Am I good enough?

[top1pct]

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Hi all. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.94 and I just got my raw scores from NBDE I and was happy that I passed, considering I didn't study whatsoever. I got a 77, is that good enough to specialize? I would figure with my GPA, I could afford to have a lower NBDE score. I knew a guy who got into ortho with an 81 and a good GPA. I want to go into oral surgery, do you think I am good enough with these stats? 👍👍

 

[Cold Front]

I would like to know what would happen if this was exact opposite? 🙄

 

[MStarr]

No idea if your "good enough" . . . but I digress

Certainly your GPA is a strong point.
You've definitely got the ego for it 🙄

A 77 on NBDE cold isn't impressive especially for a "good student" - but I guess you know that.

 

[n1ds]

Hi all. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.94 and I just got my raw scores from NBDE I and was happy that I passed, considering I didn't study whatsoever. I got a 77, is that good enough to specialize? I would figure with my GPA, I could afford to have a lower NBDE score. I knew a guy who got into ortho with an 81 and a good GPA. I want to go into oral surgery, do you think I am good enough with these stats? 👍👍

In my humble opinion you should just drop out. I mean seriously, I have yet to see anyone score that low until now. What do you do to get your gpa so high, cheat?

BTW, is that 77 a "raw" score or the adjusted?

 

[top1pct]

Honestly, this test shows ONE day worth of performance whereas a GPA shows long-term effort and commitment. A 77 on the NBDE without ANY studying is actually quite impressive IMHO. I suppose I am asking if GPA outweighs performance on ONE exam with regards to specialization selection. If I had studied, like for a week or two, for the exam, I probably could have nailed a 90+.

 

[top1pct]

N1DS- you throw around some hate, but I haven't seen your scores...🙄

 

[n1ds]

N1DS- you throw around some hate, but I haven't seen your scores...🙄

I just got them back, only got a 93. and my gpa is only 3.93, thanks for asking

 

[top1pct]

Wow, so you have a lower GPA and you got a 93? I guess I could have studied for a week and gotten a 94.
Seriously, a 93 isn't really that impressive if you studied for the exam... I know a guy who got a 97 on it with raw scores in the mid 90s and I have a higher GPA.

 

[n1ds]

Wow, so you have a lower GPA and you got a 93? I guess I could have studied for a week and gotten a 94.
Seriously, a 93 isn't really that impressive if you studied for the exam... I know a guy who got a 97 on it with raw scores in the mid 90s and I have a higher GPA.

I guess you will be taking it over again if you want to get into oms. 🙁👎

 

[aphistis]

Wow, so you have a lower GPA and you got a 93? I guess I could have studied for a week and gotten a 94.
Seriously, a 93 isn't really that impressive if you studied for the exam... I know a guy who got a 97 on it with raw scores in the mid 90s and I have a higher GPA.

[Sniff, sniff]

I recognize the pungent aroma permeating this thread. I believe it's called "eau de troll." 🙄

 

[top1pct]

I recognize the pungent aroma permeating this thread. I believe it's called "eau de troll." 🙄

I simply asked a question if my GPA would help outweigh a somewhat low NBDE exam score. I am getting a ton of sarcasm but no helpful information. If anyone is a troll, it's that N1ds, come in here spouting off his ego. 😴

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

I simply asked a question if my GPA would help outweigh a somewhat low NBDE exam score. I am getting a ton of sarcasm but no helpful information. If anyone is a troll, it's that N1ds, come in here spouting off his ego. 😴

Ladies and gentleman, please keep the comments "user friendly". To answer the OP's question, although your GPA is good, your board score is way below the norm for Oral Surgery. Sure, there are some who got in competitive specialties with average stats but that is an exception rather than the norm. DP

 

[n1ds]

I simply asked a question if my GPA would help outweigh a somewhat low NBDE exam score. I am getting a ton of sarcasm but no helpful information. If anyone is a troll, it's that N1ds, come in here spouting off his ego. 😴

Isn't a "troll" a monster?

 

[top1pct]

Ladies and gentleman, please keep the comments "user friendly". To answer the OP's question, although your GPA is good, your board score is way below the norm for Oral Surgery. Sure, there are some who got in competitive specialties with average stats but that is an exception rather than the norm. DP

Well thank you for actually answering my question. Do you know what the average NBDE score is for OMS?
I guess I could buckle down and study for a couple of weeks and take it again. It just makes me so angry because I probably have the best GPA in my entire class. A ton of my classmates study alot more than I do and score substantially less consistently and they probably scored better on this one exam. It is really frustrating when you know you deserve something and are the best pick for it but one simple thing gets in the way. 🙄

 

[top1pct]

Isn't a "troll" a monster?

