My love for dentistry is pure, just as my special journey to discover this amazing profession. I was raised in Vietnam, but my adult years have been spent here in America, where I have volunteered to help oral health initiatives. I feel strongly that I might be able to give something back to society by spending my life working to educate communities about oral health, especially those whose limited resources make it extremely difficult for them to find affordable dental care. I traveled quite a lot in Vietnam and visited many underserved areas; since my parents are both very socially conscious physicians, I was immersed early on in many public health issues and debates. I have always been highly motivated to be independent through a variety of projects, such as selling Valentine’s Day flowers and handmade gifts on a street corner. I was extraordinarily successful since people loved the unique creativity of my products. And I was also generous with the money that I earned, giving much of it away to people who were in desperate need of help. I find my most profound fulfillment in building new relationships and visualizing the happiness of people. As a high school girl, I maintained good grades while I cultivated my passion for art and human growth, most of all how to love and care for people. Life has been challenging for me with unfamiliar language and culture when I immigrated to America; yet I was accepted by UXXX into one of the leading Bioengineering programs in the nation. I am fascinated by the astounding advancements that have been made in medical and dental instrumentation, and I follow these developments closely in the literature. My experience working in a lab has also helped me to enhance my manual dexterity. There is always room for the human touch. Everything came together for me in an epiphany last summer when I was myself seated on the dentist chair.  Under the brilliant glow of light and the captivating drilling sounds, the dentist appeared as a scientist who, at the same time, utilizes her hand-skills gently as an artist to heal and comfort her patients. Dentistry is truly my dream profession as it combines everything, I am most passionate about. My knowledge about dentistry has been strengthened by shadowing, and participating in pre-dental workshops, and volunteer activities. I took pre-dental technique courses to ensure that I have manual dexterity to fit in the profession. When I recently attended a California Dental Association event where the latest in dental technology was presented, I took special delight in explaining to my pre-dental friends how various instruments work especially well because of their innovative design. As a bioengineering student, I have continued to cultivate a good sense of the mechanics and technology of medical and dental instrumentation. The most powerful role models that I have had so far have been the dentists who volunteer for a dental clinic for low-income people where I also help. Many of these dentists worked full time and then came to volunteer at these free clinics until 9 pm. I also had an opportunity to volunteer at a dental screening event at elementary schools in the San Diego area, where I met a little boy who was called “silver man” because he had so many stainless-steel crowns on his baby teeth. He thought that he would be this way forever as no one had even told him about permanent teeth, much less proper oral hygiene. When he hugged me tightly, I could feel his boundless yet speechless gratitude. Such moments have elevated my motivation to become a dentist; it is no longer a personal desire; it is a call to be a part of something much larger. No child should be called “silver man” because children deserve healthy and beautiful smiles. I am going to pursue general dentistry while learning another foreign language, for my goal is to be a dentist who can serve and educate dental care to a diverse community. I do believe overcoming language barriers and providing more volunteer work are the key factors in improving access to public health care. From my engineering perspective, I love mastering the mechanics of state-of-the-art tools. From my artist view, I love to see beautiful artworks coming out from a natural passion. Sincerely, I love to care for people to improve their health and quality of life. This is how I see dentistry in me, and how I know I belong to dentistry. Dental School Personal Statement Language Barriers

From the time that I was 6 through 10, I lived in Yemen in an old house with no electricity. I read late into the night with an oil lamp. At least it was not as crowded as my home back in our Arab Ghetto of Dearborn, where twelve people were crammed into a 3-bedroom home. The most difficult part of growing up, both in Yemen and Michigan, was escaping the family so that I could study at home. I always stayed as long as I could at school. My mother was overly protective and stifled the natural development of all of us. In Yemen, I attended the village school and received instruction in the Yemeni dialect of Arabic, the first language of my family. Thus, I began school in this language, the same language that my family used in the home. As a result, I had no English-language instruction until the age of ten when we returned to America. It has been a struggle to catch up. If I were to be accepted as a disadvantaged student to your program, this would represent a great triumph over adversity, an authentic rags-to-riches American story in terms of language and identity. After we moved back to the USA from Yemen in 2010, now in the English world, I desperately needed help with my homework. But I could never ask my parents because they were entirely illiterate in English. Our life has always been a desperate struggle to survive in America. When my elder brothers grew up, they both quit school to find a job. I was the only one in the family who studied, an effort that was rewarded by a scholarship for my undergraduate studies in Michigan. I now live in Louisiana, where I was able to find work after finishing college. I worked full-time all the way through college in order to pay my bills. My parents have always been interested in other things than my education and I have long been left to provide entirely for myself. In the Yemeni village where I began the first four formative years of my education, there are no pharmacies, dentists, doctors, or even teachers with degrees, and only me spoke any English (which I learned mostly from the television). We were dedicated to subsistence, and our teachers did the best that they could in the absence of training and materials. I was only vaguely aware that such a thing as dentistry existed until I moved back to America at the age of ten. I come from a doubly disadvantaged background, with respect to my childhood in America as well as in Yemen. In America, until the age of 6, and then again from 10 years old forward, I lived on the south side of Dearborn, Michigan, in an area occupied primarily by poorly educated, immigrants from the Middle East. The job losses in the auto industry helped to aggravate already desperate economic circumstances making life brutal and stressful for most: debts, drugs, domestic and street violence, etc. I may not have survived as well as I have if it were not for my “little light” from Yemen. While still a child, I fell deeply in love with one of my classmates. As soon as I finished high school, I flew back to Yemen and married her. Now, she is here with me in America, and she is my source of special strength and sustenance to become a dentist. My wife and I both work to support we; however, I have also devoted countless hours as a volunteer in dentists’ offices, observing a wide variety of procedures and gaining a much better understanding of the roles of the different members of the team that I provide with general assistance. I have also undertaken a great deal of informal study about dentistry, and I am excited at the rapid developments in techniques and materials that are occurring. My study makes me enormously keen to become a part of research projects. Unfortunately, our country, Yemen—like Pakistan and Afghanistan—is rapidly becoming an increasingly dangerous place for Americans. The more bombs—drone strikes—that fall, the more anti-American sentiment is created. And I am rapidly becoming more American than Yemenis. Still, Yemen is our home, and we want to go home to Yemen after we finish dental school so that we can help our people. To Yemen, America is like God. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. I thank you for considering our application for disadvantaged status. Description of childhood residency in Dearborn, Michigan.  (250 words) We lived in a small brick house that was built in the seventies in Dearborn, Michigan. We were considered a poor family. We never had any popular name brand clothing so important to young people. My dad did most of the shopping at flea markets. Our home consisted of three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small living room and kitchen. We are a large family with ten children; the boys were in one room and the girls in the other. The youngest of us children slept on mattresses on the floor, with the eldest two in the double bed. These rooms were only about 10 x 12 ft including the closet. In addition to school, the other bright spot in my life was the park with basketball courts. My older brothers did their best to make my life miserable early on, so I grew up tough and learned to defend myself.  Although I always did my best to avoid a fight, and even refrained from participating in tournaments because this is how it usually ended up. My time in the park was limited anyway by extremely strict parental rules. There are aspects of Yemeni culture of which I am not enormously proud. My childhood was not only marred by poverty, but also by violence. My mother beat us with a belt when we failed to return home directly from school, abruptly putting an end to whatever extra-curricular activities we might try to engage in. Disadvantaged Status Essay for Dental School

