I am a Dentist graduated in Cuba and I am applying for an International Dentist Program
At Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. This is a religious University, specifically an
Adventist of the seventh day. I am Catholic. I really respect the University’s values and I
am willing to follow all their believes and rules. Faith is present in every moment of my life.
I always pray and life my life based on the commandments of my religion. I have
experience volunteering internationally (Venezuela) and also here in the United States
(Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND) Dental Clinic). Cuba, the country I come from
have a vast humanitarian tradition, so my values are based on helping the underprivileged
populations. Also Cuba focuses its studies on a preventive dentistry. After finished my
studies at the university in my country I completed my social service in an undeserved
community in a rural area. I am hopeful that in addition to academic qualifications, weight
is also given to the attitude, passion, commitment and devotion an applicant displays.
While in Cuba, my passion and commitment to dentistry were so strong that I actually rode
in the bed of a cramped truck for hours to and from work, and paid transportation fees
that far exceeded my income. My dedication to others is such that I volunteered in Cuba to
work unpaid overnight shifts at a dental emergency room. Here in the United States, while
I cannot yet practice my chosen profession, I have volunteered at MEND Dental Clinic, and
tried to keep my knowledge and skills up to date by working as a part time dental assistant
while preparing for the NBDE Part II exam. Once I become licensed to practice in the
United States, I am committed to continuing my service and dedication to underserved
communities, and to fulfilling my abilities as a professional. I promise to be an alumna who
you will be able to reflect on with pride, and say to yourself that you did the right thing in
enabling me to continue with my chosen profession and my passion. Thank you for
considering me.
Well this is part of my story and my personality, I wanted to share it with you so you’ll
have a better idea of my personality.
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The Questionnaire is as follows:
- Tell us what characteristics of Loma Linda University are particularly attractive and
meaningful to you and why you have chosen to apply for advanced education. - Discuss how your spiritual origins, development, and experience have influenced and
been integrated into your daily life. - LLU believes deeply in integrating spiritual values into the educational experience. As a
result, religion courses and chapel attendance are part of the curriculum. Tell us why you
believe such a faith-based education would be of special benefit to you. - As a Seventh-day Adventist institution, Loma Linda University has lifestyle expectations
which include abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs/substances in all forms
while enrolled. If you are accepted to Loma Linda University, are you willing to abide by
the lifestyle policies of the University while enrolled? - Tell us the desirable qualities that you see in yourself that you believe would aid us in
considering your application
Application to Loma Linda University
1 Tell us
What characteristics of Loma Linda University are particularly attractive and meaningful
to you and why you have chosen to apply for advanced education?
The thing about Loma Linda University that I admire most is the fact that it has strong roots in the
Seventh Day Adventist Movement. This is because one of its founders, Ellen G, White is a very influential
figure in the church. This is indicative of the fact that the institution is one that centres its operation on
not just academic excellence but also in high moral standards for everybody who is part of the system
and this includes students, teaching staff and also the non-teaching staff who carry out their different
responsibilities in the University. Furthermore, this university has a long history of a cordial relationship
with the local community ever since the founders bought the piece of land to construct a sanatorium.
This cordial relationship with the community is coupled with the fact that the institution has been
offering healthcare for a long period of time that is just over a century. This particular fact is of a
particular interest to me since it implies the development of a strong culture of providing quality
healthcare. This has certainly been replicated in the syllabi that have been put in place for the various
healthcare courses that are on offer in the University. This is undoubtedly transferred to the students
who enrol for their studies here at the different levels whether it is a certificate program, diploma,
undergraduate and even postgraduate like the one I wish to enrol in.
Last but not least, Loma Linda University is an institution that attracts a diverse student body that is
sourced from virtually all parts of the world. This multi-ethnic and multi-racial environment gives one a
chance to go on a journey of self-discovery while learning about other cultures in the process gaining
knowledge that is of utmost value to a healthcare professional who is should be adequately equipped to
handle different patients.
