Does name of the dental school matter for residency??

[Scientist1]

Just wondering if name matters for applying to good residency programs. For example does it matter that you graduated from U Penn or Columbia Verses U pitt or Nova with the same stats?

I do know that in the world of academics its all about name and awards, etc. unfortunately, but not sure if its the same case in dentistry??

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[ajmacgregor]

Just wondering if name matters for applying to good residency programs. For example does it matter that you graduated from U Penn or Columbia Verses U pitt or Nova with the same stats?

I do know that in the world of academics its all about name and awards, etc. unfortunately, but not sure if its the same case in dentistry??

It doesn't matter at all.

The most important factors are:

1. NBDE Part 1 Score
2. Dental School Class Rank
3. Letters of Recommendation/Research/Extracurriculars

I think the the Part I score is more important than class rank because everyone takes Part I, but not everyone goes to a school that ranks their students.

I am a strong advocate of the "go to school where you feel most comfortable" line of advice. If you like the school you go to and you like the people there, it will be that much easier to excel.

There are outstanding students at every school. Be one of them and you'll have no problem getting into whatever specialty you want.

 

[balance]

ajmacgregor,

Where did you get this information from? Is this your personal opinion?

Some d-schools have a better reputation for training very strong academically residents.

I personally think school reputation is very important, although, it is not the most important thing. i.e. if you are top 20% of your class when the average national board for the class is 92%, it is much different when you are top 20% of your class when the average national board class is 80%.

It doesn't matter at all.

The most important factors are:

1. NBDE Part 1 Score
2. Dental School Class Rank
3. Letters of Recommendation/Research/Extracurriculars

I think the the Part I score is more important than class rank because everyone takes Part I, but not everyone goes to a school that ranks their students.

I am a strong advocate of the "go to school where you feel most comfortable" line of advice. If you like the school you go to and you like the people there, it will be that much easier to excel.

There are outstanding students at every school. Be one of them and you'll have no problem getting into whatever specialty you want.

 

[ajmacgregor]

I stated my personal opinion regarding the matter. This opinion is also shared by the dean of my dental school, the director of my GPR, and the director of the associated OMFS residency.

Balance - your argument would hold water if all dental schools ranked their students. If your school doesn't rank, then the residency programs won't know if you're in the top 20% or the top 80%. The only constant is the NBDE Part 1 score.

Granted, there are some schools that have an exceptional track record of placing students into specialties. However, you can't make generalizations based on these schools because the students at these schools are a highly selected group. Students who go to schools such as Harvard would probably excel at any dental school.

 

[Scientist1]

which school have very high placement of students in specialty programs?

 

[onetoothleft]

which school have very high placement of students in specialty programs?

here is CU's

 

[Scientist1]

interesting...

 

[balance]

here is CU's

Wow, Only one person went to private practice?

 

[tx oms]

Hey *****s, if you go to a school where lots of people like to specialize of course your school can brag about high numbers of students sucessfully matching. There is an obvious selection bias. I assume your wonderful "prestiges" dental schools taught you what selection bias means.

For the last time THE NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ABILITY TO SPECIALIZE.

This discussion is getting old. Have you seen this year's incoming Ivy League class? Here they are:

 

[lnn2]

 

[dr_tugback]

National board score has nothing to do with being a good student or a skilled dentist.

 

[aphistis]

National board score has nothing to do with being a good student or a skilled dentist.

No, but it has everything to do with getting accepted to specialty programs.

 

[toofache32]

National board score has nothing to do with being a good student or a skilled dentist.

nor does the name of the school on your diploma.

 

[drhobie7]

Wow, Only one person went to private practice?

This may have to do with the fact that to be licensed in NY state you now have to complete a GPR/AEGD or do one of the specialties. Perhaps the one person who didn't do any post-grad was heading to another region of the country.

 

[toofache32]

Perhaps the one person who didn't do any post-grad was heading to another region of the country.

...or wouldn't be able to pass the regional exam.

 

[realysa]

Hey *****s, if you go to a school where lots of people like to specialize of course your school can brag about high numbers of students sucessfully matching. There is an obvious selection bias. I assume your wonderful "prestiges" dental schools taught you what selection bias means.

For the last time THE NAME OF YOUR SCHOOL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ABILITY TO SPECIALIZE.