I performed my first extraction as a fully certified professional dentist soon after my graduation. My patient was a pleasant and humble woman about 50 years old. The procedure was executed in an immaculate fashion. Several hours later, as my shift ended and I was headed home, I found her waiting for me outside the door. She tried to thank me by touching my feet. I stopped her and gave her a big hug -- in fact, I held her closely for a while and thought about the historic brutality of our class structure in India, her attempt to prostrate herself before me has long historical roots that are difficult to overcome. Growing up in India, I recall with great clarity my father’s tireless commitment as a doctor. My enthusiasm for health care, initially, was a gift from my father, especially because of the profound respect that he earned within our community. In India, dentistry and medicine are seen more as noble social service to the community than lucrative careers and this commitment to social service is the foundation of my own decision to become a dentist. While I have always had a passion for healthcare in general, my specific interest in dentistry began with a personal experience. At sixteen, I suffered from a severe toothache, the most intense pain I have ever felt. It got so bad that I thought I might miss my upcoming exam. To me, it was like a miracle when the dentist took away my pain in a single visit. This resulted in my immense respect for dentistry early on. Soon, I started to prepare myself for a career in dentistry, volunteering at dental clinics operated by associates of my father. All my hard work paid off and I was accepted to the esteemed Narayana Dental College. My graduate studies empowered me with knowledge and my hands-on experience has given me extraordinarily strong execution skills. I especially love diversity and interaction with diverse ethnic and linguistic groups. I adore the practice of dentistry and the opportunity to apply my knowledge to healing and preventing oral decay. I have worked extremely hard towards my goal of becoming the finest dentist possible and I hope and pray that I will be accorded the honor of a lifetime of service as a dentist here in America, especially doing everything within my power to attend to the underserved. After my graduation, I apprenticed under Dr. XXXX, where I gained confidence in my ability to handle many difficult challenges on my own. I became ever smoother and more efficient with everything from extractions to restorative work, and assisting with osseous resective surgeries, gingival grafts, crown lengthening, root resection, and implant surgeries. But as important to me as my improvement in skills was the experience, I had bringing dentistry out of the clinic and into the community. With Dr. XXXX, I organized community dental camps in rural areas around our city, Warangal. I ensured and improved the smooth operations of these events, making it possible for us to serve more patients and therefore do better in the same length of time as previous camps. At our dentistry camps, I saw children with grossly decayed teeth, adults with bleeding gums, and people who lived with constant pain and discomfort. Bringing oral hygiene and dental care to under-served people made me feel blessed to have the opportunity to help others and to savor the smiles on the faces of my patients. Educating them about the importance of oral hygiene practices left me with a satisfaction even deeper than what I could achieve from performing “normal” dental procedures in the office. Not only was I providing them with immediate relief, but by teaching them how to take care of their teeth and gums, I was giving them the gift of future health. I am especially troubled by the way in which in my native India, many patients are infected in dental clinics. For this reason, I bring with me to dental school a special passion for the battle against infections in health care settings, a subject to which I have already devoted years of personal research and I hope to combine a lifetime of practicing dentistry with doing research and making public policy recommendations in the public health sector especially as concerns oral health care in India. Since re-locating to the United States, I have continued to pursue my interest in dentistry and public health. I passed my board exams here in California and I am now an observer at the clinic of Dr. XXXX. I have also volunteered at several non-profit dental clinics. This has been a wonderful opportunity to supplement my dentistry experience with the additional practical knowledge that it takes to run one’s own practice – everything from working with insurance companies to implementing infection protocols. I am more confident than ever that I have the skills it will require to pursue my dream of someday having my own practice. The experiences I have had from clinics to camps have solidified my passion for improving my patients’ lives by improving and protecting their oral health. I am confident that I am ready to move onto the next phase of my career in dentistry – as an advanced placement student in your dentistry program. International Dentist Personal Statement Samples

I am a Jordanian woman, born and raised in Jordan until the age of thirteen when I moved to the United States. I currently reside in California. I speak Arabic, English and some French. I anticipate the award of the B.S. degree in Biology in May 2012 from California State University. My goal is to qualify as a dentist and assist in the enhancement of dental health with a special focus on low-income communities in America and Jordan. In Jordan, dental health is not considered to be a priority and there is little understanding of the close relationship between dental/oral health and general health. Teeth are often regarded as ‘optional extras’ that will inevitably be lost in early middle age and it is unusual to see people of fifty with their own teeth. When I arrived in the United States, the first thing I noticed about the people I met was the fact that they smiled so easily and that their teeth looked so good.  I decided that I wanted ‘American teeth’! Teeth that were white, well cared for and would last into old age. At my first visit to a dentist’s office in the US, I was thoroughly impressed and decided there and then that I wanted to help people to keep their teeth in good condition so that they could always smile easily and eat whatever foods that they like no matter what their age. Since the age of thirteen, I have worked towards my goal. I am now working towards the Dental Assistant certification; I have provided general assistance to dentists and nurses at a Delta Dental office and have spent 60 hours shadowing an experienced dentist who has been of enormous help to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with patients and staff and have learned how patients are put at ease.  I intend to extend this experience as far as possible before the program commences. In addition, I have undertaken considerable, non-dental, volunteer activities as a fraternity member raising funds for St. Jude’s and CHLA hospitals. I was also selected to lead groups providing orientation to new students at XXU, which I have done for two years. Allaying the fears and apprehensions of those entering a new phase of their lives has been very satisfying and my selection demonstrates a facility for communication and putting people at their ease (good training in dentistry!). In addition to having a bi-cultural upbringing, I have travelled widely in the Middle and Far East. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people from many cultural and social backgrounds and enjoy sharing knowledge about my own culture with others. It was necessary for me to integrate into a new community at a particularly sensitive age and I believe that I did so very successfully demonstrating adaptability and the capability to relate well with others in that I quickly established several long-term friendships that continue to this day. I am the eldest child in a Jordanian family and, as such, am expected to provide an excellent example to my siblings in academic achievement and personal conduct and I have always sought to be such an example to them. My goal is to excel in a DDS program and to become a first-class dentist and an effective advocate for dental and oral health. It is my firm intention, once qualified, to use my expertise to assist in educating people about oral and dental health low-income communities in the United States and Jordan. I would hope to be able to undertake research into the early recognition of serious oral health conditions and hope to specialize although I have not yet decided on a particular area. I am aware that dentistry programs are highly competitive, and that the committee will have many tough decisions to make. However I am an excellent candidate, I am diligent, academically able, personable and, most importantly, passionate about pursuing a career in dentistry. I undertake to give total commitment to my work in the program if selected. Thank you for considering my application. Dental School Personal Statement #dentalschool #personalstatement