And YOU got a 93? wow.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hi all. I have a cumulative GPA of 3.94 and I just got my raw scores from NBDE I and was happy that I passed, considering I didn't study whatsoever. I got a 77, is that good enough to specialize? I would figure with my GPA, I could afford to have a lower NBDE score. I knew a guy who got into ortho with an 81 and a good GPA. I want to go into oral surgery, do you think I am good enough with these stats? 👍👍

Please do not duplicate threads in different forums as that will clutter available space for other topics. I moved your thread to the Dental Forum. DP

 

[n1ds]

And YOU got a 93? wow.

and YOU got a 77?

 

[n1ds]

Well thank you for actually answering my question. Do you know what the average NBDE score is for OMS?
I guess I could buckle down and study for a couple of weeks and take it again. It just makes me so angry because I probably have the best GPA in my entire class. A ton of my classmates study alot more than I do and score substantially less consistently and they probably scored better on this one exam. It is really frustrating when you know you deserve something and are the best pick for it but one simple thing gets in the way. 🙄

Indeed, I mean....

 

[top1pct]

and YOU got a 77?

Yeah, imagine if you hadn't studied...I wonder what you would have gotten. I doubt passing.
With regards to your cat picture, I surely think that something as inappropriate as that would not be shown by a future professional. Please mature before posting on a professional board. 👎 Cats stating expletives is indeed indicative of your mentality.

 

[n1ds]

Yeah, imagine if you hadn't studied...I wonder what you would have gotten. I doubt passing.
With regards to your cat picture, I surely think that something as inappropriate as that would not be shown by a future professional. Please mature before posting on a professional board. 👎 Cats stating expletives is indeed indicative of your mentality.

Who said I studied? What is inappropriate about a nice fuzzy cat pondering the decisions that you made. Obviously you should just call your local testing center to schedule another appt. if indeed you want to go into oms. If not, just continue cheating your way through dental school.

 

[top1pct]

Who said I studied? What is inappropriate about a nice fuzzy cat pondering the decisions that you made. Obviously you should just call your local testing center to schedule another appt. if indeed you want to go into oms. If not, just continue cheating your way through dental school.

I have discovered that people who accuse others of cheating are those that are the dumbest. Have I looked at old tests? Of course, what dental student hasn't!?!?! The mormon temple I frequent every week has a ton of prior dental students whom are very eager to help. Listening to our elders isn't cheating....it is called intelligence. Hey, maybe that's something you should look into to improve your GPA....

 

[SuperC]

This thread went down hill fast.
-C

 

[n1ds]

I have discovered that people who accuse others of cheating are those that are the dumbest. Have I looked at old tests? Of course, what dental student hasn't!?!?! The mormon temple I frequent every week has a ton of prior dental students whom are very eager to help. Listening to our elders isn't cheating....it is called intelligence. Hey, maybe that's something you should look into to improve your GPA....

I always thought that mormons have an advantage in school. They never help anyone else and stay within their group. So, you are saying to convert to be successful in dental school? Wait, do they not provide you with "help" on the national exams? 😕😕😕

 

[aphistis]

Oh, come on. Now you've decided you want to be LDS too?

You're not even trying anymore. Why take the time creating a troll account if you're going to give it away this easily? 🙄

Then again, maybe I'm missing something. I'm trying to read your posts, but all I see is:

Ban me! Ban me!

 

[xdianaax]

“True humility is intelligent self respect which keeps us from thinking too highly or too meanly of ourselves. It makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.”

--Ralph W. Sockman

 

[armorshell]

Oh, come on. Now you've decided you want to be LDS too?

You're not even trying anymore. Why take the time creating a troll account if you're going to give it away this easily? 🙄

Then again, maybe I'm missing something. I'm trying to read your posts, but all I see is:

All I'm waiting to hear is that he goes to USC. That would complete the triad of trollness.

 

[Daurang]

Yes you're good enough and more than qualify base on affirmative action or the right connection. but do you want to simply be "good enough"?

 

[top1pct]

What is all this troll crap? 🙄 How is being competitive, mormon, and concerned about getting into a specialty a "trolling triad"? Aphistis (what the hell does that name even mean? 🙄) maybe if you spent half of your time answering questions instead of calling everyone trolls and eil one-eyed monsters, then I may give a rat's rear end to your "contribution."

 

[n1ds]

What is all this troll crap? 🙄 How is being competitive, mormon, and concerned about getting into a specialty a "trolling triad"? Aphistis (what the hell does that name even mean? 🙄) maybe if you spent half of your time answering questions instead of calling everyone trolls and eil one-eyed monsters, then I may give a rat's rear end to your "contribution."

