Advice for DS1!

[MissToothFairy_37]

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Hi everybody,

This is my very first post after lingering on this website for about a year now. Thanks to all SDN members for their valuable advice and support in the pre-dental forum.
I will be starting DS this fall and I would just like some greater insight into being more successful in DS.

1. What study habits do you practice to make sure you get through all the material and do well? Do you study alongside any non-school resources? Like board exam review books? Any study tips are seriously appreciated!!!!!
2. I would like to know more about what one would need to do to become a competitive applicant for specializations. If I do realize that there is a specialty that I absolutely love, when do I worry about doing things to become more competitive? When would I start research? When would I do research (in the year? in the summer?). Do I need to get published?
4. On the topic of specialization, is volunteering in the community a requirement or is it all about grades, research, board scores?
5. Typically, what does the NBDE part 1 cover (DS1+DS2 material?)? What resources did you use to study for this? Again, it's probably too early to even wonder but it doesn't hurt to know. 🙂
6. What kinds of organizations have you joined in DS that you have enjoyed?

For now, this is all that has been floating on my mind. 🙂 I know it's alot of questions but it would help me and other curious DS0's! Thanks guys.

 

[SweetWater54]

1. Study 24/7. You can take a day or two off here or there after an exam or during a slow week, but to be a top student you pretty much need to always be studying unless you are the kind of person that can cram for a few days and ace the exam. No extra materials, just use what they give you in class.
2. To be a competitive applicant, get the best grades possible, and get as involved in EC's as much as you can handle. Research doesn't hurt, depends on the specific programs, some like it more than others. Start everything ASAP or whenever you have the time to do it
4. (you skipped 3?) It's mostly about grades, boards are P/F so ADAT scores will likely become important in the future
5. I used the dental decks to study for boards, studied for a week and passed with no issues as did most of my classmates. Don't worry to much about NBDE, if you do well in school you will have no problem passing
6. Join whatever you are interested in! Dental fraternities do a lot of cool events typically

 

[MissToothFairy_37]

1. Study 24/7. You can take a day or two off here or there after an exam or during a slow week, but to be a top student you pretty much need to always be studying unless you are the kind of person that can cram for a few days and ace the exam. No extra materials, just use what they give you in class.
2. To be a competitive applicant, get the best grades possible, and get as involved in EC's as much as you can handle. Research doesn't hurt, depends on the specific programs, some like it more than others. Start everything ASAP or whenever you have the time to do it
4. (you skipped 3?) It's mostly about grades, boards are P/F so ADAT scores will likely become important in the future
5. I used the dental decks to study for boards, studied for a week and passed with no issues as did most of my classmates. Don't worry to much about NBDE, if you do well in school you will have no problem passing
6. Join whatever you are interested in! Dental fraternities do a lot of cool events typically

Thanks so much for the straight forward advice!! And yea..looks like I skipped 3 oops haha. In undergrad, I found that writing out all the information on my white board helped me remember the material better but I don't think there's time for all that in DS..or maybe there is. How did you study?

 

[SweetWater54]

Yea, writing out the information helps me study as well! You may not have time to write out everything, but I think you should go with whatever worked for you in undergrad and modify as needed. Everyone studies in different ways, so whatever works best for you is what you should use!

 

[zEkii]

Pretty good answers coming from @SweetWater54 !

 

[MissToothFairy_37]

anyone else?? It is much appreciated!!!

 

[krispybiscuits2017]

If you want to specialize, the only two that would require early intervention are OS and ortho. For ortho, definitely try and get published and be top 10 in your class. The objective for ortho is to match at a program that doesn't require you to pay tuition, which is obviously the hard part. For OS, just start busting your ass immediately - go on rotations with the residents, do research, be top 5, etc etc. It is extremely competitive, especially to match into a desirable program.

Other than that, if you decide on pedo/endo/prosth/perio, you can wait until 3rd year to decide and you will be fine. Just keep your grades up all along and you'll be fine.
Also, agree with above - P/F boards are not hard, 2-4 weeks studying and you'll ace it.

 

[MissToothFairy_37]

Thanks Krispybiscuits.
Do D1 students typically do research during school or summer? I guess my main concern is how one does it during school while balancing school work..just do what you gotta do type of thing?

 

[SweetWater54]

Thanks Krispybiscuits.
Do D1 students typically do research during school or summer? I guess my main concern is how one does it during school while balancing school work..just do what you gotta do type of thing?

