Easier than U.S. ?

[PreDentJennifer]

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We all know that medical schools in the Carribean are easier to get into... and it's not a bad place to live either.

Is there such a place for Dental? Somewhere easier to get into that is able to be certified in the U.S.? Please let me know since my GPA isn't so stellar due to a bad few years.

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[Omahahahaha]

Then only US approved school that I know of is the University of Puerto Rico School of Dentistry. It has lower admissions stats and it is ADA certified.

 

[ShawnOne]

I have heard of some people who have gone to the Philappines (sp?) and then started international dentists programs. You definately wont be saving any time! Probably best to take a year or two and better prepare to get into an American school from the get-go.

 

[UBTom]

Don't let UPR's "lower" stats fool you.

If you are not a Puerto Rico resident, it is VERY hard to get in there. This is from their website:

The School of Dentistry of the University of Puerto Rico is the result of another effort made by the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to continue its efforts to improve and safeguard the health of its people. The University of Puerto Rico recognizes its obligation in training personnel to meet the dental health challenge of the island. For this reason, initial preference is given to residents of Puerto Rico, but 5 positions are reserved for non- resident US citizen students.

5 non-residents!! You got applicants from all over the country fighting for just 5 spots. So unless you got some kick-ass GPA and DAT, don't even think of applying if you are not a Puerto Rican.


to PreDentJennifer:

What you want to do is apply to all the Texas schools. The UT schools give preference to TX residents, so you already got an advantage over applicants from the other 49 states there. Then round out your application with out-of-state private schools that does not have residence preferences, and you should have a good chance of getting in somewhere.

Good luck.

 

[Meggs]

Originally posted by PreDentJennifer
We all know that medical schools in the Carribean are easier to get into... and it's not a bad place to live either.

Is there such a place for Dental? Somewhere easier to get into that is able to be certified in the U.S.? Please let me know since my GPA isn't so stellar due to a bad few years.

Thanks,
Jennifer

Nop, is not a bad place to live.

Yes, is just as easy in dental.

ADA certified and EASIER to get into? nop, there's not such thing.

Point: If you can get accepted into an ADA school, don't go through the hassle.

 

[PashaJ]

There is a school in Trinidad too. Their website is:

www.uwidentalschool.net

It might be easier but not worth it unless if you go straight from HS then apply as an international student.

 

[Angdeep]

ive read up a lot on this school...and they award a DDS as well...but does this mean when we come back to the US to practice, we only have to take the state board...like for california to practice we only need to take the part 4 exam if we have a dds degree from another state...so does this apply for the dds from the west indies university as well??

 

[DeltronZ]

Going to an inferior school makes you an inferior dentist.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by DeltronZ
Going to an inferior school makes you an inferior dentist.

How do you know its an inferior school?

 

[PreDentJennifer]

how does that make you an inferior dentist? You are what you are.

 

[PashaJ]

If you want to practice in the US you'll have to complete an Advanced Standing program at one of the many dental schools (Columbia, NYU, Tufts, BU...) and it's a two-three year program. As I said it's good if you go straight from HS but you'll waste 2 years (or more b/c the AS programs are hard to get into).

Actually for those who are reapplying and have the year off I think this would be a great place to go for the year and it would look good (I think) to the dental schools in that you're serious about attending.

 

[Angdeep]

actually, those two-three year advanced placement programs for foreign denstists are for those dentists who dont have a dds...i know because my dad was a dentist in india and had a BDS so therefore had the choice of doing the program, or taking the boards on his own...this is why i was asking this question because this school in the west indies gives a DDS, which is an accepted degree in the US as opposed to the LDS or BDS that other countries give.
About the comment about this being an inferior schoo, i highly disagree, i know of enough dentists who have graduated out of good schools like UOP who know nothing. Its all about who takes advantage of what opportunities and who is cut out for the profession.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by PashaJ
There is a school in Trinidad too. Their website is:

www.uwidentalschool.net

It might be easier but not worth it unless if you go straight from HS then apply as an international student.

I'm Trinidadian, and my Uncle is a professor at the medical college. My other uncle, in Trinidad, attended UWI and practices dentistry in the country. After talking to da' fam, I wouldn't say that the school is "easier." There schooling is much harder than the United States, in the sense that being "book-smart" is all that they care about.