I am a young woman and a dentist who was born and raised in Poland. I came to the United States with my fiancé and now live in Hawthorne, California. I graduated from the Medical University in my hometown of Lodz in 2004 and completed my studies in the faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, obtaining the title of Doctor of Dentistry in 2006, shortly before moving to the U.S. Upon my arrival, I immediately began preparing for the National Board Dental Exam (NBDE) and have now finished Part 1. At present, I am diligently studying for Part 2. After completing a program for International Dentists and becoming licensed to practice Dentistry in my newly adopted country, my long-term goal is to continue to focus on enhancing my professional skills and to specialize in restorative dentistry and endodontics. I hope to someday establish my own dental office where I might be able to make special contributions to the less privileged members of our community. First, however, I look forward to working for another talented dentist where I will be able to gain additional experience. Polish is my native language, and I learned Spanish in high school; I also read and speak some German. I hope to be able to use my Spanish more in the future, here in California, working with immigrants from Latin America. Since my arrival to the United States and until today, I have faced what is the greatest challenge of my life: English. The first time that I took the TOEFL, I received the disappointing score of 84. Yet, as a testimony to my struggle, last year, I managed to score 104. And, as I have been working extremely hard, every day, especially with English in the medical/dental field, I believe that I would score higher at this time if I were to re-take the test. I hope to be granted an opportunity to demonstrate how much I have improved and my dedication to continue to improve daily in my English skills. My central goal in life is to serve my community and I have long been dedicated to helping those in need. In high school, I worked with children from poor, under-privileged, and troubled families, helping them to do their homework and to develop better study skills. After completing the course work for my dental program in Poland, I enjoyed one full year of training in a public clinic where I gained considerable experience across a wide field of clinical applications, including dental surgery, restorative dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, and prosthodontics. This experience helped me to improve my communication skills and develop my ability to build good working relationships with clients and strategies to enhance cooperation with patients. Working in this clinic was arduous work, but it was also extremely rewarding to see the happy faces of the satisfied patients. I'm a sensitive person, and I always try to help everybody that I encounter who needs my help. I was even sometimes called "Mother Theresa" by my friends in high school because I was always there for everybody and cared for them. I am deeply committed to the provision of individualized patient care on both clinical and emotional levels. I have also been very dedicated to the ongoing development of my manual skills, increasing and maintaining my dexterity in my free time by drawing and painting; I love making compositions of flowers and decorating homes. I want to help people to look and feel good about their appearance and this is why I find so much joy in the practice of dentistry, the enhancement of people’s sense of dignity and self-worth. As a woman I like to see other women take pride in what they see in the mirror. This is where I long to give something back to my community, helping people to smile with confidence, relaxed. I think that I'm a good doctor because patients like me and always return. Some were terribly upset when they found out that I was leaving the clinic. I am a cosmopolitan woman with diverse interests and experiences that help me get along well with people from anywhere in the world. In addition to the U.S., I have spent time in Spain, Italy, England, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Kenya. I met a lot of wonderful people and experienced an enormous diversity of cultures that have reinforced my appreciation for how important it is for people to have bright smiles and healthy teeth. I especially want to attend the program at XXXX University; it is my first choice to fulfill my dream. I too want to become an American, Polish American, and I so I very much respect the philosophy of your program that it is important to merge internationally trained dentists with traditional dental students, in time, rather than having two different tracks. Every day when I wake up, I remind myself that I am preparing for the rigorous summer curriculum at XXXX that will prepare me to take my place on equal footing with third year traditional dental students in the Fall Quarter. I breathe deep and I smile, because I realize that I am thinking and even beginning to dream in English not Polish. Thank you sincerely for your consideration of my application to your program. International Dentist Personal Statement Help

My uncle and brother are dentists and so dentistry was certainly a career that I considered when I left school but decided that I would pursue a business career. I graduated ‘summa cum laude’ with a GPA score of 4.0 in Business from the University of XXXX but I soon decided that a career in business was not going to provide the kind of satisfaction that I needed. I wanted to help people in a direct and personal way. When I compared my working day to that of my brother, I concluded that his career provides the kind of satisfaction that I seek to attain. When I reconsidered dentistry, it appealed to me in numerous ways, its ‘hands on’ character and the daily interaction with patients, I was also struck by the variety of the work, diagnostic, pain relief, preventative as well as reparative and esthetic. I once saw the wonderful effect that esthetic dental surgery can have. A young woman I knew was transformed from a reserved person who rarely smiled or even spoke into a cheerful, confident person with the help of a skilled dentist. Having made my choice, I became determined to seek experience and training to enable me to change my career route as well as undertaking extensive reading and online research into dentistry. I spent eight months working as a dental assistant undertaking all the usual routine duties of an assistant and was able to observe dentists performing both routine and complex procedures. I particularly enjoyed dealing with the patients and putting them at ease if they were nervous. Unfortunately, it was necessary to curtail this introduction into dentistry as I needed more lucrative employment to fund my pre-med studies. However, this experience fully confirmed my choice. I have also entered a ‘pre-med’ program at the University of XXX. The program provides a good grounding in General Science, Biology and Chemistry which will ready me for the DDS program. I know, from my personal research, that a substantial proportion of people in the US do not realize the importance of routine dental care on their dental, oral and general health and so fail to carry it out. I would hope to be involved in spreading information about preventative dental care to poorer communities during the program and to take part in free dental clinics for the underserved. It is my firm intention, once qualified, to give part of my time to such activities. A dentist is a highly regarded and well rewarded professional who should ‘pay something back’ to society and I fully intend to do so. I am extremely excited by the current advances being made in dentistry such as the use of laser technology, computer imaging and the use of new materials and techniques in orthodontics. It is my hope to assist in research or trials to further such advances. I have carefully considered the demands that a challenging DDS program will make. I am determined to apply myself fully to the program and to excel. I am certain that I have both the intellectual capacity and the personal commitment and drive to do so. I know that there will be very many qualified applicants for places on the program. However, I do regard myself as an excellent candidate. My bachelor degree results and awards will provide an assurance that I am a diligent and intelligent person who is used to ‘going the extra mile’ in his work; my preparation for entry to the program has been both practical and academic and has provided a good understanding of the dental working environment; my main recommendation however is a passionate interest in dentistry and in becoming a skilled, knowledgeable and effective practitioner. Dental School Personal Statement Sample

