Transcription
[Music] Hello everyone. Uh, today with me is Dr. Shilpa Seni. And she's originally from India, from Punjab. And I'm really fortunate to talk to her because she's one of the few candidates who applied for the first time and got accepted to three schools until now: UIC, UIC, Nova, and UCSF. Right. And about there are about six schools where she got waitlisted. And I think it's a big thing, like for your first cycle, getting acceptance to three schools and getting waitlisted at even six schools. Like, this is a big success number. And I would like to talk to her, ask her some questions today to know what things helped her to achieve this success in her first cycle. And maybe we will be able to gather some points for people who are currently applying or reapplicants or in a similar boat as you. And go from there. So, thank you, Doc, for your time today.
Thank you. Thank you, Doctor, for giving me the opportunity to help others through my experience. Good, good. So, Doc, first of all, congrats to you and your family for getting so many acceptances in your first cycle. And also, the waitlist is better than rejection. Rejection. So, my first question is, Doc, you're originally from India. You graduated in 2013, right? Oh, 14. 14. So, it's kind of like the same. I graduated around that time too. So, you practiced general dentistry for about eight years in India before coming to the US? Yes, almost eight years. And you were, you weren't, you didn't do any MDS or anything like that. You were mostly general dentistry, right? Okay. Yes. And after that, you came to us. And when you came to us in 2021, right? 2022. So, when you came in '22, what things did you start doing? What was your journey like?
Uh, when I came to 20, in like to USA in 2022, the most, I would say, the difficult time for me because I was pregnant at that time. Mmm. And, uh, I, I then still did some things like, uh, I, uh, did dental assisting course. And then, uh, I did certifications to get a job. And because I have to take some break because my pregnancy was like, little not easy one. So, I had some complications. So, I took some break. But at that time, I started like, uh, completing all the things which were needed. So, after that, when I had my baby, uh, I remember my husband, he's a really pushy one. I think which helped me to like get so many interviews and acceptances because when I just delivered a baby, within a week, week, he just, uh, like, uh, uh, encouraged you to for the exam, INBDE. Yep. He encouraged you to take your exam now. Since you got accepted, we would use the word encouragement because he, whatever he did, worked for you. And here's a question. So, I had a lot of candidates, like mostly the candidates recently reach out to me are currently going through like family phases where they had kids or currently planning or stuff like that. And that's a very common thing they tell me on call. And, uh, I'm not a woman, so I can't understand everything. I know a lot of, there's a lot of postpartum fact, there's a lot of emotional, like, stuff as well. You go through a lot of physical trauma, you're trying to recover, and you have a lot of responsibility. And you change. That's what I've read. That's what I've learned. You change as a person. And then going through this really stressful journey, what were the key things that motivated you? Now, I have to get out. I have to do professional things. I have to pass the exam while you have a young baby with you. So, how was that? How were you able to do that? Or what were the things that helped you?
Yeah, I think what helped me was like, uh, when I, when I just saw my baby, I was like, okay, one day he's going to ask me what I do. And what am I going to tell him? So, I think that was the major point. I like, I have to do whatever I have to do, just to like, get admission in dental school here. So, I just started preparing for exams. And I think one big thing matters a lot in everybody's journey is like family support. And I got that. Good. Okay. And physically, like, there's a, I know, like physically, you get, there's a lot, there's a lot of physical stress that you bear. Was there something like you did to overcome the stress part? Because all of us immigrants, and like, it's your own negative thought, the self-doubt that keeps haunting you. Oh, I'm too old. I'm too young. I don't have experience. Maybe I lack this. My TOEFL is not good. Like, we all have some kind of self-doubt. So, when that starts coming, like, how was there anything that helped you overcome that?
And I'm, yeah, uh, I would like to answer this question because, uh, in my journey, what I did when I was like working on my application or I was like preparing for the exams, what I did, I just cut myself off from the people who are like giving you some negative vibes. Mmm. Because what happened, no one understands who is not in dentistry, that how many exams you have to give and what do you have to like come here and do. And they're going to ask some simple questions, okay, you are a dentist in India, and why is it taking so long? Yeah. So, so it's better to just avoid these people, just like work on your things. And yes, what other things helped me? Like, I love to do yoga. Mmm. And it helped me a lot. Okay. That's good. Good to hear. There are a lot of people who are currently going through this process, mainly females who are mothers or going through pregnancy. This is something that is helpful. So, did you know at that time, like, I'm going to get these three acceptances in my first cycle and all of this? And even getting like about, what, like seven, eight, eight, nine interviews? You thought you're going to get all of this? Did you imagine this?
