The objective of the Dentistry Student Ambassador program is to connect prospective applicants and newly admitted students with current dental students to learn more about their experience in our undergraduate dental programs. A student’s perspective can be very helpful and valuable to applicants when trying to decide whether or not to apply to McGill’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences.
What would a Student Ambassador have to do?
A McGill Dental Student Ambassador would:
- Act as a contact person for newly admitted students and prospective applicants. The student must agree to have his/her photo, profile and email address published on our website and answer emails on a regular basis (time frame to respond: 5 days);
- Conduct tours of the clinic and preclinical lab (usually done by senior students) as well as class visits if possible and with the permission from the professor;
- Participate to special events such as McGill Open House, Youth Outreach activities, Multiple Mini-Interviews (recruitment activities), information sessions, meet & greet sessions, virtual events, etc.;
- Collaborate with the Admissions Office on the development of new outreach activities to attract applicants from varied backgrounds and life trajectories.
Tasks and roles will be assigned according to the students’ seniority in the program and preferences (e.g. a First-Year DMD students might be limited to sharing their experience of the admissions process and their first year at McGill, but not be able to describe clinical work or provide tours of the facility).
IMPORTANT NOTE: When applying to become a Student Ambassador, please make sure you are able to commit the necessary amount of time. As well, if your intention is to apply to the MDCM Program during your first year of the DMD Program, we would ask that you refrain from submitting your application to become a Student Ambassador.
How to join the program?
- Fill in the application form and submit it by 8:00 am Friday, September 8th, 2023
- If selected, you will have to attend a mandatory training session (in person session) to help you prepare for your role as Student Ambassador;
- Once enrolled, a student will remain Ambassador for one year (renewable). In order to keep the position, he or she must not demonstrate academic performance risk.
- Academic performance risk would be defined as failing two final examinations requiring remedial examinations since the start of the program.
What is the selection process?
Candidates will be selected by a sub-committee of the Admissions Committee based on the following selection criteria:
- Ability to positively influence his/her peers, make a positive first impression, adapt to a variety of situations and work well with others;
- Leadership potential as well as sensitivity to those around him/her;
- Ability to commit the necessary time and to successfully carry out responsibilities of the position;
- A tolerance for and respect of different opinions as well as sensitivity to different cultures;
- Involvement with and contribution to the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and/or the local community;
- Academic standing through previous studies;
- Work ethics.
For the upcoming academic year 2023-2024, there will be a possibility of five to six seats for DMD I, one seat for DMD II, one to two seats for DMD III and no seat for DMD IV.
Individual participation in activities will take into account the Ambassadors’ class, clinic and study schedules.
What are the benefits of being a Student Ambassador?
- Recognition of their contribution on the Dean’s letter;
- Mentorship opportunities with incoming and prospective students;
- Opportunity to work with and learn from the Faculty’s staff;
- Unique experience in public relations (meeting people, public speaking, representing the Faculty) which helps develop skills and confidence vital to success in career advancement;
- Satisfaction in becoming a positive role model.
- Possibility to apply as a 3rd-Year Student Representative on the Admissions Committee after completing at least one year as a Student Ambassador. Please note that a student representative sitting on the Admissions Committee cannot be a Student Ambassador at the same time.
Will I be able to renew my mandate after one year?
Every ambassador will need to sign an Activity Form indicating their commitment to a list of activities for the academic year. Renewal of a student ambassador’s mandate will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will depend on the involvement of the ambassador as well as the student’s academic situation. It is expected that a Student Ambassador be active and involved in different promotional activities during their mandate. If the Student Ambassador contribution is not established at the end of each yearly mandate, it will not be renewed.
Students on a leave of absence will be suspended from the program for the duration of their leave.
Students with a failure of two (2) final examinations (since the start of the program) that require remedial examinations will be removed from the ambassador program.