I trace my adult aspirations back to the age of nine. At this time, my father returned to college in his late thirties to pursue a master’s degree in anesthesia. I was the oldest of three children, my mother was also unable to work, and we soon found ourselves scrounging out an existence on welfare. I will never forget my first Christmas on public assistance, my parents agonizing over how they could buy presents in addition to putting food on the table. Our church taught me the most important lessons in life at that time, compassion, and generosity. And these moral imperatives have become my principal frame of reference, what I aspire to accomplish myself. One morning, my mother woke up in excruciating pain, and we realized that the local dental school clinic was our only option as welfare recipients. John, a dentistry student, recommended a root canal and patiently responded to each of my mother’s concerns in a simple, straightforward way with illustrations; I could even understand it at 10 years old. I could see that my mother felt safe and comfortable, fully trusting in John. During the procedure I saw the tears roll down her face as I held on to her hand. John let me hold the suction for part of the procedure. John became my first real life hero; and from that day forward I have nurtured and treasured the dream of becoming a dentist myself, and attending to the weakest among us, the underserved. Later, we would move to Florida where I constructed a hockey workshop in our garage with numerous stick handling drills that helped develop my natural dexterity and coordination. One professional experience that has helped to prepare me for the great challenges of dental school was my employment with XXXX Marine Services. We helped to train helicopter pilots in the fields of search and rescue. Coast Guard helicopters would hover within ten feet of my head while I was raising and lowering rescue baskets. Since entering high school, I have cultivated noble goals of wanting to give something back to the community. One of my early forms of engagement with the community in high school was serving as Captain of our ice hockey team. Even though we lost the state tournament, I went on to serve as Assistant Captain of the Hockey team, helping to bring XXU Ice Hockey to its first winning season. Yet, when I realized that my grades were suffering, I quit the team to be able to devote myself full time to my studies. During my first year I co-founded the XXXX Leadership Organization, beginning with only ten members. My first title was Social Service Coordinator, and I oversaw designing and organizing our efforts to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Foundation. Within 3 years, we had 150 members. I see my natural inclination for organizing philanthropic activities to be my greatest asset and I feel strongly that the greatest contribution that I might be able to make to society would be to provide free dental health care to members of our American societies with scant resources. I see my home as the entire Caribbean area and I have spent a lot of time in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Cozumel, Belize, the Grand Cayman Islands, Haiti, and Puerto Rico. I was a close observer of healthcare systems on these islands, especially Haiti, and it is my sincere hope to make major contributions to dental missions to these islands in the future. I studied Spanish for 3 years in college and continue to improve through a concerted effort to practice. I have also dedicated a lot of planning to my goal of someday operating a free mobile dental clinic in rural areas of Florida, especially for the benefit of migrant farm workers and their families. I assure you that I will give my all to my studies if admitted and I want to thank you for consideration of my application. Dental School Personal Statement Examples

An immigrant from China, what first fired my interest in dentistry was suffering an accident two years ago that resulted in a fractured jaw. I required extensive oral surgery and became interested in the work undertaken to repair the damage done. During the process, a close relationship developed with my surgeon, and I have worked with him as a volunteer since that time. I was able to understand the anxieties of patients and to allay them from my own experiences. I was the victim of abuse during the first seven years of my life, and this helped to make me acutely sensitive to the emotional needs of others and especially aware of non-verbal signals of distress. My own emotional turmoil had its effects on various aspects of my life including my academic work, but this was resolved when I sought help as an undergraduate student. The results were dramatically positive, and my grades immediately improved to A’s. This situation has had the effect of creating an empathetic nature and a desire to help others and I regard dentistry as an excellent path to achieving this goal. I have been involved in various volunteer activities throughout my academic career including assisting in an educational project for the benefit of poor Ecuadorian children which was a truly life-changing experience and benefited me as much as the children. These activities have spurred in me the desire to ‘make a difference’ with my life rather than merely to ‘make a living’. I come from a culture in which dental hygiene and oral health are given an extremely low priority and where total loss of teeth at an early age is often regarded as natural. There exists in India an incredibly significant shortage of dental professionals and oral surgeons to provide even basic education and treatment. I am a frequent visitor to India and one of my goals would be to give some of my time to training people in providing basic education in the importance of oral hygiene and health and in providing free treatment to impoverished children in need of reparative and restorative dental surgery as ways of ‘giving back’. The ability to smile is important in all cultures but especially in South Asia and being able to give someone, especially a child, their smile back is a gift that provides immeasurable benefits to them. It would be my hope to undertake research in the areas of tissue engineering and reparative dentistry, should my application succeed. These are the areas of special interest that will assist me in reaching my goal of practicing in oral and maxillofacial surgery. I have happily studied, worked, and socialized with people of many diverse cultural and social backgrounds and look forward to extending this experience during my participation in the program. I know that cultural awareness and sensitivity is particularly important in relating properly to colleagues and patients and having ‘straddled’ two quite distinct cultures, I regard myself as being particularly well equipped in this regard. I am aware that dentistry is an extremely competitive field and that there will be many professionally qualified applicants for the program. However, I am an exceptional candidate. My academic achievements and awards will provide reassurance as to my solid work ethic and my ability to excel in my chosen areas of study.  I have undertaken significant formal studies in relevant areas including biology, physiology, chemistry, and physics which will provide a firm basis for my studies in the program. I also promise very enthusiastic participation in the program and a passion for dentistry that will be hard for many applicants to match. Asian Woman Dental School Personal Statement Edit

Leaving Tanzania with my parents and sister was meant to better our lives. My father, a professional accountant, and my wonderful mom, with a pocketful of hopes and dreams, came to Canada to begin a new life. I was a teen, felt ready for anything, and confident in my family. I remember when it first hit me that our dreams were to be tempered by realities that we had little control over.  In high school, I wanted to join my school’s volleyball team. My dad looked up from the consent form, saying, “I will gladly sign, but I do not have the $20 they require”. I was not angry, or sad; I just wanted to help. So, I got a job delivering newspapers, without a bike, proper shoes, or gloves, walking my route and packing the newspapers in all weather. Despite my father’s experience, he could not find a job, as his credential was not accepted in Canada; my mother had no work experience and did not speak English.  Suddenly, my father collapsed, unconscious from oral complications, and had to receive an emergency root canal that strained our budget and savings.  I took on a second newspaper route, this time with my mom, dad and sister helping.  Along the route, my parents would collect cans from recycle bins, to recycle them for change.  Seeing how helpless my parents were, I sought employment, to the detriment of my studies. I often thought back on how in Tanzania I had always been a top student. Finally, my father got a job at a gas station on the nightshift.  Still, he was unable to complete equivalency courses in accounting because we did not have the money. While he never openly expressed his sense of helplessness, his eyes spoke volumes. Nothing could prepare us for the accident in December of ’97. My mother and sister had been grocery shopping. As they were crossing at a crosswalk, a speeding car hit them. My father and I were at home when the police called but could not get to them quickly as we had no car. A neighbor drove us to the scene of the accident, but all we could do was watch as my mother and sister were driven away in an ambulance. At the hospital, even though she was in terrible pain, my mother lamented the groceries she had lost.  