University preference?

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I'm planning to do dentistry in UK and then go to USA (I'm a citizen in USA - will that be an advantage to get in the 2 year program?).

I was wondering to get into the 2 year DDS programs for international dentists if it is extremely challenging (as in almost dependent on luck) or is it just being smart/hard working and determined. Is it rare to get in the first year of applying for the 2 year international program?

The main thing I wanted to ask though is would I get preference if I choose to go to a university like King's College London or if I went somewhere like Sheffield or Manchester would it make no difference?

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it. Would like an answer soon so I can start researching which universities to apply to more in depth.

In 7 or so years will it get so hard I'll stand no real chance to get in first year applying as a fresh graduate from the UK? Even if worked really hard for exams/extra curriculars and everything?

Also in UK you don't get GPA, will that affect me?

Originally Posted by lolxmb

I'm planning to do dentistry in UK and then go to USA (I'm a citizen in USA - will that be an advantage to get in the 2 year program?).

I was wondering to get into the 2 year DDS programs for international dentists if it is extremely challenging (as in almost dependent on luck) or is it just being smart/hard working and determined. Is it rare to get in the first year of applying for the 2 year international program?

The main thing I wanted to ask though is would I get preference if I choose to go to a university like King's College London or if I went somewhere like Sheffield or Manchester would it make no difference?

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it. Would like an answer soon so I can start researching which universities to apply to more in depth.

Hi my friend, it is certain that being smart and having good CV and states are important and would be a credit to bring the schools attention to your application. It is not rare to get to the 2 year program from the 1st year; however it is possible. At the time you finish school in UK I think criterion and requirements would be quite different or in another word harder, so it would be difficult to judge now... Good Luck

Originally Posted by lolxmb

I'm planning to do dentistry in UK and then go to USA (I'm a citizen in USA - will that be an advantage to get in the 2 year program?).

I was wondering to get into the 2 year DDS programs for international dentists if it is extremely challenging (as in almost dependent on luck) or is it just being smart/hard working and determined. Is it rare to get in the first year of applying for the 2 year international program?

The main thing I wanted to ask though is would I get preference if I choose to go to a university like King's College London or if I went somewhere like Sheffield or Manchester would it make no difference?

Thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate it. Would like an answer soon so I can start researching which universities to apply to more in depth.

A few things:

1) It really doesn't matter where you go to dental school... International dentist = International dentist, that's all they see, doesn't matter if it was in south america, asia, africa, europe... So whatever school you pick it won't matter (I'm talking about the IDP programs, of course it matters to you and your dental education, the best school you can get in better for you).

2) Being a US citizen gives you "the privilege", let's put it this way, to apply to some schools that Visa holders can't (UIC and Tufts for example).

3) It is extremely competitive, and it's not based on one factor isolated. It's a whole bundle, and schools select based on different criteria.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Hope4

A few things:

1) It really doesn't matter where you go to dental school... International dentist = International dentist, that's all they see, doesn't matter if it was in south america, asia, africa, europe... So whatever school you pick it won't matter (I'm talking about the IDP programs, of course it matters to you and your dental education, the best school you can get in better for you).

2) Being a US citizen gives you "the privilege", let's put it this way, to apply to some schools that Visa holders can't (UIC and Tufts for example).

3) It is extremely competitive, and it's not based on one factor isolated. It's a whole bundle, and schools select based on different criteria.

Good luck.

Firstly thanks a lot for answering I really appreciate it.

Also if I was working to meet criteria/have decent stats by the time I leave my university (5 years) for dentistry would I have a decent chance to get in first try if I applied to all of the schools and had decent test scores would I have a good chance to get in the first year? Without any work experience or 8-12 months of working as a dentist?

Be very careful upon making this decision to go outside of the country to get your dental degree. I say this because I am also a citizen of the U.S but went to a foreign country for my dental degree because i thought it would be 'faster', i wouldnt have to go through undergrad etc.
In retrospect, it's really NOT faster at all. Rules are getting tougher, competition is cut throat , staying away from family can get though, people come in with ALOT more experience than you will have after graduating from your foreign school.
i have no intention of scaring you, but this is something that should be well thought out.

