How Important Is The Dental School You Attend

[DREDAY]

Hello,

I am currently applying to dental school (DDS program) and I was kinda confused as to how important the school you attend is if you decide to specialize after obtaining your dds. Specifically, University of the Pacific only has 1 specialization program, orthodontics. I was wandering, if a student gets accepted and decides to attend UOP for the DDS degree, will they have any problem getting into specialization programs from other schools once he graduates? or are dental schools more likely to accept students from their own school into their specialty programs? Also in regards to UOP, 4 years are compressed into 3 years so the number of units you take per quarter is higher. So I imagine it is alot more difficult to get involved with extra curricular activities and volunteering at the school in order to establish a strong application for a specialization program. Is someone better off just going to a 4 year school and building their resume if they want to specialize?

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[psiyung]

best dental school -- reason #1 --> the school that accepts you
best dental school -- reasons #2 --> cheap?

 

[DREDAY]

still doesn't answer the question. thanks for the attempt though.

 

[DrJeff]

best dental school -- reason #1 --> the school that accepts you
best dental school -- reasons #2 --> cheap?

Very, very well put.

The other variable is how badly do you want to specialize?? Some of the more competitive residencies *may* view an applicant from a "prestigous" dental school more favorably. Most though don't really care where you went ot dental school, but are more interested in your board scores and reccomendations.

Patients really don't care where you went to dental school, personally in the 7 1/2 years since I graduated I could probably count the number of times I've been asked where I went to dental school by one of my patients on one hand.

Basicaly goto school where it "feels right" too you. You're much more likely to thrive academically in a school that you attend because you're enthusiastic about what th school offers than what its name is.

 

[Gutta Percha]

Exactly how do you know you will specialize. And if you do know that no matter what you will specialize then it shouldn't matter where you go. However, if you want a damn good education then UOP is the place to be. All other schools admin. know UOP students are generally the most prepared for private practice which is the reason the nevada and az schools were modeled after Uop. But if you are concerned about specializing then go to harvard--everybody specializes there. Regardless of what school you go to its hard to be in the top 5% and score 90+ on the boards, and that is really all the schools are going to look at for someone apply right out of d.school. If you go to UOP, work for 5-10 years in your own practice and then specialize you will be better off. People who go specialize right after d. school really don't know the first thing about dentistry and I don't think it is wise (except for oral surgeons b/c they go to school for so many more years). At this point you should be focusing on getting into dental school, and if you're lucky and good enough to go to UOP then talk to Dr. Dugoni (only 20 months left)--if he likes you then you're golden.

 

[Bickle]

Exactly how do you know you will specialize. And if you do know that no matter what you will specialize then it shouldn't matter where you go. .

I would like to $pecialize.

 

[uicd2]

DREDAY,

Yes it does matter.

For example, program director at ABC Dental School might take a resident from Upacific one year, and really like him. They the next year he might take another resident from Upacific and really like him. Next thing you know, he wants at least one resident from Upacific every year because he knows that he has a high success rate in finding a good match from the school.

But you never know which post-grad programs and which dental schools have that kind of relationship. So... you're analyzing this issue too deeply.



However, you could always go to the dental school at which you want to do post-grad and IF you know how to network and play the game, put the odds in your favor for matching there.

 

[UNLV OMS GUNNABE]

If you work hard and stay at the top of your class you will specialize. Bottom line.

 

[VancouverDoc2b]

If you work hard and stay at the top of your class you will specialize. Bottom line.

Amen UNLV. Hows the pursuit for OMS??

 

[Woodsy]

If you work hard and stay at the top of your class you will specialize. Bottom line.

you are sooo funny man work hard and stay at top of your class...you think other people in your class are stupid too?

You make it sound so easy...



Bottom line, it's all about connections. Who you know, NOT what you know. Dun need to be in the top of ur class. Do decent, work hard and NETWORK.

You're in 3rd year u should know this.

It DOES matter where you go to school to a certain extent. For example, if person from good school A has similar stats to person from ok school B and both don't have connections to school C (place of residency), then person from school A wins even if school B person has slightly higher marks.

 

[aphistis]

you are sooo funny man work hard and stay at top of your class...you think other people in your class are stupid too?

You make it sound so easy...

...I'm sorry, I apparently missed the part of his post where he said staying at the top of a dental class was easy.

Ah. Right. My mistake; you're just putting words in his mouth.

Bottom line, it's all about connections. Who you know, NOT what you know. Dun need to be in the top of ur class. Do decent, work hard and NETWORK.