It would be two years before she could walk on her own. I found two part-time jobs that brought in enough money to get our first computer and put a down payment on a used car. I entered college optimistic, but shortly thereafter, my uncle died, leaving my mother devastated. Her health deteriorated and she developed a cyst in her stomach. For the next two years, I was by her side, taking her to every appointment. Losing both her parents and four other family members shortly thereafter added to my mother’s trials. While Canadian healthcare is free, medications are not, and the cost was difficult to bear. For my part, all my efforts to try to keep my family afloat financially forced me to drop out of college due to poor academic performance. The material was not beyond me; I simply could not focus and lacked the time to do justice to my work and abilities.  I adamantly attended classes unofficially, studied for the DAT, and volunteered at dental clinics. Today, my father is sixty-one, works 12 hours a day, seven days a week as a gas station cashier.  Five years ago, my mother got a job as a line cook for Triple-O’s restaurant, the irony being that we are a vegetarian family.  I worked my way up in retail management until I finally became a DAT instructor for Kaplan.  Simultaneously, I attended school, volunteered as a coach, in the ER and dental clinics, building my exposure. I have always prided myself on being self-sufficient but can see no way forward without your kind consideration of my circumstances, the Herculean effort I have put into the pursuit of my dreams, and the at times painful steps that have led to this point. I respect a hard day’s work, know the worth of a penny, know what hardship and sacrifice are and what family is. I never saw myself as “disadvantaged” but appreciate institutions looking beyond a student’s academic achievements and proportionate consideration of life achievements. If applying as a “disadvantaged” student gives my application an additional two minutes of the committee’s time, then I am two minutes closer to achieving my dream. I realize my dedication to my goals and how I can further help my parents, society, and myself as a dentist. I would like to give my parents their much-deserved retirement before they are incapable of enjoying it mentally and physically. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sample Disadvantaged Status Essay for Dental School

A dentist from Brazil, my life partner is Australian, and I have dual citizenship. Thus, I look forward to a long and productive international career, engaging with developments in my chosen field, Restorative Dentistry, in Australia and Brazil. I increasingly like to think of my smile as international as I learn and gain further experience, especially about everything related to esthetic and restorative dentistry. I hope to earn a master's degree in Restorative Dentistry, and it would be a great honor to be selected for your residency program. As a natural team player, I look forward to continuing to develop my leadership skills in your program and perfecting my abilities to contribute to my team. I adore my career. Restorative Dentistry not only combines my love of science paired with my fondness for intricate manual dexterity but provides the chance to make a real, tangible improvement in the quality of life of my patients. I place a high priority on a beautiful smile. Since finishing Dental School in 2012 at the UNIFLU in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I have five years of experience practicing dentistry. I have gained experience and developed a particular focus on Restorative Dentistry. I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Restorative Dentistry with an emphasis in cosmetic dentistry at the Sao Leopoldo Mandic University in Sao Paulo. After earning my Postgraduate Diploma, I moved to Australia to accompany my significant other, improve my English, and investigate possibilities to advance my career in the Land Down Under. To be able to practice dentistry in Australia, I have taken the very demanding Australian Dental Council examinations, passing both the theoretical and practical exams with excellence on my first attempt. Practicing dentistry in Australia has been a wonderful experience, as I have been blessed with a dentist position in a great dental practice. I have enjoyed full access to the best dental technologies, such as intraoral scanners, Cad-Cam, and CBCT machines. Adding all that into a multicultural environment has been a most rewarding experience, enabling me to grow enormously on several professional levels. I am now a consummate professional who focuses, primarily, on scientific evidence. I could not be more committed to providing my patients with state-of-the-art dentistry. Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry are in high demand in Australia. Thus, I see giving my all to a residency program in this area to be timely. I hope to become one of the few restorative dentists practicing in Australia with a world-class education in their field. I hope to become a highly distinguished practitioner, most accomplished at providing people with what I see as the greatest gift of all, the lovely smile. Last year, 2020, I earned my Invisalign Provider Certificate, and I have been mostly enjoying the great diversity of patients to whom I have been attending. I am studying French intensely because of my love for the language and because I have been treating several French speakers professionally, and I want to speak to them in their first language. French also is helpful with many immigrants from Africa to Australia. I thrive best in a highly diverse, multicultural, multilingual society. I look forward to receiving my advanced training in Restorative Dentistry while continuing to celebrate diversity and explore perspectives in Global Restorative Dentistry. I thank you for considering my application to your distinguished advanced training program in Restorative Dentistry. Personal Statement MSc Restorative #ms #residency #restorative #dentistry #personalstatement #editing #service

Complete Dental School Application Package Academic Explanation (1500 Characters) Are there any factors that may have affected your academic record? Simultaneously studying and working while caring for my family was a herculean task throughout my undergraduate years. Several tasks were always waiting for me, and time and resources were minimal. However, I never let these problems overpower me, and despite the many obstacles set in my path, education has now been my top priority for several years. For as long as I can remember, I have been the head of our four-member household, the father and guide of the family, caring for my younger siblings. In the USA, I was in a completely foreign education system as I had grown up learning and doing everything in French. On top of the challenge of English, at the same time, I found myself forced to become an entrepreneur so that we could have time and resources to study and build a future. In 2013, I lost my maternal grandfather, who had been my constant source of support and motivation, a grandpa and a dad rolled into one. His death led my mother into a spiral of deep depression, aggravating our circumstances since, at the time, we were genuinely struggling to put food on our table. I had to work more hours while grieving; it was excruciatingly painful. In 2014, I lost my paternal grandfather to cancer. A year later, when it finally looked like we were rising above perpetual suffering, my paternal grandmother followed my grandfather and died of breast cancer. Thus, my undergraduate years were full of challenges. I kept on pushing not only for myself but also for my family. After all, what matters most is how we rise above adversity. Proposed Course Information (1000 Characters) Will you take additional course(s) after submitting your application? Will these courses lead to a degree? If so, what degree? Will/are you taking post-baccalaureate courses after submitting your application? Will that lead to an additional degree or certificate earned? Yes, I will be taking one last course, eight credit hours of Human Gross Anatomy, needed for the completion of my Master´s Degree in my Biomedical Sciences program. After dental school, within a few years, I hope also to earn an MBA that will help me with the business side of dentistry, especially concerning finding creative ways to finance the care of the underserved. Other Responsibilities (1500 Characters) Please explain any other responsibilities you may have outside of being a student. I am preparing myself to have zero responsibilities when I start dental school, hopefully in the Fall, giving 100% to the program and never letting my focus waver or my passion stray. As a serial entrepreneur, I have put many things in place to eradicate my entire workload before entering dental school. I have had the time, energy, and focus needed to excel in my master's Program, and I have put multiple people in place to manage my business operations. I recently placed my barbershop in Roswell, GA, up for sale and will drop the price as much as necessary until it is sold. Nothing is as important to me as being free to give my all to dental school. I am determined to become a dentist in Georgia, mainly since it’s my home. On the personal front, I am still the head of the household and the role model, and I will be for the rest of my life. However, it is not a burden or a chore; we have come a long way in the past ten years and are financially improving. Thus, I will continue to contribute to my mother's and my