TiggerJSA said:
As far as I can tell from getting to the interview process, I think specializing in OMS is more dependent on the applicant and less dependent on the dental school. From what I've heard and seen, programs are looking more for grades, rank, board scores, externships, research, and leadership experience.
This is absolutely correct. Doesn't matter where you went to school, it's what you did there. Boards, Rank, GPA, Basic Science Course Grades (oral path, OMFS, medicine), Externships, Research, Letters of Rec. Go wherever you want, just do well.
These guys are right in terms of getting into OMFS, but I interviewed at every single dental school you mentioned and if your going to spend four years of your life and heaven knows how much money for those four years, might as well go to a school that you feel tries to earn that money and goes out of its way to help you reach your goal. If you interview at all of those places, you'll see why I think Colorado isn't in the same league as the others. Denver is a great place but the school, faculty, and guaranteed clinical experience mixed with the schools average on the board examination is why I have my opinion. All school aren't equal is my point. Some schools place more emphasis on board preparation and give more time to study for boards. Some schools allow more free time to do externships while other schools make it freaking hard. I would go to an dental school with a strong OMFS residency program. You'll get more chances to be involved in research as a pre-doc, get to mix with well known names in OMFS that can write you letters of recommendation, hang around the residency program a little to get an idea of what you are getting into.
If you are at point A and trying to get to point Z and it was going to cost you $180,000-250,000 to get there. Sure you can walk with your own legs the entire distance (your individual effort/initiative). But you're still paying. Wouldn't it be nice to have a nice car to pick you up along the way, people in the car who could pass you some sage advice, give some guidance, enhance the journey. You're paying for it, might as well. While there is no replacement for individual drive as stated above, some schools have a nice greesed run-way where many have made it more time/cost/energy effective. Big bucks and four years of your life is what the school gets from you, get the most bang for it.....