Originally Posted by toothfairy482

Be very careful upon making this decision to go outside of the country to get your dental degree. I say this because I am also a citizen of the U.S but went to a foreign country for my dental degree because i thought it would be 'faster', i wouldnt have to go through undergrad etc.
In retrospect, it's really NOT faster at all. Rules are getting tougher, competition is cut throat , staying away from family can get though, people come in with ALOT more experience than you will have after graduating from your foreign school.
i have no intention of scaring you, but this is something that should be well thought out.

Well I have no other way really :/.. I'm in UK now and I can get in dentistry here quite easily when I apply in October and if I went back to America I'd be gambling on it because I don't know if I'd keep a high GPA in america in 4 more years of a subject I'm not very passionate/interested in. Here in UK it's good because only end of year exams count so I don't have to do much work for subjects I don't like and I can get in university quite easily. Also if I went to America I'd have to stay away from family so yeah :/...

Do you think it'll get so hard in 6-7 years that it'll be almost impossible? I'm willing to work for ages for any exams and I can do decent in extra-curriculars and stuff. Do you think it's gonna get reallllly that hard soon?

Also in UK you don't get GPA, will that affect me?

There are different agencies in the U.S that calculate your GPA from the scores you get . That being said, even if you think you can 'pass' the subjects you dont like in the U.K easily, keep in mind that they still count towards your GPA at the end.
If you ARE already in the U.K then ya, i guess it's better to just go to a school there. I thought u were in the US and going to UK for dental school.
I dont know if it's going to get harder, but just from the last 4 years that I've been in the process, its gotten a lot tougher...so I'd say another 6-7 years it will probably get harder.
Then again, if you work hard towards anything you really want, nothing can stand against you other than yourself.

Like the above person said, it's all about how much your GPA comes out to be, your part I score (possibly later part II will also be mandatory) and experience.
I dont think it will be useless if you do your dentistry in the U.K and come to the U.S ...but just be ready for a challenge , dont think it'll never happen .....
I came back and found it to be somewhat dissapointing that even though I was raised here I was having a hard time getting admission (mainly because I didnt have experience). It becomes a long , windy road....

Originally Posted by BigSmiles

There are different agencies in the U.S that calculate your GPA from the scores you get . That being said, even if you think you can 'pass' the subjects you dont like in the U.K easily, keep in mind that they still count towards your GPA at the end.
If you ARE already in the U.K then ya, i guess it's better to just go to a school there. I thought u were in the US and going to UK for dental school.
I dont know if it's going to get harder, but just from the last 4 years that I've been in the process, its gotten a lot tougher...so I'd say another 6-7 years it will probably get harder.
Then again, if you work hard towards anything you really want, nothing can stand against you other than yourself.

You don't mean subjects in highschool count right? I know for pharmacy they count the 2 years I'm in as part of the thing because pharmacy is only 3 years here but they require 5 years in America... What I'm in is for 16-18 year olds.. And by pass for these classes I meant the best marks lol, I wasn't talking about GPA in dentistry (dentistry is what is pass/fail), I was talking about what I do before my undergraduate degree of dentistry where I don't like subjects comparing it to undergrad in usa because I wouldn't wanna do 4 more years of stuff like bio/chem/phys/math unrelated to dentistry directly.

In dental I'll like the subjects and try 100% because I will want to have the most knowledge I can for dentistry.

Originally Posted by toothfairy482

Like the above person said, it's all about how much your GPA comes out to be, your part I score (possibly later part II will also be mandatory) and experience.
I dont think it will be useless if you do your dentistry in the U.K and come to the U.S ...but just be ready for a challenge , dont think it'll never happen .....
I came back and found it to be somewhat dissapointing that even though I was raised here I was having a hard time getting admission (mainly because I didnt have experience). It becomes a long , windy road....

How long did it take you :S. Did you know you were going to go back to America the whole time you were in school so you tried 100%?

Also does work experience count that much? Like working as an actual dentist? Like someone working for 10 years will have much more of an advantage than a graduate or someone with 1 year experience?

I don't understand how they can calculate GPA though out of a pass/fail course with pass/fail grades for everything?