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Track volunteering, research, leadership, employment, and more using categories that mirror the AADSAS application.
What can I actually do next?
Categories of opportunities beyond the basics, with what each one is, why it might be worth your time, and how to get started. None of this guarantees anything for admissions. It's here to help you explore and decide what fits you.
General dentist shadowing
Shadowing- What it is
- Observing a practicing, licensed dentist during patient appointments to see day-to-day clinical work firsthand.
- Why it might help
- It's the most common way pre-dental students confirm the field matches what they imagined, and most schools expect to see it.
- Who it's for
- Every pre-dental student, regardless of stage — start as early as you can arrange it.
- How to start
- Use the cold-email, phone, and in-person outreach templates on the Shadowing Tracker page, then log hours and reflections there as you go.
Specialist shadowing
Shadowing- What it is
- Shadowing an orthodontist, oral surgeon, endodontist, or other specialist rather than a general dentist.
- Why it might help
- Useful for exploring a specific interest, but note that some schools weigh general-dentist hours more heavily — check the Shadowing Tracker and each school's stated policy before assuming specialist hours count the same way.
- Who it's for
- Students who already have general-dentist hours and want to explore a specialty.
- How to start
- Ask your general-dentist contact for a referral — dentists often know specialists personally and can make a warm introduction.
A professor's or PI's research lab
Research- What it is
- Assisting with an ongoing research project — dental, biomedical, or any science field — under a faculty member or principal investigator (PI).
- Why it might help
- Builds familiarity with the scientific method and gives you something concrete to discuss in interviews, whether or not it's dentistry-specific.
- Who it's for
- Students who want structured, mentored exposure to how research actually works.
- How to start
- See the Research Outreach templates below for how to reach out to a professor or lab about opportunities.
Your university's undergraduate research office
Research- What it is
- Most universities have an office or website listing active research opportunities and how to apply for them.
- Why it might help
- It's a lower-friction way to find a lab than cold-emailing blind — you can see what's actually open before reaching out.
- Who it's for
- Students who aren't sure which lab to approach yet.
- How to start
- Search your university's undergraduate research office or your department's website for current listings, then email using the templates below.
Dental mission trips
Professional Growth- What it is
- Short-term domestic or international trips where dental teams provide care to underserved communities, sometimes with roles for pre-dental volunteers.
- Why it might help
- Can expose you to community-oriented dentistry and different patient populations — but roles, costs, and what pre-dental students are actually allowed to do vary a lot by organization, so verify specifics directly before committing.
- Who it's for
- Students who want service experience with a dental focus and can verify a program's legitimacy and cost.
- How to start
- Ask your pre-dental advisor or a shadowing contact if they know a reputable trip, and independently verify what the trip actually involves before paying anything.
Pre-dental conferences and events
Professional Growth- What it is
- Events such as ASDA's predental programming, regional dental-association student days, or university-hosted pre-health conferences.
- Why it might help
- A concentrated way to hear from admissions officers, current dental students, and practicing dentists in one place.
- Who it's for
- Students who want a broad overview or are deciding between health professions.
- How to start
- Check the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) website and your state dental association's site for upcoming student events.
Professional development workshops
Professional Growth- What it is
- Skill-building sessions — communication, ethics, business-of-dentistry, or manual-dexterity workshops — sometimes hosted by dental schools' outreach offices.
- Why it might help
- Builds specific, discussable skills rather than general exposure, and can be a lower-commitment way to interact with a dental school before applying.
- Who it's for
- Students at any stage looking for a single, well-defined activity to add.
- How to start
- Check the outreach or admissions pages of dental schools near you — many list open workshops or pipeline programs for prospective applicants.
Pre-dental student organizations
Professional Growth- What it is
- A club or organization for students interested in dentistry, usually based at your university.
- Why it might help
- A built-in community of people on the same path, often with access to shared shadowing contacts, panels, and mock-interview practice.
- Who it's for
- Any pre-dental student — this is often the easiest first step.
- How to start
- Search your university's student-organization directory for a pre-dental or pre-health club; if none exists, your pre-health advising office can usually point you to one nearby or help you start one.
Community or free health clinics
Volunteering- What it is
- Volunteering at a clinic serving uninsured or underinsured patients — not always dental, but often health-adjacent.
- Why it might help
- Demonstrates sustained commitment to service, which schools generally value more than a single one-off event.
- Who it's for
- Students building a longer-term volunteering record, not just a single entry.
- How to start
- Search for free or community health clinics in your area and ask about volunteer intake — many have a standing process.
Non-clinical volunteering
Volunteering- What it is
- Service that isn't health-related at all — tutoring, food banks, shelters, environmental work.
