Applying to Ortho after practicing as a GP

[Pickle Dental]

Hey there!

I graduated in 2022 and have been practicing as a general dentist since graduating. I have not been enjoying it as much as I thought I would and long story short I want to do ortho. I was just curious how applying is as a general dentist? Unfortunately in school I didnt think I was going to specialized so I'm a bit worried about my application. I had a 3.697 GPA and I think my class rank was 23/103. I don't have any research experience and I was part of a few school organizations but I never held positions, I was just a general member in them all.

I'm planning on applying next cycle so hopefully in that time I can make my application stand out a bit more. Some people have told me to get a masters and some say I really need research experience. I don't really want to go to school and get a random masters. There is a dental school close to me so I was thinking about reaching out to someone there and seeing if I could help with any research since I dont work on Fridays (not sure if they will let someone who isnt a student just do research though?). I'm also going to look into shadowing some orthodontists around town so I have hours with that and hopefully can ask them for a letter of rec.

Basically just asking for any help and any tips?

Thanks!

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[ortho_throwaway]

Next cycle opens in May, so hopefully you're submitting your applications by June or July. That leaves a lot to do in only a few months:

1.) Take the GRE (and hopefully crush it to bolster your chances)
2.) Get 3-4 letters of rec (you'll want to ask people by May at the latest to allow them at least a month to write and submit
3.) Get some research experience (I agree that researching on Fridays at the dental school would be a great start)
4.) Write a killer personal statement
5.) Compile a list of schools to apply to, as well as complete all their secondary applications (you'll likely want to apply to 30+ programs to increase interview/match chances)

It can be done, but only with great motivation and haste. I'd suggest getting started as though you'll submit this cycle, but if circumstances force you to apply next cycle, that will just give you a bit more time to round out an amazing application.

Best of luck!

 

[Pickle Dental]

Next cycle opens in May, so hopefully you're submitting your applications by June or July. That leaves a lot to do in only a few months:

1.) Take the GRE (and hopefully crush it to bolster your chances)
2.) Get 3-4 letters of rec (you'll want to ask people by May at the latest to allow them at least a month to write and submit
3.) Get some research experience (I agree that researching on Fridays at the dental school would be a great start)
4.) Write a killer personal statement
5.) Compile a list of schools to apply to, as well as complete all their secondary applications (you'll likely want to apply to 30+ programs to increase interview/match chances)

It can be done, but only with great motivation and haste. I'd suggest getting started as though you'll submit this cycle, but if circumstances force you to apply next cycle, that will just give you a bit more time to round out an amazing application.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the reply!
I didn't want to rush applying this cycle with an application that appears half-assed so I'm currently leaning to applying next cycle to give it my best shot. I would prefer to apply once

Who should I get letters from? I have at least one maybe 2 professors from dental school I could ask but should I be getting a letter from an orthodontist? My old bosses liked me but they dont seem like people that would write a good letter so I dont think im going to ask them.

 

[Orthomaybe]

Next cycle opens in May, so hopefully you're submitting your applications by June or July. That leaves a lot to do in only a few months:

1.) Take the GRE (and hopefully crush it to bolster your chances)
2.) Get 3-4 letters of rec (you'll want to ask people by May at the latest to allow them at least a month to write and submit
3.) Get some research experience (I agree that researching on Fridays at the dental school would be a great start)
4.) Write a killer personal statement
5.) Compile a list of schools to apply to, as well as complete all their secondary applications (you'll likely want to apply to 30+ programs to increase interview/match chances)

It can be done, but only with great motivation and haste. I'd suggest getting started as though you'll submit this cycle, but if circumstances force you to apply next cycle, that will just give you a bit more time to round out an amazing application.

Best of luck!

I'd agreed with everything that was said here.
Question though? let said you apply once and didn't get in.. are you going to apply again?
if yes, then I'm confused why you wouldn't try to apply this cycle and if nothing happen, apply next yr with a better application?!

