Is Dental School more competitive to get in than MD schools?

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Instanbul

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Hi, since recently many new dental and med schools have been opening up I was just curious in current time which is more competitive to get in. Thank you for your time.
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Some med schools are harder to get into than some dental schools. Some dental schools are harder to get into than some med schools. Some med and dental schools are equally hard to get into.
 
Honestly I would say they are about even, as they each require a GPA around 3.5+ to be considered a strong applicant along with a lot of extracurricular experience and volunteer work. The only reason that I would say dental is a bit more competitive to get in to is because there are so many more medical schools available. There are 141 MD schools, 29 DO schools, plus Caribbean schools, while there are only 64 dental schools in the US. This could add a slight competition but it's pretty even IMO.
 
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My friends had an argument about this issue and I thought I would get some other opinions just out of curiosity.
 
I have to agree that medical school is harder to get into... at least what I hear from fellow classmates. Sure there's more schools, but looking at the big picture, there's also more people wanting to be physicians than dentists. Also, although GPAs for dental school have to be around 3.4 or above to be considered 'safe' or 'strong', I believe it's even higher for med school. Just my thoughts 🙂
 
I think with the D.O. option it is easier to get into school to become a physician than to get into dental school. I say this because I have friends who got into DO schools with less than 3.3 GPA's and 21-24 MCAT scores.

Also, DO school doesn't average course retakes. You can literally get an F in a class - retake it for an A - and receive a 4.0.

I really respect DO and think they're great physicians; however, I think that the admission into medical is easier than dental because of this option.
 
Med schools require a higher gpa, but there are 2-3 times more medical schools than dental. There are also more medical school applicants. It would be nice if someone actually did a study on this with comparing some ratios and numbers.
*hint* doc
 
yappy said:
I think with the D.O. option it is easier to get into school to become a physician than to get into dental school. I say this because I have friends who got into DO schools with less than 3.3 GPA's and 21-24 MCAT scores.

Also, DO school doesn't average course retakes. You can literally get an F in a class - retake it for an A - and receive a 4.0.

I really respect DO and think they're great physicians; however, I think that the admission into medical is easier than dental because of this option.
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Good point. I completely forgot about DOs. MD > DDS / DMD > DO in terms of difficulty IMO.
 
Shazzam said:
Its not equal. Medical school is definitely harder to get into but why would this ever matter?
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Perhaps for particular medical schools. However, less than 1/3 of my dental school class matriculated directly out of college, whereas the majority of my friends who applied to med school were admitted somewhere on their first try. Since there are ~60 dental schools and oover ~150 medical schools, the odds of actually being admitted to a program are better for med students.

The MCAT is harder than the DAT, however, but again you're competing against the other applicants, not the test itself, so it's irrelevant.

I think we can all agree that med students, in general, have more of a M.D.eity complex than dental students and tend to downplay the rigor of dental education, which at my school, is significantly more demanding in terms of time and rigor. But it varies by program, of course.
 
diasIItema said:
Perhaps for particular medical schools. However, less than 1/3 of my dental school class matriculated directly out of college, whereas the majority of my friends who applied to med school were admitted somewhere on their first try. Since there are ~60 dental schools and oover ~150 medical schools, the odds of actually being admitted to a program are better for med students.

The MCAT is harder than the DAT, however, but again you're competing against the other applicants, not the test itself, so it's irrelevant.

I think we can all agree that med students, in general, have more of a M.D.eity complex than dental students and tend to downplay the rigor of dental education, which at my school, is significantly more demanding in terms of time and rigor. But it varies by program, of course.
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That might be the case, but the average GPA / ECs required to gain entry into an allopathic program is still higher than that of their dental counterparts. The proportion of accepted applicants doesn't detail how difficult it is to gain entry to any program; it just tells you what your odds are if all things were equal.
 
