Why did George want to do a residency when one wasn't needed?

George felt that a residency would provide him with practical experience and make him more competitive in the field.

I could have graduated from dental school and gone to work right away as a dentist. A dentist isn’t required to do a residency. But I figured a residency would give me the practical experience I needed and make me more competitive.

What did dr.noble do right before their graduation