Class rank exposed/manipulated by admin?

[redhotchiligochu]

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The dental school that I’m attending (won’t say which) doesn’t post class rank through your student account or unofficial transcript. Instead, you have to ask one of the admins to inquire about this info. Is this commonplace at all? I’d assume the lack of transparency in which they do this is a cause for concern. Especially if class rank is purely based on cumulative GPA.

Speaking of which, I am currently ranked second to last, 79/80 with a GPA of 2.95, which doesn’t seem all that low of a grade to warrant such a low rank. Additionally, all but one person passed NBDE I including myself, surprisingly, so my academic competency is likely not an issue.

I’ve had unavoidable beef with admin last semester so I’m not sure if that plays a role in class rank manipulation.

The reason I ask is although most hiring dental places claim they don’t look at class rank, being ranked second to last is surely a red flag, in their eyes?


*any smartass comments about my perceived lack of academic achievement will be immediately reported to mods

 

[periopocket]

I can verify that I had a friend from dental school who had a 3.05 gpa and was ranked 78/85, so it is very possible depending on how ambitious your class mates are

 

[Tootyfruity]

we had to ask the admins at our school too
they only run it once a year, and the kids who didn't want to specialize didn't even go in to check
idk if admins care about you enough to want to risk their careers to doctor your records
besides there are so many other more impactful things they could do to you out of spite if they wanted

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

The dental school that I’m attending (won’t say which) doesn’t post class rank through your student account or unofficial transcript. Instead, you have to ask one of the admins to inquire about this info. Is this commonplace at all?

This is how it was for me for the first 3 years. My final year they started posting it to our student accounts. They got tired of people asking, so they just updated it online every semester.

Big Hoss

 

[DrJeff]

Residency program directors might look at class rank. Prospective employers in reality aren't going to. Most prospective employers will care far more about did you graduate from dental school, are you licensed (or at least eligible and/or in the process of obtaining a license in the state(s) where you're looking to practice, and likely the impression they get of you as a person when they meet you than what your class rank is/was

 

[shulk]

Remember too that DS is different from undergrad and high school in that in theory all 80 members of your class have demonstrated academic competence in the past, or else they wouldn't have passed the stringent admissions process. So your rank could actually be true, if for example the bottom third of the class is still mostly just getting Bs with a few As and Cs here and there. The top 30-40 could be getting almost all As with a rare B for example.

 

[lowkeydr]

I am a practicing dentist. 2 years in practice.

Almost all jobs will not ever ask for your class rank. If you have a dental license, they will hire you depending on your skills.

Skill is a broad spectrum of definition including: clinical abilities, hands-speed, accurate diagnosis ability, patient communication, chair-side manners, likability, charisma, etc

Clinical ability is a given... You graduated a DENTAL SCHOOL to be able to diagnose and treat patients.
Patient communication, business sense, charisma is not taught. You learn the latter and I can guarantee you will be successful ANYWHERE you go..


Now regarding class rank manipulation. I have had colleagues that graduated top 5% of the class that would consistently go to professors to argue/ask about certain questions they thought they got right, and ended getting 1-5points on top of their final score. These small changes did end up in favor of some of these colleagues and they ended up specializing for that reason. Specializing does not necessary mean they will be successful in their respective careers. Success in dentistry, at least in my view, is more than clinical ability.