No, not at all. Because even till March, I was not ready to like apply to the schools because even I haven't given, I think till March 2nd, I haven't given my TOEFL. Oh, okay. How much was your TOEFL score? Exactly? I don't remember it right now. How much? I got almost 101 marks. Okay. That's reasonably good. A lot of people reach out to me and ask, I got 103, 101 is it good? And I feel I say, yeah, it's decent enough. And you are a very good example. So, along with your TOEFL score, did, did you do dental assisting after you passed your exams? What things did you do?
Yes, yes. Whenever, like, after, like, giving my INBDE exam, I started searching for a job. When my baby was almost around 8 months, when I was like, okay, he's like, can my mother-in-law take care of my baby now? And I have time to like, start searching jobs. Uh, so I started with the dental assisting job. And I think one other thing I think helped me a lot, like, uh, like I got promotion within two months in my dental assistant job. I became supervisor there. Okay. So, yeah. And overall, how, how much experience did you have for dental assisting? A year and a half? Yeah, almost one year, I would say. One. So, usually, I tell people dental schools like to see at least one year of dental experience, which you had. And what about your volunteer work?
I did. I think a lot of volunteering when I just came to us. I did a lot of community work. Which places? Which places? Uh, I, I think there is one organization which is known as Healing California. I did work with them. And there's like community work with Sikh American awareness events. I did with them. I also went to like American Red Cross. I also worked with them. Good. I, I think that's a very strong point. And especially you're coming from a Sikh background, and community work is a big part. The SEVA, the concept of SEVA is a very big part. And I think that was a strong point too. Because people would do just one thing and say, hey, I did like Red Cross. But when somebody has done so many multiple things, that really shows this person is involved in community work. And I remember during our interview preparation, that's something I was saying, like, you, you should definitely focus on telling them, this is my background, I've been taught this since my early age, and that should be a strong backbone. So, the next question is, when, what do you think, in, I want to know your perspective, when you were applying, and you applied to 30 schools, correct me if I'm wrong? Yes, almost 30. So, the viewers who are watching this, this is a person coming from India, is a mother, got out of pregnancy, has a family, and obviously applying to 30 schools. How much approximately did it cost you throughout this capital process? You think all that process, like with the interviews and like moving around from one state to another state for the bench exam coaching and stuff? Yeah, and all that stuff. I think it costed me almost like $60,000. So, about $60,000 in her first year. And including, she, she reached out to me for coaching, she was going for bench exam, she was like applying to 30 schools. It's a big amount. And even telling, making your spouse understand, like, I'm investing so much money even before I get into school, is crazy. So, but for the people who are watching this, they need to understand the reason she was able to nail so many interviews and invites is because she, she cast her net big. You don't want to go in and say, I'm going to apply to five schools. If you're going to go in, apply to a lot of schools, because the opportunity of getting an invite is higher. I know people who have a lot of good profiles, but they don't apply to enough schools, and then the chances become narrower and narrower. So, that's a very important point. So, so I would like Dr. to add to this point because I remember I have some friends and what happened because I told you earlier that I, I was not prepared till March that I'm going to apply to this cycle or not because I, I was doing a job, I have a baby, and I haven't given my TOEFL yet. And I was not sure that I have all that things because some people told me like, you don't have any Master's here, you don't have this, you don't have that. So, uh, even I, like some of my mentors, like from where I took some advice, they told me like, it's not that much good profile. And I would say, just don't listen. Yeah, I took some, like, help and like, uh, with a couple of people. I would say, I will not take the name of those organizations or whatever. So, I would say, don't listen to those people. Just make your mind. Whenever you gather all the stuff which is like, I would say, the basic stuff which is needed for the application, and then go for it. If you are applying, then don't apply only to four and five schools to see that, if you get any interview or not. Just apply to most of the schools, whatever you can, how many schools you can, because that's important. Because even after applying to so many schools, not all schools have like invited me. I got almost 30% schools. Okay. That's still big. Dog, that's, that's they. I've known people who would apply to 20 schools and get two. But all we need is one acceptance, right? Yeah. So, here's the question. If you will go back. So, right now, I encourage people like, if you're going to apply, like we are right now in December, January, like start preparing. If you go back in time, would you advise people, like with your case, you were still thinking in March, but if you go back, would you advise yourself or a candidate to start preparing early on? Or what would be your advice regarding that?
