How important are externship opportunities?

[zdoq]

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I am trying to weigh between schools that have varying lengths of time in their required externship opporunitites. Some are 2 weeks, 9 weeks, or even 12 weeks in total. Within those longer externship lengths, you would rotate to different sites every two weeks or so I believe. How important are these externship opportunities in refining skills/preparing for the real world? In general, is it better to have longer times blocked out for externships in the curriculum?

 

[macsak]

I am trying to weigh between schools that have varying lengths of time in their required externship opporunitites. Some are 2 weeks, 9 weeks, or even 12 weeks in total. Within those longer externship lengths, you would rotate to different sites every two weeks or so I believe. How important are these externship opportunities in refining skills/preparing for the real world? In general, is it better to have longer times blocked out for externships in the curriculum?

do not choose based upon only externships...

 

[zdoq]

do not choose based upon only externships...

I am not, it's a fringe factor that I am curious about. I'm making a big comparison excel sheet with every factor I may even slightly consider because I want to make the best decision for me.

 

[macsak]

I am not, it's a fringe factor that I am curious about. I'm making a big comparison excel sheet with every factor I may even slightly consider because I want to make the best decision for me.

please post a summary here and we can give input

 

[macsak]

please post a summary here and we can give input

and congrats, you got into a bunch of awesome schools...

 

[zdoq]

Thank you!
Well, I kind of summarized it in my first post but 3 schools I am deciding between are UCSF, UMich, and UMaryland. UCSF has a 9 week externship, Umich has a 12 week externship, and UMaryland has a 2 week externship. It would be nice to understand how important this externship factor is so I can weigh the programs against each other to push my decision even more.

 

[macsak]

Thank you!
Well, I kind of summarized it in my first post but 3 schools I am deciding between are UCSF, UMich, and UMaryland. UCSF has a 9 week externship, Umich has a 12 week externship, and UMaryland has a 2 week externship. It would be nice to understand how important this externship factor is so I can weigh the programs against each other to push my decision even more.

no, i meant make a summary of your excel sheet with all the factors for all the schools and we could give input on that

 

[deleted1073010]

Are you thinking about specializing? An extra few weeks dedicated to doing externships would be really nice if you have any interest in OMFS. That way you don't have to use up your breaks. Just a thought

 

[AONLINE]

Our school's externships used to be 8-9 weeks in lengths, but this year they are reduced to 3-4 weeks due to COVID. Most D4's are not complaining because now they have more time in school to complete their graduation requirements.

 

[zdoq]

Are you thinking about specializing? An extra few weeks dedicated to doing externships would be really nice if you have any interest in OMFS. That way you don't have to use up your breaks. Just a thought

Yes, I do have an interest in pursuing OMFS. I’m wondering though, during these school mandated externship periods, can you choose to go to a more OMFS heavy externship? To my understanding, these externships are based in more community clinic/ FQHC type environments, right?

 

[deleted1073010]

Yes, I do have an interest in pursuing OMFS. I’m wondering though, during these school mandated externship periods, can you choose to go to a more OMFS heavy externship? To my understanding, these externships are based in more community clinic/ FQHC type environments, right?

Depends on the school. My school has community clinic requirements and an additional externship requirement that can be fulfilled doing externships at an OMFS program. I'm sure everywhere is different though

 

[Rambunctious]

I am trying to weigh between schools that have varying lengths of time in their required externship opporunitites. Some are 2 weeks, 9 weeks, or even 12 weeks in total. Within those longer externship lengths, you would rotate to different sites every two weeks or so I believe. How important are these externship opportunities in refining skills/preparing for the real world? In general, is it better to have longer times blocked out for externships in the curriculum?

Go to UCSF! Nothing you do in dental school will make you 100% prepared for the real world. Once you start actually working is when you pick up speed and confidence. I'm saying UCSF as their specializing acceptance rates are very high.

 

[PerioDont]

Go to UCSF! Nothing you do in dental school will make you 100% prepared for the real world. Once you start actually working is when you pick up speed and confidence. I'm saying UCSF as their specializing acceptance rates are very high.

Absolutely true. dental school is training wheels.

That being said, I would think specialty acceptance is quite high for UCSF and Michigan both - so I would just pick the cheaper one. You can definitely match OMFS from either. I don't know anything about Maryland.

 

[AONLINE]

I know an OMFS resident from Mich and a Perio guy from UCSF. You can certainly specialize from both.