dc-10 said:
Are some GPRs more geared toward certain specialties like where you get to do lots of OS or lots of endo, or lots of pedo?
Well, I interviewed at 9 programs, and each I think had its strengths and weak areas. I think a lot of it depends on the faculty there, the part time attendings, and visiting specialists. I interviewed at one program where they did a ton of pedo ,so obviously if pedo was your cup of tea, then that would be a great program to get more pedo experience. I went to another that had both a GPR and a Post grad endo program, so obviously, not a bad way to go if you wanted to apply for endo.
The program I went through was a VA hospital. We did lots of OS, which was great, and although I never had any intention of applying to OS, I went into private practive with a ton of good experience.
The honest truth about GPR's is that its only a 1 year experience. Its really a short amt of time and it goes by really quickly. Since you're not a dental student anymore, they treat you like the doctor that you are. You have to be independent and self motivating. I've told people who are interested, that what you get out of it, is really what you put into it. If you're interested in Endo, do a lot of endo and go out and seek the tough cases. Work with the endodontists that come in to teach. Visit their offices, pick their brains, etc. The resident that was there the year before me wanted to go into endo... so he did a ton of it, worked really hard, and got into UCLA. The same goes for all the other specialties.
Bottom line is that they're not gonna hold your hand or baby sit you, at least not at the programs on the west coast that i'm familiar with. That may or may not be true of all programs, and since I didn't go to the east, i can't comment on them. Given this, if you want to just cruise through, you totally can. Get nothing out of the program and say that your experience sucked and was a waste of time (which some people will say). But if you take advantage of all the opporunities afforded to you, you'll learn a lot and if there is one area you're really interested in, no doubt will help you further your goal of getting into that specialty.