COSAM News Articles 2020 March National Dentist’s Day Offers Opportunity for Pre-dental Students to Show Appreciation to COSAM

National Dentist’s Day Offers Opportunity for Pre-dental Students to Show Appreciation to COSAM

Published: 03/06/2020

By: Carla Nelson

Pre-dental students studying through the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) are admitted into dental school at a rate that is 30 percent above the national average. To celebrate National Dentist’s Day on March 6, current COSAM pre-dental students are showing their appreciation to a college program that is preparing them for success.

Hannah McCalman, a senior studying biomedical sciences, has already been accepted to the University of Alabama School of Dentistry and acknowledges COSAM’s pre-health program as a leading factor in her acceptance. During her time at Auburn, she has been an active member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) Health Pre-Professional Honor Society and also participated in the Dental Admission Test (DAT) Boot Camp, which is hosted by COSAM in May.

“COSAM has really taught me how to manage my time, prioritize and study efficiently,” McCalman shared. “The sheer volume of information we’re given for a test is so much, so I’ve had to learn which way to study works best for me. Also the professors are incredible. They prepared me well for the DAT, so I feel like I’ll be well-prepared for dental school.”

Beverley Childress, director of COSAM’s pre-health professions programs, said AED is an organization she encourages every pre-health student to join. The organization provides the opportunity for students to become educated about the doctoral and allied health professions, from the responsibilities and daily routine of various health care providers to how to become a competitive applicant to professional schools.

“Medicine is collaborative,” Childress said. “I think it’s good that they come together and hear some of the same speakers, but also there are a number of students who start in dentistry and end up in medicine or vice versa.”

Another way COSAM prepares pre-dental students for success is hosting mock interviews with dental school admissions representatives. These interviews offer sophomores and higher level COSAM students the opportunity to prepare for dental school admission interviews.

“That’s a chance for our sophomores and above, who haven’t applied to dental school, to have a 30-minute private interview where they can learn about their strengths and weaknesses,” Childress explained. “It’s really intended for sophomores so they have time to make improvements.”

The annual DAT Boot Camp also gives pre-dental students the opportunity to prepare for the exam. The DAT Boot Camp will be held this year on May 4. Before attending the camp, students are required to take a practice test and bring their score reports with them to the boot camp. The score reports offer insight about sections of the test the students still need to review thoroughly.

“I think the DAT Boot Camp was an incredible study program,” McCalman said. “It really helped me feel prepared for the DAT.”

COSAM senior Jonathan Lewallen is also pursuing a career as a dentist. An Eagle Scout career research assignment in eighth grade is what first interested him in the field.

“I really enjoy the office atmosphere,” he said of his choice. “It’s not stagnate, but it’s not crazy. The work is always similar, but it’s intriguing because every case is different.”

McCalman and Lewallen both agreed that COSAM has prepared them well for a career as a dentist, one they feel is an important health care profession.

“The health of your teeth is important,” Lewallen said. “A lot of people’s confidence comes from their smile. When words are not enough, everyone understands a smile.”