is it true that pros is easy???

[will-be-fine]

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Hi, everybody.How's your weekend? 🙂 I am a foreign trained dentist, non-US citizen, without US green card. I wish to do a specialty program in prosthodontics in USA.
Here's my background, could anybody please give me some information if I stand a chance? Please point out the strong and weak aspects in my background regarding the application for Pros progarams, and what should I do to increase my chance to be accepted? Any comments will be highly appreciated.

1. female, hold Master's degree in prosthdontics from home country, 5-year practice in general dentistry. (in the mean time specialized in implant dentistry, placed and restored over 300 implants)

2. recieved a 1 year training in implantology in Germany under the instruction of a famous professor, who has good connection in USA. I read in other threads somebody mentioned about good connection. can anybody give me some idea how much dose connection counts? How much can the recommendation from this german proessor help me? Can one get a spot in a specialty program simply because he or she has connection with the program director? 😕

3. took TOEFL once, scored 650 (it has expired, will take it again)

4. have not taken Part 1 and Part 2 yet. Do I have to take the exam? Shall I take both 2 or just part 1? I was told that part 1 is more important in application for residency program, because at the time one apply, he/she might not has takedn part 2 yet. So, can I take only part 1 before I apply?

5. I checked some programs , some schools like harvard do not require foreign trained dentists to take part 1 or part 2 before they apply for post-grad programs. By the way, somebody claimed in another thread that Pros is probably the easiest specialty to get into, but I'm wondering if the pros program in harvard is as easy as he said? anybody has any idea about this? How hard it is to get into a harvard pros program?

6. do I pay tuition for post-grad specialty program? If yes, could anyone give me a rough number how much is it? dose it increase my chance if I can get a government scholarship from my home country?

7. have no publications, but am currently involved in a research program. do papers add weight to my background? or, shall I spend more time to get a high score in part 1 and TOEFL?

Thanks a lot for any information!🙂🙂🙂

 

[BlueToothHunter]

Most of the east coast prosthodontics program will be easier to get in. Where did you do your undergraduate dental training? Sometimes that makes the difference. Also, what was your ranking/GPA from your original dental school? Can you get letters of references from your home country dental school? You will need at least two letters from a dentist/academic who knows you as well as your dental school Dean.

Tuition will be probably $45 - $50 K and you should of course add living cost (around $15-20K per year) before you are issued with a student visa.

Boards 1 and 2 are not required of foreign trained dentists. However, it's always good to have them. But if you want to practice in the U.S. afterwards, better to take them now and get them out of the way.

 

[EuroOMFS]

I know a few FTDs who have finished pros residency in the US. They were all accepted without any major hazzle. At least two of them didn't have great class rank and no research experience, but they did have good LORs.

 

[NileBDS]

I'd say you have an OK shot, maybe not Harvard, but certainly at some program out there. Board scores would help tremendously.

What's going for you:
- Experience
- Experience
- Experience

What's not:
- No board scores
- I am not sure how reliable/effective recommendations from your mentor (Germany) would be, but still maybe worth a shot. Definitely ask him/her to include their contact information.
- No publications (and you have a masters ?)
- Foreign school transcripts/GPA/class rank ?

Again, having said all that, prosth is fairly easy for US graduates to match for, but not so easy for FTD's (although, relatively speaking, it is one of the easier specialties for FTD's to match at).
You have a good track record, and proven dedication, which when put together, can go a long way.

 

[will-be-fine]

Thanks a lot to all of you. 🙂🙂I really apprecaite your info and suggestsion, but I still have some quesions, thank you very much for being so patient with me.
BlutoothHunter:
"Most of the east coast prosthodontics program will be easier to get in." - could you give me some example of these schools?
I dont know what's my GPA, but I got an average of 89 on a 100 point scale. rank is 3/20
Dose every school require reerence letters from home country dental school? The dental school dean at the time I stayed in school changed his job and is now working in another dental school.Shall I ask him to write me the recommendation letter or shall I ask the current dean of my school?
"Tuition will be probably $45 - $50 " this is per year tuition? Isnt there scholarship? I know OSU residency is covered by scholarship.😳

EuroOMFS
LOR= letter of recommendation? Do you mean recommendation is very important? sometimes overweigh part 1&2 scores and a decisive factor?

