3rd time applicant. Advice pls.

[stewie griffin]

Hi fellow sdn members,

I need some advice . This is my story briefly.

I am applying to the advanced standing DDS for the last 2 yrs. Because of financial constraints I have been applying to colleges with moderate fees. The colleges I have tried to gain admission into are BU,UTHSCSA,UCLA,Colorado. I have been interviewed in 3/4 and wait listed in one. BU has rejected me twice. My stats are part 1 87, part2, high gpa and 110 plus toefl.

I am currently based in my home country (in India) and have a visitor's visa to USA. Could anyone please advice on courses with good funding that will allow me to stay in USA as student and work towards getting into DDS.

MS oral biology/biomaterials do not offer funding. So I was looking at MS biomedicine/biomedical engineering and other allied courses which could get me good funding and tuition waiver. I am willing to take GRE and apply. I refrained from this option at first as MPH etc would only lead to added financial burden.

Anyone who has gone through this path
or gone for Phd and then gained admission into any dental specialities?? Though it's far fetched, my ideal long term plan would be to specialize in Endodontics/Orthodontics.

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[ilovegoldens]

If your goal is to become an specialist, try to apply directly to the programs that accept international dentists. If you apply to an international dentist program you will leave with at least 200k in debt and then have to accumulate even more debt during your specialty... Just try and go straight into the endo or ortho route. I recently finished UCLA with 225k in debt...

The only catch is that you will only be able to work in certain States since you DDS will still be from India..

As far as going to a cheaper route I guess that would be applying to a 2 yr GPR and working on States that accept GPRs for licensure...
I also heard the program in Michigan can save you some money and provide you with a DDS degree, but seems like you get very little clinical experience and mostly exchange your degree for help at the school, something like that. Look into that...

Hope that helps...

Hi fellow sdn members,

I need some advice . This is my story briefly.

I am applying to the advanced standing DDS for the last 2 yrs. Because of financial constraints I have been applying to colleges with moderate fees. The colleges I have tried to gain admission into are BU,UTHSCSA,UCLA,Colorado. I have been interviewed in 3/4 and wait listed in one. BU has rejected me twice. My stats are part 1 87, part2, high gpa and 110 plus toefl.

I am currently based in my home country (in India) and have a visitor's visa to USA. Could anyone please advice on courses with good funding that will allow me to stay in USA as student and work towards getting into DDS.

MS oral biology/biomaterials do not offer funding. So I was looking at MS biomedicine/biomedical engineering and other allied courses which could get me good funding and tuition waiver. I am willing to take GRE and apply. I refrained from this option at first as MPH etc would only lead to added financial burden.

Anyone who has gone through this path
or gone for Phd and then gained admission into any dental specialities?? Though it's far fetched, my ideal long term plan would be to specialize in Endodontics/Orthodontics.

 

[motirani]

Masters in Public Health ( MPH). Apply for a scholarship and and RA ship with that

 

[stewie griffin]

If your goal is to become an specialist, try to apply directly to the programs that accept international dentists..

Thank you ilovegoldens. Your answer was really helpful. I do not have a problem being restricted to a few states. However, I am not sure if I have competitive stats to get accepted into a residency.

Would doing an MDS improve the chances? I am asking because I read your previous posts that you have done MDS from India. And also thanks for your old posts about UTHSCSA - your detailed interview experience posts really helped me and others during preparation. Thanks for helping us in SDN, even after your DDS. All the best to you

 

[stewie griffin]

Masters in Public Health ( MPH). Apply for a scholarship and and RA ship with that

Thanks for the reply motirani.
I did go through many schools websites for MPH tuition fee...and saw that they will cost a minimum of 15 lakhs INR for 2 years....Among the low fee ones where UAB,Univ North texas, etc. Do you have any particular schools to recommend? I do see UMass Amherst provides funding. Any other schools? and is it that usually spring intake students do not receive funding? Thanks in advance..

 

[ilovegoldens]

I think any type of experience , including MDS helps!
It is just a big strategy game. you have to look at what your final goal is the the best way to get there. Sometimes what seems to be the cheapest can end up taking way to much time.. And.. time is money! extra years you could be working and making money.. So... It is a lot to figure out.