That is actually something we agree upon.👍

 

[johntara04]

What is all this troll crap? 🙄 How is being competitive, mormon, and concerned about getting into a specialty a "trolling triad"? Aphistis (what the hell does that name even mean? 🙄) maybe if you spent half of your time answering questions instead of calling everyone trolls and eil one-eyed monsters, then I may give a rat's rear end to your "contribution."

Not only did you stink up your Board scores, but it sounds like you stink at being a Mormon too.🙄😴

 

[armorshell]

That is actually something we agree upon.👍

Here's the poop then man. If you're smart enough to get the highest GPA at your school, but too dumb to realize you might want to study for the boards if you want to specialize in oral surgery, then you probably don't have enough common sense to be trusted with a scalpel.

Hell, I'd worry about issuing you a driver's license with credentials like that. 👍

 

[top1pct]

Not only did you stink up your Board scores, but it sounds like you stink at being a Mormon too.🙄😴

You're right. I do apologize for the language. I just got a little frustrated, though that doesn't excuse such behavior.

Here's the poop then man. If you're smart enough to get the highest GPA at your school, but too dumb to realize you might want to study for the boards if you want to specialize in oral surgery, then you probably don't have enough common sense to be trusted with a scalpel.

Hell, I'd worry about issuing you a driver's license with credentials like that. 👍

So you are saying that you would feel better under the knife of someone who simply guessed well on ONE exam as opposed to someone who shows excellence day in, day out? I don't think it is I who lacks the common sense my friend...🙄 Those entering oral surgery have to have a strong foundation in knowledge and be willing to perform excellence every day, not just the days that we are tested. I have proven daily success in my gpa, the nbde is just one exam. Besides, what separates an 80 vs a 90 score? Darn good luck. period.

 

[Daurang]

In all honesty, you're not any getting sympathy here. Try using your logic during the interview or in an essay to your OMS program and see what they say. We've all given our honest opinion. You may not like the answer but that's your problem.

 

[charlestweed]

I have proven daily success in my gpa, the nbde is just one exam.

Most specialty programs look @ NBDE score…not the class rank. There is no GPA or class ranking @ UCLA (it is a pass/fail program); the only way for the specialty programs to evaluate UCLA students is to look at their NBDE scores. And UCLA has had high % of students who get accepted to post grad programs.

Top1pct, you are a bright student and you are capable of doing well on the board. Why don’t you retake the test? A month (or less) of intense study will help change you life forever.

 

[armorshell]

So you are saying that you would feel better under the knife of someone who simply guessed well on ONE exam as opposed to someone who shows excellence day in, day out? I don't think it is I who lacks the common sense my friend...🙄 Those entering oral surgery have to have a strong foundation in knowledge and be willing to perform excellence every day, not just the days that we are tested. I have proven daily success in my gpa, the nbde is just one exam. Besides, what separates an 80 vs a 90 score? Darn good luck. period.

Sounds like you're less asking for advice and more trying to argue that you're right. If you can show excellence day in day out then you should be able to perform just as aptly on test day. If you can't or won't, then you don't deserve a spot in an OS program.

Also, if you think that a persons test scores are purely based on how lucky they guess, you must be one hell of a guesser to get a 3.94. I mean, it clearly couldn't be that you're smart right? I think this thread proves that pretty well.

 

[aphistis]

.

 

[DrJeff]

The bottom line, if this is a serious question is that while you have a good GPA, that is a measure of you against your peers at YOUR d-school only. And we all know that different d-schools have differences in their curriculums and grading systems that make comparing 1 school to another difficult.

Your NBDE score is a measure of you verses your peers NATIONALLY, and for a residency director that is what they'll very often use as a MAJOR determining factor about who they want to interview. Especially in the world of competitive specialty residencies, many programs won't even consider an applicant if their NBDE scores don't meet a certain level, not all programs are this way, but I know for a fact that some are.

 

[Squished Rat]

I have discovered that people who accuse others of cheating are those that are the dumbest. Have I looked at old tests? Of course, what dental student hasn't!?!?! The mormon temple I frequent every week has a ton of prior dental students whom are very eager to help. Listening to our elders isn't cheating....it is called intelligence. Hey, maybe that's something you should look into to improve your GPA....

What in the world does your religion have to do with any of this? I think bringing religion into this is in poor taste. And to answer your question, I think there are few, if any, OMFS programs who will interview you with a 77. What's a program director to think? Either I have a guy who didn't really earn a high GPA because he couldn't cut it when it really counted on NDBE I or else I have a guy who didn't care about doing well on the boards. Either way, I would bet you will get very few interviews.

Study and try taking it again if oyu are serious about specializing. Also, a modicum of humility will go a long way in gaining entrance to post-grad programs as well.

 

[JavadiCavity]

Closing thread.