I would recommend doing your research as soon as you can as a DS1 or during the summer after DS1. While most don't realize this until later, DS1 is your easiest year and you have much less free time as a DS2. I think it's different for different schools, some only have summer research programs that lasts like 10 weeks and others have masters programs which involve extra classes and take longer, just talk to your research department when you get there.

Also FYI, class is year round in dental school so there is no real "summer" break if that is what you are thinking. However, summer semester is typically a lighter load than fall/spring. It's pretty much three semesters a year Fall/Spring/Summer with a week or two break between them.

 

[hopefuldentist123]

If you did research the summer before D1, or in summers thereafter, how important would it be that the research be dental-related? If it were in a cell-bio lab not focused on dental research, would this research experience still be considered notable when applying to specialities? Thanks!

 

[ncide]

I am going to disagree with those that advise writing out material. That takes a lot of time and when it could be best used reviewing the material several times.

Read the slides twice minimum, and if you have time, a third time (usually I don't have time).

 

[Cello]

For OS, just start busting your ass immediately - go on rotations with the residents, do research, be top 5, etc etc. It is extremely competitive, especially to match into a desirable program.

OS is competitive, but not THAT competitive. There are unfilled residency spots every year because some programs didn't find a suitable candidate. The 6-year programs tend to be harder to get into because you have to be accepted to the medical school in addition to the OS residency (they often want to see your undergraduate grades).

You do need to be toward the top of your class, but plenty of OS posters on SDN have said that top 20% is more than enough. Research is much less important than the externships. In fact, I know a few OS residents who did not do research and said that it doesn't matter. Research is a bigger deal for ortho as you pointed out, and also endo I believe.

I am going to disagree with those that advise writing out material. That takes a lot of time and when it could be best used reviewing the material several times.

Read the slides twice minimum, and if you have time, a third time (usually I don't have time).

I second this. I go through the slides twice at a minimum. If it is conceptually hard I will spend more time on it. If it requires memorization I will use the tricks I have learned that help me retain it for the test.

 

[hopefuldentist123]

OS is competitive, but not THAT competitive. There are unfilled residency spots every year because some programs didn't find a suitable candidate. The 6-year programs tend to be harder to get into because you have to be accepted to the medical school in addition to the OS residency (they often want to see your undergraduate grades).

You do need to be toward the top of your class, but plenty of OS posters on SDN have said that top 20% is more than enough. Research is much less important than the externships. In fact, I know a few OS residents who did not do research and said that it doesn't matter. Research is a bigger deal for ortho as you pointed out, and also endo I believe.




I second this. I go through the slides twice at a minimum. If it is conceptually hard I will spend more time on it. If it requires memorization I will use the tricks I have learned that help me retain it for the test.

OS is competitive, but not THAT competitive. There are unfilled residency spots every year because some programs didn't find a suitable candidate. The 6-year programs tend to be harder to get into because you have to be accepted to the medical school in addition to the OS residency (they often want to see your undergraduate grades).

You do need to be toward the top of your class, but plenty of OS posters on SDN have said that top 20% is more than enough. Research is much less important than the externships. In fact, I know a few OS residents who did not do research and said that it doesn't matter. Research is a bigger deal for ortho as you pointed out, and also endo I believe.




I second this. I go through the slides twice at a minimum. If it is conceptually hard I will spend more time on it. If it requires memorization I will use the tricks I have learned that help me retain it for the test.

For specializing, must all the research you pursue in dental school be dental-related? Like cell biology research on diabetes or cancer for instance

 

[ncide]

For specializing, must all the research you pursue in dental school be dental-related? Like cell biology research on diabetes or cancer for instance

Better to be dental related, but there are always cancers or systemic diseases with a link to the oral cavity that you could study.

 

[Cello]

For specializing, must all the research you pursue in dental school be dental-related? Like cell biology research on diabetes or cancer for instance

What @ncide said

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

OS is competitive, but not THAT competitive. There are unfilled residency spots every year because some programs didn't find a suitable candidate. The 6-year programs tend to be harder to get into because you have to be accepted to the medical school in addition to the OS residency (they often want to see your undergraduate grades).

You do need to be toward the top of your class, but plenty of OS posters on SDN have said that top 20% is more than enough. Research is much less important than the externships. In fact, I know a few OS residents who did not do research and said that it doesn't matter. Research is a bigger deal for ortho as you pointed out, and also endo I believe.




I second this. I go through the slides twice at a minimum. If it is conceptually hard I will spend more time on it. If it requires memorization I will use the tricks I have learned that help me retain it for the test.

May you share what tricks you use? Always looking for useful tricks and tips lol.

 

[setdoc7]

Your class may be looking at the INDBE rollout, which means only one board beginning of D4.