Am I competitive for pedo?

[ElPedorro]

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Hey guys,
like most of you im still trying to figure out what residency I want to apply to next year, and I'm starting to like pedo. I go to a big state school and my rank isn't stellar (26/90), and I only have standard ECs while in dental school and no research. That said im a little older than the average applicants and have some varied life/work experience before coming to school that I think is pertinent to pediatrics (lots of outreach, professional work with kids, etc). Is this doable for me or do you think I should apply to GPRs as well to become more competitive. Thanks!

 

[Rambunctious]

I'm not familiar with pedo and how you rank, but typically top 10% will make you competitive for all specialities.

 

[hopefuldentist123]

How important is research experience for specializing? I am a rising D1 and I got offered a summer research internship for the summer before dental school. I am graduating late spring so I would only have 3 months in b/w graduating and starting DS. Do you think taking the research position (non-dental related, more cell-bio related with NIH) would be beneficial to me in any way or would it be best to relax before dental school?

 

[rivarat]

Do the research, but stop if it affects your class rank. Class rank trumps all.

 

[Pedodel]

Yeah, I think you can get in if you start to rack up some extracurricular Pedo experiences. Do all the extra Pedo stuff in dental school that you can. We had a "clerkship" experience in dental school ,which was like a mini specialty. If you do externships, do one at a Pedo heavy place ( Pedo residency place if possible). I would recommend doing a GPR after graduation, that is very Pedo heavy ( I am so glad I did a GPR ,,,, I would not have gotten accepted without it, and I would not have been half as competent in Pedo residency without it).
Then apply from there. Do that kind of stuff and interview well and I think you have a strong shot. Pedo acceptance in more about character and personality . Program directors want some one who is hard working, determined to learn (teachable )and easy to get along with. Of all specialties, Pedo relies liest on your class rank.
Good luck!

 

[hopefuldentist123]

Is non-dental related research helpful for specializing?