¡Final list help! Community/public health-minded schools?

[TEETH2424]

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Hi all,
Though I've browsed these forums for awhile, I finally decided to make a SDN account for the application process...Looking for input into my final list of schools?

Though it is not my only requirement, I am hoping that my lists captures the schools that are known for a community/public health emphasis...Even though I'm from the east, I went to school out west and would love to stay out here if possible

Applying to: ASDOH, WestU, Colorado, Roseman, U of P, Harvard, UConn, Nova, (maybe UCLA & UCSF because I am into the idea of P/F grading) .....Any you would add or take out? I can provide my stats if it would be helpful?

 

[ajj70]

MOSDOH. It's not "out west" but very public health oriented. Kirksville is a small town but you do years 3 and 4 in St. Louis in a brand new, beautiful facility. You need 500+ volunteer hours or so for any real consideration though.

 

[TEETH2424]

Thanks - great suggestion! I will definitely look into it - as it turns out, I do have those hours, so it may be a good fit...Thanks again!

 

[Myce]

The University of MN has a dual DDS/MPH program (it's not in the west, but west is in Midwest 🙂). They also have their students take some public health courses during the first two years of dental school. 3rd and 4th year students do 4-6-week outreach rotations at clinics in health professionals shortage areas (HPSAs) in urban and rural areas of MN, as well as in ND, SD, and Montana.

 

[dp93]

MOSDOH. It's not "out west" but very public health oriented. Kirksville is a small town but you do years 3 and 4 in St. Louis in a brand new, beautiful facility. You need 500+ volunteer hours or so for any real consideration though.

im not sure why people keep saying this. Granted i didn't get in (turned down my interview offer for cheaper schools), but the fact that they did technically consider me when i "only" had around 175 volunteer hours tell me they probably care a lot about other stuff too. Even if you don't have the absurd hours (Who seriously has that many-that they didn't make up??) i'd still send an app.

 

[Incis0r]

im not sure why people keep saying this. Granted i didn't get in (turned down my interview offer for cheaper schools), but the fact that they did technically consider me when i "only" had around 175 volunteer hours tell me they probably care a lot about other stuff too. Even if you don't have the absurd hours (Who seriously has that many-that they didn't make up??) i'd still send an app.

This is welcome news. I'm currently around your number and I apply next year. I was worried how I was going to get 300+ hours in one school year lol. Thank you so much!!!

Do you have any recommendations on schools that are focused on public health?

 

[dp93]

This is welcome news. I'm currently around your number and I apply next year. I was worried how I was going to get 300+ hours in one school year lol. Thank you so much!!!

Do you have any recommendations on schools that are focused on public health?

PS- I met with an admissions officer at a state school for a Predental day. She showed me a sample AADSAS application From a student who applied and got in 2 years ago. 600+ volunteer 160 shadow 700+ work. Had 25AA on the DAT and a 4.0. I was stunned.

maybe look into schools that have a post-doc program for dental public health as they probably have more emphasis on the topic or at least more opportunities for you to engage in it. I know Michigan does

 

[TEETH2424]

All great advice - thanks guys! @Myce - that's really cool that MN offers that opportunity for 3rd and 4th years...and @dp93 that's a good approach for sure - thanks!

 

[ajj70]

im not sure why people keep saying this. Granted i didn't get in (turned down my interview offer for cheaper schools), but the fact that they did technically consider me when i "only" had around 175 volunteer hours tell me they probably care a lot about other stuff too. Even if you don't have the absurd hours (Who seriously has that many-that they didn't make up??) i'd still send an app.

I'm sure they do consider other things, but general consensus is that you need quite a bit of volunteer hours. As for getting those hours, it's really not that hard. It's about 3 hours/week over 4 years and if you do some kind of a mission trip or similar, you can pick up quite a few hours. With planning, activities and whatnot, I've gotten about 200 hours in 2 years just with our Habitat group. I'll easily have another 100 after our mission trip. That includes a spring break trip, local builds, etc.

 

[dp93]

I'm sure they do consider other things, but general consensus is that you need quite a bit of volunteer hours. As for getting those hours, it's really not that hard. It's about 3 hours/week over 4 years and if you do some kind of a mission trip or similar, you can pick up quite a few hours. With planning, activities and whatnot, I've gotten about 200 hours in 2 years just with our Habitat group. I'll easily have another 100 after our mission trip. That includes a spring break trip, local builds, etc.

we could go back and forth about this but my only point that i was making is that people who don't have the 600 or something ridiculous amount of hours should still apply because theres more to an app (to MOSDOH/ASDOH) than just that. We can't really prove it one way or another unless they disclose to us the average amount of volunteer hours the matriculants have.

 

[CleverThought]

My mind jumps to Minnesota and Iowa, maybe because I'm most familiar with them. Minnesota has a DDS/MPH program and Iowa had a distinction tract in public health that doesn't cost extra tuition and doesn't take more time to graduate. They also have a dental public health graduate program. As far as i know too, both schools have rotations in rural communities during your 3 and/or 4 years

 

[Incis0r]

My mind jumps to Minnesota and Iowa, maybe because I'm most familiar with them. Minnesota has a DDS/MPH program and Iowa had a distinction tract in public health that doesn't cost extra tuition and doesn't take more time to graduate. They also have a dental public health graduate program. As far as i know too, both schools have rotations in rural communities during your 3 and/or 4 years

Can you tell me more about this distinction track? Is Iowa a school you're interested in?

 

[TEETH2424]

Hey @CleverThought - thanks! Are you a student at either one of those universities? And if so, are you having a good experience at the school?

 

[CleverThought]

Sorry guys, just saw I was tagged in these posts!

Can you tell me more about this distinction track? Is Iowa a school you're interested in?

They have you take 11 credits of public health classes outside of the DDS curriculum. They have grants to cover the tuition and I think most, if not all, the classes are online. You can take them with your other classes or during summer breaks. Upon completion, you graduate with a distinction in dental public health.

I'm a rising D2 at Iowa

Hey @CleverThought - thanks! Are you a student at either one of those universities? And if so, are you having a good experience at the school?

I'm a D2 at Iowa and interviewed/was accepted at Minnesota. I love Iowa. We've already seen patients during our D1 year for cleanings and hop right into operative the fall of D2 year. I have no regrets about my decision where to attend! If you have specific questions let me know.

 

[TEETH2424]

Sorry guys, just saw I was tagged in these posts!


They have you take 11 credits of public health classes outside of the DDS curriculum. They have grants to cover the tuition and I think most, if not all, the classes are online. You can take them with your other classes or during summer breaks. Upon completion, you graduate with a distinction in dental public health.

I'm a rising D2 at Iowa


I'm a D2 at Iowa and interviewed/was accepted at Minnesota. I love Iowa. We've already seen patients during our D1 year for cleanings and hop right into operative the fall of D2 year. I have no regrets about my decision where to attend! If you have specific questions let me know.

Thanks @CleverThought ! Good to know - good luck with your 2nd year !