I dont mean to rain on your parade , but I would like to point out a couple of things:
1. The AEGD at U Rochester is NOT the only program with such advantages in the US.I am aware of that and I have three years of research regarding "our"status as FTDs . I am an active member of the ADEA I have an extensive network and I keep up to date on my journals. In fact there is a ton of BETTER programs in terms of what you get paid. As I recall they pay you 5k a year at that program and charge u like 1.5 k for insurance and you still have to come up with your living expenses.I am a third generation white Irish /Italian American and a native New Yorker . My wife is a Defense Med-Mal Attorney in the state of New York ,and I have family in Rochester. Regardless of your opinion I know my community of the FTDs we are not concerned with the programs or where they are at , it is we who make even the worse programs better because we are already Dentist .So regardless of " BETTER " or not, it is of small value to us. our goal is to get into any system to make a difference for ourselves our family and the people around us who need our help.
2. I dont know about you but I actually visited there and let me tell you, that city (Rochester) is so depressing. But then again I was there for like one day, still I didnt have a good vibe about it at all.TO THE FTD THAT IS TRYING TO GET INTO THE SYSTEM TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY LOVE AND DO BEST , THIS BECOMES THE LEAST PRIMARY FACTOR. AGAIN I AM A NEW YORKER BORN AND RAISED AND I HAVE FAMILY THERE AND THIS MAKES IT A VERY MINUTE ISSUE. I SHOULD STATE THAT I AM HERE TO PRACTICE WHAT I ALREADY AM AND BELEIVE ME IF I HAD TO PRACTICE IN HELL TO GET WHERE I NEED TO BE I WILL . IN FACT I HAVE ALREADY EARNED MY DDS FROM A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY . I AM A WHITE AMERICAN WHO GREW UP IN THE SECURE CONFINDS OF LONG ISLAND AND CORAL CABLES FLORIDA AND WENT TO STUDY IN A POOR BLACK -SPANISH COUNTRY SO EVEN IF ROCHESTER IS THAT BAD, YOU OBVIOOUSLY DONT KNOW WHERE I HAVE BEEN AND WHAT I HAVE DONE TO GET WHERE I AM AT. MY STORY REFLECTS ALMOST ALL OF US WHO ARE FTDs NT FROM AMERICA OR CANADA
3. The info that 16 states will grant you licensure based on such program is not accurate, the number is much less and you are still under the mercy of how the board interprets their rules or they may change the rules altogether.
I strongly recommend you research potential licensure thoroughly before you choose your path.AS FAR AS MY PATH , MY PATH HAS BEEEN LAID OUT BEFORE ME IT IS NOT EVEN A CONCERN . YOU SHOULD READ UP ON THE DIRECTOR OF ROCHESTER'S AEGD PROGRAM AND WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE NOT ONLY FOR THE COMMUNITY BUT, FTDs ON WHOLE . FOR ME, THAT IS THE KIND OF DENTIST I ASPIRE TO BE. I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD CHECK YOURS . I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH FOR NY AND IT WILL NOT CHANGE WHEN YOU DO A TWO YEAR AEGD AT ROCHESTER YOU CAN PRACTICE IN NEW YORK IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE. AS FAR AS OTHER STATES IF I AM LOCKED DOWN TO NY THEN SO BE IT . NOTHING WRONG WHITH THE GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK , I HAVE BEEN HERE MY WHOLE LIFE
Please also note that NY now requires even grads of american schools to do a PGY1 after dental school (starting '07), so that may affect how they look at ur program.IF YOU LIVE IN NEW YORK AND ARE AS INVOLVED AS I AM YOU KNOW THATS OLD NEWS AND ALSO,YOU KNEW THAT WAS COMING, AND IN MY CASE MY OLDEST BROTHER IS A NEW YORK POLITICIAN . BY THE WAY I SUPPORT THIS 100% BECAUSE FIRST IT APPLYS TO EVERYONE ,AMERICANS AND FTDs . ON A WHOLE IT IS ADDRESSING AN ISSUE IN AMERICA . WHICH IS PROVIDING CARE FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE BY ADDING MORE DOCTORS INTO THE PUBLIC ARENA. NOT TO MENTION THE MORE EXPERIENCE WE GET FROM CONTROLLED ACADEMIC AND CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS . THIS IS SURE TO MAKE BETTER DOCTORS . IT IS A WIN WIN SITUATION AND MORE STATE SHOULD FOLLOW SUITE.
4. What I would also recommend for any International DDS seeking admission into such programs is to participate with the MATCH. Now the good thing about it is that you can contact GPR and AEGD programs which still have vacant positions that were not filled through the match and will have a good chance of getting an admission. The match service website will give you that list if you have participated in the match.THIS WHOLE PARAGRAPH LEADS ME TO SPECULATE EVEN IF YOU ARE A FTD. MARK MY WORDS I AM HEARING THAT MORE AND MORE PROGRAMS ARE DROPPING PASS AND MATCH. I DID NOT USE EITHER ONE TO GET AN INTERVIEW AT ROCHESTER AND MY BEST FRIEND IS FALCULTY AT U of F AND THEY NO LONGER USE PASS. ALSO IF YOU READ THE STATE LAW FOR MOST OF THE USA THEN YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE EDUCATIONAL STANDARD OF COPITENCY FOR A FTD TO BE COMPARED TO AN AMERICAN IS A LEAST TWO YEARS. THAT IS WHY THE ADVANCED STANDING PROGRAMS ARE A LEAST TWO TO THREE YEARS IN DURATION. SO THAT CHANGES A LOT FOR AEGD AND GPRs WHICH FOR THE MOST PART ARE 1 YEAR AND ONLY EXCEPT AMERICANS AND CANADIANS. SO ,WE AS FTDs NEED MORE PROGRAMS LIKE ROCHESTER AND AGAIN ,AS FAR AS FTDs GO, WE ARE ABLE TO ADAPT . WE HAVE ALL ADAPTED AND OVERCOME JUST TO GET HERE . JUST TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BECOME WHAT WE ARE , DENTISTS .
Best of luck.