I have a few friends from my home country that thought that going through what I did (2 yr international program) was too competitive and they ended up either doing a specialty or a GPR. Turns out that now we all have our licenses except that I am the only one with a 200k loan on my back!!!
On the other hand the path I chose worked out great for me. I like to move and live in different places, I like the change and I am glad I have the freedom to work in any State I want...

So.. you have to study well the options...

I believe differently than how it used to be, it has been easier to get into international programs than post grad education...


QUOTE=stewie griffin;13515430]Thank you ilovegoldens. Your answer was really helpful. I do not have a problem being restricted to a few states. However, I am not sure if I have competitive stats to get accepted into a residency.

Would doing an MDS improve the chances? I am asking because I read your previous posts that you have done MDS from India. And also thanks for your old posts about UTHSCSA - your detailed interview experience posts really helped me and others during preparation. Thanks for helping us in SDN, even after your DDS. All the best to you [/QUOTE]

 

[stewie griffin]

Thank you for the reply.

So with a BDS gpa 3.72, toefl 112 , part 1 87 and part 2 pass and 2yrs clinical experience including 6 months US observership, and participation in a few clinical trials, do you think I stand a chance for Postgrad admission? I mean did your friends who got in have 90+part 1 scores etc?

Also I understand it is my clinical skills part/ bench exam that is currently weak. which I will surely work and improve upon. Thanks for replying..

 

[ilovegoldens]

My friends applied a while ago, maybe 5- 6 years ago when they didnt use to require PART I for specialty and when it wasnt so competitve. I feel like after the crisis in 2008, a lot of dentists decided to go back to school or stay in school and that made it too competitive for international dentists.

I think it all depends on where you apply and what you apply for...

I do think you would have a great chance to get into an international program with your stats! If I were you I'd try and apply to a few specialties and a few international programs to extend your chances...

Thank you for the reply.

So with a BDS gpa 3.72, toefl 112 , part 1 87 and part 2 pass and 2yrs clinical experience including 6 months US observership, and participation in a few clinical trials, do you think I stand a chance for Postgrad admission? I mean did your friends who got in have 90+part 1 scores etc?

Also I understand it is my clinical skills part/ bench exam that is currently weak. which I will surely work and improve upon. Thanks for replying..

 

[stewie griffin]

Yes that's true..thanks for the guidance...you were a great help

Long live golden retrievers !! )

 

[bds123]

All these universities, do they give preference to us nationals or green card holders?

 

[jk23]

hi i am currently doing MDS in Endodotics...can any one guide me tthe options avialable in USA after competion of MDS??i am new to this site..

 

[archi56]

hi i am currently doing MDS in Endodotics...can any one guide me tthe options avialable in USA after competion of MDS??i am new to this site..

You'll need to join IDP or GPR programs to get licence to practice.

 

[jk23]

Thnx Archi56...What are IDP and GPR programmes?i have no clue about that..What are their requirements??

 

[archi56]

In short you'll need to join a dental school here, to get DDS degree or advanced dental programs making you eligible for licencing.

 

[m504]

My friends applied a while ago, maybe 5- 6 years ago when they didnt use to require PART I for specialty and when it wasnt so competitve. I feel like after the crisis in 2008, a lot of dentists decided to go back to school or stay in school and that made it too competitive for international dentists.

I think it all depends on where you apply and what you apply for...

I do think you would have a great chance to get into an international program with your stats! If I were you I'd try and apply to a few specialties and a few international programs to extend your chances...

Dear ilovegoldens, thanks for your helpful advices, as I'm willing to go to UCLA advance standing, i want to have your advice about my application. I have applied last year but went on waiting list. What should I do to attract their attention in this cycle?? What is imporant for them?
I am resideing in Canada, Gpa 3.0 , part 1 passed in second attemp, toefl 95, plannig to take part 2,
3 publication but not correspondent authur
1 year of shadowing in Canada
3 month of volunteer assissting in Canada
2 year practice in my home country

 

[honesty pays]

You'll need to join IDP or GPR programs to get licence to practice.

even though you have mds degree it won't be of much help, because you need to do two years of undergraduate here to get a license to practice here in US. You need to appear for nbde part 1, some universities require part 2 also. You need to appear for toefl also.