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[biorenaissance]

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Ok, so I was wondering if you have to list whether you are applying to PhD programs on the AADSApp? Will they know because I really love dentistry but I still can't make my mind up on whether to go for research or dental school!! So I am gonna apply to both and see what goes down

 

[DentalDiva RDH]

Ok, so I was wondering if you have to list whether you are applying to PhD programs on the AADSApp? Will they know because I really love dentistry but I still can't make my mind up on whether to go for research or dental school!! So I am gonna apply to both and see what goes down

I wouldnt consider your choice to apply to both a bad thing, especially if it is to improve your grades. I think of it as someone who applies to both dental school and a special masters program at the same time, so that with the one year gap they are strengthening their gpa as well as waiting on acceptances/rejections. On the other hand PhD is kind of the end of the road for advance degrees, but it shows your dedication and there are dentists who also have their PhD's. There's nothing wrong with applying to both, I think it can only look good on your behalf!

 

[dentaldawg32]

How about applying to combined PhD/DDS programs? A bunch of schools have them. Typically, the programs is set up so that after D2 you do research for a few years, after which you return to finish up D3 and D4. You could go into teaching and do faculty practice at the same time. It's a great thing if you're interested in research, and you will most likely get a lot of financial assistance.

Despite what the person above me says, it is NOT a good idea to apply to separate programs, as it shows ambivalence on your part. A PhD program is not be done to improve your grades for dental school; it is a terminal degree and can last anywhere from 5-7 years. If you wanted, you could apply following your PhD but at applying at the same time wouldn't make sense.

 

[biorenaissance]

How about applying to combined PhD/DDS programs? A bunch of schools have them. Typically, the programs is set up so that after D2 you do research for a few years, after which you return to finish up D3 and D4. You could go into teaching and do faculty practice at the same time. It's a great thing if you're interested in research, and you will most likely get a lot of financial assistance.

Despite what the person above me says, it is NOT a good idea to apply to separate programs, as it shows ambivalence on your part. A PhD program is not be done to improve your grades for dental school; it is a terminal degree and can last anywhere from 5-7 years. If you wanted, you could apply following your PhD but at applying at the same time wouldn't make sense.

Well I wouldn't really want to do dental research. I mean that is why I like dentistry is for its hands stuff like ripping those teeth out and drill down those cavities!!! I mean thinking about dentistry in abstracts in dental school will be enough for me. No need to make a career out of that. I would want to do PhD in like Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or something like that... Can you do that in dual degree? Also so you do have to disclose that you are applying to PhD programs? Well I guess I could go MS and change over to PhD like a lot of programs give option for.

 

[dentaldawg32]

Well I wouldn't really want to do dental research. I mean that is why I like dentistry is for its hands stuff like ripping those teeth out and drill down those cavities!!! I mean thinking about dentistry in abstracts in dental school will be enough for me. No need to make a career out of that. I would want to do PhD in like Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or something like that... Can you do that in dual degree? Also so you do have to disclose that you are applying to PhD programs? Well I guess I could go MS and change over to PhD like a lot of programs give option for.

Dentistry is an extremely systemic field, meaning that problems in the oral cavity often correlate with other problems elsewhere in the body. As such, a LARGE portion of research taking place at dental schools is only PERIPHERALLY related to dentistry and deals with many other aspects of the human body. Trust me on this, I've conducted research at two different dental schools and have worked on some extremely interesting projects.

I know that at the University of Connecticut that if you decide to do a PhD, it is done through the specific department, NOT the dental school. So if you wanted to do a PhD in biochemistry, you would do that through the biochem department. I was told this a while ago, so you might want to research further on this.

But, basically, my point is this: don't let the idea of "dental research" deter you from pursuing research. There is so much interesting research being conducted at dental schools across the country, a lot of which only deals peripherally with the field of dentistry.

 

[DrReo]

Well I wouldn't really want to do dental research. I mean that is why I like dentistry is for its hands stuff like ripping those teeth out and drill down those cavities!!! I mean thinking about dentistry in abstracts in dental school will be enough for me. No need to make a career out of that. I would want to do PhD in like Cell Biology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry or something like that... Can you do that in dual degree? Also so you do have to disclose that you are applying to PhD programs? Well I guess I could go MS and change over to PhD like a lot of programs give option for.

There are some interesting cranial facial research project out there.

I agree, applying to both shows that you honestly do not know what you want to do. Indecisive. Dental and graduate school are time intensive commitments and financial for dental. There are a lot of applied biochemistry and cell biology research that applies to dentistry. Go look at some dental faculty who are dual degree (or even single degree) that conduct research.

 

[SeattleRDH]

What about applying to a PhD/DDS program in Oral Pathology? Such interesting cases!

 

[nze82]

Ok, so I was wondering if you have to list whether you are applying to PhD programs on the AADSApp? Will they know because I really love dentistry but I still can't make my mind up on whether to go for research or dental school!! So I am gonna apply to both and see what goes down

Why apply to both? You can obtain a DDS/PhD degree and satisfy both your interests.