based on their income would be the most significant contribution that I could make to my society in the future. Many people, especially members of ethnic minorities in poor urban areas, don't have the money to go to a dentist, and I would like to devote my professional life to addressing this problem. Community service has always stood at the forefront of my focus so far in my adult life. As an undergraduate student, I started a reading program for elementary school students, organizing college students and arranging for them to go to local elementary schools and read to the students.   I also tutored elementary and junior high school students as both undergraduate and graduate students. Also, in preparation for my career in dentistry, I have volunteered at various dental practices. I work for a company that manages laboratory testing for numerous doctors' offices. In this position, I can analyze patients' blood work under the guidance of my medical director. I see dentistry as the perfect fusion of science and art, and I am a very artistic person. I love to draw, paint and stitch. I feel that the practice of dentistry will suit me very well as it is in line with my elevated level of motivation, my deep passion for caring for others, my attention to detail, and the physical skill that I have long cultivated as an artist. My life has not always been easy. As a first-year student, I had to endure my grandmother's death, with whom I was remarkably close. I fell into a severe depression, and my grades sharply declined. Nevertheless, I managed to continue with my studies, remained active in my community, and was accepted into a graduate program in biomedical science. I feel that I have matured enormously and that I have now achieved a solid scientific background that will serve me well in dental school. I passionately believe that I will be an excellent dentist because of my determination, my ability to relate well to people, work well with my hands, and my passion for community service. Someday, I would like to return to Nigeria (where I lived as a child with my grandmother for five years) to help them improve their systems of dental care and education. In time, I hope to become involved with a program such as DentistsWithoutBorders.org and devote much of my time to working in Africa among some of the most desperately poor and needy people on the planet, perhaps, in particular, in my native Nigeria where I can take advantage of my fluency in Igbo. I want to thank you for your consideration of my application. Dental School Black Artist Personal Statement

I am a dentist from Brazil and will be graduating from the Program for Advanced Standing Students (PASS) at the University of XXXX in May of 2014. My heart has been stolen by XXXX and it has become my new home. I love nature, all the parks and lakes of Minnesota, the changing seasons, biking, boating, art and especially the cultural diversity. Throughout my studies with the PASS Program, I have also worked part time at the UMN as a research coordinator in the Department of Otolaryngology in the Medical School, doing clinical research in head and neck cancer. The last two years have been the busiest in my life and I love it, the challenges keep me highly motivated, and I constantly thirst for more. I have my heart set on being selected for your orthodontics residency program not only because I simply love it here, but also the fact that you have a very well structured program, with the latest in technology, an emphasis on research, and a well administered environment with orthodontists who love to teach. I have always wanted to be an orthodontist which is why I went to dental school. My mother claims that she has known this since I was 8 years old and we were waiting on my older brother at the ortho clinic, when he was getting his braces adjusted. As we waited, watching the orthodontist, I became fascinated by the appliances, the pliers, the wires and how they moved teeth to make them more attractive. According to my mom I said: “I want to be able to put this machine in peoples’ mouths and make their smiles beautiful.” I am a serene young woman and have been told by my colleagues upon occasion that my happiness is contagious, which brings me immense joy. My character is calm, my approach is amiable, my personality is professional, and I see my greatest strengths to be compassion, sincerity, humor, and creativity. I dance to wind up as well as wind down, mostly ballet, and take special delight in photography; my only indulgence is ice cream and simple fun with family and friends. There is nothing, however, that I find as exciting as wires, brackets, and pliers. I am drawn to orthodontics for many reasons: the fusion of health, mechanics, and the artistic elements of practice. I enjoy the fast pace and regular patient interaction. I like the way that patients are excited to sit in the chair, always happy to see the orthodontist and motivated about their treatment, looking forward to having their braces adjusted. Committed to lifelong learning, my intellectual stimulation surrounds how much I still need to learn in Orthodontics. I thrive professionally and intellectually on the mechanics and physics of tooth movement. Much of my free time is spent reflecting on the nuances and challenges presented by each patient. I take special delight in educating my patients concerning the condition they are being treated for so that they have a basic understanding of the requirements of oral health over the course of their lifetime. I look forward to a lifetime of service preserving and restoring smiles and self-confidence, serving in a clinic that is restricted to the practice of orthodontics, treating patients of all ages, with a diverse range of malocclusions, treating a broad variety of patients and getting better every day at what I do best. My personal aspiration is to be a devoted wife and mother and my professional ambition is to be a modest, respected orthodontist. The ideal job for me would be to own and/or work at an orthodontics clinic in the metro area of Minneapolis. This would be an efficient, state-of-the-art clinic with the most advanced technology. The TMD Program is what brought me to Minnesota from Brazil. TMD was not taught in my dental school in Brazil and many of my colleagues were also curious. As I started practicing general dentistry, I frequently came across patients with symptoms and complaints of TMD and orofacial pain in my practice, so I decided to come here to learn more. At some point in my career, I also want to contribute to the advancement of Orthodontics in Brazil, teaching, introducing new techniques not yet available, particularly with respect to underserved populations, small cities, and rural areas. I want to organize dentists in support of children and young people living in poverty. Rio alone has over eight hundred slums and a large population living below the poverty line with no access to orthodontic care.  