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Hey everyone! Figured I would start this thread to share thoughts/advice and what programs everyone hears from as we start the 2017 Prosthodontics Residency application cycle! Best of luck to everyone.
thanks for the info guys.. i think this year is the last year before Prostho goes to MATCH .. goodluck to everyone
Congrats for interviews..Could you share your profile?I interviewed at UMN and received an interview from UCLA. Still waiting to hear back from UIC, UTHSCSA, and VA programs at Houston and West LA. Congratulations to everyone else and good luck!
Please could you tell me when you are gonna to interview at USC?received interviews from Pitt, UIC , louisville, USC goodluck guys
Are they still inviting ? I heard that USC still invite until September ? Is that right?received interviews from Pitt, UIC , louisville, USC goodluck guys
Thank you knife for the reply but do you have any friends at Harvard who can give you the information. I already got 2 rejections and this is my last interview for the cycle so don't want to miss it.I never had to do one when i interviewed there
Hi..Congrats for interviews..!! Could you tell whether University of Minnesota are done with admission process or not?I interviewed at UMN and received an interview from UCLA. Still waiting to hear back from UIC, UTHSCSA, and VA programs at Houston and West LA. Congratulations to everyone else and good luck!
Hey guys! So I have just accepted a position in my future program (*happy dance*) and just wanted to share tidbits with future applicants about the Pros application process. I know how stressful all of this is and hopefully this will help. Hang in there! Every time it gets overwhelming, take a breath, remember why you want this, and take it one step at a time.
Tips for applications:
1. 2x2 photos. There is no need to get the $15 passport photos just because they are the right size! Find a friend with a good camera and nice lighting, throw on a suit/nice shirt and take a headshot against a solid background (wall, etc). Then format it in Microsoft Powerpoint or any editing program to get it to 2inx2in. Take it to Walmart/CVS/personal printer with photo paper and print those babies out! I personally went to Target and got a professional shoot done with nice shirt/suit/white coat/combo so I can have photos for future websites, ads, etc (you can get 3 shots or a whole shoot done for not that much). Again, I don't think schools care how you do it as long as you are professional looking in the picture and it's the right size.
2. Official NBDE scores. If you are submitting through ADEA, your dean's letter should contain your passing score and that is enough for the schools you are applying for. No need to send it separately. (Note: From what I've hear, if you are applying to a VA or any school that does not use PASS/MATCH, they will have to be sent separately.)
3. Letters of Recommendation: Ask early! I always like to give each recommender a manila folder containing a cover letter and resume/CV. In the cover letter, I include a quick paragraph thanking them and quickly mentioning my future plans. I then include any classes I took of theirs and my grade, big procedures they have helped me with in clinic, and maybe a few bulletpoints of your "strengths" that have shown while working with them. You'd be surprised how grateful they can be for a little guidance when writing. Just try not to be too aggressive. A nice thank you card after you've been accepted is always appreciated.
4. Interviews: Be yourself! Can't emphasize this enough. You got the invite, they like you on paper so you passed that step! This is the time to show them who you are and that you are passionate about this specialty. Everyone has something different to offer. Don't just say what you think they want to hear, people can see right through that. The most popular question is "Why Pros?". It's good to have a go to statement of a few sentences that sums up your answer. Also...have questions!! I swear one or two of interviewers had me solely asking them questions the whole time. I tried to ask a lot about the "feel" of the program/residents/faculty. This is going to be the next 3 years of your life. You want to make sure you aren't somewhere where it's cut throat and you need to watch your back every second. Fortunately, almost all of the programs I have seen have a great "family" feel with everyone helping everyone else. You also want to be in a program where you get what YOU want out of it. You love research and want to go into that?... You want to be a great clinician and see case after case?... You are implant hungry?... Ask, ask, ask. Only way you'll find out the flavor of the program.
5. To those thinking of applying in the future: Have a word document you update with EVERYTHING you do during dental school. Every volunteer event, clubs joined, honors won. With the dates and hours spent. I kept one going through both college and dental school and it is amazing what you forget when you sit down to that application. This is a sure way that you get credit for all your awesomeness.
6. Personal Statement: I know you've been scouring the internet for that perfect example letter to get you started (trust me, I tried the same thing). Unfortunately, I don't have the golden ticket. However, I can tell you it's stressful as anything and I have literally 10 edited documents on my computer saved next to my final draft. It's no easy feat but you will get there! This should be different than your personal statement for dental school. It can be the same flavor and maybe even a line or two that is the same. However, they now want to know why you want to dedicate the rest of your life (or at least the next 3 years) to this specialty. Side note: A lot of people write about "what this speciality will do for them". Try and see if you can write an additional line or two about what you can bring to Pros. It shows that you have thought about the future and have a well-rounded view.
Have multiple people look at your drafts! Both of mine were from outside of the dental world, however they know me very well and were able to help immensely! You'd be amazed how an entire paragraph can be summarized into a line or two and still get your point across.
On that note, I don't think length has to be a great concern either. Honestly, the shorter the better. Some schools had 70 applicants this year and I can only imagine how these directors sift through all the paperwork. Be concise, get your story out there and you should be golden!
If anyone has anything else to add, big or small, please feel free! Again, congrats to everyone and best of luck to future applicants! You can do it!
