University of Washington School of Dentistry

I just want everybody reading this website which I was informed about a couple days ago that the University of Washington School of Dentistry is an amazing school. In the past five months... although very difficult... I have learned more information than most of my last year combined (including both physical chemistry classes).

This school offers people the chance to take it to the next level! Yeah somebody dropped who had was married with two kids and one on the way... an amazing person and I am very sad to see him go... but I am sure that he is missing out.

The school is in an amazing facility... I have visited other schools and this is just as good. It is fairly nice to sit in the labs and look over the Lake Union cut (canal to the locks).

And for the person at Arizona who thinks that who thinks that the reputation of the school is falling... I had no idea that everybody passing the boards with an average score of 94--96% caused a loss in reputation. I also think that having 19 out of 20 people who wanted to specialize admitted last year to be fairly amazing. He also mentioned that there aren't any "cool" people. You can be sure that you will be surrounded by some amazingly diverse, fun, athletic, and "cool" people... trying not to be too judgemental.

Let me tackle the histology issue... yeah it sucked to have to study before class... but we don't start til october. For those who didn't want to study... they are taking a watered down medical course in histology. It has been fair and the faculty is just being proactive in providing the students with an opportunity to lighten a first quarter load.

As for the interview process... the school is not going to sell you their program. Some of you may ask why? Well, no matter what, they will find 55 outstanding applicants. If you get accepted... you are one of the lucky 55.

For all of you reading the other mail that isn't pro Washington... just remember that the people posting negative responses about the school (not necessarily an interviewer) have no idea what they are talking about because they are not directly involved.

ASK ANY DENTIST IN THE COUNTRY ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS SCHOOL CONSISTENTLY PUTS OUT SOME OF THE BEST DENTISTS IN THE NATION!!!

To the people interviewing, good luck, and I hope to see you walking around the halls. If you want, come find me and I will answer any of your questions.

Ryan Chiang
Class of 2007 University of Washington
National ASDA representative for the UW chapter

To everyone...
notice who is sending negative comments! The person who can only find time in dental school to talk about a school which they don't attend. Ok, so former and present people talk of the UW falling, but does that explain the fact that UW rips apart both boards with ease. Does that explain to anybody why faculty at schools like UoP, USC, and UCLA ask applicants why they are even interviewing there being Washington residents? Who knows, all I know is that the vast majority of students are extremely satisfied with their ability to be a dentist after attending. I'm sure Gavin's friends are amazing dentists!! I guess that is a direct reflection of the school's ability to educate its students. The school curriculum is rigorous but at the same time it prepares its students very well for passing the boards with ease, and developing the manual dexterity to become a clinician.
If I want to be critical of a school... I would ask Gavin a question... "Why so negative about UW when you don't even attend the UW?"
For all applicants, talk to the people who really understand what is going on in the dental world. I guarantee that most dentists will explain to you that the University of Washington was and still is one of the top dental institutions in the nation. These are the facts and not just information from a "buddy of mine."
The UW is a state school, just like UCLA and UCSF. Getting accepted to a very strong state school is difficult, that is just how it works. Understand that the undergraduate students from the UW score second in the nation on the MCAT and although I don't have information on the DAT... I can assure you that the pool is very strong and competitive.
As for the interview process, now there will be more than one sitting in on your interview.
I will honestly answer any questions you have regarding this school and this school only, because that is where my experiences lie.

To jojo:
I don't feel like it is a gift to get in, I think that the application pool is very strong, and there is no way to separate 55 "top" students. What I am really saying is that in any political process, there are people who deserve to get in and do not... that does not mean that they aren't qualified. If you want to think of it as a gift... I feel that it is a gift for anybody to get into any professional school. A small minority of people ever have a chance to participate in higher education, and for this, I am very thankful.

Ryan Chiang
class of 2007 University of Washington School of Dentistry
National ASDA representative

*If you have a question, please give me a couple days to respond.

Originally posted by swiminh2o
Ryan,
What is your opinion on having some of the first year classes with the med students? Are the profs med school or dental school profs?

Click to expand...

The only class that we have with the med students, gross anatomy, involves the medical school professors/doctors. However, some of these professors have taught and still only teach dental school classes like neuro anatomy.

Learning with the medical school is a good experience. The level of students from both the medical and dental schools, allows for interactions with a greater number of intelligent people. It is critical to be able to bounce ideas off each other, especially in a course like gross anatomy.

I hope this answered your question.

Ryan Chiang
class of 2007 University of Washington School of Dentistry
National ASDA representative