This discussion is getting old. Have you seen this year's incoming Ivy League class? Here they are:

tx oms,

i bet you went to an undergrad with the one or more of the following words in it: state, a&m, bible, prairie, baptist, or tech.

don't mess with texas, ya'll!

hick!

 

[gumgardener2009]

tx oms,

i bet you went to an undergrad with the one or more of the following words in it: state, a&m, bible, prairie, baptist, or tech.

don't mess with texas, ya'll!

hick!

Who's dumber: the student who goes to a state dental school, does well, gets into a specialty program or the student who goes to an Ivy dental school, does well, gets into a specialty program but racked up $100K more in debt? When it comes down to it, where the degree comes from doesn't matter. A law firm or a Wall Street investment bank cares a lot about where the job applicant graduated from, but I've never heard of a patient walking out of a dental office because of the degree on the wall. The only reason to go to an Ivy dental school is to stroke your ego!

 

[drillerNfiller]

the name of school absolutely matters and more imporatantly which no one ever seems to talk about is the quality of your education. ivy league schools aren't nessecarily the best ones, plenty of state schools are great and pleanty of private ones suck. however, you definitely do not get the same education at every school, and program directors know that and everyone else for that matter know it. if every school was the same there wouldnt be a need for national boards.

 

[Doggie]

The only reason to go to an Ivy dental school is to stroke your ego!

Leggo my ego!

 

[tx oms]

the name of school absolutely matters and more imporatantly which no one ever seems to talk about is the quality of your education. ivy league schools aren't nessecarily the best ones, plenty of state schools are great and pleanty of private ones suck. however, you definitely do not get the same education at every school, and program directors know that and everyone else for that matter know it. if every school was the same there wouldnt be a need for national boards.

There is one flaw in your stupid theory: ADA committee on dental accreditation. They monitor the quality of schools and shut down bad ones. PS--the last time dental schools were ranked a state school won. So, shut up.

This is enraging. You are basically saying that some doctors aren't as good as other doctors based solely on the school they came from. Shut up.

 

[tx oms]

tx oms,

i bet you went to an undergrad with the one or more of the following words in it: state, a&m, bible, prairie, baptist, or tech.

don't mess with texas, ya'll!

hick!

You're wrong. Nice try. If you want to get personal, though, we can compare notes. I'm sure I've accomplished more in my life without an Ivy League education.

 

[Bcat]

There is one flaw in your stupid theory: ADA committee on dental accreditation. They monitor the quality of schools and shut down bad ones. PS--the last time dental schools were ranked a state school won. So, shut up.

This is enraging. You are basically saying that some doctors aren't as good as other doctors based solely on the school they came from. Shut up.

Wow...The texas chainsaw massacre continues... I don't think your hostile opinions contribute anything useful to the forum. Hardly anything you write is credible and everyone knows it. How do people get to you so bad?

And I can't believe you of all people just brought up dental school ranking(which is totally useless) to support your worthless argument about the quality of dental schools... & PS it's the COMMISSION on Dental Accreditation.

Late

 

[lnn2]

Just wondering if name matters for applying to good residency programs. For example does it matter that you graduated from U Penn or Columbia Verses U pitt or Nova with the same stats?

How do you know U Penn, Columbia are better than U Pitt or Nova???

I do know that in the world of academics its all about name and awards, etc. unfortunately, but not sure if its the same case in dentistry??

"Unfortunately"? Like Martha Stewart said "it's a good thing!"
NO, not the case in DENTISTRY. For residency, it's all about GPA, class rank, board scores, ec, externships, research...not the name of the dental school.

One thing that I've noticed about the so-called Ivy league schools: they tend to do a lot of hand holdings thus happy students hence grateful alumni, which leads to mucho donations! For most of the state schools, they don't give a **** about you. You're just another peon. Hence, they won't be getting **** when it comes to alumni's donations.

HSDM 2007 http://www.harvardasda.org/gallery/
Bcat, does Harvard DSchool have a lot of nerdy and dorky looking people?

 

[drillerNfiller]

There is one flaw in your stupid theory: ADA committee on dental accreditation. They monitor the quality of schools and shut down bad ones. PS--the last time dental schools were ranked a state school won. So, shut up.

