How well did you perform in your first semester or quarter of dental school? From your experience, was getting in the top 10% so cutthroat that a B in a 1 credit course feel devastating?
How well did you perform in your first semester or quarter of dental school?
From your experience, was getting in the top 10% so cutthroat that a B in a 1 credit course feel devastating?
Thank you! That relieves a lot of pent up stress.I think I got 2-3 Bs first year. My GPA was around 3.85. First semester GPA was a tad lower than second IIRC.
No it was not. Of course I would try to get all As but if I got a B life went right on. I think Bs add some character... and I always thought 3.8+ was pretty damn high, so I wasn't too worried.
I was planning on taking the CBSE after my first year (7 week long summer) however my school doesn't teach pharmacology until my second year. If I were to take the test the summer after my second year, I would only have one month before classes start again. When do you think is the best time to take the exam? My school also does not teach biochemistry.
What do you think is the logical sequence for reading, in terms of understanding and high yield priority on Step 1, board review series' Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pharmacology?
I don't know how Columbia is but I'm pretty sure UPENN doesn't rank their students below 11/??? They only rank their top ten. So the two schools grading schemes probably aren't all that different where it matters.
Where do you see the future of the specialty? Do you think dentists with advanced training like AEGD/GPR and periodontists are now starting to take some of the bread and butter OMFS like difficult extractions and implants? Or do you think that OMFS will still retain most of their bread and butter procedures?
I've read some articles saying that because too many oral surgeons were choosing to practice only extractions and implants that the field was losing its footing and presence in hospital procedures shared with ents and other surgeons. This looks like a good problem.Fortunately, our scope is so large that I'm not too worried about what is "bread and butter". Of course I think we will do less implants and third molar extractions in the future, but I still think there will be enough advanced cases and complications to keep us busy.
I'm interested in OMS and just found out I'm eligible for early separation from the military. My plan was to apply during the next application cycle for a 2015 start but now I'm hoping find an open position to start in 2014. Any ideas on how I can find unmatched programs? Would this even be possible if I didn't submit a Pass/Match application?
This really depends on how qualified of an applicant you view yourself as. Anywhere from 10-50 is reasonable. If you're a stellar applicant I see no problem with applying to just 10. I was a pretty decent applicant and I applied to 27. Probably 15-20 would've been enough.How many residency programs do you think it's wise to apply to, and how many interviews is enough to be pretty certain that you'll match somewhere?
Dear CMistry, thank you for answering our questions.
Regarding debt from dental school, is it feasible to work after graduation to pay off the debt (or at least reduce it) and then apply to residency (say 5 years after graduation)? Would taking this path put me at a disadvantage?
Dear CMistry, thank you for answering our questions.
Also, for those that chose to pursue residency right after graduating from dental school, how do they deal with the loan repayments? Do they deffer their loans? How did you deal with it and do you have any advice on how to deal with it?
Thank you!
Quick question, what range of CBSE score do you need and is a top 20% class rank sufficient for acceptance? Thanks.
Thanks, that's helpful info. What about studying materials, would you say using the same materials as the nbde 1 should be sufficient? Are there any additional materials I should get?
how many externships do you think are needed to be competitive?
I cannot speak for all programs. At our program, the majority of interviewees had 64-74. Top 20% rank is pretty good... "sufficient for acceptance" -- nothing guarantees acceptance. I think the top tier of applicants will be top 10% and 70+ on the CBSE.
Which programs are considered top tier? I know of Parkland, LSU-NO, Emory, and UT-Houston. Which other programs would you consider in this same tier?
Are residents allowed to moonlight at your program during the medical school years? Do you know of programs where this is allowed? Or is it generally frowned upon to moonlight during the medical schools years in a 6 year program?
Hello Cmistry !
Thanks for helping every one by sharing your knowledge, I need your valuable suggestion in my case.
I'm a foreign trained dentist with BDS degree , I did my 2yr DMD program with 3.3 GPA , I didn't care to study and didn't focus on my grades as I wasn't planning for any residency and more over I didn't had any US citizen ship at that time .Fortunately I got my US citizenship now I'm really interested in OMFS , what do you think my chances are if I apply to OMFS program ? I'm planning to apply for an Internship program , Can you please give me your valuable suggestions and Opinion.
My profile : BDS,Top 2 in my class in my 3rd and 4 th yr. , GPA 3.3 as per ECE evaluation (Our school system doesn't have GPA )
1yr of mandatory Internship in general dentistry with 2 months in OMFS
NBDE part 1 : 90 part2 : 81
DMD 3.3 GPA with poor class rank
300 hrs. of CE ( 1 yr ) in Implant course with American Academy of Implant Dentistry
3 yrs of practice as a General Dentist.
Thank you
Thanks for your reply ! Do u know which program are you referring to ?Do you know how is the internship at UT san Antonio ? is it really tough to get into UT San Antonio Internship ? what do you exactly mean by Non-Traditional resident ?
Do you think that there are any advantages to attending an OMFS program that is part of both a dental school and hospital vs. one that is affiliated with only a hospital. For example, would an OMFS residency program affiliated with a dental school be able to get more in-house referrals for implants and dentoalveolor surgery vs a strictly hospital based OMFS that mainly does hospital procedures?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php?threads/In-dent,-no-degree,-wanting-to-switch-to-med.1049420/#post-14778135
Is that true? 6yr programs are closing every year?!
A little disconcerting since the poster is a med school adcom well known on the premed forums...
I was under the impression that 4yr programs were trending towards 6yr MD-integrated...
EDIT: Nvm, OutRun corrected the adcom about it.