I would like to start a non-profit organization to provide free orthodontics care to poor and underserved families in Brazil. I also want to research and publish on dental care in Brazil: analyses of specific states and regions with extremely limited access to oral health care. Finally, I am intrigued by the fact that I am unable to find hardly any information at all concerning the history of Orthodontics in Brazil. I look forward to contributing to this endeavor. It is my profound hope that I may continue to bring my enormous energy and perennial good cheer to the U of XX every day, as I am most confident that I would be able to distinguish myself as a resident in your orthodontics program. Thank you for considering my application. Residency Personal Statement Orthodontics

My childhood inquisitiveness was legendary within my family. I was curious about everything and conversations with my parents often began with a ‘why’, prompting yet another smiling sigh but I would persist. When my toothless grandmother came home one day with a mouth full of teeth, I was astonished and delighted, as was she. Her dentures were a wonder to me, and I noted how she became much readier to smile and was happier to socialize. This was my first major inspiration to pursue dentistry because I immediately recognized how important dental appearance is to a person’s confidence and happiness. I was also extremely fortunate to have an aunt who was a dentist and so I was able to discover much about my intended vocation while still young . My natural curiosity ‘paid dividends’ at school, I was ‘hungry’ for information, especially in the study of science in which I excelled. I studied Life Sciences as my major and gained admission, by competitive examination, to the prestigious Sibar Institution of Dental Sciences in India to pursue the BDS degree, which I was awarded in 2011.  I thoroughly enjoyed the program in which I excelled. I was provided with an excellent and comprehensive dental education. During my internship, I was exposed to many kinds of problems which I treated under the guidance of dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled dentists. There was an emphasis on diagnosis, and we were presented with some complex cases to diagnose and provide an appropriate treatment plan. Seeing grimaces of pain turn into smiles of relief was a source of boundless joy and thoroughly confirmed my choice of career. I am also extremely excited to be in a field in which so many advances in materials and techniques occur so frequently and I hope to play my part in assisting in future advances. I took every opportunity, when studying, to engage in community events and oral health education programs which are vital in a society in which dental and oral health are often not a priority. There were specific problems arising from the wide use of ‘chewing tobacco’ and I became extremely interested in finding ways to provide effective preventative dental education which I hope to pursue further in the future both in the US and in India. Having gained my degree, I took up a position as assistant dental surgeon in the dental clinic of a highly skilled and experienced professional. I worked with Dr. Babu for 12 months during which time my dental education gained breadth and depth and my skills were enhanced. In 2012, I married and moved to the US. I immediately sought opportunities to educate myself in the way that dentistry is practiced in the US. This exposure began with a 160-hour observership in a practice in Nashua, NH. I became familiar with the latest treatments, materials and techniques and this experience was supplemented by further observership after which I was offered the opportunity to serve as a volunteer dental assistant. This practical, local experience was extremely useful, and I now consider myself quite well versed in the way that dentistry is practiced here. My volunteer work is not limited to dental related activities. I am a volunteer with ‘Catch Healthy Habits’, an organization that encourages healthy eating and physical activity in children. I also act as a volunteer messenger and escort at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center as well as helping out at a local food shelter. I enjoy feeling useful and having opportunities to meet people from many ethnic and social backgrounds. I love to learn about other people’s cultures and lives and share information about my own. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in public health with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics and expect to graduate in December 2016. I hope that my knowledge and expertise in these subjects might be applied in appropriate research projects during the program. I already have some research experience gained as an assistant to Dr. XXXX who is Research Associate Professor, XXXX University XXXX School of Dental Medicine. To summarize, I have proven myself to be an academically able, hard-working, and committed student and professional in my life to date. I have research experience and am acquiring relevant skills and knowledge in my study of Public Health. I am confident that my background and personal characteristics will enable me to ‘add value’ to the program and to excel, rather than merely succeed, within it. I can assure the reader of highly enthusiastic, intelligent, and diligent participation, if selected. Thank you for considering my application. Foreign Trained Dentist Research Assistant India

