Meeting 2/19/18(Gap Year Ideas, Teach for America)

Kevin Hart—Former UNC DDS treasurer

Pre-dental Summer Programs

  • ECU Prepping Tomorrow’s Dentists
  • 2.5 day program in early June
  • Goal: expose underrepresented students to the field of dentistry, enhance the desire for dentistry, and further assist perspective applicants in the program
  • Exploratory program: prepare for submitting applications, personal statement critique, learn effective self-presentation
  • Overview of freshman year in dental school
  • Must be NC resident
  • UNC MED Program
  • Designed to increase opportunities in the health professions fro students with educational promise and commitment to a health career
  • Demanding academic prep program for disadvantaged students
  • Professional seminars
  • Exploration through admissions process
  • Patient simulation experience
  • Housing accommodations and stipend
  • Intensive schedule that accurately reflects what to expect in dental school
  • Of participants, 92% gained admission to medical or dental school
  • Requirements: Opens mid October, two letters of recommendation, transcript, FAFSA, pass Orgo I, cumulative science GPA of 2.75, random interviews
  • Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)
  • Offers students a variety of academic and career experiences that will support their dental and medical school career preparation
  • 13 different sites across US—each is unique and personalized to you
  • Six week program—dates variable by site
  • Clinical exposure
  • Career development
  • Financial planning workshops and health policy seminars
  • Housing/meals/travel/stipend included
  • Great way to build connections with faculty at dental schools
  • Requirements: Application Dec 1, transcript, 2 letter of rec, freshmen and sophomores only,
  • UNC Science Enrichment Program (SEP)
  • Honors level academic enrichment program for disadvantaged undergraduate students who seek admission into graduate/health professional school
  • Unrepresented, first generation, rural and or socioeconomically disadvantaged background
  • 8 week summer program
  • 150 hours of classroom instruction
  • Shadow a working professional in your health field of interest
  • Attend class and seminars
  • Requirements, 2 science and 1 letter of rec, rising sophomore of junior, minimum 3.0 science GPA,

Teach for America

  • Focused on expanding opportunities for children in underrepresented areas
  • All across US
  • K-12
  • Exposure to a strong cohort
  • Leadership opportunities
  • 2 year commitment
  • Application: resume and short essay, 2 recommendations, pre-interview activity, transcript, in-person interview, bachelors degree, 2.5 GPA (variable by region), different deadlines (apply early)
  • Large need for STEM teachers

Gap Year Life

  • Studying for DAT
  • Time management
  • During breaks, around work schedule
  • Create a timeline
  • DAT Bootcamp
  • Full 3 month schedule
  • Uses DAT Destroyer, Mike’s Videos, and Cliff’s AP Biology
  • Discount code: UNCDDS
  • How it has helped
  • Personally not ready to matriculate immediately
  • Wanted to discover specific interests in dentistry
  • Exploration in underrepresented areas
  • Redefining self
  • Mental break
  • Community involvement
  • Personal choice as to take or not take a gap year