Is getting a C+ in cadaver lab ruin all chances for getting into an OMFS specialty even if you have decent grades in most other classes? Also, if one were also interested in anesthesia and attended an anesthesia residency and wanted to apply to OMFS after, would this look favorable? Thank you.
Is getting a C+ in cadaver lab ruin all chances for getting into an OMFS specialty even if you have decent grades in most other classes? Also, if one were also interested in anesthesia and attended an anesthesia residency and wanted to apply to OMFS after, would this look favorable? Thank you.
CMistry,
Back with more questions pertaining my unique (military dentist transitioning to civilian OS residency) situation. I've done about 8 weeks of OS externship with the Air Force OMS residency but my issue is I haven't had an opportunity to do externships with any civ programs. I'm not sure I'm eligible at this point bc I'm not a student. Do you know for sure if any programs would let me come observe or "extern" to experience various prgms if I'm not a student but a practicing dentist? Would love to see a few prgms before I apply and it'd would be nice to make a few contacts.
CMistry,
Back with more questions pertaining my unique (military dentist transitioning to civilian OS residency) situation. I've done about 8 weeks of OS externship with the Air Force OMS residency but my issue is I haven't had an opportunity to do externships with any civ programs. I'm not sure I'm eligible at this point bc I'm not a student. Do you know for sure if any programs would let me come observe or "extern" to experience various prgms if I'm not a student but a practicing dentist? Would love to see a few prgms before I apply and it'd would be nice to make a few contacts.
I've heard that one of the advantages of OMFS specialty is that they've done a very good job of limiting the number of OMFS surgeons, unlike say ortho for example, because orthodontics has becomes saturated as the number of residents and graduates have been increasing. Do you know anything about this? Do you think that the number of OMFS will continue to be limited?
I've read some articles saying that because too many oral surgeons were choosing to practice only extractions and implants that the field was losing its footing and presence in hospital procedures shared with ents and other surgeons. This looks like a good problem.
Where do you see the future of the specialty? Do you think dentists with advanced training like AEGD/GPR and periodontists are now starting to take some of the bread and butter OMFS like difficult extractions and implants? Or do you think that OMFS will still retain most of their bread and butter procedures?
I honestly don't know them the way the program directors do -- you'd be better off asking one of them. Some of the good hands-on externships include LSU-NO, LSU-S, Parkland, Emory, and UAB, but there are many more I'm not familiar with.
It would be a waste of your time (and the program's) at that point. I'd recommend you (a) spend time with your home OMFS program, (b) do some OMFS-related research, (c) take the CBSE if your school has prepared you for it, or (d) just take a vacation. We've had some D2s extern with us, and its really been a waste of time for all people involved. Shadowing your home program is probably what I'd do.
Oh my God...Going to have to disagree with you there. I did an externship in the summer between my D1 and D2 year, and it was super-informative and useful for me, and I ended up interviewing at the program so I have to assume they didn't think it was a waste of time either. I talked about externing so early at almost every interview, and it's something very easy to cast a positive light on.
If you do an early externship, make sure you're prepared though. if you don't it will be a waste of time. I memorized OMFS secrets from cover to cover before I even showed up, and I read every single night I was there. When you're externing, live, sleep, breathe, and eat oral surgery. If you're hardcore, drop an NG-tube so you can eat oral surgery WHILE you're sleeping.
Going to have to disagree with you there. I did an externship in the summer between my D1 and D2 year, and it was super-informative and useful for me, and I ended up interviewing at the program so I have to assume they didn't think it was a waste of time either. I talked about externing so early at almost every interview, and it's something very easy to cast a positive light on.
If you do an early externship, make sure you're prepared though. if you don't it will be a waste of time. I memorized OMFS secrets from cover to cover before I even showed up, and I read every single night I was there. When you're externing, live, sleep, breathe, and eat oral surgery. If you're hardcore, drop an NG-tube so you can eat oral surgery WHILE you're sleeping.
There is no best, only what's best for you. If you don't think you can get a high enough score to pass muster without blocking off an entire summer to study, then maybe that's the best way for you to succeed. Why not just do both?Wouldn't it just be best to instead spend that time studying for the CBSE and maintaining a high rank? Especially considering that the CBSE is a brutal exam that heavily tests the full medical curriculum (a lot of what will not be taught in dental school)? After all, isnt the CBSE now the most important factor that OS programs looks at?
Oh my God...
Going to have to disagree with you there. I did an externship in the summer between my D1 and D2 year, and it was super-informative and useful for me, and I ended up interviewing at the program so I have to assume they didn't think it was a waste of time either.
Wouldn't it just be best to instead spend that time studying for the CBSE and maintaining a high rank? Especially considering that the CBSE is a brutal exam that heavily tests the full medical curriculum (a lot of what will not be taught in dental school)? After all, isnt the CBSE now the most important factor that OS programs looks at?
Two questions:
1) So if you go to a dental school that does give you grades, do you only take the NBDE (Parts I and II) and the CBSE? Or do you also have to take the USMLE too (I know someone who goes to a H/P/F school who just took this test)?
2) Let's say you go to dental school in state A, and you match into an OMFS residency in state B where you'll eventually settle down. If state A and state B have different regional exams, do you have to take state B's regional exam before starting your residency? Or will completing the residency program suffice in making you eligible to work in state B?
You cannot take the USMLE unless you are actively enrolled in a medical school. It is not required for OMFS - though the CBSE is very nearly the same exam with less questions. That said, you only need to take the CBSE for OMFS, as well as the NBDE for dental school regardless.
Can you guys expand on the major differences of dental school programs vs hospital based programs? Pros and Cons? Case volume and diversity? Trauma load? What about interaction with restoring providers ie Pros, GPs... Any appreciable difference between the two? Thanks