After excelling in UHart’s Biology Department, Tanaya Williams ‘19 is now attending the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine. She says she chose UPenn, after considering offers from 10 dental schools across the country, because it is equipped with one of the newest and most up-to-date dental training facilities. Williams was accepted to the following schools:
- UPenn School of Dental Medicine
- University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry
- Medical University of South Carolina
- University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Dentistry
- Touro College of Dental Medicine
- UCLA School of Dentistry
- Kornberg School Dentistry, Temple University
- University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
- New York University College of Dentistry
Williams says she was a strong dental school candidate because of the experiences she had at UHart both in and outside of the classroom. She was part of UHart’s Premedical Professions Advising Program which requires an internship or shadowing experience. Williams chose to work in a dental office over the course of two years. “I would go in between classes to spend a few hours each week learning more about dentistry and sharpening my skills,” she says. “This definitely played a big role in my success this past application cycle.”
She also credits UHart’s biology program with helping her prepare for dentistry school. “I think the biology department did a good job at offering numerous higher-level science courses. These courses reflect much of the information that I am currently learning in my first year of school,” she says. Williams says her advisors and faculty supported her and worked hard to find additional opportunities that would make her career ready. “Dr. Paola Sacchetti was my academic advisor and professor and was a great influential force. She helped me plan out a timeline, put me in contact with people that can help, and was supportive to me in all my times of need.”
Williams says she knew she wanted to pursue a career in dentistry from a young age. She recalls her passion for becoming a dentist when she got her braces as a child. “My experience in having braces made me a more confident individual and from that moment, I knew that I wanted to be on the other side of transformations like that,” says Williams.
As a UHart student, Williams also held various leadership positions and memberships in clubs and organizations. She was an active member in the Student Government Association, an operations manager at Student Centers Administration, a resident assistant, a biology student ambassador for the College of Arts and Sciences, and a lab teacher assistant.
For those interested in becoming a UHart biology student, William’s advice is to get involved and remember that you can do anything you put your mind to.