Shazzam said:
That might be the case, but the average GPA / ECs required to gain entry into an allopathic program is still higher than that of their dental counterparts. The proportion of accepted applicants doesn't detail how difficult it is to gain entry to any program; it just tells you what your odds are if all things were equal.
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Realistically, they are actually really close and it depends on the school. Some MD programs have averages of 3.5GPA, while some Dental schools have averages of 3.66+ and vice versa.

I've actually seen EC's go both ways as well, the majority of the people I've seen with dental actually have more - but really, it depends and would have to be assessed on a case by case basis.

As with all admissions, case-by-case situations, really hold true. Both MD and DMD/DDS go can go against the typical averages (I know a girl with a 2.95 cumm GPA get accepted to MD...). It is pointless to argue which is more difficult. Both are incredibly difficult programs to get into. Period.
 
diene said:
Med schools require a higher gpa, but there are 2-3 times more medical schools than dental. There are also more medical school applicants. It would be nice if someone actually did a study on this with comparing some ratios and numbers.
*hint* doc
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Doc toothache already did this. It was the first topic he ever posted about on this site. The info is a little dated, but there nonetheless.
 
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Instanbul said:
Hi, since recently many new dental and med schools have been opening up I was just curious in current time which is more competitive to get in. Thank you for your time.
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there is no measurable data to quantify which is more competitive. sure you can look at GPA averages (I think the MD wins here) but overall, both MD and DDS/DMD are exceptionally competitive.

I do however believe that difficulty/admission of healthcare schools to being like this:
MD>DDS+DMD>DO>Veterinarian
 
Teeths said:
I have to agree that medical school is harder to get into... at least what I hear from fellow classmates. Sure there's more schools, but looking at the big picture, there's also more people wanting to be physicians than dentists. Also, although GPAs for dental school have to be around 3.4 or above to be considered 'safe' or 'strong', I believe it's even higher for med school. Just my thoughts 🙂
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Average GPA for medical school matriculants is almost 3.7.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2012factstable17.pdf

Medical school is more competitive.
 
In my state 9% of medical school applicants matriculate. 6% of dental school applicants matriculate. This has been fairly consistent every year. However, this year the medical school matriculation rate will raise significantly because there is a new DO program in town.
 
mid said:
some med schools are harder to get into than some dental schools. Some dental schools are harder to get into than some med schools. Some med and dental schools are equally hard to get into.
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+ 1
 
dentalWorks said:
there is no measurable data to quantify which is more competitive. sure you can look at GPA averages (I think the MD wins here) but overall, both MD and DDS/DMD are exceptionally competitive.

I do however believe that difficulty/admission of healthcare schools to being like this:
MD>DDS+DMD>DO>Veterinarian
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I should do my research before I make this claim, but from everything I've heard, vet school is up there with MD and may even top dental. I think admission standards top DO for sure.
 
I'd have to agree to say that medical school MD is harder to get into than dental school.
Difficulty:

MCAT (more sections, essays, math/physics without calculator) > DAT (we get a calculator)
AMCAS(personal statement + supplemental essays) > AADSAS (personal statement)
Medical School GPA 3.5+ > Dental School 3.4+
Medical School Interviews (asks tough situational questions) > Dental School Interviews (very friendly and ask very basic questions)

But in the end, we will all end up with the same debt, but we get paid better and our hours are amazing 🙂
 
two thirty said:
I should do my research before I make this claim, but from everything I've heard, vet school is up there with MD and may even top dental. I think admission standards top DO for sure.
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Vet school is VERY hard to get into mainly because theres not that many of them to begin with and there are limited seats for a huge number of applicants.
 
pinpoint212 said:
Vet school is VERY hard to get into mainly because theres not that many of them to begin with and there are limited seats for a huge number of applicants.
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Yep exactly. For example, Cornell University is the only vet school in NY. Avg gpa was about 3.8.
 
pinpoint212 said:
I'd have to agree to say that medical school MD is harder to get into than dental school.
Difficulty:

MCAT (more sections, essays, math/physics without calculator) > DAT (we get a calculator)
AMCAS(personal statement + supplemental essays) > AADSAS (personal statement)
Medical School GPA 3.5+ > Dental School 3.4+
Medical School Interviews (asks tough situational questions) > Dental School Interviews (very friendly and ask very basic questions)

But in the end, we will all end up with the same debt, but we get paid better and our hours are amazing 🙂
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DAT calculator is pretty useless, essays are going away this year, DAT has perceptual ability
Writing 1 essay is not harder. I'm sure AADSAS has something like a manual dexterity question that AMCAS doesn't have.
.1 GPA is tiny
Your interview statement is idiotic
 
It's not though. Like I said earlier - if your goal is to be a physician you have DO and MD degrees to pursue. As far as the interviews go... I doubt that there is much of a difference. Also, they've nixed the essay portion.


pinpoint212 said:
I'd have to agree to say that medical school MD is harder to get into than dental school.
Difficulty:

MCAT (more sections, essays, math/physics without calculator) > DAT (we get a calculator)
AMCAS(personal statement + supplemental essays) > AADSAS (personal statement)
Medical School GPA 3.5+ > Dental School 3.4+
Medical School Interviews (asks tough situational questions) > Dental School Interviews (very friendly and ask very basic questions)

But in the end, we will all end up with the same debt, but we get paid better and our hours are amazing 🙂
Click to expand...
 
The Beyonder said:
sorry about that.

https://www.aamc.org/download/321498/data/2012factstable19.pdf
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Please show me reputable dental source for same year.



The ADA did this huge survey in 2011 so I found the data from both of these years.


http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/survey_ed_vol2.pdf

page 48, average GPA of matriculating dental students for US = 3.55

https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2012factstable17.pdf

average GPA of matriculating students = 3.67


3.67-3.55=.12 ~~ .1
 
Seahawk said:
Please show me reputable dental source for same year.



The ADA did this huge survey in 2011 so I found the data from both of these years.


http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/survey_ed_vol2.pdf

page 48, average GPA of matriculating dental students for US = 3.55

https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/2012factstable17.pdf

average GPA of matriculating students = 3.67


3.67-3.55=.12 ~~ .1
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Guess you win??

shrug.gif
 
The Beyonder said:
Guess you win??

shrug.gif
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I guess so? Haha


This is just an impossible argument to wage.

It's harder to get into dental school at Columbia than it is to get into medical school at East Carolina. It's easier to get into dental school at LECOM than it is to get into medical school at Johns Hopkins.

It is situational on a bunch of different levels.

Anyone who does the research will realize that they are very close. So what if medical school is 5% harder to get into that dental? It's obviously so close that it's not just an easy route for a MD reject or someone who thinks they can't get in. All it is good for is giving a small group of uppity pre-meds kids a tiny bit of leverage to fuel their superiority complexes.

Edit: Not saying you are one of those.
 
Seahawk said:
I guess so? Haha


This is just an impossible argument to wage.

It's harder to get into dental school at Columbia than it is to get into medical school at East Carolina. It's easier to get into dental school at LECOM than it is to get into medical school at Johns Hopkins.

It is situational on a bunch of different levels.

Anyone who does the research will realize that they are very close. So what if medical school is 5% harder to get into that dental? It's obviously so close that it's not just an easy route for a MD reject or someone who thinks they can't get in. All it is good for is giving a small group of uppity pre-meds kids a tiny bit of leverage to fuel their superiority complexes.
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You know how we pre-meds are with our superiority complexes. LOL
 
Seahawk said:
Keyword was small group. Of course I am not suggesting that all pre-meds have superiority complexes.
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Was being sarcastic and many pre-meds do have superiority complexes. I don't understand it, but such is life.
 
guys, lets go off track...

what do you think is better as an undergrad boy looking to talk to an attractive girl, calling ur self a "pre-med" or a "pre-dent" (ewww mouths all day long)
 
dentalWorks said:
guys, lets go off track...

what do you think is better as an undergrad boy looking to talk to an attractive girl, calling ur self a "pre-med" or a "pre-dent" (ewww mouths all day long)
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Doctors have to go up the other way. We have to good end of the deal.
 
dentalWorks said:
guys, lets go off track...

what do you think is better as an undergrad boy looking to talk to an attractive girl, calling ur self a "pre-med" or a "pre-dent" (ewww mouths all day long)
Click to expand...