You're in 3rd year u should know this.

OK, informal straw poll--who here believes the D3 who's already smoked Part I, externed for his desired specialty, and has been treating patients since before Woodsy here got to school? OK, now who believes the cocksure D1 who thinks he knows how the system works, despite the fact he can barely tell a cusp from a condyle?

Righto--just checking.

It DOES matter where you go to school to a certain extent. For example, if person from good school A has similar stats to person from ok school B and both don't have connections to school C (place of residency), then person from school A wins even if school B person has slightly higher marks.

Ah, but that's not what you just said above--you never qualified your comments with "all things being equal," you just issued a blanket proclamation that "it's who you know, not what you know." Your bachelor's (you have one, right?) must not have been in forensics. Are you taking any licensing exams this spring? You sound like you already know everything you need to about dentistry.

Cheerio.

 

[ItsGavinC]

you are sooo funny man work hard and stay at top of your class...you think other people in your class are stupid too?

You make it sound so easy...

Maybe you find it funny, but it's true.

And you've got to realize that he never said it was easy. Sure, the gameplan is easy (work hard and stay at the top of your class) but executing it probably isn't easy for most people. Those are two different things, so don't jump all over him because you misinterpret what he said.

 

[DDSSlave]

If you work hard and stay at the top of your class you will specialize. Bottom line.

Agreed. Wherever you go, be sure to make time for research. If you're considering OMFS make time for externships.

 

[DcS]

It DOES matter where you go to school to a certain extent. For example, if person from good school A has similar stats to person from ok school B and both don't have connections to school C (place of residency), then person from school A wins even if school B person has slightly higher marks.

WRONG. If person A and person B have similar stats that school C deems acceptable, both will get interviews. They will then be chosen based on the perception the faculty have of them, if they feel they will fit in with the program, etc. And please don't tell me 2 people are going to have identical personalities. That's why acceptances aren't granted without an interview, so it doesn't come down to something trivial like what school is "better".

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

WRONG. If person A and person B have similar stats that school C deems acceptable, both will get interviews. They will then be chosen based on the perception the faculty have of them, if they feel they will fit in with the program, etc. And please don't tell me 2 people are going to have identical personalities. That's why acceptances aren't granted without an interview, so it doesn't come down to something trivial like what school is "better".

Exactly!! And why are u guys even talking to Woodsy...its been quite clear from his history of posts that he is as superficial as they come.....of course he is gonna say that the name of the school matters....just like how Mercedes is obviously the best car made...

 

[texas_dds]

hey i like mercedes

my take on this issue stems from my trying-to-get-into-ortho experience: my school has had residents matched at certain ortho schools for years and years - so i think to some extent the dental school you go to can help. BUT anyone from any dental school is capable of getting interviews at those exact same places based purely on their own record. that is when personalities matter more than anything, not where you are from. but having friends in high places never ever hurts.

 

[lnn2]

......if you're lucky and good enough to go to UOP then talk to Dr. Dugoni (only 20 months left)--if he likes you then you're golden.

Don't forget to bring the knee pads with you

 

[DrRob]

still doesn't answer the question. thanks for the attempt though.

If the school is accreddited then your answer is Not Very Important

 

[Woodsy]

*coughs* all of you trying to gang up on me...all the supposed regulars...psssh.

 

[aphistis]

*coughs* all of you trying to gang up on me...all the supposed regulars...psssh.

A persuasive rebuttal indeed.

 

[LestatZinnie]

Exactly!! And why are u guys even talking to Woodsy...its been quite clear from his history of posts that he is as superficial as they come.....of course he is gonna say that the name of the school matters....just like how Mercedes is obviously the best car made...

ditto.

 

[Woodsy]

Exactly!! And why are u guys even talking to Woodsy...its been quite clear from his history of posts that he is as superficial as they come.....of course he is gonna say that the name of the school matters....just like how Mercedes is obviously the best car made...

hety I drive a mercedes, what's wrong with a mercedes? I think it's a great car.

 

[Jone]

Top of the class, but with no research experience, gives you slim chance if any... (with some exceptions, e.g. programs which are mostly clinically-based)

Top of the class, but with research experience, and you are golden.

If you work hard and stay at the top of your class you will specialize. Bottom line.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

hety I drive a mercedes, what's wrong with a mercedes? I think it's a great car.

You were right!! I wish I were you!

 

[aphistis]

Top of the class, but with no research experience, gives you slim chance if any... (with some exceptions, e.g. programs which are mostly clinically-based)

Top of the class, but with research experience, and you are golden.