Yes, definitely. I think it will be helpful because I did some mistakes. But I would say, because I had so many chances, I had 10 interviews, which gave me a like, a space to do the like mistakes and improve. But sometimes you don't have that area. So, it's better to start preparing early. Because I think, um, I did two mistakes which I thought I can, like, do early on. Even I was not prepared to apply. I haven't given my TOEFL like till March. So, and the third thing, I think should take a bench test earlier. And I took my bench test with Stevenson on, I think, in May. So, I think if I had it earlier, it's going to make a difference. Thank you for pointing out that thing. Bench exam. I can tell people, I can prepare you for interviews in a week, in two weeks. But when it comes to muscle memory, somebody who has cut crowns over the past six months, and I started like a week ago, obviously his muscles are more used to. And you can't Google experience. Like somebody whose hands are more experienced in cutting teeth, he will be better off in stressful situations. And bench exam situations are very stressful. You travel, like you're choking, and all of that. So, thank you for mentioning that. Any other mistake that you want to share with people that?
Yes, definitely. I got my first invitation with UAB, Alabama school. And I got rejection there. Okay. That was my first rejection. Okay. And I remember, I would not say I got rejection like earlier, but they have not invited me for the interview. So, I got like, okay, I did some mistakes. And I remember that because that was my first school, I was nervous. I did some mistakes, some silly mistakes. And moreover, because I'm a person who is introvert, who is not good in speaking, that's what I thought before. So, I was very confident about my bench exam because I had like 10 years of experience. So, I was confident on bench exams, not on my like speaking skills. And when I got that, like rejection, it, it was a heartbreaking moment for me. So, I would say, whatever comes to your, like, journey, you got some rejections or whatever, just keep working on your things and don't stop. Okay? Because you have to be consistent. I'm sorry, I'm digging a little bit deeper because I, the reason I'm asking these questions is so that people can understand, because people who are applying, they don't even understand what it feels like to go in the interview. And you traveled from California to Alabama. And Alabama is a whole different state. The airport is different. The South people wearing long boots and all of that. The accent is different. And you go in there, like you didn't sleep well, the time difference, and all of that. So, what were, if you're comfortable sharing, what were the silly mistakes that you noticed the first time? And later on, how did you improve them?
Uh, because in my case, because I have a baby, and I, I'm being a mother, I don't want to leave my baby alone at home. So, we were traveling with my baby. So, like having a five to six hour flight, it's not fun with a baby. Yeah, yeah. And most of the time, what happened, because when he, we, like, have a life, he's fussy. And I, I was not like, able to get sleep before my interview or before my bench exam, which I felt, it was like difficult for me to handle this, like anxiety and baby at the same time. But yeah, my family helped me a lot. And what mistakes I did is like, because I told you, I'm nervous, it's my first time. And sometimes you are like, more overconfident, or you can say that, okay, you have that experience, you can make it. Or but I would say, when you have more experience, it becomes difficult to make idle preparations. Makes sense. Okay. Because you're overconfident in a way, because in your head, you think I've done so much in the practical world. But I tell people, practical world is so much different than academic. Because there, we are treating a human in a, in a time. But this is academic world, and they do things a little bit differently. So, yeah, you're right. I would like to add here, uh, because sometimes when you work on typodont, sometimes that manikins, you can say that they don't move properly. Because I'm like a student here, I'm coming for like exam, and I'm nervous to ask some people or, or the, like, who is like watching you giving the exam to come again and again to just adjust it. And I did that mistake. My, my tooth was not moving properly. Okay. And I was like, doing the preparation with a very difficult position.
Next question. I'm thinking, have you figured out a school where you're going? Because right now, you have Nova, UCSF, and UIC. Which school are you going to pick?
UCSF, because it's really close to my home. That's one thing. And otherwise, for other people, UIC is very expensive overall to live in Chicago. To go. And that's Nova is like almost four years of program. So, overall, if I was you, I would do the same. Even if it's not the location part, but it's a good school. And you have enough training from your past. It's just about now getting your DDS license and going out in the practical world.
So, here's the next question. One thing you mentioned, taking Stevenson's course was very helpful. And I tell people, like, do it as early as. I'm a big, he doesn't pay me for this, but I respect the man because he loves what he does and he's damn good at what he does. And I have high respect for him. Even though he charges a lot, but he deserves every penny of it. But, uh, my next question is for the interview part. And I know you reached out to me later on. What were the things that you later on incorporated or changed or started doing that made your interviews better? And you're somebody who had, you made a very good point. I'm sorry, I'm repeating you because you said you had more room for error because you applied to too many schools. And people need to understand, she had the investment to apply to more schools, get more invites, and had the chance to make more mistakes and still get in. But by the end of the day, every mistake costs you money. And yes, one of the things when I look back, I would rather learn early on so I don't have to pay for my mistakes. So, that's one perspective. So, what things helped you in the interview part later on, Doc?
