Could I Specialize If I Wanted?

[jenfromdablock]

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Hello,

If I choose to specialize, I was wondering how I would fare and for what programs I could apply? I heard some residencies are much easier than others like Perio or what not.

Currently my GPA is about a 3.4 and I'm about in the middle of the class (slightly less). I'm a D1.

How do I better my application? Am I being compared to others within my class or other students at other schools?

One of the major reasons I wouldn't specialize would be the growing accruing debt for those 2-3 years.

Thanks!

 

[avangusva]

Very vague question to be honest. Figure out the specialty and work towards it--that would be my advice. If you want to specialize in something 'easy', that won't do you much good if you're not interested in it!

Perio isn't easy... it may be less competitive than ortho or omfs but still.

 

[jenfromdablock]

Very vague question to be honest. Figure out the specialty and work towards it--that would be my advice. If you want to specialize in something 'easy', that won't do you much good if you're not interested in it!

Perio isn't easy... it may be less competitive than ortho or omfs but still.

Does anyone have acceptance rates for these specialities? Would it be wise to message or email a few of these program directors 3-4 years in advance of a potential application and ask them for their best advice?

I personally like the idea of ortho (but my grades are not top notch, top 60% of my class) so that's out of the question.

I like endo too....but I just don't know how to take that extra step to go from dental student to viable candidate!

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

Top 60%. That's funny. I thought we counted from the bottom once you hit the latter half of the percentages.

 

[sgv]

Does anyone have acceptance rates for these specialities? Would it be wise to message or email a few of these program directors 3-4 years in advance of a potential application and ask them for their best advice?

I personally like the idea of ortho (but my grades are not top notch, top 60% of my class) so that's out of the question.

I like endo too....but I just don't know how to take that extra step to go from dental student to viable candidate!

So you performed better than 40% of your class? From now on, refer to your ranking as being in the bottom half. I know you're at NYU but NYU doesn't send 30% or even 20% of its student to legit specialties (non-AEGD/GPR).

Also the answer to your question will not answer what you're really trying to ask. Applicants to tough specialties weed themselves out (selection bias) so only people who know they're competitive actually apply to specialties like OMFS and as a result 50% of OMFS applicants end up matching. No sane person who's ranked in the bottom 10% is going to apply to OMFS...

I don't know the match rate for endo but I know a lot of their applicants work for a few years before going back for endo residency. I would assume real world experience is looked upon favorably but I don't know if that would even come close to making up for a bottom 40% ranking.

If you do end up matching, don't be surprised if it's at a less competitive tuition charging program. If you still want to specialize, you have to work harder. If your best effort is not enough, consider other options. You're still a D1 so you there's hope to raising your ranking.

 

[jenfromdablock]

So you performed better than 40% of your class? From now on, refer to your ranking as being in the bottom half. I know you're at NYU but NYU doesn't send 30% or even 20% of its student to legit specialties (non-AEGD/GPR).

Also the answer to your question will not answer what you're really trying to ask. Applicants to tough specialties weed themselves out (selection bias) so only people who know they're competitive actually apply to specialties like OMFS and as a result 50% of OMFS applicants end up matching. No sane person who's ranked in the bottom 10% is going to apply to OMFS...

I don't know the match rate for endo but I know a lot of their applicants work for a few years before going back for endo residency. I would assume real world experience is looked upon favorably but I don't know if that would even come close to making up for a bottom 40% ranking.

If you do end up matching, don't be surprised if it's at a less competitive tuition charging program. If you still want to specialize, you have to work harder. If your best effort is not enough, consider other options. You're still a D1 so you there's hope to raising your ranking.

So at this point, you're saying improving my class rank is my best bet?

 

[keeneye]

So you performed better than 40% of your class? From now on, refer to your ranking as being in the bottom half. I know you're at NYU but NYU doesn't send 30% or even 20% of its student to legit specialties (non-AEGD/GPR).

Also the answer to your question will not answer what you're really trying to ask. Applicants to tough specialties weed themselves out (selection bias) so only people who know they're competitive actually apply to specialties like OMFS and as a result 50% of OMFS applicants end up matching. No sane person who's ranked in the bottom 10% is going to apply to OMFS...

