***Official SIU Interview/Acceptance thread c/o 2019***

[JayD]

Got a phone call from Angela today stating my acceptance! I'll you all in July!!!

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[JunkyGolfer28]

Decided to lurk around the old SDN, and saw this thread for the class of 2019 while attempting to not study for my last finals ever (Im a 3rd year)! If anyone has any question about the clinic side of the SIU-SDM, post on here and I will give you all the info you like. Welcome everyone who got accepted!

 

[Confused1617]

Decided to lurk around the old SDN, and saw this thread for the class of 2019 while attempting to not study for my last finals ever (Im a 3rd year)! If anyone has any question about the clinic side of the SIU-SDM, post on here and I will give you all the info you like. Welcome everyone who got accepted!

Hey! I wanted to know how large the patient pool is? Are students assigned patients or do they have to find and schedule them? Do first and second year work in the lab, or does it start 3rd year? Also, many say not to attend SIU if you want to specialize, what do you think of this? Finally, how are the living conditions there? What do students do for fun, gereally speaking?

 

[JunkyGolfer28]

Hey! I wanted to know how large the patient pool is? Are students assigned patients or do they have to find and schedule them? Do first and second year work in the lab, or does it start 3rd year? Also, many say not to attend SIU if you want to specialize, what do you think of this? Finally, how are the living conditions there? What do students do for fun, gereally speaking?

Lots of questions and I will attempt to answer them the best that I can.

As far as patient pool, currently we have a wait list of roughly 2 months, and as long as Illinois doesn't get rid of medicaid dental coverage, it will only continue to get longer and no you do not have to find your own patients they are assigned to you (Unless you know someone who wants to be your patient and you could request them). You do schedule your own patients (which I like), and it allows you to work patients into your schedule to avoid long appointments on days you have exams etc. during your third year.

First and Second year students take didactic courses as well as pre-clinical courses to learn the fundamentals of dentures, crown and bridge etc., and begin to work with patients in the summer after your second year. In the clinic we do some of our own lab work, but it isn't too intense unless you have many big projects at one time.

I am not sure where people say SIU is bad for specializing, granted we do not have specialist programs on campus (SLU has a partnership with us for Endo and Perio and they also have an ortho program). I would argue that most students who rank appropriately in our class get into the specialty program that they want. One benefit that I have heard that many graduate programs like about our students is that without specialist programs we get exposure to immensely more oral surgery, endo, and fixed that most other detnal schools. I would say that for the general dentist SIU cant be beat with the combination of experience of price and clinical experience. My opinion, of course.

Living conditions are fine. Great thing about being in Alton is very cheap living expenses (I would imagine one of the lowest of all dental schools) and the area around the dental school is quiet and nice. If you are looking for a big city experience like UIC, then you will be disappointed.

For fun most students hang out together outside of class. Parties, float trips, going to the winery in a near by town some of what people do. Remember we are 30min from St. Louis so that is a great place to have fun at.

Hope these help!

 

[Confused1617]

Lots of questions and I will attempt to answer them the best that I can.

As far as patient pool, currently we have a wait list of roughly 2 months, and as long as Illinois doesn't get rid of medicaid dental coverage, it will only continue to get longer and no you do not have to find your own patients they are assigned to you (Unless you know someone who wants to be your patient and you could request them). You do schedule your own patients (which I like), and it allows you to work patients into your schedule to avoid long appointments on days you have exams etc. during your third year.

First and Second year students take didactic courses as well as pre-clinical courses to learn the fundamentals of dentures, crown and bridge etc., and begin to work with patients in the summer after your second year. In the clinic we do some of our own lab work, but it isn't too intense unless you have many big projects at one time.

I am not sure where people say SIU is bad for specializing, granted we do not have specialist programs on campus (SLU has a partnership with us for Endo and Perio and they also have an ortho program). I would argue that most students who rank appropriately in our class get into the specialty program that they want. One benefit that I have heard that many graduate programs like about our students is that without specialist programs we get exposure to immensely more oral surgery, endo, and fixed that most other detnal schools. I would say that for the general dentist SIU cant be beat with the combination of experience of price and clinical experience. My opinion, of course.

Living conditions are fine. Great thing about being in Alton is very cheap living expenses (I would imagine one of the lowest of all dental schools) and the area around the dental school is quiet and nice. If you are looking for a big city experience like UIC, then you will be disappointed.

For fun most students hang out together outside of class. Parties, float trips, going to the winery in a near by town some of what people do. Remember we are 30min from St. Louis so that is a great place to have fun at.

Hope these help!

Thank you so much!

 

[FutureDentist888]

hi guys! I have an interview at SIU tomorrow, any advice??? what is this written prompt??? thanks!

 

[workout123]

Do people live in surrounding cities? Ive been looking at rentals online and they are all...really depressing


QUOTE="JunkyGolfer28, post: 16478433,
member: 523599"]Decided to lurk around the old SDN, and saw this thread for the class of 2019 while attempting to not study for my last finals ever (Im a 3rd year)! If anyone has any question about the clinic side of the SIU-SDM, post on here and I will give you all the info you like. Welcome everyone who got accepted![/QUOTE]

 

[dp93]

Do people live in surrounding cities? Ive been looking at rentals online and they are all...really depressing


QUOTE="JunkyGolfer28, post: 16478433,
member: 523599"]Decided to lurk around the old SDN, and saw this thread for the class of 2019 while attempting to not study for my last finals ever (Im a 3rd year)! If anyone has any question about the clinic side of the SIU-SDM, post on here and I will give you all the info you like. Welcome everyone who got accepted!

[/QUOTE]

yeah some people do live in edwardsville ( a much nicer city) but there are some good apartment complexes in/just outside of Alton as well. if you want specifics you can pm me