Garbage. Research is *not* a necessity for post-doc work any more than it's a necessity for getting into dental school in the first place, and I've never met any student, faculty member, or practicing specialist saying it is. I'm calling BS on this one until you can produce a source backing it up.

 

[edkNARF]

Preface: I am a pathetic predent who is still 17 days away from December First


I think most of you are missing Woodsy's point. I think he was trying to say (tell me how close I am Woodsy) that you can specialize from any school as long as you work hard, but a fancy name on the diploma may help.

 

[UNLV OMS GUNNABE]

Top of the class, but with no research experience, gives you slim chance if any... (with some exceptions, e.g. programs which are mostly clinically-based)

Top of the class, but with research experience, and you are golden.

Wrong, look at tjb. He said he has practically no research and yet he has received over 20 OMS interview invites. For some specialties it is more important (ortho). It definately helps, but "slim chance if any" is overkill.

 

[DDSSlave]

Concerning research:

I would advise anyone applying to a competitive residency to do research. As was pointed out earlier, externships are more important for OMFS, but certainly research helps. Is research *necessary* for ortho or endo? Well, no, but neither is getting a 90, etc.

 

[Woodsy]

Preface: I am a pathetic predent who is still 17 days away from December First


I think most of you are missing Woodsy's point. I think he was trying to say (tell me how close I am Woodsy) that you can specialize from any school as long as you work hard, but a fancy name on the diploma may help.

Yeah that's pretty close but simultaneously u gotta make sure u have some good references. Bill, I don't know how it works in the states but considering so many of my upper class men got matched down there, I think research is imnportant if you want to get into specialty without doing a GPR (Coincidentally they all did research). The profs even said to do well in ur grades only to get research jobs coz specialties look highly of research. And to make sure u get good references. Though not a necessity it would put you in great shape.

There are a lot of things you don't have to do to get into dental school such as volunteer like crazy etc. but if you did, it just makes ur resume look better. In life there are a lot of things you don't need. You don't need a big house, you don't need fancy cars, you don't need a hot wife, you don't need a luxurious lifestyle, and you can still be happy...but they look good don't they?

Superficial as it might sound, we live in a superficial world. Why else is "cosmetic" dentistry so sought after and so profitable. Think about the business we are going into... Help people my ass.... Be a priest or missionary if you want to help people. Be a medical doctor. most people don't become doctors or dentists to help people. Sure you help people but that is NOT the only reason.

I'd bet my ML 500 that most people are not only in it for helping people.

Oh yeah those guys who matched in ortho...

 

[texas_dds]

i would say walking into an ortho interview w/no research experience is a BAD idea - they asked about it everywhere.

 

[aphistis]

Yeah that's pretty close but simultaneously u gotta make sure u have some good references. Bill, I don't know how it works in the states but considering so many of my upper class men got matched down there, I think research is imnportant if you want to get into specialty without doing a GPR (Coincidentally they all did research). The profs even said to do well in ur grades only to get research jobs coz specialties look highly of research. And to make sure u get good references. Though not a necessity it would put you in great shape.

There are a lot of things you don't have to do to get into dental school such as volunteer like crazy etc. but if you did, it just makes ur resume look better. In life there are a lot of things you don't need. You don't need a big house, you don't need fancy cars, you don't need a hot wife, you don't need a luxurious lifestyle, and you can still be happy...but they look good don't they?

Superficial as it might sound, we live in a superficial world. Why else is "cosmetic" dentistry so sought after and so profitable. Think about the business we are going into... Help people my ass.... Be a priest or missionary if you want to help people. Be a medical doctor. most people don't become doctors or dentists to help people. Sure you help people but that is NOT the only reason.

I'd bet my ML 500 that most people are not only in it for helping people.

Oh yeah those guys who matched in ortho...

Perhaps that was the case for your upperclassmen, and even for certain specialties it might be preferred--but like UNLV said, issuing a blanket statement that specialty chances are "slim to none" without research even in the presence of otherwise outstanding credentials is going *way* overboard.

 

[TrojanDDS]

i would say walking into an ortho interview w/no research experience is a BAD idea - they asked about it everywhere.

Many ortho programs won't even grant you an interview if you leave the research section blank on apps just as some ortho programs will send your application straight to the shredder if you have no previous working experience or GPR/AEGD.

 

[Woodsy]

GPR is almost a prereq if u want to specialize up here from what I'm hearing.