This is enraging. You are basically saying that some doctors aren't as good as other doctors based solely on the school they came from. Shut up.

cool dude thanks for filling me in, i was unaware that the ADA commitee on dental accreditation made sure that every one of the 50+ schools in this country has the same quality of education. of course that must also mean that they all must have the exact same curriculum and teach exactly the same stuff and have equally qualified and experienecd faculty at every school with identical faculty to student ratios. oh ya, and of course that the patient pool, and the number and type of procedures completed at every school is also exactly the same. Now I just need to get in touch with the rest of the entire dental community and everyone with a brain who was as confused as me. thanks for the clearification.

 

[gumgardener2009]

cool dude thanks for filling me in, i was unaware that the ADA commitee on dental accreditation made sure that every one of the 50+ schools in this country has the same quality of education. of course that must also mean that they all must have the exact same curriculum and teach exactly the same stuff and have equally qualified and experienecd faculty at every school with identical faculty to student ratios. oh ya, and of course that the patient pool, and the number and type of procedures completed at every school is also exactly the same. Now I just need to get in touch with the rest of the entire dental community and everyone with a brain who was as confused as me. thanks for the clearification.

Every school gets a new coat of paint and is cleaned from top to bottom before the committee visits. And all the faculty is intelligent, interesting, witty and friendly as long as the committee members are looking. It kind of reminds me of Parents Weekend at my undergrad when the food service made nice meals for all the P's. Then they ask their kids why they're always complaining about the food. Appearances are deceiving.
Also many of the schools and faculty are resting on their laurels. E.g., there is a head of a department at my school who will go unnamed. He was very active in research in the 70s and 80s and built quite a rep. Some residents chose my school because of this guy. Boy are they surprised to find out that all he does any more is sit in his office or give a lecture every once in awhile+!
IMHO, if you are near the top of your class at State U. or Ivy School of Dentistry, have good board scores and a decent CV you'll get an interview. After that you have to show them that you're not a stiff and will represent them well once you get into practice. Ergo save your dough and go to the state school unless your gut tells you that you'd be more comfortable/happier at the private dental school.

 

[drben]

Wow...The texas chainsaw massacre continues... I don't think your hostile opinions contribute anything useful to the forum. Hardly anything you write is credible and everyone knows it. How do people get to you so bad?

And I can't believe you of all people just brought up dental school ranking(which is totally useless) to support your worthless argument about the quality of dental schools... & PS it's the COMMISSION on Dental Accreditation.

Late

What I've noticed about TxOMS is that he is kind of like Simon Cowell...as much as you want to hate on him the vast majority of time he IS right. 😱

I've said this before about specialization...it has nothing to do with the purported "quality" of the school and EVERYTHING to do with the "quality" of the student...go figure!

Ben

 

[kato999]

I've said this before about specialization...it has nothing to do with the purported "quality" of the school and EVERYTHING to do with the "quality" of the student...go figure!

Ben

Well stated 👍

 

[Bcat]

I've said this before about specialization...it has nothing to do with the purported "quality" of the school and EVERYTHING to do with the "quality" of the student...go figure!

Ben

Yep...that's what grades, ranking, and national boards determine and I don't think many people think differently.




If I were a tool I'd be a be a scaler any day over an elevator.

 

[Jediwendell]

It CAN make a difference on getting into the most competitive programs in most specialties. Some places won't interview many west coast people, some won't interview many east coasters. It has a lot to do with people not wanting to leave areas, say like California. Also, some schools will only interview a couple of people from each school, so if you go to a specialization factory like UCLA or Columbia and try to apply to Ortho, you might not get the same interviews that you would if you went to somewhere like Florida and were the top dog. Bottom line, though, if you are number one and have a 99 on boards, it really doesn't matter where you went.

 

[tx oms]

cool dude thanks for filling me in, i was unaware that the ADA commitee on dental accreditation made sure that every one of the 50+ schools in this country has the same quality of education. of course that must also mean that they all must have the exact same curriculum and teach exactly the same stuff and have equally qualified and experienecd faculty at every school with identical faculty to student ratios. oh ya, and of course that the patient pool, and the number and type of procedures completed at every school is also exactly the same.

Your opinions come with a intrinsic bias of mental ******ation. Do you really think that a Harvard grad can do a better class II amalgam? Huh? Do those unconfident punks truely scale a damn incisor better? Does it really take a bigger faculty to student ratio for Haaaarvard dental students to get the point? Sounds like a school for special needs kids.

