High DAT/GPA, better dental school?

[absolutely]

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All dental school are pretty much the same in preparing dentists.

 

[crazy4clana]

I agree! 🙂

 

[PCrooks]

I truly believe that each dental school that is accredited are of equal quality. They all give out the same DDS/DMD and train their students specifically to pass their regions respective boards. It is up to the students whether or not they put in the time and effort needed in order for them as individuals to pass with high marks.

Yes, each school do publish various DAT/GPA averages. However, not one school can boast about graduating an entire class of the superior, robocop type dentist or even the most successful practioners overall. The ADA states that the future outlook for our profession looks bright. That future outlook belongs to each student enrolled in a dental school today. Success doesn't depend on whether one graduates from university A or university B.

There are many reasons why one chooses a dental school. Some choose schools based soley on high averages, others may want to stay close to home or choose the school with the lower tuition. Some applicants want to go to school in the city, others prefer smaller towns. Some like smaller classes, or choose schools based on religious reasons. I chose Howard over the other schools because of it's rich tradition and commitment to educating African Americans.

 

[Regmata]

All schools are not equal. You choose the school based on what you want to do. Personally, I feel that there are schools that prepare you better clinically than didactically. If you are into research and/or academic dentistry then you may want to go to a school with a great didactic reputation. If you want to go into private practice or do clinical work, then go to a school that will prepare you appropriately. Again, my opinion...but I don't think that a didactic school prepares you best for acceptance to a specialty program. If you want to specialize, then pick a school that is good at both. Regardless of how good your school is in either area, you still must perform to a standard. Sure, schools with higher average scores for entering students do attract so called "more serious" applicants. That increases your competition and for programs that value class rank, that is a disadvantage to you. Personally, my scores were higher than any schools average statistics and I chose a clinically based school whose students consistently score in the top 20% on the boards...I will get the best of both worlds and with a little bit of hard work, can do whatever I want. Although I don't discredit the schools that SDN'ers consider to be tops, I do think that they are held in too high of regard. I will match for whatever specialty I want...and save tons of money in the process 😱

 

[War Eagle]

I chose a clinically based school whose students consistently score in the top 20% on the boards

This may be a dumb question, but where did you find the info on which schools are more clinically based and which are more academic? I have found info about board scores on some school websites but not all. Do I just need to visit the different schools' websites and research harder, or is there a website somewhere that has all the info?

 

[Regmata]

My info comes from my school and their own resources...so there is a bit of trust there. Although, I heard this after starting, so they were no longer trying to build up the school. Not that the info couldn't be wrong, but all of the feedback I have gotten from both students and faculty seems to support the claim.

 

[polskasila]

I think all schools pretty much say that they will do an outstanding job preparing you clinically. However, some schools will have a stronger clinical preparation as opposed to others but it will not outright say it anywhere. I think comparing different curriculum will give you a better idea of which one is more focused on clinical rather than didactic preparation.

I interviewed at Tufts today and they seem to have a really strong clinical prep. Preclinic starts first year and they have really great facilities.
At Buffalo I got an impression that it does not have as strong of a clinical prep; older facilities and not much preclinic first year...
I also observed that at Buffalo, the focus was more on didactic and research;
At Tufts the whole program was covered well but clinical experience was covered the most.

So when you go to a school and they cant seem to shut up about something its because thats what they're proud of.

As far as DAT/GPA averages go, i dont think it has much to do with the seriousness of the students or quality of preparation in most cases. A lot of times, as mentioned above there are many factors contributing to the decisions of high achieving students. In my opinion, costs are a huge determinant. Personally, I was more impressed with tufts than buffalo and buffalo's averages were much higher with tuition much much lower.

 

[PCrooks]

👍 Good argument Regmata. Perhaps an individual will be prepared better for a specific career options depending on the emphasis of the school. I also agree that many SDNers hold some schools in too high of regard.

Also, no one can deny that attending a school that accepts only the candidates with the highest stats isn't an accomplishment. However, the reputation of a school alone doesn't guarentee one's future success as a practicing dentist. Give and take a few things each school generally learn how to diagnose and perform the same types of procedures. If one can master these concepts and techniques they should do well in dental school, on the boards and in the profession.

 

[Regmata]

At Buffalo I got an impression that it does not have as strong of a clinical prep; older facilities and not much preclinic first year... I also observed that at Buffalo, the focus was more on didactic and research

What Buffalo school were you at? Buffalo is known as being one of the better clinical programs and is not very well known for didactics or research. Not that either is lacking, it just isn't the forefront of the program.

