applying as a foreign dentist

[huguesseattle]

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I own a french DDS, plan to enter a REGULAR dental school .
(please don't tell me some advanced standing programs exist, I DO NOT WANT TO GO INTO SUCH PROGS)
I'm gonna take the DAT very soon, I already took the NB 1
My concern is I do no have any GPA scores because of the difference between educational systems...
I guess that to apply online, I have to provide these scores or my application cannot be completed, can it?
If application by snail mail is the only option, what kind of material should I provide to the AADSAS ?

thank you.

 

[groundhog]

You should contact the admissions chairpersons of the schools at which you intend to apply. They will be able to give you sound advice on how to proceed with the application process so that you are given full consideration at their respective schools.

I know someone who was in a similar situation except they had a foreign MD rather than a foreign DDS. They went through some formal process to have their foreign medical school transcripts converted to a USA equivalent that was acceptable to the USA dental schools. In addition, for better than a year, they took a VERY HEAVY load of English and physical science classes at a nearby university while maintaining a night job in order to demonstrate their ability to handle a demanding academic program (they got 4.0's across the board). They also scored high on the DAT (22/20 )and they became a naturalized USA citizen at the time of their application.
They got accepted to dental school. So, it can be done.

 

[tinker bell]

Yeah, like groundhog said, you need your transcript.

And if you ask around, there will be a place that can convert the point to the American GPA system. Go ask international student office at UW. They should have some kind of services like that. Or the least is that they can refer you.

Convert all your GPA, then, fill the application out. Take some english classes....I'm sure you'll be able to get into dental school. Contact admissions directors at several schools to see their advice. Good luck, Dr. Huges

 

[groundhog]

Dr. Hugue,
Check out Education Credential Evaluators Inc. They are recommended by the new University of Nevada Dental School.

Their web site is http://www.ece.org

 

[huguesseattle]

I already sent my grades (regarding my 5 years in dental school) to ECE prior taking the Nat Board 1. What should I do now? send that again? or can they forward them to the schools I'm gonna apply to ?

Thanks !

And by the way, Hugues is my first name 😉
Dr Hugues looks like a mobster name to me haha

Dr Hugues Deriau

 

[groundhog]

I do not know for sure. However, I would suspect that you need to coordinate your efforts between ADEA and ECE. Did you get a copy of your ECE report? I would think that ECE converts your grades and courses from the French dental school into USA university equivalents. You would then enter those converted equivalents (courses and grades) on your ADEA application. I further assume that you must also request ECE to send the official transcript of those converted equivalents to the USA dental schools at which you will apply.

One problem that can arise is that grading can be much tougher in a foreign educational system than in the USA system (especially at the undergrad university level). So an equivalent effort that results in A's & B's at the USA undergrad university level may only result in B's and C's in a foreign educational system. The foreign MD that I mentioned earlier defused that issue by taking heavy loads of English and physical sciences at a USA university for more than a year before applying to dental school.

I also cannot emphasize enough that I believe it is very important for you to get in touch with the admissions people of the dental schools at which you might apply. Have your ECE report in hand when you talk to them. They will be able to save you a lot of lost time if for example they discover that you still need to take one or two classes at the USA university level in order to satisfy their particular admissions requirements.

By the way, there is another trap awaiting folks like yourself. If a male foreigner obtains permanent residency in the USA at the age of 26 or younger, but does not register for the military draft before his 27th birthday, he will be denied federal student aid in any form.