Hi can anybody tell me if doing mds before dds helps in getting admission to the advanced standing prog or is it better to do a masters in the u.s like mph? I am a dentist in india and am planning to give the nbde this year.
DDS after MDS or after MPH
- Thread starter aim4dds
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2013
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 0
This is my view - Doing MDS for the sole purpose of getting admission into DDS may not be a good idea. Comparing MPH and MDS degrees, certainly MDS holds better prospects and value than MPH. But you must get MDS in a govt seat..and that involves lot of hard work.
Give the GRE and NBDE, then prepare for MDS entrance exams.
Give the GRE and NBDE, then prepare for MDS entrance exams.
these are two different tracks altogether...if you want to do MDS...3 yrs are gone...moreover it will not be possible to run your application when you are in MDS...so take another year after you finish MDS in India..that adds to 4 yrs...on the other hand if you are into a program in the US..it makes it easier for you to run your application...it is difficult to go through the application procedure from India...so i would ask you to choose your path carefully...all the best..
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2013
- Messages
- 22
- Reaction score
- 0
Coupland, I have neither joined for MDS nor for MPH. I tried to get into international dds program for the last 2 cycles. And I have been unsuccessful, wait listed that is. I have been coming to USA on visitors visa to attend the interviews. In a way, if you have lots of money, MPH might make sense. getting an MPH is also financially burdensome. It will take at least 20k to 30 k. And what if you don't get in after your mph? Isn't value wise MDS better than MPH? What you said in your post is right and I am only asking because I am also in the same situation of the OP.
@ coupland and griffin... MDS is the way to do it.. Everyone is aware of the MPH pathway now and yu have to be finishing mph to apply .. C yu have to c that every case is diff, in yur scenario investing in MDS is a better option than blindly investing in MPH.. Yu shud pursue MDS
hi Stewie...I cant say that I understand your predicament coz I have not been there...but of wat I can make out is that you would have finished your national boards almost a year before or even more than that...I would like to tell you that i have seen both sides of it...I am into my final year of MDS...finishing in may...and I'll be joining for IDP in june...see my point is that if you are planning to take a payment seat for MDS...then might as well stay back in India...on the other hand if you have so much money that you can just buy MDS seat then i think you should go for it...but if you are not that financially strong then I would advice you against it...lets take one thing at a time...
Situation 1----lets say you buy MDS or if you are hardworking and lucky enough you got a free seat for MDS...now if you are already done with your NBDE thats cool..you can run your application without any fusses along with your MDS...the other thing is that you will have to time your application such that you join for DDS as you finish MDS...coz you would not want to waste your efforts that you have put for MDS...the other possibility...you join MDS and you have not appeared for your boards...i can tell you by first hand experience it is not easy to study for boards with your MDS going on...but if you have gotten MDS through an exam and not payment..things would be a bit more easier...coz to tell you the truth getting into MDS by clearing the entrance is way more tougher than getting a good score in NBDE...i was fortunate there coz my prep for MDS entrance helped me a lot for part 1...and if you see the picture neutrally...it is insane to do this...coz I consider myself insane for doing this...I mean my situations made me do this but if I was thinking coherently at that time I would not have done this...it took a lot to manage 2 things at a time...MDS is not easy and it takes a lot of effort and time to prepare for presentations, journal clubs, case discussions, conferences and wat not...and it was really taxing financially also...so it would be putting yourself through immense pressure and botheration. The people who usually try to go for DDS after MDS are usually situation stricken...but I know the trend is changing and more people are going for DDS after MDS...but if I was to choose without any convictions I would have been satisfied with my MDS.
P.S---MDS does help you with the bench exams and all...and it does make your profile stronger..the only thing is to justify why you want to do DDS after already specializing in one discipline. On the other hand you have a cushion that if things dont work out on DDS front you have your MDS to fall back onto.
Situation 2---MPH..my best friend went through this course..the only time he took money from home was when he was leaving for US to join MPH...he managing everything after that on his own...yea he had to slog his ass for that and work for hours and hours...but wat I want to convey is that it is doable...and MPH also saves you from all the visa issues...coz F1 to F1 is easy...B1/B2 to F1 for DDS is becoming tricky every passing day. I perosnally know of 2 people who were refused F1 for DDS. And many universities in the US who are offering MPH, also have IDP's, like U Mich..so I guess if you apply for the same univ's..it would definitely give you an edge over other candidates...another thing that comes to my mind is that you can get shadowing experience if you are in US...that is also highly recommended...moreover it easy for the candidate already knowing the work environment in US...
I have discussed both the situations with you here..in the end I would say it is a judgement call...and i would like to add is that it is nice to have something to fall back onto...just an insurance policy...so if you dont mind putting in another 3 yrs for MDS and then want to go for DDS i would say that can also be done weighing the pros and cons with MPH/MHA in US...i wish you all the luck and to "aim4dds" also..i hope i have made myself useful...
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 9, 2012
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 1
I agree with you totally coupland, well stated facts...in addition i would like to add if one needs something to fall back on if not accepted in IDPs, then MPH is a good option, and today seeing the saturation of MDS in countries like India from where more n more people are coming to do DDS, MPH would get a person more salary anytime, and on top of it if someone does Phd or goes for dental public health residency thats a great boon too..dental public health people earn around 100,000 dollars per annum as compared to starting salary of DDS- 1,70,000...and after MPH its around 50,000-60,000...with experience and Phd it may be around 70,000-80,000. I know money is not the only thing, but who doesnt love luxury
Hi coupeland, thanks for the detailed explanation of all the possibilities. I intend to give my national boards in July or August this year and would like to take admission into mds only once I am through with the nbde part 1 and 2. Why I think mds would help me in getting admission to dds is that it adds to my profile where clinical and research experience is concerned. But the only thing that confuses me is whether universities are willing to accept a candidate for dds who has already specialised in one discipline in his home country( considering its a step back). Do u have any idea about this? Also u have written that u are in ur final year mds and will be joining idp in June.......if I may so ask why did u think of this route?
hey i guess im reading this post after a veyr long time, but im interested to know your current status. what did you finally choose?
could you please explain the situation when converting b1/b2 to f1 become difficult?
also your post was amazing!