I don't know the match rate for endo but I know a lot of their applicants work for a few years before going back for endo residency. I would assume real world experience is looked upon favorably but I don't know if that would even come close to making up for a bottom 40% ranking.

If you do end up matching, don't be surprised if it's at a less competitive tuition charging program. If you still want to specialize, you have to work harder. If your best effort is not enough, consider other options. You're still a D1 so you there's hope to raising your ranking.

I don't know from where you get your information. NYU sends 12-20% of their students to post-graduate residencies. If you think that's a big number, it is because that's how well the students coming out of NYUCD have been performing. Not many schools in the country send more than 20% of their students to post-graduate specialty programs. NYU offers a unique opportunity of Honors selectives to train dental students and prepare them for post-graduate education.

 

[jenfromdablock]

I don't know from where you get your information. NYU sends 12-20% of their students to post-graduate residencies. If you think that's a big number, it is because that's how well the students coming out of NYUCD have been performing. Not many schools in the country send more than 20% of their students to post-graduate specialty programs. NYU offers a unique opportunity of Honors selectives to train dental students and prepare them for post-graduate education.

I believe Columbia and ASDOH send nearly 35%+ to residencies...but in my case, what's my best pathway considering I probably won't be top 50%

 

[dmdluffy]

For NYU, the previous poster was indicating the percentage is less than 20% if you don't count GPR/AEGDs. Considering how large NYU's classes are, it'd be seriously impressive if they sent 20% to specialty residencies.

 

[free99]

I believe Columbia and ASDOH send nearly 35%+ to residencies...but in my case, what's my best pathway considering I probably won't be top 50%

You're still a D1, right? Why assume that your rank is stagnant and cannot be improved? Rather than letting your rank dictate what you can and can't do, try to find what's preventing you from acing your tests and moving up in that list. With 2.5 more years of grade-contributing coursework before residency applications, that rank is far from set in stone.

 

[InspiredDDS]

So at this point, you're saying improving my class rank is my best bet?

Yes. You have seven semesters left. Only one has passed. If u want it, go get it.

 

[jenfromdablock]

You're still a D1, right? Why assume that your rank is stagnant and cannot be improved? Rather than letting your rank dictate what you can and can't do, try to find what's preventing you from acing your tests and moving up in that list. With 2.5 more years of grade-contributing coursework before residency applications, that rank is far from set in stone.

Yeah but I figure, if it's easy for me, it'll be easy for that top 50% as well.

 

[yuggernaut030]

Yeah but I figure, if it's easy for me, it'll be easy for that top 50% as well.

I thought the same thing, but I kept working towards a goal, and was able to really raise my GPA. It takes a lot of determination and focus though, both of which aren't helped by dwelling on the past. Stay positive! A 3.4 is a perfect springboard to improve the next 7 semesters! This might sound cliche, but dental school is a marathon and not a sprint. There are gunners in my class who totally rocked first year, but messed up here and there during 2nd and 3rd year. There are also those who decide they don't want to specialize and just let their GPAs go upon entering clinic in 3rd year.

Also, choose a specialty that you like. Who knows, you might like all of them and end up doing general dentistry. Don't let your GPA decide what specialty you will end up in.

 

[auths4]

There are also those who decide they don't want to specialize and just let their GPAs go upon entering clinic in 3rd year.

I feel like this is pretty common and happened in my class as well. Just stay focused and you'll be fine.

 

[knife]

As someone mentioned above, don't let your grades/rank deter you from applying. Figure out FIRST what specialty you are interested in (not whether you want to specialize). You can make a great living as a GP in some areas, and it's not wise to just specialize for the sake of specializing.

Once you figure out what specialty you're interested in, then work towards it--whether it's working in that field, research, externships, etc. Obviously, it wouldn't hurt to improve your GPA/rank/credentials just to put yourself in a better position. But, I think it's most important to put the horse before carriage and get a good idea of WHAT you want to do first.

Just my $0.02. Hope that helps.