All of my cousins that came to North America that went to school in Trinidad tear it up here, because they say the schooling here is so easy. My older brother went to school in Trinidad for 5 years, and when we came to North America, they wanted to jump him 2 grades... no joke. He ended up only jumping one because my mom didn't want me to feel out of place.

Then again, UWI DOESN'T require organic chem or a DAT score. Still, the program is 5 years. But one thing is fo' sure: Trini party scene is crazzzyyy... rum till I die!

This is the new site, for peeps that our interested:

http://sta.uwi.edu/fms/prog_dds.php


My uncle, the same one that I mentioned, has a great practice in Trinidad. He has the same equipment that my personal dentist in the States has. He also passed the NDEB both parts on his first try. So for all you people saying that it is an "inferior" school... good thing you've been there and seen their alumni, right? That's just plan arrogant...

pce,

bus.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by Angdeep
actually, those two-three year advanced placement programs for foreign denstists are for those dentists who dont have a dds...i know because my dad was a dentist in india and had a BDS so therefore had the choice of doing the program, or taking the boards on his own...this is why i was asking this question because this school in the west indies gives a DDS, which is an accepted degree in the US as opposed to the LDS or BDS that other countries give.
About the comment about this being an inferior schoo, i highly disagree, i know of enough dentists who have graduated out of good schools like UOP who know nothing. Its all about who takes advantage of what opportunities and who is cut out for the profession.

http://www.ada.org/prof/prac/licensure/us.pdf

According to the ADA, dentists practicing in the US must have graduated from an ACCREDITED school. UWI, not being accredited, is considered a foreign school; although they give a DDS degree. Is this correct? Someon help me out here.

bus.

 

[savvysearch]

University of PR is probably much harder to get into. The class size isnt any bigger than those in the US. And Im sure Puerto Rico wants to graduate Puerto Ricans who will practice in their country rather than Americans who will take the education and then leave.

On a side note, my friend applied to a dental school in Australia on a whim and got in while being rejected by all the US schools.

 

[busupshot83]

Not to mention that they require you to have minimum 12 credits of Spanish, and most people in the U.S. can't even speak the English language good.

 

[gryffindor]

In order to practice in the US, you must graduate from an ADA accredited school - and these include the dental schools in the USA & Canada only. You must either complete the 4 year DDS program or one of the 2 -3 year Advanced Standing programs offered for international dentists who graduated from a dental school not in the USA or Canada.

The only way around this is to be affiliated with a dental school. As in, you don't need a US DDS to teach in an American dental school, and I think there are some "loopholes" that allow foreign dentists to see some private patients within the school setting. Also, from reading the Int'l Dentist Forums, it sounds like there are a few states that might let you practice without an American DDS if you can pass their exams, but I guarantee New York is NOT on that list. (They're always talking about the "California Bench Exam" over there and I think that's what this is...)

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by Angdeep
this is why i was asking this question because this school in the west indies gives a DDS, which is an accepted degree in the US

Not quite true. Just because the initials of the degree are the same (DDS in this case), that doesn't mean the degree is equivalent.

I don't know much about this, but I do believe that you can't practice in the US without graduating from an accredited dental school.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by busupshot83
Not to mention that they require you to have minimum 12 credits of Spanish, and most people in the U.S. can't even speak the English language good.

Hmm. You mean "speak the English language well."

Point taken 😀

 

[ItsGavinC]

One final thought from me: Being licensed to practice dentistry in the US is NOT like being licensed to practice medicine. Those things that medical applicants have (such as off-shore schools, etc.) don't exist in the dental world.

IF you are from one of those schools, I'm pretty sure you're looking at 2 min. years of training before practicing here.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by ItsGavinC
Hmm. You mean "speak the English language well."

Point taken 😀

see? i can't even speak english well. 😎

 

[Meggs]

Originally posted by griffin04
....The only way around this is to be affiliated with a dental school. As in, you don't need a US DDS to teach in an American dental school, and I think there are some "loopholes" that allow foreign dentists to see some private patients within the school setting....

Yes, this is right, but in order to become a teacher under those conditions, you need much more than just the dental degree. Usually the people that go trough those "loopholes" have post graduate education in either US schools or foreign schools with great reputation.

 

[busupshot83]

i'm lost...