NileBDS:
shall I take both part1&2 or just part 1? if I take both, Do I still need to take them if I decided to attened a 2-year advanced standing program in order to get license? Or, can I get the license after residency program?
do you mean it's extreamingly hard for FTD to get a spot at harvard, even in pros program? anybody can give me some idea how hard it is?😕

many thanks!!🙂

 

[EuroOMFS]

EuroOMFS
LOR= letter of recommendation?

Correct.

Do you mean recommendation is very important? sometimes overweigh part 1&2 scores and a decisive factor?

I guess it must depend on the person writing the LOR. A strong recommendation from a known professor will obviously count more than one from your (unknown) teacher in dental school.

You mentioned connections in your intial post. I know four FTDs who in the last 10 years or so have all finished recidencies at UNC (1 pedo, 2 operative dentistry, 1 PhD in Epidemiology). They all graduated from the same dental school, so I'm guessing connections to UNC had something to do with them being accepted to these programs. Use your connections if you can.

 

[NileBDS]

... NileBDS:
shall I take both part1&2 or just part 1? if I take both, Do I still need to take them if I decided to attened a 2-year advanced standing program in order to get license? Or, can I get the license after residency program?
do you mean it's extreamingly hard for FTD to get a spot at harvard, even in pros program? anybody can give me some idea how hard it is?😕

many thanks!!🙂

I think you are a bit confused as far as licensure is concerned. In any case, yes, you will need both parts for any of the scenarios posted above. And yeah, all the heavyweight pros programs will be just as competitive. You may be able to pull it off, but would take a lot of work and preparation (and convincing) on your behalf.

 

[Calidental]

As pros has left perio at the bottom of the pile as the least competitive specialty since 2001, its become more competitive to get into the good and average programs. Meaning increased US grads and higher boards.

At west coast schools UCLA and UCSF there are no foreign grads (FGs), but you seem interested in Harvard - but they haven't taken a non US grad for years, I think most are from in-house or places like UPenn/Columbia. All these schools require 90 plus on part 1 so you should take it if you re interested.
Easier schools to get into are those where Americans don't want to apply because of the cost. At Pittsburgh there are more foreign grads, a lot of UVirginia grads and its a good program as the implant program is part of pros, so pros will be placing most of the implants. I don't want to hate on USC but its so expensive so has more foreign grads. Good luck and if you want to be competitive take part 1.

You seem committed to pros, but for FGs who just want to do any specialty (there are some) you'll find it easier getting into a perio program

Thanks a lot to all of you. 🙂🙂I really apprecaite your info and suggestsion, but I still have some quesions, thank you very much for being so patient with me.
BlutoothHunter:
"Most of the east coast prosthodontics program will be easier to get in." - could you give me some example of these schools?
I dont know what's my GPA, but I got an average of 89 on a 100 point scale. rank is 3/20
Dose every school require reerence letters from home country dental school? The dental school dean at the time I stayed in school changed his job and is now working in another dental school.Shall I ask him to write me the recommendation letter or shall I ask the current dean of my school?
"Tuition will be probably $45 - $50 " this is per year tuition? Isnt there scholarship? I know OSU residency is covered by scholarship.😳

EuroOMFS
LOR= letter of recommendation? Do you mean recommendation is very important? sometimes overweigh part 1&2 scores and a decisive factor?

NileBDS:
shall I take both part1&2 or just part 1? if I take both, Do I still need to take them if I decided to attened a 2-year advanced standing program in order to get license? Or, can I get the license after residency program?
do you mean it's extreamingly hard for FTD to get a spot at harvard, even in pros program? anybody can give me some idea how hard it is?😕

many thanks!!🙂

 

[drhobie7]

you've already got pros training, right?...why do another residency?

 

[tinker bell]

My concern is not getting into pros, but finishing the program. Pros is easy to get in because it's soo tough to finish and its rigorous training. Make sure you really want it because making a denture in any pros program is nothing like those thousands that you have done before. Same go with crowns & bridges. It's all DIY. You have to really love it, or you must be really desperate to have the thrive to finish.

 

[Jone]

i believe it can be used as a gateway into "licensure" to practice in the US. some states allow you to practice dentistry as a specialist, even if you do not have a DDS/DMD or Advanced Standing degree, as long as you completed a specialty residency in the US. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

you've already got pros training, right?...why do another residency?