So, I would say, yes, definitely the interview prep sessions with you have me goals. You told me like where I'm lacking and what are my strong points. So, I should concentrate on my strong points and how I can, uh, improve on my weakest points. And other thing I would like to add here, that sometimes your real-life experience teaches you better than the preparatory sessions. Definitely, they help you. But when I went to the interviews, what I, what mistakes I did here, I, I think that was more learning experience for me. Because I did some mistakes, I got to know, okay, I don't have to say that, or maybe I can represent myself better in that question or not. So, I always come home and remember that questions and start preparing on them. Okay, how can I answer this question better? But what if, what if a person, I know people who applied to 10 schools and only got one invite. They only got one invite. In that case, who's preparing for their interview? What would be your suggestion on that case?
And I think the other thing that helped me a lot is a job, my dental assistant job. Because you meet so many people and you like talk with them. Because a person like who came from India, I had like some, uh, language barrier also. And I think I, uh, improved over the time because you can't learn a language in a single day or in a month. It takes time. Even I'm not like, I can say that I'm, uh, like, sometimes I'm not able to impress myself in the second language, which I can do in my own language. So, just, uh, keeps like to rephrase what you say. I tell people, we immigrants, we think in our home language and then we translate it to English. And sometimes we are, I believe what I'm saying, other people can understand. But I don't realize when I convert it or translate it into English, it loses its essence. There's a lot of poetry or music which if you change it to a different language, it's not impressive anymore. So, yes, it takes a little bit of time to. And with the American culture, there are certain things you have to understand. Like, they won't understand how can a doctor work in the morning in a hospital and in the evening run a private practice. It's like very difficult for them. And I tell people, better not to explain them.
So, Doc, for people who are currently applying, or because right now it's December, right? It's, it's interviews. Somebody called me today and said, I want to apply for interviews and I want to learn about interviews. I said, well, interview use is something you can still prepare in a week or two weeks. But right now, you need to figure out your personal statement, your resume. And you took a lot of different coachings, you took from me in the interview part. What would be your suggestion to people who are right now like applying for the first time, stressful, thinking about who have given their exam, but now preparing for March? Like, what would be your suggestion for those people who are right now thinking about March and applying for the first time?
I think, first, search the right person you like. Uh, don't go to a random person for your SOP or for your other things. First, search the right person like who has the knowledge, really, like who can help you really well. Because you're going to invest in it. Because in my case, I would say, obviously, I got some help. And, uh, but still, don't rely too much on them. I would say, you also have to put some, like, from your side, too. I haven't, I, all I haven't, uh, took any help in my supplemental application. Uh, even in the SOP. Yeah, I got some help, but they made it like some fancy words. And I was like, oh, I don't know the meaning. And how can I like, So, didn't you ask them to change? Like, when I work on personal statements, what I do now is, I write a draft and I send it back to them. And the person says, okay, this line I like, this one I don't like, can we change? And I then change it back, send it, it's back and forth like 10 times, like a ping pong game. So, didn't you do that with that person?
Uh, because, uh, what happened in my case, I would say, because when I had the first time conversation with them, they don't show much like confidence in me. Which was like, you know, why weren't you? Because I'm, I'm like, introvert person. I don't know how to explain myself better. Or because at that time, I was not good in speaking. I would say, like, how to impress, like, express myself and how to ask for the things. And which was like, and luckily, my husband, he did all that part. He helped me in all the process in supplemental applications, in like SOP. We just made a draft and we removed all that fancy words. We rewrote my SOP. Yeah. So, people who are taking help right now, one of the suggestions I'll say, and when I work with people, I tell people, like, you're not going to like what you get in the start. And you have to write down or write your comments and send it back. And it's going to be back and forth. Like, you know, how people get tailored clothes in India, Pakistan. You go to the tailor, to the tailor, and you tell him, I don't like from here. And then they fix it. And then go back until you like your thing.
So, the next question. I haven't found you earlier because I already applied. When I searched, I like came to know you. So, yeah, well, it was good. I think God had his own plan. And you got where you wanted. But when you were looking for, so, from what I, when I listen to your story, as compared to other people, God blessed you in a situation where you had the finances to apply to more places, take help. Now, when you say, like, for somebody, for example, there's a person coming from India, from Punjab, but his finances are a little bit limited. And if they have to look for help at this point, what would be good ways to search for help and make sure this is the right person to work with?
