Not only not necessary but, I think, actually detrimental to your image. You can state the name of your training program and even your year in it ("6th year DMD/MPH" or whatever). I have given the same advice to MD/PhD students who, after returning to clinics, start signing their chart notes "Mickey Mouse, PhD". Trust me, this is not a good idea. Humility will earn you more brownie points than impressive future credentials.
Not only does that sound brash, but at some schools I don't think the PhD is awarded until you finish both the MD
and PhD. So in some cases it just wouldn't be true until they've fully graduated. It's not official until it's official!
I think it's not necessary. Just like you don't put PhD (year) next to your name when you are still a grad student.
I don't know about your graduation year, but with PhDs it can be common to indicate a couple of different stages of your education:
Advancing to PhD candidacy is more highly valued at some schools than it is at other schools. At my school, advancing to candidacy requires first passing your qualifying exams, then majority votes of your home department and then the graduate council. At some schools they even have you participate in the commencement ceremonies.
As a consequence, I have commonly seen people say "Brian Smith, PhD Candidate" on their CV, presentations, and once even on a business card. I think that's totally acceptable in lots of circumstances
if you've officially advanced to candidacy.
It's also acceptable in some circumstances to give your credentials as "Jane Smith, PhD (ABD)" if you are
truly "all but dissertation." The ABD/all-but-dissertation designation is often times another official milestone... usually your dissertation committee has to sign forms saying that you have permission to start writing your dissertation. To me it wouldn't make sense to put this on a departmental seminar presentation, because those people know where you stand in the department. But if you're a PhD student who's truly ABD and who's applying for post-doc positions, then it's common to list your ABD status on your CV when you send it out, so that PIs and training grant directors know that you're serious.
Side note... "ABD" has different meanings in different disciplines... in biological sciences where you typically do years of research before a brief frenzy of writing, "ABD" means that you've nearly completed your project. On the other hand, someone getting their PhD in literary criticism might be "ABD" when they've only completed two out of seven years of their graduate school... they spend a lot more time in the writing phase!
🙂
Quick question. Would it be ok to put my future credentials at the beginnign of a powerpoint presentation when presenting my research project (ex. DMD, MPH 14')? Would that be non-professional? Assholian? Let me know what you think. Thanks!
I've heard a rumor that dental students at my future medical school start calling each other "doctor" from day one. Is this something that's common among dental students? I'm not asking this to be a jerk--I've really heard that rumor!