Never for a moment have I regretted my career choice, Dentistry, despite the rigorous challenges involved. Throughout my internship, in particular, each day it was a great joy to arrive at the clinic. Alleviating pain and helping patients improve their appearance and dietary choices has provided me with an enormous sense of fulfilment. All of this is particularly true with respect to Orthodontics. I hope to be accepted to your competitive program in Orthodontics in the UK based on my academic work and experience and my great passion for Orthodontics. I look forward to contributing to the diversity of your program as a Saudi Arabia woman who is well read and engaged with the events of my time, especially everything having to do with dentistry in the KSA, most of all orthodontics. Now working alongside orthodontists in a busy practice in my country, Saudi Arabia, I relish every day the treasured opportunity to work alongside extremely dedicated orthodontists and I seek to emulate them at every turn. I am called to Orthodontics because I have enormous empathy, a capacity for meticulous planning, originality and creativity, and a highly developed aesthetic sense. I receive frequent compliments on my communication skills, art of persuasion, and especially my ability to put people at ease, most particularly children. I have long studied children closely and read widely all the time on themes having to do with young people and Orthodontics. I am convinced that I possess the necessary characteristics and potential to become an excellent practitioner. Research is central to my long-term aspirations, and I hope to publish at some point in the area of Orthodontics practice in the KSA. Earning my MSc in the UK will enable me to make my maximum contribution to my profession, Orthodontics is the field in which I plan to excel for the balance of my professional life. As a resident in your program, I will receive the optimal advanced education and be exposed to a broad variety of diverse clinical cases and the forefront of Orthodontic techniques.  I look forward to making important contributions to Orthodontics in Saudi Arabia, networking and collaborating for the advancement of our profession, at once making Orthodontic care more accessible and affordable. I seek a permanent engagement with research and education in this area. I want to provide my patients with the very highest standard of Orthodontic care. My experience so far with everything from routine checkups, root canals, extractions, and restorations, provides me with a solid experiential footing to hit the ground running in your program. I am accustomed to working with truly diverse patient populations, languages, and cultures and have become a skilled communicator in my field. What I love most about Orthodontics are the visual aspects, the intense pleasure of the aesthetic transformation before one’s eyes, the process, and the achievement of the result, the smile. Thank you for considering my application to your distinguished MSc Program in Orthodontics. MSC Orthodontics Residency Personal Statement UK

Now 31 years old, I am a dentist from India who has been a citizen of the USA since February of 2015. Since my arrival in July of 2011, I have hit the ground running and learned as much as I can about state-of-the-art dental practice here in America, preparing myself for excellence in your distinguished DDS Program for International Dentists. I began serving in early 2012 as a volunteer Dental Assistant at XXXX Dentistry, absorbing as much as I could as quickly as possible, learning from the other members of our team. I began working as a Dental Assistant at XXXX Dental in May of 2015 and I am still here today, putting what I have learned to exceptionally effective use and learning everything that I can each day. I was accepted into one of the most prestigious dental schools in India and very much enjoyed my studies, especially the practical work and interaction with patients. During my clinical rotations, I was enthralled by the vast diversity of cases for which we performed the diagnosis and prepared treatment plans. I learned and practiced the art of hand scaling and root planning treatments for gingival and periodontal diseases and excelling at amalgams and composite restorations. Nothing satisfies me more than saving a patient’s tooth with a root canal treatment. Extracting a grossly decayed and infected tooth makes my day. I also thrive on that beautiful smile and the sparkle in the eye of the patient that results from crowns, bridges, and partial or removable dentures. I could not be happier to live each day for the rest of my life doing diagnoses, treatment planning, and working for the prevention of oral disease – anything having to do with teeth and surrounding tissues. For me, the community is everything and I am proud that I chose dentistry as my mode of service. When I began as a volunteer at XXXX Dentistry, I assisted Dr. XXXX, performing a great variety of duties from escorting  patients from waiting to operating rooms, taking notes on patient health histories and allergies, taking and recording the patient’s  blood pressure and pulse, taking and developing intraoral and panoramic x-rays, preparing and sterilizing dental instruments, taking notes on the treatment plan as decided by the dentist, preparing patients and the treatment room, trays for dental procedures, assisting dentists with scaling and root planning, composite restorations, crown and bridge procedures, removable denture  preparation, simple to complex tooth extractions, etc. I also enjoyed creating prophylaxis for children as well as adults, pit and fissure sealants and fluoride applications. Finally, I now know a great deal about how dental insurance works in the USA. In my current position with XXXX Dental, I also assist general dentists with a very broad variety of dental procedures, scaling and root planning, composite restorations, crown and bridge restorations, removable dentures treatment, simple to complex tooth extraction and bone grafting. I remove sutures, perform