Army What do I need to do to be a competitive 2-yr AEGD applicant?

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I am a first year dental student and have the 4 yr Army HPSP. Even though it might be a bit premature to have my heart set on a certain program, I am strongly interested in the 2-yr AEGD after doing some independent research, speaking with people who have gone through the program, wanting to provide an array of care with the best training, etc.

a. Certainly it will be several years before I even apply, but I want to know what I can do to make myself a competitive applicant as early as I can in my dental/Army career. From what I read, approx. 30 people apply each year to 20 spots. My class will be the first to do a P/F boards, so obviously that criteria is out. What kind of GPA/class rank should I be looking to shoot for to be competitive? Is there a minimum GPA/ class rank (official or in practice)? How important are extracurriculars? Any particular extracurricular or volunteer activities? Is there anything else I can do to get a competitive edge, anything else they consider? (a particular place to do an Army summer externship?)

b. My other concern is if I do not get a spot in a 2 yr AEGD right out of school. I have to apply to the 1 yr- AEGD, I suppose it wouldn't make sense to do a 1 year and then do a 2 year at a later date? If I don't get the 2 year, does it make sense to turn down the 1-yr and wait a year and apply again? I've heard non-AEGD service is poor and there is a deterioration in skill. I am open to and want to deploy, and I know this strengthens an application. Can I apply to the 2 yr every year I'm in the Army?

Any advice or pointers at this early stage would be much appreciated.

ARMY STRONG!

Originally Posted by Santiago12

I am a first year dental student and have the 4 yr Army HPSP. Even though it might be a bit premature to have my heart set on a certain program, I am strongly interested in the 2-yr AEGD after doing some independent research, speaking with people who have gone through the program, wanting to provide an array of care with the best training, etc.

a. Certainly it will be several years before I even apply, but I want to know what I can do to make myself a competitive applicant as early as I can in my dental/Army career. From what I read, approx. 30 people apply each year to 20 spots. My class will be the first to do a P/F boards, so obviously that criteria is out. What kind of GPA/class rank should I be looking to shoot for to be competitive? Is there a minimum GPA/ class rank (official or in practice)? How important are extracurriculars? Any particular extracurricular or volunteer activities? Is there anything else I can do to get a competitive edge, anything else they consider? (a particular place to do an Army summer externship?)

b. My other concern is if I do not get a spot in a 2 yr AEGD right out of school. I have to apply to the 1 yr- AEGD, I suppose it wouldn't make sense to do a 1 year and then do a 2 year at a later date? If I don't get the 2 year, does it make sense to turn down the 1-yr and wait a year and apply again? I've heard non-AEGD service is poor and there is a deterioration in skill. I am open to and want to deploy, and I know this strengthens an application. Can I apply to the 2 yr every year I'm in the Army?

Any advice or pointers at this early stage would be much appreciated.

ARMY STRONG!

I'm not sure if I know that you understand what the 2 year AEGD is and isn't based off of this statement.

The 1 year AEGD is a residency where you go on rotations with each specialist for typically 6-8 weeks. The 2 year AEGD is designed for those Dental Officers in the military that want to make a career out of the military, but do not wish to specialize in a limiting specialty(i.e. Endo, Ortho, etc). The COMP AEGD(another name for it) is designed for these DO's to take command of a ship for all their dental needs. Instead of have 5 specialists on the ship, they'll have something like a Comp Dentist and an Oral Surgeon. This allows for the minimum amount of personnel with the maximum amount of competence. This title allows a military career oriented dentist to earn specialty pay and become a very broad and well-rounded GP after military life.

Typically, I believe the majority of COMP AEGD's are assigned to dentists with years in the military. It's very likely you'll do a 1 year AEGD, an operational tour and then from there be accepted sometime down the road from there for a comp AEGD program. Getting into one out of school isn't unheard of, but I do believe it's more the exception than the rule.

These are most my understandings of the 2 different programs. I'm just trying help. I could be mistaken in one aspect or another and I do believe the 'competitiveness' varies slightly between branches.

Originally Posted by Santiago12

I am a first year dental student and have the 4 yr Army HPSP. Even though it might be a bit premature to have my heart set on a certain program, I am strongly interested in the 2-yr AEGD after doing some independent research, speaking with people who have gone through the program, wanting to provide an array of care with the best training, etc.

a. Certainly it will be several years before I even apply, but I want to know what I can do to make myself a competitive applicant as early as I can in my dental/Army career. From what I read, approx. 30 people apply each year to 20 spots. My class will be the first to do a P/F boards, so obviously that criteria is out. What kind of GPA/class rank should I be looking to shoot for to be competitive? Is there a minimum GPA/ class rank (official or in practice)? How important are extracurriculars? Any particular extracurricular or volunteer activities? Is there anything else I can do to get a competitive edge, anything else they consider? (a particular place to do an Army summer externship?)

b. My other concern is if I do not get a spot in a 2 yr AEGD right out of school. I have to apply to the 1 yr- AEGD, I suppose it wouldn't make sense to do a 1 year and then do a 2 year at a later date? If I don't get the 2 year, does it make sense to turn down the 1-yr and wait a year and apply again? I've heard non-AEGD service is poor and there is a deterioration in skill. I am open to and want to deploy, and I know this strengthens an application. Can I apply to the 2 yr every year I'm in the Army?

Any advice or pointers at this early stage would be much appreciated.

ARMY STRONG!

1) Without having board scores other things that will be helpful in getting into specialtis will be GPA, class ranking (top 1/3 should be minimum goal), Letters of Recommendation (the better the LOR the better - this may mean working closely w/ different instructors), HPSP externships (if you can do your TDY at a military base that offers the 2 yr AEGD (Hawaii, Ft. Hood, Ft. Bragg) it will dydefinite help your chances since you will get to know those who may be selecting you).

2) You apply for the 2 yr AEGD and the 1 yr AEGD. If you get selected for the 2 yr AEGD you will not attend the 1 yr AEGD. Instead you will go to the base where you will be stationed and work as a general dentist for 9 months until your program begins. There are 20 spots for the 2 yr AEGD program each year. The last couple of years there have been about 30 applicants. Many of the people selected are graduating dental students. You have a great chance!!

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I was looking for.

Smills is referring specifically to how the Navy Comp residency works, which is lame because it's unlikely that Navy dentists enter the residency straight from dental school. The Army is different in that your possibilities of going in after school are much better. This was a huge part of my decision to go with the Army since I'm interested in the 2 year AEGD as well. Thanks for the post. I've had the same question for a while now.