australian degree holder

[whiteE8]

hi, all!
i am done with my 2nd year of dental school in australia, and i still have 3 more years to go for the BDS degree. i am planning to apply for advanced standing programs in the states, and i was just wondering:
1. if taking national board part 2 will any increase my chances of acceptance into programs
2. if holding the australian dental degree will be any more favorable to the american universities, when my application is reviewed, than holding the korean dental degree (i've been thinking of transfering to yonsei dental school in korea but i couldn't come to a decision)
3. if many australian degree holders actually apply for the programs according to what you've heard

any reply will be greatly appreciated!

good luck with everything.

sincerely,
whiteE8

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[mightymolar]

Hi.

As long as your basic undergraduate dental degree is from non-accredited dental school (ie. all the dental schools outside of USA or Canada) then it doesn't matter whether your degree is from Australia or Korea. You would still be considered just as an international dental graduate... and need to jump through all the hurdles set by the admissions committee.

Having both NDB part 1 and 2 scores for the advanced standing purpose may help with your application. But if you have read other members' threacs on this forum, you would notice that a lot of other things counts towards it as well. For example, the GPA of undergraduate degree, TOEFL (if your native tongue wasn't English), recommendations from dental faculty and your "performance" at the interview/ or bench test.

It's not that uncommon to see Australasian dentists/graduates in the US dental institutions. I did my training in NZ and then worked in public hospitals in both NZ and Australia prior to my residency training in the US. Most come over for specialty training as they plan to return home and practice... Advanced Stading is only if you decide to stay in the US for a long, long time (to make it all worthwhile!!!)...

It's good to think about travelling when you are still in 2nd year of dental school. But don't worry too much about it now. If I were you, I would concentrate on your BDS (ps. Which State are you from?) and get a good solid result. Perhaps you might want to complete the Primary Exams of the RACDS (it will help a lot with NDBE Part 1 if you haven't already taken it) and work perhaps 1-2 years before you move? Also think of alternatives: UK has a lot of good training hospitals (you will have to sit International Qualifying Exam 3 part series) and I know that the Korean dental schools will not hesitate to hire bright young (and well qualified) dental lecturers/tutors in the future especially from overseas who are bilingual.

Hope this helps, yell if you have any futher questions!

Take care and good luck!

Cheers

M

 

[whiteE8]

Dear M,

thanks so much for your informative reply!!
well, i was thinking that it would be just 'theoratical' that the admissions wouldn't care from which country you are graduated from, but actually they care to give more 'credentials' to degrees earned in more developed countires. but your info definately helped in shaping my spread thoughts towards a decision! thanks! but anyways, since i spent my junior high and high school times there in the US, i still feel very attached to the country and wanna really go back there to live in my future. i am therefore considering undertaking the advanced standing program there.

so those NZ or Aussie dentists currently teaching/practicing in dental schools in the US that you know, are they normally eventually going back to their countries? or have they gone through advanced standing programs in order to permanently practice there in the US?

oh..really? you did your training in NZ? my parents live in NZ and i am here in auckland right now visiting them. so does that mean that you are a graduate of Otago university?

what's RACDS? i 've never heard of it.

also, i am curious if having work experiences before applying for the program will definately be required. cuz i was thinking of moving on to the program right after getting my BDS. what are your opinions about this...?

i am going to dental school in south australia (adelaide), if you were curious. yeah... but i was just wondering if the dental schools in the US have this "quota" system so that they only pick a certain number of people from a certain country and etc. (i know that a lot of people from korean dental schools apply for the advanced standing programs; this kinda makes me hesitate to transfer to yonsei dental school in korea)

any further information will be greatly appreciated!!

(and, M, do you mind if i e-mail you whenever questions are brought up? cuz i really think that i have the simillar background to yours in terms of where i am spending my BDS time and all that... i mean..if you dont mind, please, e-mail me your e-mail address!! that could be really helpful!)

take care,

whiteE8

 

[mightymolar]

Hi. In regards to your question whether there are lots of Australian and NZ qualified dentists working in the US, I suppose the answer would be "yes". Most are in dental specialty and I don't think that there are that many who went through Advanced Standing. Australian/NZ dental education is comparable to the American education if not better! So why would anyone from back home would repeat 2 years of their life re-doing undergraduate dental school? Unless, that person has decided to stay in the US for a long period of time.

RACDS is Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. You can ask your professors at Adelaide! Also check out www.racds.org. A lot of Australian/NZ graduates comlete the Fellowship exams as part of their specialist training. I did my Primary Exam (and yet to sit the Final Exam!).

I did my training at Otago University. I graduated about 3 years ago! It's been not that long! It's a nice town (Dunedin) and the education was superb!

I guess my advice to you is to get good grades in your undergraduate BDS course and consider sitting the NDBE Part I if you have time and resources. The Advanced Standing Committee would definately want to hear what you have done after your graduation and having some dental clinical experience would be advantageous (rather than delivering pizzas and washing car windows)!

Post back if you have any more questions.

Good luck.

Cheers