alveoloplasty, in office teeth whitening, taking alginate impressions as well as taking and developing x-rays. I also have the pleasure of assisting a variety of dental specialists. I assist a Pediatric Dentist with pulp therapies and ssc, space maintainer procedures, composite restorations, and tooth extractions. I do a lot of prophylaxis, pit and fissure sealants, and fluoride applications. When I am assisting an endodontist, I help with root canal treatments, the retreatment of previously done root canals and apicoectomies. Currently, I am assisting oral surgeons with several complicated wisdom teeth extractions, bone graft procedures, and alveoloplasty. I am eager to meet up with the intense rigor of your DDS Program and look forward keenly to the many challenges that will present themselves throughout the course of your program. I am confident that my passion and dedication will enable me to distinguish myself even though I shall be studying alongside some of the finest dentists from all over the world. Dentistry totally fulfills me as a human being. My long-term goal is to become a dentist who is well-recognized for his extremely hard work, laboring tirelessly for the perfect smile for each patient. Everyone deserves a beautiful smile and I look forward to spending increasing time in the future volunteering to help the underserved who fall through the cracks in the system or for any reason are unable to afford dental care. Exercise has played a key role in my life, and this helps me to excel in dentistry. It has aided my fitness, stamina, eye to hand co-ordination, reflexes to varied stimuli and ability to rise to challenges. Individual sports activities have promoted my concentration and inner strength while team sports help to enhance my interpersonal agility. To counter stress, I do yoga which further stimulates my confidence and strategic thinking, inspiring me forward in life as a simple, honest, sincere, compassionate, and determined dentist. Thank you for considering this application to your competitive program. International Dentist Personal Statement

A young woman and a dentist from India who has been making a new home in America for the past several years, I am now working towards completion of my DDS Degree at XXXX University and hope to build a special career in Orthodontics as a result of being accepted to and completing your competitive Orthodontics Program at XXXX University. When I began my International Dental Program at XXXX University, I was not yet sure in which area of dentistry I wished to specialize in for lifelong, continuous professional advancement. Now, however, as I near completion of the program, I am fully confident that I want to make my own professional mark and fullest contribution to dentistry in Orthodontics. This is why I joined an elective Honors Incentive Program at XXXX in the Department of Orthodontics. Attending seminars and case presentations with the faculty and residents in Orthodontics at XXXX have been the highest moments of my life so far. What I love most about Orthodontics is the way that it rests on a thoroughgoing exploration of the entire oral and maxillofacial system. During my observation in the clinic, especially during the “debonding” appointments, I observed the happiness on the patients’ faces flashing that megawatt smile. For me, orthodontics sums up dentistry as far as it puts that smile on patient’s face, which is why I joined dentistry in first place. After careful observation of numerous Orthodontists and long conversations with the residents and faculty, Orthodontics is the best choice for me. I hope to be selected at least in part because of my profound devotion to the cause of helping the underserved. While in India, I never failed to volunteer every Sunday at a charitable trust near my college. I also spent extended periods working in remote and isolated villages of the Punjab educating people with respect to the importance of preserving their oral health. Not long after arriving in America, I began volunteering at the XXXX Dental Clinic in Detroit, Michigan serving underserved populations in the Detroit area. I fell in love with the great diversity and the great need of the people in such a desperately poverty-stricken city as Detroit. In Boston, I volunteered with the XXXX Dental Clinic and the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Program geared to creating greater oral health awareness among young people. Working with marginalized or impoverished populations here in America as well as back home in India has provided me with immense gratification along with extensive professional experience. I have also been learning a great deal through my participation in the Student Research Fellowship Program at XXXX. My research topic is “amalgam and composite restoration repair in schools across the United States”. This experience has helped me to learn a great deal about the basics of research and statistics. My love for tutoring inspired me to join the XXXX Literacy Council where I was assigned an advanced elementary level student to teach her English as second language. I discovered while still a child that my interests lie in science, especially biology. A visit to an orthodontist during my teenage years for my misaligned teeth further enhanced my interest in Orthodontics. As my Orthodontist corrected my crowded teeth, I came to better appreciate the role of a beautiful smile in improving my own looks and boosting my confidence. This has always intrigued my interests in orthodontics. I was born in Punjab, grew up in Madhya Pradesh, and studied Dentistry in Kolkata, India in one of the most densely populated cities in the world - was itself a great education. Beyond the comfortable cocoon of family and friends, I became 100% immersed in my studies and I thrived in this environment.  