 

[qwerty86]

I would say you will have more choices of schools to pick from

 

[rkamsterdam]

HOWEVER! There are schools that attract, on average, better and more serious students than other schools.

and all the other schools are podunk!

 

[litldime]

If such dental schools were only seeking out the cream of the crop, as you put it, more serious, hardworking students with the high dat/gpa...then these schools incoming gpa should be >3.8 and above and 25+ on the dat etc... but this isn't the case....high dat/gpa are not the only factors that adcoms use to grant admission...there are students with 3.5 gpas that do get into such top schools...so its not so cookie-cutter...high gpa/dat doesn't equal competent dentist

 

[SHC1984]

Really? being higher then every school means you score at least 25+ on the DAT and a GPA of 3.9+ (since Harvards average stats are 24.5 DAT and 3.87 GPA...) R you on predents? which school did you choose? just wondering....

All schools are not equal. You choose the school based on what you want to do. Personally, I feel that there are schools that prepare you better clinically than didactically. If you are into research and/or academic dentistry then you may want to go to a school with a great didactic reputation. If you want to go into private practice or do clinical work, then go to a school that will prepare you appropriately. Again, my opinion...but I don't think that a didactic school prepares you best for acceptance to a specialty program. If you want to specialize, then pick a school that is good at both. Regardless of how good your school is in either area, you still must perform to a standard. Sure, schools with higher average scores for entering students do attract so called "more serious" applicants. That increases your competition and for programs that value class rank, that is a disadvantage to you. Personally, my scores were higher than any schools average statistics and I chose a clinically based school whose students consistently score in the top 20% on the boards...I will get the best of both worlds and with a little bit of hard work, can do whatever I want. Although I don't discredit the schools that SDN'ers consider to be tops, I do think that they are held in too high of regard. I will match for whatever specialty I want...and save tons of money in the process 😱

 

[SHC1984]

Thats a good question....not sure if the dental school is actually better or not...but we know its higher in demand, more research opportunties, and harder to get into...

Many people in this forum have said that while each dental school is unique, most dental schools are of equal quality.

I am of the opinion that each dental school is fully capable of preparing students to become highly competent dentists. I also believe that there are no schools that will ever keep a bright hardworking student from leaving his/her mark.

HOWEVER! There are schools that attract, on average, better and more serious students than other schools. You believe this if you believe there is some substance to GPAs and DAT scores, as ADCOMMs do. Anyone who has been through the Dental School application process knows that there are schools that are more difficult to get into than others. Admissions committees try their best to get these more serious students into their schools.

I think a student body that is comprised of serious, hardworking students is a great asset and advantage to a dental school. So do ADCOMMs. ADCOMMs also seem to think that these students will make better dentists. Im not sure what evidence ADCOMMS have to support this belief, but I think you will have hard time disproving the fact that ADCOMMS do in fact have this belief.

Why wouldn't someone want to go to a school where they can surround themselves with a greater number of more serious students, which ADCOMMs seem to think will make better dentists?

Money maybe, thats probably why I will go VCU over UPENN, but I don't blame people for wanting to go to UPENN or other schools like it.

 

[absolutely]

high dat/gpa are not the only factors that adcoms use to grant admission...there are students with 3.5 gpas that do get into such top schools...so its not so cookie-cutter...high gpa/dat doesn't equal competent dentist

I'll agree with that. There's no denying it. I'll also agree with you that these students get into more competitive schools, and that there are more competitive schools.

I also agree that some of the best student go to schools that can be considered less competitive. I certainly wouldn't advocate choosing a school solely based on DATs and GPA's, but I think its fine if its a factor.

 

[will9631]

I've found that some dental schools are certainly better than others with regard to specific applicants, and some schools are just better overall. However, I've also found that the differences between the dentists that graduate from those programs disappear after a few years of practicing dentistry (at least according to all the dentists I've talked to from all the different schools I've applied to), since they quickly become more skilled and knowledgable than any new graduate of even the best dental school. The "x" factor here I think is how easy it is to get into a specialty afterwards, but that often depends more on the student or the specific programs rather than the statistics of admission.

None of this is anything more than impressions and opinions of course, but thats the feeling I've gotten over the last two years.

 

[jigabodo]

What Buffalo school were you at? Buffalo is known as being one of the better clinical programs and is not very well known for didactics or research. Not that either is lacking, it just isn't the forefront of the program.

I agree with Regmata here. UB is known for its good clinical programs.