I think search like from maybe, uh, consult with other people from your friends. I like got to know you. One of my friend like told about you that you are giving, uh, such kind of sessions, interview sessions, and they are really good. So, I reached out to you. And I also saw your Instagram account. And I would say, save on funds. Even I don't have that much funds. Even we took some credit. Yeah, yeah. But comparatively, I'm just using the word, God blessed you. I use this word, blessed you, because sometimes it's just a blessing that things come to you. And you invested. That's the way to look at it. Because I think if you want to get that, because I remember my husband was preparing for the things, even for the like next cycle. He was like, motivating me, if you don't get this time, okay, you should go for a master's or you should do a preceptor. And I was like, no, I can't go for all these things. Because especially for the, because I realized even in my cycle, one was the lacking point that I don't have any, uh, post-graduation. I don't have any master's. But still, you had a lot of good experience. So, what I tell people, like, in Colorado, if there are 40 people, there are three people who have fresh grad, four people who have PS, four have masters, four have dental assisting. So, I think one way or another, they don't pick only one kind of person. But you had your own good experience up there. So, pretty much, I'm, I'm, I'm pretty impressed with your husband. If he's watching this, like, he did a pretty good job. And so, hands off to him too. Because this is very stressful. And no, I totally understand. We immigrants, overall, like, there's always financial constraint. But having that bravery, like, being brave about, okay, I'm going in, and I'm going to go in all in. We'll see if we have to take credit. So, that's a pretty positive way. Like, I tell people, if you're going to jump in the water, don't worry about getting wet now. Because if you're going in, think about getting to the other side of the coast. That's how people win. That's that's the mindset of people who win. Because when they go in, they are not thinking about other things. They are mainly thinking about how to get the job done. And your husband and you guys, I think planned it pretty well.
So, uh, here's, if there's anything else you want to, and my this video, mainly I'm making for people who are currently preparing. The main job is to give them the right mindset. The reason I tell people, like, nowadays, a lot of people who reach out to me for help, I tell them, go and watch, like, a couple of videos, get your mind, like, get the mindset, and then think if you want to take help or not. Because the mindset is the thing. So, just to ask you one more question. Any other advice from a stress point of view? And from a being a mother point of view, from a family working as dental assistant? Any other thing that you would advise to people, uh, who are preparing? Any other thing you want to tell them?
Yeah, uh, I would, I would say, just try to stay in the loop. Let you're going to apply. Keep on doing one thing at one time. Don't just think about, okay, I'm going to apply without any completing anything. Just do one thing at one time. Like, I, I even till March, I told you, I haven't given my TOEFL yet. I, when I did, when I got my score, what I wanted, I just then started applying. First, I thought I would apply to like 20 schools. But when I was like, okay, then don't leave that all other 10 schools. Just go for it. Don't give it like a, I would say, with a half-hearted. Go with a full, like, full plan. Okay, you're going to get it. And what helped me to stay in that loop? Just whenever you, like, I would say, when you have exams, what do you do? You like, um, off your TV, or you take a break from your friends and start concentrating on that thing. Same thing I did. I haven't attended any party. I haven't attended family, family gathering, nothing at all. Because I want to like, be in that loop. And because I don't want any unwanted questions. Because sometimes it gives you stress. One thing I'll tell you, just from my experience, before your school starts, starts, and this time, enjoy as much as you can. Because dental school is like a pressure cooker. Once you go in, you're going to be boiling for next, like, two and a half years. So, enjoy this time. This never comes back. And the, the other people who are watching, one of the very important points she mentioned is that once you take, like, there's a technique called chunking in marathon. Like, if you have a 50-mile marathon, they say, think about one mile at a time and follow that. Finish that one mile, then think about the other. Otherwise, if you start thinking about the whole journey, it will overwhelm you. So, that's a very important point that you mentioned. And overall, staying positive, staying with the right kind of people, and working hard and going all in. That's very important. I've, there's a saying I read, um, which says, fortune favors the brave. People who are brave enough to go all in, that really makes a difference. So, uh, well, thank you, Doc, for your time. And I think this is very fruitful or productive, uh, information for a lot of new people who are applying. And encouragement, especially for mothers, especially for women. And I would also say to people, if you're looking for help, guidance, you can watch more of my videos. I'll post it somewhere up here on YouTube. And if you need help, guidance, my contact will be in the description. And I wish, uh, Dr. Shilpa, all the best to you. And thank you for your help. And hopefully, we'll see you at some conference or at some school at some time. And all the best and congrats to your family as well.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Doctor. Sure, sure. Thank you very much. Thank you, Doctor.