Since beginning my DDS Program at XXXX University, I have capitalized on every opportunity to broaden my horizons in every way possible to become the finest dentist that I can be. I could not be happier learning dentistry from some of the best faculty members in the world with the latest technologies, honing my practical skills and professional expertise. I am also learning a great deal about the insurance system, professional liability, and practice management. I am currently serving as the Coordinator of the Health and Wellness Chapter of ASDA at XXXX. My growth has been personal as well as professional. I have grown in character as well which makes me even more determined to make important contributions to the underserved over the course of the long term, in India as well as here in America. Those hundreds of millions of Indians who live below the poverty line will always be in my heart and I long to help them in sustainable ways in the future. I look forward to travelling extensively throughout my professional life and serving on missions to the Developing World. I love writing and look forward to writing about my experiences, all of which have shaped the dentist in me. It is my intense passion for dentistry and giving my all to my patients that will inspire and enable me to excel as an Orthodontist. Thank you for considering my application. Orthodontics Residency Indian Woman Dentist

There are many other professionally qualified Indian dentists who have immigrated to America and are now applying to advanced standing DDS programs. Other Indian dentists who are applying may have higher grades or scores than mine. Nevertheless, I feel that I am a very strong candidate for admission to advanced standing status to study towards the DDS in your distinguished program not only because I spent one year in a small village attending to the most underserved among the underserved, but most importantly the fact that I personally came from this same social and economic location in Indian society. My point of origin in India’s extremely hierarchical and post-colonial socio-economic structure is clear in the fact that I did not even begin to study English until the age of 10 years old. I was born into a family of farmers in the remote village of Karnataka, India where we did not even have electricity. This is where I would spend my most formative period, the first 10 years, until we moved to the city. Now 27 and a permanent resident of the USA, a new mom, and giving my all to dentistry here in the United States for the last several years, I ask that the full scope of my trajectory be taken into account in the consideration of my application—from a village with no electricity and no English to the status of highly competent dental assistant in America over the course of only 17 years. My parents made the courageous move to the city to fulfill their dream of educating their children to become professionals. This is why I worked extremely hard in high school, to make my parents proud of me and to show my appreciation for the many sacrifices that they made. Our efforts were rewarded by my acceptance to the prestigious Ambedkar Dental School in Bangalore in 2004. For me, dentistry and dance will always be intertwined since I had already been studying classical dancing for 7 years by the time that I started dental school. In addition to becoming a dentist, I was on stage performing on numerous occasions, organizing, and hosting college day functions, etc. I take great delight in all movements and when I work as a dentist, I am very much aware of the interconnectedness of all my movements just as if I were dancing. I danced my way to dentistry, through dental school, and will always dance, as it improves my capacity to heal. It was in my third year of dentistry, with the encouragement and support of Dr. XXXX, the Chairperson of our Preventive Dentistry Department, that I had the chance of channeling my organizing and leadership skills into an especially noble cause. Dr. Murali selected a group of us to conduct a survey through the public school system concerning public oral health awareness and habits in a slum area with very few dental clinics. I received an award for submitting the best survey report.  It was disturbing for me at first to process and understand the way in which socio-economic status tended to determine oral health status as well. This experience served to inspire me to dedicate all the energy that I can to helping the underserved who are in most need of oral health care, here in the USA as well as back home in India. Along with my colleagues who worked with me conducting our survey, I was most impressed by the chronic oral health problems of members of the lower economic strata of our society, especially since it is in these lower socioeconomic classes where the use of gutka (smokeless tobacco) and other concoctions derived from the Betel nut is concentrated. After completing our study, we started an anti-tobacco campaign, during which we went out into the streets distributing pamphlets and cultivating awareness among the poor concerning the dangers of tobacco addiction and made a film documentary on tobacco-related health problems which was aired on national television. In addition, we set up a special office for tobacco-related issues and problems in our college, which was very much appreciated by our dean. November 2009 through October 2010 was the most significant year of my life in terms of human growth, serving as a dentist in a remote village in India, helping me to more fully appreciate the profound happiness involved in the performance of our profession at the service of those who need us the most. Later, while completing my internship at the Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital in Mangalore, I began focusing my special concentration on pediatric dentistry, especially Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. I seek to become a world class expert in children with cleft palate and cleft lips. After immigrating to the US, I began working in my present position as an assistant to a dentist in July of 2011. I have also worked in several volunteer positions, and I want very much to dedicate my life to helping children. I anticipate continuing to develop a close collaboration with the free health care centers of Philadelphia and XXXX Children's Hospital, also in Philadelphia. Thank you for your consideration of my application. Indian International Dentist Personal Statement