Letters can be from the professors from dental school or just generally someone that can attest your clinical skills (even though you have been working since 2022) Letters from Ortho faculty (or orthodontist) would be great in your situation if you have the ability to find/connect with someone.

 

[Pickle Dental]

Well a quick update
1. took the GRE and got a decent score but still waiting on my writing score. This is the second time I've taken it because my writing score was low the first time, I'm horrible at writing sadly. I followed Gregmats outline so hopefully this time is better.
2. I did research in the ortho department by me and asked the ortho department head for a letter and they said yes. I also asked 2 professors from my dental school for letters and they both were happy to write me one.
3. I've finished my CV and personal statement but I keep overthinking my personal statement so I might re-write it.

Should I ask my boss for a letter? When I was talking to the ortho department heads at the school I do research at they told me not to since they only care about academic letters of rec but it just seems so weird to me.
Planning on applying to about 20 schools.

 

[OncePreDent]

I'd agreed with everything that was said here.
Question though? let said you apply once and didn't get in.. are you going to apply again?
if yes, then I'm confused why you wouldn't try to apply this cycle and if nothing happen, apply next yr with a better application?!

Letters can be from the professors from dental school or just generally someone that can attest your clinical skills (even though you have been working since 2022) Letters from Ortho faculty (or orthodontist) would be great in your situation if you have the ability to find/connect with someone.

One huge reason to hold off for a year is the cost of different ortho residencies and the cost to apply.

There are a few people in my dental school that were planning to apply this cycle, but realized that they need a stronger application to get into more competitive programs (that cost $100k or less) so instead of spending $10k+ on applications and potentially getting into a program that would cost $400k+ and 3 years, they would rather save the money and focus on building their ortho application up for the following cycle and try to get into a competitive 2 year program that costs nothing.

IMO it doesn't make sense to pursue ortho if you are paying over $150k for the residency, which, of course, many programs cost well over that.

 

[Pickle Dental]

One huge reason to hold off for a year is the cost of different ortho residencies and the cost to apply.

There are a few people in my dental school that were planning to apply this cycle, but realized that they need a stronger application to get into more competitive programs (that cost $100k or less) so instead of spending $10k+ on applications and potentially getting into a program that would cost $400k+ and 3 years, they would rather save the money and focus on building their ortho application up for the following cycle and try to get into a competitive 2 year program that costs nothing.

IMO it doesn't make sense to pursue ortho if you are paying over $150k for the residency, which, of course, many programs cost well over that.

Yeah this is pretty much why I waited. I didn't want to waste my time paying for everything if I knew I could make my application stronger.

 

[OncePreDent]

Yeah this is pretty much why I waited. I didn't want to waste my time paying for everything if I knew I could make my application stronger.

I think that is extremely smart and financially a good decision. There are so many people out there that think paying $500k to go to USC or NYU ortho program is worth doing. I just can't get my head around why people would do that over practicing general dentistry for a year or working on improving their application instead of applying to those programs.

 

[JacquesVallee]

There are so many people out there that think paying $500k to go to USC or NYU ortho program is worth doing.

There are Ortho residencies that cost 500k!?

 

[juniordentist]

I think that is extremely smart and financially a good decision. There are so many people out there that think paying $500k to go to USC or NYU ortho program is worth doing. I just can't get my head around why people would do that over practicing general dentistry for a year or working on improving their application instead of applying to those programs.

People aren't just paying for the program, they are paying to spend 3 years of their life there. I hate the idea of paying USC tuition but I would consider it to live in LA rather than other cities... consider it, not necessarily pay it

 

[Pickle Dental]

Tuition and cost of living can really add up

 

[OncePreDent]

There are Ortho residencies that cost 500k!?

Sadly more programs than you think cost more than $500k. Most people who want to become an orthodontist can easily add $300k+ to whatever they paid for dental school. Plus 2-3 years of their life/lost income.