So what is it? Are they better b/c they go to school with medical students? Go ahead and show me a Harvard dentist who can treat an MI as well as a family practice doc in Bumfuk, SD. You won't be able to do it.

Look, Mr. Ivy League, your ride is here:

 

[tx oms]

And I can't believe you of all people just brought up dental school ranking(which is totally useless) to support your worthless argument about the quality of dental schools.

Ouch. I guess my comment hurt a little, like all the money you're wasting on your education. I'll bet you're mom's proud, though. I'll bet she likes to dress up in her snobby dress and go to parties where she can say, "My child goes to Haaaaaarvard." What is that called? Dropping the H-bomb? Or dropping the A-Hole bomb?

Let me know which criteria are fair to use. It seems that we can only use those which support your position. BTW, was MGH able to match all its OMS spots this year? Kinda burns when you can't fill your spots b/c NO ONE WANTS TO GO THERE!

 

[tx oms]

duplicate

 

[Doggie]

If dental school names do not matter, how come the names of the residency programs matter so much? Why do you think big companies preferentially go to the same colleges to recruit new hires? I dont see big law firms going to Fartknocker Law School to get new lawyers.

If anyone cannot admit that certains schools are just better or worse than others in any respect, then you might as well say a benz is no different than a kia. Ivy league schools aint perfect......but there are schools that are just less perfect.


http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~pdang/AA/******.jpg

 

[tx oms]

If dental school names do not matter, how come the names of the residency programs matter so much? Why do you think big companies preferentially go to the same colleges to recruit new hires?

The name of the residency doesn't matter. Do you know what school your dentist went to? Do you know what school the last doctor you saw went to? Do you know where your oral surgeon did their residency? Do you know where the last doc you saw did his residency? No, because there is enough prestige in being a doctor that no one care where you went to school. Not like a dime a dozen business majors.

If anyone cannot admit that certains schools are just better or worse than others in any respect, then you might as well say a benz is no different than a kia. Ivy league schools aint perfect......but there are schools that are just less perfect.

Ivy League schools are perfect for people who aren't sure they can learn stuff without someone holding their hand and/or aren't sure they can get into a residency.

 

[north2southOMFS]

I love reading these posts by dental students who are using every glimmer of hope to get into a residency....like the school you came from. To boot, in my experience, almost everyone who thinks that ivy league schools are better than all the others are foreign trained doc's who came to america and are going back to school.

Look kids, if you are smart you will get into a residency. If you are dumb, you won't.

Same goes for just general dentistry. If you are smart, have good hand skills, and have good chairside manner, you will be a good dentist.....even if you graduate from the worst fuking dental school in the country.

If you are dumb, have $hitty hand skills, and have zero interpersonal skills, even if you graduate from the best, most expensive, dental school in the country. You will still be a crap-ass dentist.


P.S. Medical school OB night delivery is boring as hell.

 

[gumgardener2009]

Your opinions come with a intrinsic bias of mental ******ation. Do you really think that a Harvard grad can do a better class II amalgam? Huh? Do those unconfident punks truely scale a damn incisor better? Does it really take a bigger faculty to student ratio for Haaaarvard dental students to get the point? Sounds like a school for special needs kids.

So what is it? Are they better b/c they go to school with medical students? Go ahead and show me a Harvard dentist who can treat an MI as well as a family practice doc in Bumfuk, SD. You won't be able to do it.

Look, Mr. Ivy League, your ride is here:

Gotta hand it to you OMS residents, unlike many of the denizens of this site, you've got a sense of humor.

 

[gumgardener2009]

If dental school names do not matter, how come the names of the residency programs matter so much? Why do you think big companies preferentially go to the same colleges to recruit new hires? I dont see big law firms going to Fartknocker Law School to get new lawyers.

If anyone cannot admit that certains schools are just better or worse than others in any respect, then you might as well say a benz is no different than a kia. Ivy league schools aint perfect......but there are schools that are just less perfect.

Is this the type of logic the Ivies teach you. We're talking about the value of a school's name in dentistry and you're changing the subject to law school. You're arguing the proverbial "apples and oranges". We don't work for "big companies". Every year thousands graduate from lawless and busy-ness schools. If the economy is slow or the company is highly desirable to work for, the company has to find some way to distinguish those among the herd. They'll use the name of the school to shorten the stack of resumes on their desks. As dentists, at first we may associate, but the hiring dentist will be more concerned with skills (clinical and interpersonal). When we open our own practice the people that matter (i.e., patients) won't look at the degree on the wall to check out the name of the school as confirmation of your qualifications. They'll just be happy that you have a degree on the wall. As far as they're concerned, if you have a degree and license, you're qualified as long as you're friendly and don't give a dead fish handshake.
The name of the school matters only if you like signing your letters as follows...