siblings' support while completing the program. Hometown (1500 Characters) What state, county, and/or country did you spend most of your life from birth to age 18? From birth to age 18, I spent my life in Douala in Cameroon, Central Africa. Disparities (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. Absolutely, yes. In Cameroon, I grew up surrounded by poverty and disparities everywhere, not just in healthcare. Going to a doctor or a dentist was a luxury. Most needed healthcare, and few could afford it. My country is medically and dentally underserved. Yet, excellent care will always be available at a price, often one hundred times what the poor pay for healthcare. Shortage of resources puts a fatal strain on a minimal number of healthcare institutions in the country. To add insult to injury, there are not enough physicians. Even when they are present, they have little equipment and less medicine to work with; the equipment that they do have is ancient. I have seen many people writhing in pain with no one attending to them. Those physicians that do exist in Cameroon are not well-trained. Often, they can provide only momentary relief to the patient. There aren’t enough rooms and beds, and hospitals paint a bleak picture since they are always overcrowded. It is common to see several patients lying on the floor, waiting for an empty bed. One person passes away, and the other one gets into his bed. There is little dignity – either in life or death. And this was pre-COVID-19. Complete Dental School Application Package Statement of Interest (1500 Characters) Why are you interested in receiving your dental education from The Dental College of ___ University? Georgia has been home since I landed in America a decade ago. My whole family has always lived here, everyone who migrated from Cameroon before and after us. My mother moved here 15 years ago to join my uncle, who has been in Georgia for almost three decades. My siblings, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends - everyone calls Georgia their home. I have a community here that has followed and watched me grow since I arrived. I cannot imagine myself being as happy anywhere else. Additionally, I own multiple businesses in the State of Georgia. The warehouse for my online shops is located here in Georgia. All the schools I have been to are in Georgia except for my master's in biomedical sciences in Mississippi, based on the recommendation of Ms. Perry at DCG. After attending a dental impressions program for three years in a row, attending every information session at Kennesaw State University, virtual events from DCG, visiting the campus, talking to multiple representatives, and building relationships with current dental students at DCG, I am in love with my fingers crossed. I felt like I belonged there when I visited. Some say that ‘home is not a place, it is feeling,’ Georgia, with all its fascinations and flaws, makes me feel very at home. Future Plans (1500 Characters) Please describe your plans for practicing dentistry after graduating from dental school. After graduating from dental school, I plan to specialize further and would love to do so at the ____ College of ____, and then spend the balance of my life giving back to the State that has given so much to me. I have most enjoyed community life in Georgia, especially in my barbershop. Coming from Cameroon, I am all too familiar with the deep despair of not being able to find dental care when one needs it most. I aspire to work in a low-income area on a sliding scale, growing, learning, and being exposed to as many cases as possible. I will thrive on the appreciation shown by patients. Working in my community will always be my top priority, and I will consistently work hard to support my family and help the community. I also plan on learning more about the business aspects of dentistry in and out, so I can open my private practice in Georgia someday in an underserved area. I have seen several lives lost in Cameroon due to the lack of timely help, which disturbs me. My overarching life goal has always been to become a dentist at the service of the people. Heal not only the outside but comfort the inside along the way is my lifelong mantra. I want to give people something affordable and accessible, not burn a hole through their already ripped pockets. Virtual Shadowing (six hundred Characters) The pandemic has created new opportunities to explore the dental profession, including virtual shadowing. We want to understand the details of these varied experiences and how they add to your application. Please describe your virtual shadowing experiences and what you learned from them. (Include details such as (1) what type of interaction you had with the dentist, (2) did you have any interaction with patients and (3) whether you were able to communicate with the office after the experience.) Virtual shadowing has been one of the best discoveries I have made during the pandemic, allowing me to learn a great deal from various dentists. I observed many procedures and treatments and was fortunate to shadow dentists engaged in all aspects of dentistry. Although I could not interact with the patients directly, I watched their transformation happen. I observed the monumental changes in peoples’ lives, solidifying my desire to become a dentist. Required Short Essay (250 words) Please write a short essay, no more than 250 words, to explain your experience, which may mirror the example below: Discuss an accomplishment, event, realization, or change of career plans that sparked personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. How has that illustrated resilience, determination, and perseverance as part of your authentic character? The opening of my first business, a barbershop in Atlanta, was my first momentous change in the USA. I come from a family steeped in penury, with uncertainty covering us from head to toe. I had just moved to the US with my family with an empty bank account, no guiding figure, and no action plan. But somehow, I knew I had to keep attending school despite disappointing grades. I had to study while working full time and assisting my siblings as I was the oldest of the three, I did not know how, but I had to figure out a way to generate more income with limited resources in such a way that it left me time to study. I persevered with grit, brainstorming, and researching ways to prosper financially. Once I figured out how to buy a barbershop, I had a fighting chance. I started planning, strategizing, and learning how to make business plans. I built the shop from the ground up, making plans, changing plans, giving directions, receiving feedback, and criticizing what I had accomplished so far, encountering numerous challenges, and tackling each one of them head-on. It’s like I was reborn, a phoenix rising from the ashes. I started living that way then and ever since. Growth has made me a good entrepreneur with sharp business acumen and a more compassionate human being. I am ready for dental school. *Supplemental Questionnaire (This would be a generic or common answer I would use for all the dental schools that ask me this question in their supplemental essay application) Why do you want to pursue dental education at our College of Dentistry? Throughout my journey here in the US, I have acquired many skills and worked hard to cultivate my character as an African American who wants to become a moral leader in my community. While exposed to entrepreneurship, healthcare in general, and customer service through my multiple jobs, I learned about Americans, their lifestyles, and their values through osmosis, focusing more on what Americans share than their differences. Through my life experiences, I have learned patience, resilience, fortitude, organizational skills, hospitality, time management, and how to prioritize. My decade in America has been a constant challenge and a valuable learning experience. I trained myself to become entirely self-disciplined to evaluate my thoughts and react most effectively and graciously. This, I believe, makes me an excellent candidate for your College of Dentistry. I struggle each day to craft and build my character in such a way as to be remembered by all as a compassionate and sincere dentist who works miracles for people with his hands and loves dentistry more than his billfold. A caring and nurturing person by nature and habit, I seek lifetime growth in Dentistry. Your dental program is a perfect match for my level of motivation and lofty aspirations and ambitions. From my interactions with current students or alumni via social media to the faculty members I briefly encountered, I felt welcomed. Your dental school can bring out the best in me, giving me the wind I need beneath my wings. *You and ____ (600 Characters) 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? My dentist is a ____ alum practicing here in Georgia, and we have spoken at length about his experience at ____. He has given me many pointers and unique details about the school, and my desire to participate in your program has grown steadily. I would be in heaven, surrounded by Boston's spectacular sophistication and diversity. If I were to be selected for the program, the unrivaled advantages of Boston would most certainly tip the balance in favor of GSDM. DSE in a few words (1000 Characters) Born and raised in Cameroon, Central Africa, I grew up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood with the most meager resources. As