I hope to have the profound privilege of enjoying the fullest of participation in advanced training in Orthodontics available at one of the world’s most distinguished institutions, the Residency Program in Orthodontics at the University of XXXX. An Indian dentist, my family immigrated to New Zealand when I was ten with and New Zealand shaped my identity as much as India. I became a high achiever because of the advanced nature of education in New Zealand and completed my BSc in Physiology at the University of Auckland in 2008. I decided to go to dental school in India for a variety of reasons and I am pleased that I did primarily because I was able to enhance my multicultural and multilingual identity and to better understand challenges facing dentistry in the Developing World. I now live in XXXX where I have been enjoying to the extreme every aspect of my Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency at the University of XXXX 2016-2018. Already a board-certified Orthodontist, I hope to be selected to continue at the U of XXXX through the completion of an Orthodontics program beginning next year, to prepare myself for a lifetime specialization in this area. My family moved to Australia while I was in dental school and I lived there for two years following my graduation, staying engaged in dentistry as a volunteer and an assistant continuing to learn as much as possible. In addition to my duties at the University of XXXX, I also serve once a week in a nearby community clinic which has helped me to appreciate more fully the great need that exists even in the USA for access to dental care. My central goals for the future include constant and intensive community engagement and service to the underserved, while I give myself full time to Orthodontics. I look forward to spending decades as a partner in a multi-specialty group practice and providing consultations in Orthodontics to a variety of members of the professional dentistry community. I also have the hope of teaching at some point in my career, passing on the torch to new generations of oral health professionals on the forefront of advancement in our profession. My passion for learning about Orthodontics is long standing. In dental school, I was able to gain much more exposure to Orthodontics than the typical dental students. I have bonded brackets, made removable retainers, placed fixed retainers, activated appliances, and I am ready to hit the ground running for long hours at U of X Orthodontics. I earned a research degree in human physiology that will also help me to excel for a lifetime of professional research. Having lived, worked, learned, and advanced professionally in four different countries over the past 8 years, I hope to bring a unique perspective to your program in discussions of global dentistry and I look forward very much to making new friends from all over the world in Orthodontics. I enjoy people enormously and connect with them effortlessly, patients as well as colleagues. My hard working yet very modest family origins resulted in my having the humble experience of working in menial jobs for some time prior to becoming a dental professional. I have worked in sales, IT help, telephone marketing as well as food service and in a warehouse. I am thankful for these experiences as far as they helped to teach me the value of humility, and made me more approachable, open, especially to humble people. And I look forward to a lifetime of developing a professional priority on humble people, the underserved, especially with respect to my volunteer efforts. I place a high priority on the value of a work/study/life balance and will always strive to refine still further the synchronicity that undergirds the achievement of wonderful things as a dentist. I de-stress as a body builder and a martial artist which I find re-charges me very effectively for the next day giving my all to dentistry. I was awarded a scholarship right out of high school to attend a young leader's program where we traveled together in New Zealand, I placed in the top 1% among both Australian and New Zealand students in science and I ranking number 2 in my school in advanced Chemistry. I made the top 10% in Geography. I have torn apart computers and used the parts to build new ones that I design myself -since childhood. Occasionally, I indulge myself with a high-tech spy thriller since sci-fi is high on my list of favorite diversions. Most of all, however, my free time is spent reading widely in a host of areas that are relevant on some level to Orthodontics, such as predictable and rapid methods of bone healing and their implications for several areas in medicine as well as dentistry. I was heavily engaged all through dental school as a team member providing free dental services to 1000’s of patients. My highest moments of all in Connecticut have been serving at the community center one day a week for the past year, helping to provide heavily subsidized dental care. I thank you for considering my application to Orthodontics at the University of XXXX. Orthodontics Residency Personal Statement

My father has been a practicing dentist in Rhode Island for the past 28 years, since the year I was born. I have had constant exposure to the practice of dentistry throughout my life. I am especially proud of the fact that he has always provided care for people irrespective of their economic status. The profession of dentistry has given so much to me and my family and I realize, by obtaining a degree in dentistry, that I will be able to give something back to the community. It took me a long time, however, to understand and embrace my calling. As with many young people, I did not know early on what I wanted to do, and I sometimes resented my parents' direction. I did enjoy working at my father's office during the summers of my high school days, but I did not want others making a career choice for me and I wanted to see what else was out there. This youthful passion and lack of maturity resulted in many disagreements with my parents and my grades suffered during my undergraduate years. It was not until my graduation day at XXX University that my life came full circle, and I decided that other