Sincerely,
Dr. Ego Tisitical, M.D., D.M.D., PhD, M.S., B.S.

 

[drgoro]

Here's my take on it, I go to UCONN, not an Ivy put considered "up there." I think while then name of the school is essentially useless, they did gain some initaly notice by producing highly "academic," partly because they pick top applicants and bash us with rediculous amounts of meical work. So while the name is useless, their training is not, the respect is given to the schools who have the highest board scores, b/c they are the only ones that are ever mentioned (due to no rating systems). If you want to specialize, concern yourself with how well a school will prepare you for the boards (i.e the better they prepare you the less you will feel is left for you to learn on your own), because that is teh one universal number needed. Hand skills are all fine and dandy, but numbers matter.

 

[gryffindor]

I've been on lots of job interviews this summer. Being in New York City, most hiring dentists just assume I attended NYU until I bring up the fact that I didn't. They usually don't even look at the "academic" part of my resume, if they even bother to look at it. The school I went to, my rank, GPA, latin honors, etc. all mean jack at job interviews. The only thing the hiring dentist wants to know is if I have my license and malpractice insurance.

So for a job, my conclusion is that no one cares where you went to dental school or how you did in school or your boards.

However, as far as ortho interviews go, I have yet to decide if the name of your school matters. I still really believe it is all about your board scores, rank and luck (and nepotism, if you have that going for you). The only thing the name of my school brings to an interview is "Oh, you went to Buffalo. It snows a lot and is cold in Buffalo."

 

[Scientist1]

well said...... I have talk to many dentists and all they tell me is go to the cheapest school you get into...... As far as residency programs, I believe the chances of someone getting into a good program is the same if have the same stats but graduate from state or ivy school..... I really think that the 1st ranked person at Upitt works just as hard and is just as smart as the first ranked person at Upenn, etc......

 

[Mr.Bojangles]

I agree, the name of the school doesn't matter. However, the philosophy of a school does matter. And I think that small private schools (Ivies?) are more generous to their students than big public ones. For example, I know for certain that Harvard students get 3+ weeks to study for the boards. Why? Cause they want their students to do well. I only get 1 week. Also, I imagine that harvard faculty might be a little more generous in writing letters of rec for students at the bottom of the class. Whereas at a big public school they'd probably tell people like me to get lost.

"Ivy League schools are perfect for people who aren't sure they can learn stuff without someone holding their hand and/or aren't sure they can get into a residency."

No, harvard students are probably pretty sure they can learn stuff on their own. I'd say you've got a boost going to harvard cause they want you to succeed. And does that make it less of an accomplishment for that slacker hsdm student who gets into a good OMS program? No, cause they probably kicked ass somewhere along the line to get into Harvard.

 

[toofache32]

It's funny how nobody thinks very highly of places like Harvard except the people that go there. It's called mental masturbating. Are you done yet...?

 

[drillerNfiller]

Your opinions come with a intrinsic bias of mental ******ation. Do you really think that a Harvard grad can do a better class II amalgam? Huh? Do those unconfident punks truely scale a damn incisor better? Does it really take a bigger faculty to student ratio for Haaaarvard dental students to get the point? Sounds like a school for special needs kids.

So what is it? Are they better b/c they go to school with medical students? Go ahead and show me a Harvard dentist who can treat an MI as well as a family practice doc in Bumfuk, SD. You won't be able to do it.

Look, Mr. Ivy League, your ride is here:

Obviously, the schools u went to must have sucked, because you dont know how to read. I never said Ivy league schools were any better, so I don't know why you keep trashing them, in fact I mentioned that some of the best schools are state schools. All I ever said was that not all schools have the same quality of education. Have you ever noticed the National board averages are not even close at some schools? Or that some schools do way more clinical stuff than others? Every school is different, some more so than others. Some are better, some are worse. You just don't have to be such an ass if you dont understand it, i'll try and dumb it down for you, so someone from your school can understand.