IMPORTANT: Canada vs. US Question

[OATeater]

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Hello everyone,

I know this will get a whole lot of flaming, but here goes:

In Canada (where I'm from) there is definately the fact that our Dental School are much more competitive to get into (we only have 10, and 2 of them are French...don't get me started). Anyway, its known that if you can't get in in Canada, you "Can always go to the States".

As the states have more school apparently its easier to get in (ie you can do it with a 3.5, whereas we won't even get an interview with anything less than 3.7 and even then your DAT better be solid).

The question is with respect to specialization, does that rule still hold true? For example, I've always wanted to be an orthodontist, but only la creme de la creme get that specialization and I'm not sure at all that I can beat everyone in my class....again....*tired!!*

If thats the case, and I truly want to specialize as an orthodontist, can I go to the states where it is less competative ( money not being a major issue ) ? I know it'd be difficult to come back to Canada, but thats beside the point.


Thanks!

Oats

 

[Regmata]

First off, USA > Canada

Second, you are going to have to beat the cream of the crop no matter where you go if you want to be an orthodontist...it won't be much easier, if at all easier in the states.

Either way, you have no shot at it unless you go to dental school somewhere...good luck

 

[microserf123]

So you've always wanted to be a orthodontist but yet you're classified as a Pre-Opt??
But anyways, going back to Canada is not as hard as you think and as Regmata says, its just as hard to get into a dental school in the US as it is in Canada. There's just more schools available so it appears to be easier. From what I understand, in the last year or so its getting more and more difficult to get in with only a 3.5GPA.

 

[loved]

only la creme de la creme get that specialization and I'm not sure at all that I can beat everyone in my class....again....*tired!!*
Oats

You're Canadian? b/c your post was written like a true American 😛

If thats the case, and I truly want to specialize as an orthodontist, can I go to the states where it is less competative ( money not being a major issue ) ? I know it'd be difficult to come back to Canada, but thats beside the point.
Oats

dude, lots of people do this.. i.e. go to a less competitive school for the purposes of gaining a high GPA. sometimes it works out for them.. sometimes it doesn't. every school offers different opportunities.

 

[ummjoey]

i dont really understand the whole canada vs US thing, but i think as long as you work hard and with an honest effort, then you should be able to accomplish what you want.

 

[bounty101]

Stop thinking that you must be an orthodontist. You haven't even gotten into dental school yet. What are you going to do if you get in but don't make the specialization cut? Focus on just being a dentist for now. You can ponder your ortho possibilities after you've learned more, or even better after you've gotten some day to day hands on experience.
And don't worry about offending us with the "you can always get in to a US school" thing. The free enterprise private marketplace (private schools included) in the US is a model all nations should follow and I'm happy to see the best from around the world coming here to work or go to school.

 

[OATeater]

Thanks for all the responses, and even with a minimum of flaming!

1) I've already been accepted into Dental School in Canada.

2) It says ' Pre - Opt ' because this is my boyfriend's login. I don't feel like making my own.



Still no one seems to have answer my question:

Is specialization in the states significantly easier than specialization in Canada?

 

[airsimon]

Thanks for all the responses, and even with a minimum of flaming!

1) I've already been accepted into Dental School in Canada.

2) It says ' Pre - Opt ' because this is my boyfriend's login. I don't feel like making my own.



Still no one seems to have answer my question:

Is specialization in the states significantly easier than specialization in Canada?

You can always go to school in Canada and then try to match for residency in the States. I don't get what you're trying to ask. There's more spots in the States for ortho, just like there's more spots in the States for dental school, but there's more applicants for those spots (because there are more people in the US than there are in Canada.)

For example 30 million people in Canada is a lot less than 300 million in the states. 10 dental schools in Canada and 52 schools in the states. When you think about the school to people ratio is actually harder for us in the States than it is in Canada.

 

[MB111]

You can always go to school in Canada and then try to match for residency in the States. I don't get what you're trying to ask. There's more spots in the States for ortho, just like there's more spots in the States for dental school, but there's more applicants for those spots (because there are more people in the US than there are in Canada.)

For example 30 million people in Canada is a lot less than 300 million in the states. 10 dental schools in Canada and 52 schools in the states. When you think about the school to people ratio is actually harder for us in the States than it is in Canada.

canada has 10 times less ppl, only 5 times less schools...but look at the mean accepted gpa's in canada vs. the states...

it's true when the mean gpa of accepted dental students in canada is about 3.8...all of them.

UT dentistry website:
A minimum current grade point average of 2.7 (4.0 scale) is required.*However, a grade point average of 2.7 (i.e. B-) at the time of application does not guarantee selection. It should be noted that the 190 domestic applicants invited for an interview had a GPA of at least 3.7

 

[airsimon]

canada has 10 times less ppl, only 5 times less schools...but look at the mean accepted gpa's in canada vs. the states...

it's true when the mean gpa of accepted dental students in canada is about 3.8...all of them.

UT dentistry website:
A minimum current grade point average of 2.7 (4.0 scale) is required.*However, a grade point average of 2.7 (i.e. B-) at the time of application does not guarantee selection. It should be noted that the 190 domestic applicants invited for an interview had a GPA of at least 3.7

I'm not saying Canadian schools aren't competitive. Heck, with the socialized medicine they have up there dentistry is the ticket to fame and fortune.
I know cuz I grew up in Canada and know a lot of friends who came down to the states for school.

Lot's of school only take your best 2 years, however.

 

[keving]

Hey, if you've already been accepted to a canadian dental school I suggest you go there. Afterwards, you can apply to both canadian and american specialty programs, or opt to go to the states to do GPR or AEGD. It'll probably be very competitive either way...