You can always go with "I'm going to be a doctor/surgeon" it isn't lying if they just assume the letters after your name are going to be MD.

Or just say you're in a band. Chicks dig bands, and guys who play guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQQcD4iIAA4
 
Teeths said:
Also, although GPAs for dental school have to be around 3.4 or above to be considered 'safe' or 'strong', I believe it's even higher for med school. Just my thoughts 🙂
Click to expand...
More like 3.5+, with realistically anything above 3.65+ = safer.
Seahawk said:
Doctors have to go up the other way. We have to good end of the deal.
Click to expand...

I always get a chuckle out of this.

brb' dental? eewww, why would you want to look at mouths all day? Why not just be a doctor like I'm going to be. (says the sophomore)

enjoy your angus. dat dere proctology.
 
Seahawk said:
Doctors have to go up the other way. We have to good end of the deal.
Click to expand...
Hahaha, yes. I would deal with bad breath any day, over performing a rectal exam or asking a patient to turn their head and cough. I'm all set with touching genitalia. I never did understand the "mouths are gross" argument. Anuses, yeast infections, toe nail fungus, and pre-cancerous moles with hair growing out of them are all examples of things that I find to be more gross than someone's mouth. But that's just me.
 
NDPitch said:
Hahaha, yes. I would deal with bad breath any day, over performing a rectal exam or asking a patient to turn their head and cough. I'm all set with touching genitalia. I never did understand the "mouths are gross" argument. Anuses, yeast infections, toe nail fungus, and pre-cancerous moles with hair growing out of them are all examples of things that I find to be more gross than someone's mouth. But that's just me.
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Agreed.
 
NDPitch said:
Hahaha, yes. I would deal with bad breath any day, over performing a rectal exam or asking a patient to turn their head and cough. I'm all set with touching genitalia. I never did understand the "mouths are gross" argument. Anuses, yeast infections, toe nail fungus, and pre-cancerous moles with hair growing out of them are all examples of things that I find to be more gross than someone's mouth. But that's just me.
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Preach
 
Troll thread but I'll bite. The most selective medical school is far more difficult to get into than the most difficult dental school. Some dental schools are harder to get into than some medical schools and vice-versa. I've met plenty of predental students who would've been competitive medical school applicants. People just like Dentistry over Medicine.

http://www.med.upenn.edu/admiss/2006_class.html

http://meded.ucsf.edu/admissions/successful-applicant-profile-class-2016

http://meded.ucsf.edu/admissions/successful-applicant-profile-class-2016

http://www.mayo.edu/mms/about/student-profiles
 
Last edited:
NDPitch said:
Hahaha, yes. I would deal with bad breath any day, over performing a rectal exam or asking a patient to turn their head and cough. I'm all set with touching genitalia. I never did understand the "mouths are gross" argument. Anuses, yeast infections, toe nail fungus, and pre-cancerous moles with hair growing out of them are all examples of things that I find to be more gross than someone's mouth. But that's just me.
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this should be stickied somewhere :laugh:
 
UCSFx2017 said:
Troll thread but I'll bite. The most selective medical school is far more difficult to get into than the most difficult dental school. Some dental schools are harder to get into than some medical schools and vice-versa. I've met plenty of predental students who would've been competitive medical school applicants. People just like Dentistry over Medicine.

http://www.med.upenn.edu/admiss/2006_class.html

http://meded.ucsf.edu/admissions/successful-applicant-profile-class-2016

http://meded.ucsf.edu/admissions/successful-applicant-profile-class-2016

http://www.mayo.edu/mms/about/student-profiles
Click to expand...