paths were not for me, and that dentistry was my calling. Since then, my focus, dedication, and commitment have been focused on becoming a dentist. Throughout the course of my undergraduate years, I came to understand more about life and achieved greater focus on what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Even though my academic performance was just average, growing from a young man to a mature adult was invaluable. I began to see my compassion and empathy as my greatest gifts and helping people my greatest joy in life. I especially enjoyed my psychology classes in college because of my inquisitiveness about human nature, learning how to become an excellent listener, and the importance of being mindful of and attentive to others. I am very thankful to my parents for giving me the opportunity to learn through my mistakes, finish my degree in psychology at Boston University, and press on with full determination and perseverance to accomplish the task at hand. During my final year, I began to manage my time more effectively as well as improve my study habits as I continued to learn and mature as a person. But I knew that after graduation I still faced an arduous task in accomplishing my dream of becoming a dentist. Painfully aware of the inadequacy of my grades at XXX University, especially in my science courses, I labored to redeem myself by making up these courses at Providence College in Rhode Island. I wanted to prove to dental schools that I have the work ethic and intellect to handle the courses at dental school. At PC, I have taken all my required classes for Dental School and finished them with a science grade point average of 3.23, as well as having the invaluable experience of assisting with cancer research in the lab of Dr. ____. Furthermore, I have been shadowing at a dental laboratory, seeing how dentures and crowns are made. At the same time, I have also been working as a dental assistant and preparing myself for the DAT through a Kaplan review class, and very much looking forward to improving my scores when I re-take the test. Most recently, I have taken over the business side of my father's dental practice, assisting the office manager with the accounting and continuing to bolster my science background by taking additional courses in microbiology and human physiology. Simultaneously working and going to school has been difficult, but I believe that I have now achieved a solid preparation that will serve me well in Dental School. I have matured a great deal over the last several years and I have the necessary tools to succeed in dental school. I am full of energy and highly motivated with a steady focus. I ask for the privilege of giving my all towards the noble goal of becoming an extraordinarily successful student of dentistry and, in this way, prove and establish myself as a public servant. I also feel that my psychology degree has helped prepare me to become an excellent dentist, someone who understands the difficulties in life that people face, especially those members of our community with few economic resources. My father is one of a handful of dentists in Rhode Island who accept patients on public assistance. Like him, I wish to devote my professional life to caring for the most underserved members of our society. I want to thank you for your consideration of my application to join your program. Dental School Personal Statement Psychology

A smile expresses the world’s greatest emotions, happiness, and laughter. When I was younger, I did not share my smile with others because I was self-conscious of the gap between my central incisors. Dentistry changed my life. Within weeks my orthodontist was able to realign my smile and alleviate my embarrassment. I chose the path of dentistry because I want to give others the gift of confidence that my orthodontist gave me. After making my decision to become a dentist, I learned more about dentistry and the health care field in general through hands-on experience. I began my dental exploration by shadowing various general and specialty dentists in my area. One day, I had the opportunity to watch a full mouth restoration. The patient had come to the practice suffering, much the same way that I had. When the dentist finished his treatment, he was a completely different person transformed by confidence.  And I continued to advance my knowledge of the dental profession by enrolling in a dental assistant program, while I maintained a full upper division course load at California Lutheran University. While serving as a dental assistant, I learned a great deal about the dental office atmosphere and how essential every task performed is to the success of the overall practice. After earning my certificates as a Dental Assistant and CPR, Radiology, I completed a back-office assistant externship as well as assisting three different dentists with a variety of dental procedures. I also completed a Pre-dental Simulation Course where I used headpieces to prepare and condense amalgam restorations on prosthetic teeth. Through these experiences I was able to talk at length with dental students, clinic professors, recent dental school graduates and seasoned dental professionals about the various aspects of the dental field. While at XXXX University, I was able to combine my passion for the healthcare field with research in organic chemistry. I wanted to improve the learning atmosphere of organic chemistry students by creating a laboratory experiment centered on the materials and science found in the healthcare field. My goal is to create a series of organic chemistry experiments that have applications to the healthcare field while teaching organic chemistry principles. I explored various pedagogical methods to deliver my experiment to CLU’s organic chemistry class. My experiment served as a guide for chemistry students to design their own dental composite resin filling material. I presented my research at the American Chemical Society National Meeting during the Chemical Education Poster Session. I also shared my research with the XXU campus at the annual Festival of Scholars Science Showcase Poster Session. This experience combined my love for