Benjamin Bright - University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine
Why did you choose the dental school you are attending? What are some things unique to your school?
I chose University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine for a few main reasons. Prior to coming to Cal, I grew up in Boulder, and the CU medical campus was close by (located in Denver). In-state tuition doesn't hurt either! When choosing a dental school, it is important to reflect on how the school made you feel when you interviewed there. CU had one of the most organized interview days. They showcased their new facilities and technology to us, including a virtual reality study/game room, a 3D haptic feedback drill station, and a brand new student center and library. Additionally, the interview consisted of two short one-on-one interview sessions, and it was the most relaxed interview I had. They intentionally paired me with a doctor who was also a Cal alumni, and all the questions were easy, laid back, and straightforward. This welcoming vibe was a huge reason why I chose CU over other schools.
What programs/clubs are you a part of at your school and what is your role?
At CU I am involved in ADEA as a tutor. This is a paid GSI position where I tutor the first year students in Anatomy, Molecular Biology, and Physiology. I am also involved in organizing pre-dental days at CU through ASDA, where we invite pre-dental students to wax teeth, drill on mannequins, and do mock interviews. I also tutor local elementary school children in math through ASDA. Lastly, I am a member of Delta Sigma Delta, which is a national co-ed dental fraternity. We have more personalized tutoring sessions, externship and job networks, and fun social events like winter formal and weekend long ski trips in the rocky mountains.
What were your extracurricular/volunteer/leadership experiences in undergrad?
Some extracurricular activities I was involved with at Cal include:
Cal PDS community service intern and officer
Undergraduate researcher in MCB at Brar/Unal lab
Shadowing in Oakland/ Berkeley,
Medical scribe in Boulder during summers
Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity rush chair, scholarship chair, and new member educator
Involvement in Berkeley Hillel and Chabad.
Does your school offer any events or programs for pre-dents?
CU offers some amazing opportunities for pre dental students! We have Waxing and drilling days, mock interviews, and many student Q&A panels. I have also had Cal undergrads meet up with me when they come to CU for their interview, so if you end up interviewing at CU, hit me up! I would love to show you around Denver after your interview or meet you for lunch during your interview day.
How would you recommend undergraduates prepare for dental school? What has prepared you the most personally?
The two biggest things you can do to get into dental school are:
Make sure you know you want to go to dental school. Motivation is key!
Stay organized, and stay ahead.
Get letters of recommendation as early as possible.
Take the DAT right after you finish all your basic science classes.
Get 100+ shadowing hours in as soon as possible, and ask older students or dental students for application advice, etc.
Please describe your experience in dental school thus far.
Dental school is a lot different than undergrad, and it is very rewarding. People say Cal prepares you well for dental school, and they are right. Cal is brutal in terms of grade deflation, difficulty of coursework, and overall stress it places on pre-health students. However, I have found that the didactic course work in dental school is much easier compared to what I experienced as an MCB major at Cal. Berkeley goes way in depth when teaching math and science. The level of understanding you need to pass exams at Berkeley is almost enough to give you the ability to write your biology and chemistry textbooks yourselves. In dental school, the information you need to understand is very surface level. The challenge is the volume of information that is presented to you. As long as you break your studying up into small daily chunks, you'll crush dental school courses. Additionally, dental schools intentionally try to admit very like minded people into their class. That's why the friends I've made at CU are some of the best connections I've made in my entire life. Everyone is so dedicated, funny, and loves to work hard and play hard!
Is there any other information you would like to provide?
If you really want to get into dental school, you will find a way. Whether it takes one application cycle or five, you will get in. One girl in my class got rejected from CU 5 years in a row. On the sixth cycle, she was placed first on the waitlist. She was working in Australia three weeks before the school year started, and she still hadn't gotten in off the waitlist. Eventually she quit her job, bought a plane ticket in the middle of the week from Australia to Denver, and went to our school. She knocked on the Dean's door, introduced herself, told the Dean who she was and why CU should admit her. The Dean said that she admired her drive and dedication, and that they'd be in touch. Twenty-four hours later, the Dean called her and offered her a spot in our class. When it comes down to it, success in anything you do depends on your attitude and effort. If you put in the work and stay positive, you can achieve what you desire most.