- Why it might help
- Shows a genuine service pattern rather than only activities chosen to look good on an application.
- Who it's for
- Students who already have clinical exposure and want to round out their record honestly.
- How to start
- Volunteer for something you'd actually care about even if you weren't applying to dental school — consistency matters more than the specific cause.
Officer role in a student organization
Leadership- What it is
- Taking on a formal leadership position — president, treasurer, event coordinator — in a club you're already part of.
- Why it might help
- Gives you a concrete leadership story with a decision, a tradeoff, and a measurable outcome to discuss in interviews.
- Who it's for
- Students already involved in an organization who are ready for more responsibility.
- How to start
- Ask current officers what the role actually involves before running or volunteering — a good leadership story needs real substance, not just a title.
Starting or growing something
Leadership- What it is
- Founding a club, organizing a recurring event, or significantly growing something that already exists.
- Why it might help
- Often produces the most specific, memorable leadership examples because you made every decision yourself.
- Who it's for
- Students with an idea and enough time left before applying to see it through.
- How to start
- Start small and specific — one event or one semester-long initiative is more credible than an ambitious plan you don't finish.
American Student Dental Association (ASDA)
Dental Organizations- What it is
- The official national student organization affiliated with the ADA, representing dental and pre-dental students.
- Why it might help
- A direct line to national programming, advocacy, and resources built specifically for students on the dental track.
- Who it's for
- Any pre-dental student who wants a national (not just campus-level) community.
- How to start
- Visit ASDA's official website to see current predental membership and programming options.
Your state or regional dental association
Dental Organizations- What it is
- State-level professional dental associations, many of which run student outreach, mentorship, or convention programming.
- Why it might help
- Local connections and events are often easier to access than national ones, and can lead directly to shadowing or mentorship contacts.
- Who it's for
- Students who want to build a network in the state where they plan to apply or practice.
- How to start
- Search for your state's dental association website and look for a student or new-dentist section.
Informational interviews with dentists
Networking- What it is
- A short, focused conversation with a dentist about their career path — separate from shadowing, and often easier to arrange.
- Why it might help
- Low time commitment for the dentist, which makes it an easier ask than a multi-hour shadowing request, especially as a first contact.
- Who it's for
- Students early in exploring dentistry, or anyone building a wider network of contacts.
- How to start
- Ask a dentist (or use the shadowing outreach templates, adapted) for 15–20 minutes on the phone rather than a shadowing day — it's a smaller ask and can lead to a shadowing invitation later.
Alumni and advisor networks
Networking- What it is
- Pre-health advisors and alumni databases at your university, often with pre-dental alumni willing to talk to current students.
- Why it might help
- Alumni already share a connection to your school, which tends to make outreach warmer and response rates higher.
- Who it's for
- Students who aren't sure where to find their first contact.
- How to start
- Ask your pre-health advising office if they maintain an alumni mentor list or LinkedIn group for pre-dental students.
Research outreach
Reaching out about research is a different conversation than asking to shadow — these templates and tips are built for contacting professors, PIs, and labs specifically.
- Look up the professor or lab first — read their lab page or one recent paper so you can mention something specific, not generic.
- Name a specific research interest rather than 'I'm interested in research in general.'
- Briefly state your background (major, relevant coursework, year) in one or two sentences — don't over-explain.
- If you're in high school, it's fine to ask specifically about high-school-appropriate opportunities; many labs only take undergrads or grad students.
- Attach a resume when you have one — a one-page academic resume is enough at this stage.
- Follow up once, politely, after one to two weeks of silence. More than that can come across as pressure rather than interest.
First email to a professor or PI
Subject: Undergraduate interested in [specific research area] Dear Dr. [Last Name], My name is [Your Name], and I'm a [year/grade level] student at [school] studying [major]. I read about your work on [specific project, paper, or research area — mention something real from their lab page or a paper] and found [specific detail] especially interesting. I'm reaching out to ask whether you have any openings for an undergraduate volunteer or research assistant in your lab, even in a limited capacity. I don't have [technique/skill] experience yet, but I'm a fast learner and can commit [X hours/week] starting [timeframe]. I've attached my resume for reference. Thank you for considering my request — I understand you're busy and appreciate any time you can spare. [Your Name] [Phone] · [Email]
Follow-up (after 1–2 weeks of silence)
Subject: Following up — undergraduate research interest Dear Dr. [Last Name], I wanted to briefly follow up on my note from [date] about potential undergraduate opportunities in your lab. I know email can get buried — I'm still very interested and happy to send any additional information that would help. If your lab isn't taking on students right now, I'd also appreciate knowing if you can point me toward a colleague who might be. Thank you again for your time. [Your Name]