teaching as well as learning. Reading articles about technology, techniques and materials in the dental field furthered my appreciation for the science of dentistry. California Lutheran University has provided me with many opportunities to join or create various clubs and become a leader in my college community. Upon my entrance to XXU, they only had one active pre-professional club, AMSA. I quickly joined AMSA and searched for a similar, applicable club for pre-dental students. It was not long before I discovered and joined ASDA. I enjoy being a pre-dental member of ASDA because they provide me with invaluable information about current issues in dentistry. I look forward to continuing my membership in dental school and getting more involved in the political process of dentistry. I re-established the inactive Biological Student Association Club at XXU to provide other students like me with information about the graduate school application process, current opportunities in our community and job opportunities after graduation. As President of the refurbished/retrofitted club, I organized meetings with guest speakers and developed community projects. I also worked with five other students to successfully found a chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society and was chosen by the biology faculty to be Secretary. Within the brief time between induction to Beta Beta Beta and graduation I organized a whale watching trip as well as a philanthropy event with AMSA called Cupcakes for Cancer. I was also nominated to become a lifetime member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. It is my civic duty to give back to my community through volunteer work. For the past year I have been Public Relations Event Chair for the 2010 Joie de Vivre Evening of Hope Gala for the American Cancer Society. I am also an advocate for our environment and have helped Heal the Bay with local creek restorations. For the past eight years, I have participated in the annual CROP Walk to fight against world hunger. I am an active habitat for Humanity of Ventura County volunteer that has done multiple home builds and organized group home building projects. These experiences have shaped who I am today. I am happy with my character and am continually striving to be a better person. I am most enthusiastic about the prospects of becoming a role model and leader in the field of Dentistry. Personal Statement Orthodontics MS Dental Assistant

I grew up in Damascus, Syria but I have been practicing general dentistry here in America since I earned my DMD Degree at the University of XXXX in 1998. Following a general practice residency at the University of XXXX from July of 1998 through June of 1999, I completed a fellowship position in implant dentistry at XXXX University. Since then, I have been practicing general dentistry in the Detroit Metro Area. Increasingly, especially over the course of the last several years, I have found myself increasingly fascinated and engaged by orthodontics. Thus, I am writing to you on behalf of my application since I seek innovative training in Orthodontics. Little by little, I began incorporating orthodontic treatment planning into my dentistry practice in Detroit, ranging from simple cases of "smile enhancement" to severe skeletal deficiency. This soon opened for me new windows into non-invasive, non-aggressive approaches, what orthodontics is all about and what I have come to love most about dentistry. This led me to allocate one day a week volunteering, observing, and following up on cases from start to finish, in collaboration with our in-house orthodontist. The sense of accomplishment that accompanied seeing the results was for me the central driving force that has convinced me to give my all to orthodontics for the balance of my career. I have fallen in love with Orthodontics because it is a conservative way to achieve beautiful smiles, no drilling, no damage, only construction. I see orthodontists as architects and engineers, building dental arches that are limited only by the imagination in the beauty that they might be able to achieve and continue to inspire. The clinical experiences that I have sought out over the past four years have all strengthened my dedication to the goal of completing graduate training in orthodontics. I am confident that my diverse academic background coupled with the versatility that comes from working in widely varied settings with highly limited resources, will enable and inspire me to prove myself to be a great asset to your team. Having succeeded in the pursuit of my DMD as one of the top students in my class both clinically and didactically, I immediately set about in search of broadening my horizons in dental medicine. I have long been especially attracted to the multifaceted and dynamic collaboration of specialties that one finds in Orthodontics—always working towards a better understanding of the biomechanics of maxillofacial complexion and the proper treatment of various malfunctions. My experience in the General Practice Residency (GPR) was the catalyst that motivated me to aggressively pursue deeper knowledge of dental specialties. Completing elective courses in basic sciences crystallized my comprehension of the growth and development processes of the maxillofacial region. While completing my fellowship at Southern Illinois University in Implantology, I continued to further my understanding of multi-specialty approaches to dentofacial malformations. Working alongside orthodontists with severe cases--ranging from cleft lip and palate to congenital absence of lateral incisors—enabled me to better understand orthodontics and appreciate the systematic nature of orthodontic treatment. I started practicing in the Detroit Metro Area as a general practitioner after completing my fellowship in Illinois, working since then in group multi-specialty centers, gaining additional hands-on experience and advancing my interest in and dedication to Orthodontics through continuing education seminars and attending lectures. It would be an honor to be granted an interview and I thank you for considering my application. Orthodontics Residency Syrian in Detroit