far as one’s eyes could see, there was poverty and helplessness with little infrastructure and no materials at school. When we had an informatics class, we had to share a computer desktop with between 3 to 5 students. Sometimes, we had one desktop computer for the whole class. My home was modest and comfortable, but our city was the criminals’ den. We had neither supermarkets nor much in the way of public transportation. Of course, there was no movie theater and few restaurants - everyone cooked and ate at home to save money. The firstborn in a family of three with no father present, I am the head of the household and the role model for my entire family. I have always assisted my mother and siblings and plan to continue doing so if they need my support. You and Howard (5000 Characters) How does our program fit with your career plans? As an African man born and raised in Africa, it would be a great honor to be accepted to HBCU for dental school. Since your program, as I see it, is the crème-de-la-crème when it comes to African American education, I would be able to learn many essential things that I would be able to learn at no other dental school. Black consciousness in America, the Black Lives Matter Movement, for example, has not been at the forefront of my interests since I have had a myopic mindset focused exclusively on Dentistry. I plan on practicing, however, in an area of the country, such as Atlanta, where Black customers will represent most of my clientele. Becoming a dentist at Howard would help me better understand my future patients, at least the African American ones, whom I plan to serve for the balance of my professional life. I moved to the US more than ten years ago from our native Cameroon to pursue my dream and be a voice for my community – taking full advantage of the vast opportunity America presents to fulfill one’s dreams. If I want to make a positive contribution to my community and be the leader of tomorrow that I aspire to be, HBCU would be a perfect choice, preparing me intellectually as well as scientifically to serve the black community as a dentist and much more, also as a leader for social programs that protect youth, and a role model for young black men and women who are considering a career in dentistry in particular. I would love to be a part of the most dynamic academic community at HBCU, with constant knowledge exchange sessions with professors and peers. I would love to follow a rigorous course on the path to excellence in dentistry as a member of Howard’s academic community, especially the community of dental students. I keenly look forward to the rigorous education in Dentistry that I hope to receive at HBCU, the ideal program to become a community leader and a top-notch dentist. Cultural Experiences (5000 Characters) Describe any experiences and/or skills that have made you more appreciative or sensitive to other cultures or the human condition. My firsthand experiences of growing up in extreme poverty in a highly impoverished country, Cameroon, facilitated my learning constant and valuable lessons in compassion, empathy, and sensitivity. Until I left Cameroon and arrived in the USA a little over ten years ago, I was unaware of cultural diversity since all Cameroonians' cultural beliefs and practices are similar. Since I landed in America, however, I have been learning about diversity, multiculturalism, multilingualism, and how cultures contrast, co-exist, and sometimes collide in the urban America of today. I celebrate diversity and always will, and I see it as speaking to the single greatest strength of our country. My move to the US encouraged me to grow, learn, and acclimate myself to new worlds, not only America writ large but also numerous subcultures, ethnic- and language-based pockets, or spheres of urban areas with their cultural characteristics, which one sees clearly in Atlanta for example. I immediately began to learn from those around me, fit in, imitate, gradually finding my own space and playing my role as part of these larger, complex wholes. My barber shop was a community focal point, and I loved the interaction, jokes, news, and friendship. Many of my neighbors, if not the majority, were originally from somewhere else, and we enjoyed learning and sharing. All strangers to each other on some level, we cohabitate nonetheless and help each other as much as possible. As I began living in such a diverse and multicultural environment, it was an unprecedented experience for me. Different, but much needed, helping me to realize that change is the only constant. Whether we like it or not, it makes us better. It drives us to do better, keeps us engaged, and prepares us for what is coming next. I started opening my heart to others as I understood their necessities within our common frameworks of understanding. I learned to love despite the hate around us. I learned to empathize and treat others’ problems like my own. It made me a much more mature individual, more empathetic, more caring, and more receptive to diverse and contrasting opinions. Provide a specific example of how you promoted diversity in your community or school. (5000 characters) Promoting diversity has long been among my goals in life, and I try to reflect this in everything I do and try to build. I now own a barbershop in the heart of my community, Roswell, Georgia, in a white area. Because of the racial dynamics, many of my Black friends suggested that setting up a business here might not be a promising idea. I felt otherwise attracted to the idea of serving as a representative or ambassador to this white community. It was not easy, but certainly worth it. As the days rolled by and business flourished, I was able to unite people from every generation and race in a colorblind space where gender and even sexual orientation were neutral and respected, age revered, and one’s social class ignored. On top of that, this business has also allowed me to introduce many people to Black culture and the origin of barbershops. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to my core values- they define who I am and will become throughout my career. Not only because of where I’m originally from but also because of the values I have assimilated while trying to fit in. I know first-hand the feeling of being excluded and treated like a ‘other’, and I will always do everything in my power to unite people rather than to drive a wedge between them. There is, in fact, no greater power than that of association and collaboration. Unity in diversity, always. Self-Promotion (5000 Characters) If you could appear before the Admissions Committee, what information would you want them to know that is not included in your application? I feel enormously grateful for this precious and competitive opportunity, even to have a chance of being accepted to Dental School. This is already a miracle for me since I come from the other side of the planet and saw little more than death, destruction, and despair while growing up - without electricity, clean water, or healthy food. Every day was a struggle for my family to arrange two square meals. Coming to America and building and growing multiple small businesses on my own paid my way through my undergraduate studies, and I continued to support my family. I am immensely grateful and will forever be to the United States of America for taking me in and giving me a solid chance to pursue my dreams. I came from behind, but I now feel strongly that I will live a fulfilling life at the service of my community, which has nurtured my growth. Now, as I approach the realization of my longtime dream of becoming a dentist, I approach God on my knees, my body trembling with a keen desire to serve him as fully as I can for the balance of my life every time that I help someone poor, suffering, and who has fallen through the cracks in our society. The common denominator throughout my enterprises has been my resilience - I have never given up, no matter how difficult the situation seemed. That is the kind of person I am, determined to carve out a life of service, for this is what I most prize. From Cameroon to Atlanta, I have not stopped moving constantly, and now from a barber chair to a dental chair, I seek the critical, definitive move. When I am not working, I study, and little by little, this enables me to secure a place for my entire family to be safe and comfortable and learn and pursue their dreams. Now is my time, and I beg you to look favorably at my application. The barber from Atlanta will have room in his heart and his chair for a long time for those who most need to be there. Preparation for the DAT (5000 Characters) How did you prepare for your DAT? If you took the DAT more than once, describe your preparation for each. I did not prepare for the DAT as I should have, primarily due to the pandemic. I had less than a month to prepare, take the exam, and submit my application if I didn’t want to be late and miss the chance of being considered. Firstly, for many reasons, I did not do well in grades during my undergraduate years. However, I have been trying to make up for my mistakes during my master’s program and show the committee that I am worthy of representing them in the dental community of tomorrow. I took a whole load of extremely challenging courses each semester. Due to my record, I needed to take more courses than others and excel in each one. I have sought to demonstrate that I am not the same student I once was. Older and more