Hearty Congrats..!! Thanks for sharing useful tips!Hey guys! So I have just accepted a position in my future program (*happy dance*) and just wanted to share tidbits with future applicants about the Pros application process. I know how stressful all of this is and hopefully this will help. Hang in there! Every time it gets overwhelming, take a breath, remember why you want this, and take it one step at a time.
Tips for applications:
1. 2x2 photos. There is no need to get the $15 passport photos just because they are the right size! Find a friend with a good camera and nice lighting, throw on a suit/nice shirt and take a headshot against a solid background (wall, etc). Then format it in Microsoft Powerpoint or any editing program to get it to 2inx2in. Take it to Walmart/CVS/personal printer with photo paper and print those babies out! I personally went to Target and got a professional shoot done with nice shirt/suit/white coat/combo so I can have photos for future websites, ads, etc (you can get 3 shots or a whole shoot done for not that much). Again, I don't think schools care how you do it as long as you are professional looking in the picture and it's the right size.
2. Official NBDE scores. If you are submitting through ADEA, your dean's letter should contain your passing score and that is enough for the schools you are applying for. No need to send it separately. (Note: From what I've hear, if you are applying to a VA or any school that does not use PASS/MATCH, they will have to be sent separately.)
3. Letters of Recommendation: Ask early! I always like to give each recommender a manila folder containing a cover letter and resume/CV. In the cover letter, I include a quick paragraph thanking them and quickly mentioning my future plans. I then include any classes I took of theirs and my grade, big procedures they have helped me with in clinic, and maybe a few bulletpoints of your "strengths" that have shown while working with them. You'd be surprised how grateful they can be for a little guidance when writing. Just try not to be too aggressive. A nice thank you card after you've been accepted is always appreciated.
4. Interviews: Be yourself! Can't emphasize this enough. You got the invite, they like you on paper so you passed that step! This is the time to show them who you are and that you are passionate about this specialty. Everyone has something different to offer. Don't just say what you think they want to hear, people can see right through that. The most popular question is "Why Pros?". It's good to have a go to statement of a few sentences that sums up your answer. Also...have questions!! I swear one or two of interviewers had me solely asking them questions the whole time. I tried to ask a lot about the "feel" of the program/residents/faculty. This is going to be the next 3 years of your life. You want to make sure you aren't somewhere where it's cut throat and you need to watch your back every second. Fortunately, almost all of the programs I have seen have a great "family" feel with everyone helping everyone else. You also want to be in a program where you get what YOU want out of it. You love research and want to go into that?... You want to be a great clinician and see case after case?... You are implant hungry?... Ask, ask, ask. Only way you'll find out the flavor of the program.
5. To those thinking of applying in the future: Have a word document you update with EVERYTHING you do during dental school. Every volunteer event, clubs joined, honors won. With the dates and hours spent. I kept one going through both college and dental school and it is amazing what you forget when you sit down to that application. This is a sure way that you get credit for all your awesomeness.
6. Personal Statement: I know you've been scouring the internet for that perfect example letter to get you started (trust me, I tried the same thing). Unfortunately, I don't have the golden ticket. However, I can tell you it's stressful as anything and I have literally 10 edited documents on my computer saved next to my final draft. It's no easy feat but you will get there! This should be different than your personal statement for dental school. It can be the same flavor and maybe even a line or two that is the same. However, they now want to know why you want to dedicate the rest of your life (or at least the next 3 years) to this specialty. Side note: A lot of people write about "what this speciality will do for them". Try and see if you can write an additional line or two about what you can bring to Pros. It shows that you have thought about the future and have a well-rounded view.
Have multiple people look at your drafts! Both of mine were from outside of the dental world, however they know me very well and were able to help immensely! You'd be amazed how an entire paragraph can be summarized into a line or two and still get your point across.
On that note, I don't think length has to be a great concern either. Honestly, the shorter the better. Some schools had 70 applicants this year and I can only imagine how these directors sift through all the paperwork. Be concise, get your story out there and you should be golden!
If anyone has anything else to add, big or small, please feel free! Again, congrats to everyone and best of luck to future applicants! You can do it!
West Virginia (Accepts 2) : Only one batch with 10-12 candidates. Dinner the night before with residents only. Next day: a rotation of 5 face-face interviews, observation of clinic, Lunch with the faculty and residents. Finally, tour of the dental school. (grad prosth clinic in a different site, 4 miles away from the dental school.)Interviews:
Maryland: Talk with the director about the program, 4 face-to-face interviews, one with the director and the others with faculty. Time to view and observe in clinic afterwards
Rochester: 2-3 face-to-face interviews, tour of the clinic/school, lunch with third year resident, observation of clinic
Ohio: Dinner the night before with residents and faculty. Morning presentation about the school and program, tour of the school. Lab portion in pre-clinic (bring loupes if you want) #9 provisional fabrication (Jet provided) and a premolar-molar PFM/all metal bridge prep (all materials provided). Lunch with residents. Afternoon is a rotation of 4-5 face-face interviews, RPD design on paper and using model/surveyor/etc, and observation of clinic
UNC: 2 days. Powerpoint presentation of school, 4 face-to-face interviews, plenty of time to observe the clinic, tour of schools (undergrad and dental), lunch with residents, lab portion: 2 clinic scenarios on paper, quick tx plan of crowns, prep #9 and #30 on typodont. All materials provided, bring loupes! Dinner with the residents at the end of the first day.
Sorry, I just saw this now! I accepted UMN in early August. I have no clue if they accepted another resident or still interviewing.Any news from Minnesota?