In a nutshell, the prospect of undertaking a course in Loma Linda University presents me with the
opportunity of having a rich experience during my stay thus enhancing the quality of my life
professionally thus enabling me to do the same for others.
- Discuss how your spiritual origins, development, and experience have influenced and been
integrated into your daily life.
With regard to my spirituality, I was born into a family which is Roman Catholic and have been raised to
follow the teachings and traditions of the Church. These has therefore led to me applying the same in
my day to day life in that I have always prayed on a daily basis and regularly go for confession sessions at
my local church. Every Sunday I attend mass and have consistently partaken the Holy Eucharist. I have
learnt that the power of God is not something to be taken for granted but rather something that
everyone ultimately needs to appreciate because it is through God that all things come to fruition. In the
medical field I have got to appreciate that regardless of the skills I may have, I still need to rely on God
since he is the one who facilitates my knowledge, actions and ultimately the results of my work.
This strong spiritual grounding that I have has positively influenced the way I live my life. This is to say
that the decisions I make whether academic, social, personal or professional are ultimately guided by
the way they relate to my relationship with God and with the church. In my profession, teachings from
the Scriptures and the saints have inspired be to embrace servitude in the way I deal with patients and
also fellow healthcare professionals regardless of their seniority or subordination.
- Tell usthe desirable qualities that you see in yourself that you believe would aid usin considering
your application
The main desirable qualities about me are that I am first of all passionate about dentistry and always
want to learn more about the same. At the same time I have a strong urge to improve other people’s
quality of life and to add on to that I am quite flexible with regard to the place of work and people I
interact with.
My passion in the field of dentistry spurns from my high school days when I discovered that I have an
interest in the field. The undergraduate course in dentistry which I undertook in Cuba gave me an
opportunity to embrace the concept of preventive dentistry. Furthermore I have done volunteer work in
Venezuela and also in the United States where I am currently attached to the Meet Each Need with
Dignity program (MEND). The Cuban humanitarian culture is heavily reflected in the work I do. While in
Cuba I had to work in a remote area where the only available means of transport was a cargo truck
which despite the discomfort cost me fares way above the income I had at the time but I managed to
push through and achieve my objective which was to help the dental patients in the area. Having
worked in these three countries, the level of flexibility that I have has greatly increased due to working
with different people and living in different countries with differing cultures.
- As a Seventh-day Adventist institution, Loma Linda University has lifestyle expectations which
include abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs/substances in all forms while enrolled. If you
are accepted to Loma Linda University, are you willing to abide by the lifestyle policies of the
University while enrolled?
I am willing to abide to each and every one of these regulations if I get admitted to Loma Linda
University. This is because to begin with, I have never consumed any illegal drug, alcoholic beverage or
alcohol. This is based on my belief about maintaining a pure body for spiritual as well as physical well-
being.
- LLU believes deeply in integrating spiritual values into the educational experience. As a result,
religion courses and chapel attendance are part of the curriculum. Tell us why you believe such a
faith-based education would be of special benefit to you.
I will greatly benefit from a faith-based education because I believe it will serve to compliment the rest
of the course content that I will be learning in the classroom. As stated earlier, I admire the fact that
Loma Linda University gives its students a rich experience. This means that by the time one has gone
through a course in this institution he or she will be an all-rounded person. On a personal level I believe
that intellectual development can ultimately be valuable when one compliments it with a solid spiritual
backing.
Having a faith based education will strengthen my work ethic since one of the central messages of the
Christian Faith is about servitude and compassion to others and more specifically those in need. This will
eventually improve my relationship with the patients. Another benefit of this model of education is that
it imparts great lessons on discipline for both personal and professional situations.
Last but not least, having a faith-based education will allow me to continue my spiritual walk without
disruption that often comes with a change in environment when one is in pursuit of further studies as I
wish to do in Loma Linda University.