What are the stats for UCSF's dental class?
 
I think we all realize that it is difficult to get into either of these programs. The way I see it, if someone has the drive to get into dental school then it is likely they have the drive to get into medical school.

I think the internet may bring out the arrogance in many of us, and in the real world I feel more of a kinship with my pre-med counterparts than any competition or resentment. I have found that most people are pretty ignorant of how hard it is to get into a professional program, so it is nice to be able to relate experiences with pre-meds.

It seems to me that the level of difficulty is not a huge deciding factor when deciding between dental or pre-med. I have seen that most people that realize pre-med is too competitive for them end up doing nursing or something else unrelated to healthcare.

I read in some other thread that pre-med students often times feel like being a doctor is their "calling" in life. I think this is true. Dental students usually choose dental for more practical reasons, like lifestyle, no residency, less government involvement, better opportunities for running your own practice, and things like that.

Pre-meds seem to be seeking meaning in life, really want to help other people, and a more likely salaried position (a pretty good salary at that). I am sure the prestige of being a "doctor" can play a part too.

Anyways, I have a lot of respect for MDs. There is no doubt their schooling is tough, and they make a lot of sacrifices for their careers.

So can't we all just be friends?
 
zackc19 said:
I think we all realize that it is difficult to get into either of these programs. The way I see it, if someone has the drive to get into dental school then it is likely they have the drive to get into medical school.

I think the internet may bring out the arrogance in many of us, and in the real world I feel more of a kinship with my pre-med counterparts than any competition or resentment. I have found that most people are pretty ignorant of how hard it is to get into a professional program, so it is nice to be able to relate experiences with pre-meds.

It seems to me that the level of difficulty is not a huge deciding factor when deciding between dental or pre-med. I have seen that most people that realize pre-med is too competitive for them end up doing nursing or something else unrelated to healthcare.

I read in some other thread that pre-med students often times feel like being a doctor is their "calling" in life. I think this is true. Dental students usually choose dental for more practical reasons, like lifestyle, no residency, less government involvement, better opportunities for running your own practice, and things like that.

Pre-meds seem to be seeking meaning in life, really want to help other people, and a more likely salaried position (a pretty good salary at that). I am sure the prestige of being a "doctor" can play a part too.

Anyways, I have a lot of respect for MDs. There is no doubt their schooling is tough, and they make a lot of sacrifices for their careers.

So can't we all just be friends?
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I agree with this. When I was a kid I realized I took an interest to things about the human body and it eventually translated to health and then to dental because of personal experiences. I've never truly considered becoming a physician because there's too many factors that won't work with the type of lifestyle I want to have. One of the biggest things, besides my personal experiences, that drew me to dentistry is that you have a little more wiggle room as far as 'being your own boss' (and also government involvement as you had mentioned) and that's something I can appreciate in the career. Right now I run something equivalent to a very small business, and although it's time consuming and hectic, I enjoy it because I can make a majority of the calls and the business is directly reflected upon me.
 
NDPitch said:
Hahaha, yes. I would deal with bad breath any day, over performing a rectal exam or asking a patient to turn their head and cough. I'm all set with touching genitalia. I never did understand the "mouths are gross" argument. Anuses, yeast infections, toe nail fungus, and pre-cancerous moles with hair growing out of them are all examples of things that I find to be more gross than someone's mouth. But that's just me.
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Well, I won't be having lunch now.
 
the consideration of DO schools makes it a little more comparable, but overall i'd still say medical school is tougher to get into
 
It probably depends on how you define difficult but I thought I heard that dental school was harder to get into than medical school and vet school was the hardest....I could be way off, I don't know
 
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