 

[tinker bell]

If you need licensure, you are better off doing 2 yrs of IDP. It's not that hard comparing to getting into pros. Waxing a tooth for the first time in your life is not too fun, esp when it for real live patient.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Hi, everybody.How's your weekend? 🙂 I am a foreign trained dentist, non-US citizen, without US green card. I wish to do a specialty program in prosthodontics in USA.
Here's my background, could anybody please give me some information if I stand a chance? Please point out the strong and weak aspects in my background regarding the application for Pros progarams, and what should I do to increase my chance to be accepted? Any comments will be highly appreciated.

1. female, hold Master's degree in prosthdontics from home country, 5-year practice in general dentistry. (in the mean time specialized in implant dentistry, placed and restored over 300 implants)

2. recieved a 1 year training in implantology in Germany under the instruction of a famous professor, who has good connection in USA. I read in other threads somebody mentioned about good connection. can anybody give me some idea how much dose connection counts? How much can the recommendation from this german proessor help me? Can one get a spot in a specialty program simply because he or she has connection with the program director? 😕

3. took TOEFL once, scored 650 (it has expired, will take it again)

4. have not taken Part 1 and Part 2 yet. Do I have to take the exam? Shall I take both 2 or just part 1? I was told that part 1 is more important in application for residency program, because at the time one apply, he/she might not has takedn part 2 yet. So, can I take only part 1 before I apply?

5. I checked some programs , some schools like harvard do not require foreign trained dentists to take part 1 or part 2 before they apply for post-grad programs. By the way, somebody claimed in another thread that Pros is probably the easiest specialty to get into, but I'm wondering if the pros program in harvard is as easy as he said? anybody has any idea about this? How hard it is to get into a harvard pros program?

6. do I pay tuition for post-grad specialty program? If yes, could anyone give me a rough number how much is it? dose it increase my chance if I can get a government scholarship from my home country?

7. have no publications, but am currently involved in a research program. do papers add weight to my background? or, shall I spend more time to get a high score in part 1 and TOEFL?

Thanks a lot for any information!🙂🙂🙂

Hello there,

Reading your post, I am perplexed on why you would want to redo a pros . program althought you are already a prosthodontist in your country. If you want to gain an insight about the US restorative techniques, an AEGD would make sense or attending CE courses. If you want to become licensured in the US, you can do a residency (general) and that will grant you the license. Note that there are only 9 states that allow this. Although you are qualified, your background may work against you since it does not make sense to accept someone already a prosthodontist while other grads are looking a spot. In some cases, you will get in if a certain program has a need to fill the position but can't find qualified candidates (extremely rare). However, once you are accepted, you will be held to a higher standard than the fresh residents because of your background. I once had a student who was a prosthodontist in her country enrolling in a DS to get her DDS and she was expected at a much higher level of performance than the rest of the students. One thing you should know is that pros is heavy laboratory work. If you are weak in laboratory skill, you will suffer unless you put in long hours after school. DP

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

In my experience, prosthodontic residency is relatively easier to get in than some other specialties such as pedo, endo, ortho and oral surgery. Is the residency itself easy? In my opinion, with the exception of oral surgery residency, pros. residents spend much more time in school after hours than any residents in other specialties. During my pros. training, there was not a single weekend that I did not come in to complete my laboratory assignment. It was gruelling but I enjoyed every minute of it. DP

 

[80B]

What kind of board scores/class rank are generally required for a US-trained new DMD/DDS graduate to get into a decent pros program?

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

What kind of board scores/class rank are generally required for a US-trained new DMD/DDS graduate to get into a decent pros program?

It depends from program to program as well as the applicant pool for that year. I can say that if you have mid eighties for the Boards and top 30% AND have demonstrated having excellent clinical skills, you will get in. DP

 

[razor1911]

It depends from program to program as well as the applicant pool for that year. I can say that if you have mid eighties for the Boards and top 30% AND have demonstrated having excellent clinical skills, you will get in. DP

As a graduate of a US dental school, what qualifications do you need if you want to get accepted to ANY ADA-accredited pros residency?

Likewise, does anyone know how competitive implant fellowships are?