mature, with over a decade under my belt in America, I have developed multifaceted organizational skills and advanced significantly in oral articulateness, intellectual acumen, and analytical ability. I took over 13 credit hours every semester during my master's program, including this Summer, 2020. My grades now reflect consistency and maturity. I was limited in the time to study and prepare for the DAT, primarily by the rigorous coursework I was taking, which was essential to my application. I started studying for the DAT when I took my final for the last course of my summer semester at the beginning of August. School for the Fall semester started at the end of August, and I also had a human gross anatomy class on a graduate level to complete. So, I had to take my DAT before that class to maximize my chances of doing well on both. I gave only one part-time month to prepare for the DAT. Thus, I feel strongly that the grades that I have obtained in my master's Program are a more accurate reflection than the DAT of my ability to hit the ground running and excel in your program. Academics Please describe and explain any academic problems 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). By the time I came to America, I had begun to regard my childhood daydream of becoming a dentist as something of a pipedream, a fantasy, and more immediate concerns were dominant in my life for the first few years, including most of the time that I was completing my undergraduate education. My central goal in life at that time was only to graduate. I just had to make it until the end, no matter how long or impossible. I had so many responsibilities when my family and I moved to the US that my only ambition was to get through the day; not yet obsessed with Dentistry as I am now; I was too busy working multiple jobs in multiple domains. I typically searched for more overtime hours to keep food on the table. Additionally, I understood that I had to build something for myself if I wanted to have a chance to have a steady income while going to school. I could not pay much attention to academics, and my grades began to suffer. Becoming a small business owner became necessary to achieve financial freedom for myself and my family. So, I also became an entrepreneur as an undergraduate, on top of overtime shifts here and there. We achieved greater economic security, but my grades took a significant hit. In fact, while I was studying toward my undergraduate degree, entrepreneurship was my primary focus. I began taking my first classes shortly after moving from my French-speaking homeland to the US. Once here, I had no mentor or guide and had to take one day at a time and find answers on my own. I was lucky to get a passing grade, and I hunkered down in a process that I hoped and prayed that I could someday finish. The rest was all uncertain. I was so busy scrambling to feed my younger siblings and buy them what they needed for school that I was not even aware for a few years that my school system had advisors that could have helped me. Toward the end of my senior year, I finally walked into an advisor’s office. Once I learned more about the educational system in America, I came to understand why I had failed to take advantage of what academic resources do exist; I took a long hard look around me, my life so far, the chance to go far with a bit of help, I focused from then on out almost exclusively on preparation for dental school. Other information Please describe a healthcare or social issue you are passionate about, and explain why. What role can you play in addressing this issue? The single most significant historical factor driving my passion for becoming a dentist is that there were none where I grew up in a small village in Africa that also did not have a doctor. The lack of a dentist to even so much as pull a tooth was horrific. From an especially underserved area of one of Africa’s poorest countries, I have been quick to note that even Africans that have been transplanted to America, like me, tend to oral health decay that is a legacy of their childhood. Where I come from in Africa, people only think about a dentist when they are in pain, this is the norm. If it doesn’t hurt, then they conveniently forget about it. I never visited a dental office until I came to the USA. I was just amazed by the beauty and the importance of it. Unfortunately, it is still considered a luxury back home. I hope to someday return to Africa to labor in the face of such overwhelming need, using my leadership and organizational skills to institute sustainable progress in oral health care. I want to do this as a dentist, an African man, and an entrepreneur. Someone must bear the cost of dental care, and at least eventually, it must be the people themselves. I look forward to brainstorming with like-minded peers about ways to make oral health advancement sustainable in the Global South. Complete Dental School Application Package #dentalschool #admission #supplemental #material #package #documents #successful

Like many Orthodontists, my story began with dark experiences in childhood. Growing up in ____, just another village in the South of India, I received constant harassment for something that I knew was not my fault: my teeth. I had protruding upper and lower front teeth and flashed gum when I smiled. I stayed home to avoid pictures and social gatherings throughout high school for every birthday party, wedding, etc... As I saw it at the time, the Devil himself could not have designed a worse nightmare to bring with me to young womanhood. To snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, I enrolled in Dental School. Then I completed my master's degree in India and gained experience. I write this statement on behalf of my application to a residency program in America. As a dentistry student, I learned about Orthodontics in detail for the first time and began to plan to pay for my treatment. Post-treatment, the person who smiled back at me when I looked into the mirror post-surgery, was a completely different personality. While my lovely teeth would have to remain hidden for another two years, the confident smile I was eventually blessed with was magical. Thus, I would like to live and work in a world where the smile is seen as an innate or God-given human right. But, since I do not, I want to devote myself to helping as many young people as possible who are now in the shoes that once were mine. I jumped at the opportunity to volunteer in a mobile dental clinic. I visited several rural areas without access to dental care and began to reflect on the systemic need for attention to orthodontic issues in India. This motivated me to earn my Masters's in Dental Surgery (Orthodontics) in May 2020 from a top-tier Indian college. I now consider myself fortunate to have provided orthodontic treatment for well over 100 patients and have become well-versed in several advanced orthodontic treatment techniques, as testified to by the fact that I graduated at the top of my master's class. I have worked as a full-time consultant orthodontist in India since March 2021. I work alongside and in coordination with a full-time periodontist, an oral surgeon, an endodontist, and a general dentist. My responsibilities include diagnosing and treating malocclusions for young and adult patients. I educate parents about the importance of early interventions during childhood to prevent possible dental malocclusions. Equipped with advanced skills in orthodontics, I am the go-to provider for many complex cases in our office. I am particularly confident in placing mini implants to move teeth, a technique many orthodontists practicing in my area are not trained in. I am also well trained in Invisalign, and I am most keen on staying abreast of the technological advances that we look forward to tomorrow. I particularly look forward to giving all to help children and adolescents from marginalized and at-risk families and neighborhoods who are in greatest need of the kind of boost that comes with transforming what is for the patient a nightmare into a beautiful smile. I want to save young, vulnerable people from the soul-crushing agony of being bullied due to their appearance. Several years later, I aspire to lay the foundation for my orthodontics clinic providing comprehensive care for patients. I take pride in my practiced grasp of the importance of collaboration with Periodontics and Oral Surgery, always focused on the best possible outcome for each unique patient. At this juncture, I have decided to dedicate myself to my advancement as an Orthodontist. I hope to become a trailblazer in Orthodontics in India, and distinguishing myself in this area as an Indian woman is still an uphill battle. I take heart in the fact that I am part of a wave, with the number of female students in dental schools increasing rapidly vis-à-vis that of males. I hope to be selected by a particularly distinguished program in harnessing innovative technology for oral health advancement. I am confident that my professional skill set resulting from a lifetime of academic projects and professional dedication will enable me to hit the ground running in your program and distinguish myself from the first day forward, going on to reach my fullest potential because of having been taken under your wing. Thank you for considering my application. Indian Woman Orthodontist in Residency Program #orthodontics #residency #personalstatement #samples #service #editing #indian