 Explain clearly why you want to study Dental Hygiene in the Faculty of Dentistry.

Why do you want

to earn your degree at UBC rather than a diploma at a public or private Dental Hygiene diploma
program?
 What are the advantages of earning a degree vs a diploma as you see them?
 What might be the disadvantages of a degree for you?
 Why do you believe you will be successful in the Dental Hygiene Degree Program and in a career in
Dental Hygiene?
 What will you, as a student, contribute to UBC and the Faculty of Dentistry? How will both be better
for having had you as a Dental Hygiene student?

As a kid I always enjoyed the atmosphere of the dental office and found the profession

fascinating. I have always liked working with people and through my volunteer work experience

at the Pemberton Valley Dental Clinic have found a strong interest in dental hygiene. I have had

the chance to talk lots with the hygienist at the clinic, watch her work on patients, get to know

the dental equipment and even help assist on fillings. I’ve spoken with a current student in your

program of Dental Hygiene who attended my high school about how she’s enjoying the program,

she had all positive things to say about the UBC program. A degree will further my education

and keep doors open to greater opportunities such as opening a practice and doing more

independent work on rural communities. Having the highest level of education in dental hygiene

will help with job security and ensure more safety if education requirements change. Some

disadvantages of a degree for me include loss of wage during the 4 years, due to the fact that I

won’t have time to work a full-time job well taking my degree along with loss of freedom such

as travel. In the end it will all be worth it because this education will affect my future and career

for the rest of my working life will keep me motivated to be successful. Because I’m passionate

about the dental field and I think I will thoroughly enjoy taking the program and therefore

succeed in it. I greatly enjoy working with people and hope to collaborate with other students.

Diligence and communication are a very important part of being a dental hygienist and one of the

main reasons I think I will fit well in this job and have good bedside manner. I believe I have the
patience to give beneficial instructions on proper dental hygiene. Teamwork is a major part of

working in a dental clinic, as you work on cases with the whole office, similar to working on labs

in school. I have learned that it’s important to see the entire clinic as a whole and treat all staff

equally. As a student at UBC I would love to join the dragon boat team because dragon boat has

been a huge part of my life throughout high school and creates bonds and teamwork skills. I

would be honoured to get accepted into this program and think I would fit in well at UBC.

I found out about the program through a current student in it when I was younger. This year I

googled places in Canada to take your bachelors in dental hygiene and saw UBC as an option.

- Diploma program at Camosun College

- Diploma program at Vancouver Island University

- Bachelors program at University of Alberta

- Bachelors in social work at Vancouver Island University

- Bachelors in nursing at University of Calgary

Younglife

Young Life is a youth group and huge part of our community, I spend lots of time going to club

and camp as a younger teen as part of it. Now I have the chance to volunteer at club helping plan

activities and had a chance to take a group of girls to camp as a leader. Through doing this I help

teens make connection with each other and older role models.

Dentist
I have had the chance through my school to spend two days a week after school at the dental

clinic. There I help with filling charts and cleaning trays. By doing this I give some of the other

employees time to work on harder tasks.

Coaching volleyball

This year I had the chance to coach the grade eights girls volleyball team and helped score keep

basketball and volleyball games. This helps my schools sports programs run smoother and gives

the younger girls a friend in an older grade.

Canoe club

I have helped with community events through the canoe club along with helping to clean boats,

move boats and chores around the boat house and taking school groups out in the dragon boats.

By doing this I help the maintain the boats and boathouse and recruit new paddlers for the

upcoming years.

- I haven't applied for any scholarships yet, but I am planning on doing so.

- I have been on the 80-90% average honour roll from grade 8-12

- I received a excellence award for being a balanced being (excellence in two or more areas of

academics, athletics or citizenship)