This one was long due from me as well. This site has given me tons of information and nw I think its time to repay with my experience. Hello everybody I am a dental graduate from India and have now been accepted to UOP, SF. My stats are 86/84/111/3.94, MPH, observership.
So I think I would be a person to challenge the myth that you cannot get into a good dental school without 90 in ur nbde1. Anyways with these scores I applied to 6 colleges. I got interviewed in 4 colleges. I applied to upenn, uop, ucsf, bu , nyu and umn.
I was rejected at UMN without a interview call but called at 4 others. I have yet to hear from NYU but obviously I won't go.
Upenn –
This was a one day interview. There were 3 people who will interview you. One would be the program director, another from the admissions committee ( a faculty member) and the last the admissions director. I never understand what people in such interviews look for. It very difficult to say but most people say that they look for your overall command of the language, your general communication skills and also your level of confidence. Anyways as everybody else says after coming, my interviews were good as well.
School – Awesome!!! The structure is a bit old but they have a new building to it now. Patient flow is said to be excellent and the program director is a very sweet person.
City – Didn't like it that much. Have heard a lot about the crime there and wouldn't like to be a part of it (though people presently in upenn would have a different opinion, this one is just mine)
My result – Rejected after interview.
Ucsf –
These are the long ones. It started on Sunday and carried on till Wednesday. The first day is practical. They are changing the room in which we worked this time (that was very much needed). As you sit to work you might not only be working but also encountering the elbow of the neighboring person. I would suggest practicing a lot if you are invited to ucsf as I had never prepared for a gold crown before and found it very difficult to work on a manikin that was pretty hard to move. The next day dats Monday you will be called for the orientation. You will have a lecture by the program director, financial aid officer and then a few others. It is here where you will be getting your interview day. It's mostly alphabetical. So if you are N or P or S, you'll be interviewed on Wednesday. The interview again is very personal. They will also give you a case. Like they asked me how would you approach a case in ur clinic for root canal treatment. Tell me all the steps. I started with informed consent and they were impressed. So be prepared.
School – Dream School. One of the top most. You won't find a school with such excellent research and huge patient flow very often.
City – SF is the best cities to live in. Yes it is expensive but it is a very safe and multicultural city. SO you will find a lot of Indian and Chinese restaurants. We did go for a small outing and I think I loved the city.
My result – Waitlisted
Uop –
This is again the long one. It started on Wednesday the same day that UCSF finishes (in the evening though). There was orientation and very gud food!! The interview dates are given on this day and then you will also get time with the faculty and students. The interview was the coolest of all the 4 I attended. The faculty member who interviewed me talked more than me but it was awesome. She had a lot of gud stuff to tell me. The practical was on Saturday. They had PFM on central incisor and a class 2 on a mandibular molar. It was a table top preparation and was very easy. They give you a manual as well that can be very useful. Just follow it and the sample models they give you. You'll do great!
School – Five star hotel – to call it the least. I have heard that they have an excellent patient flow! Pretty expensive school but it should be worth that money.
City – Same again as above.
My result – Accepted
Bu –
Again nice school but the whether was not very kind on that particular day. That is very normal of Boston whether. You either like it or you hate it. Again a very relaxed day's interview. Just one person (a faculty) will interview you. Tobias (the admissions co-ordinator) is sweet! General questions as we know always.
School – Gud but I have heard a lot about lack of patients even from the school students. So that could be an area of concern. Very cheap though…..
City – Coooooooold….wat else can I say….as the other amenities are common to every big city….
My result – Decision awaited.
Some common things –
1. Every school will be friendly – Don't fall into the trap of considering that you will be admitted for sure.
2. I really like the part when they allow you to meet the seniors. You can be very open and ask them questions.
3. Interviews would always be nice but try to prepare for each and every one well.
4. Last but by no means the least your practical exam – If you want to get admitted to any school dat has a bench exam – you have to do well on this part. I practiced at the place where I did my observer ship. Just buy some teeth onlin and pour them in plaster and request the person you observe to allow you to work and also check your work. It is a sincere request from me to all those who allow people like us to practice to not charge anyone for this. I have seen ads on SDN where they ask you to pay to come and practice at their clinic for money. Please don't do that….my dentist never asked me money and he was kind enough to always check the work I did and give his suggestions.
Finally I would like to end my marathon by wishing every1 the very best of luck!!!
Please don't loose hope and if you ever do - look at this post……..be focused..... be determined.
Another request please don't send PM's, rather post here so that every one can benefit from the discussions. A very big thank you to people like incision, la fea, vejaju, enzosz who come out and help everyone….god bless!!!
So I think I would be a person to challenge the myth that you cannot get into a good dental school without 90 in ur nbde1. Anyways with these scores I applied to 6 colleges. I got interviewed in 4 colleges. I applied to upenn, uop, ucsf, bu , nyu and umn.
I was rejected at UMN without a interview call but called at 4 others. I have yet to hear from NYU but obviously I won't go.
Upenn –
This was a one day interview. There were 3 people who will interview you. One would be the program director, another from the admissions committee ( a faculty member) and the last the admissions director. I never understand what people in such interviews look for. It very difficult to say but most people say that they look for your overall command of the language, your general communication skills and also your level of confidence. Anyways as everybody else says after coming, my interviews were good as well.
School – Awesome!!! The structure is a bit old but they have a new building to it now. Patient flow is said to be excellent and the program director is a very sweet person.
City – Didn't like it that much. Have heard a lot about the crime there and wouldn't like to be a part of it (though people presently in upenn would have a different opinion, this one is just mine)
My result – Rejected after interview.
Ucsf –
These are the long ones. It started on Sunday and carried on till Wednesday. The first day is practical. They are changing the room in which we worked this time (that was very much needed). As you sit to work you might not only be working but also encountering the elbow of the neighboring person. I would suggest practicing a lot if you are invited to ucsf as I had never prepared for a gold crown before and found it very difficult to work on a manikin that was pretty hard to move. The next day dats Monday you will be called for the orientation. You will have a lecture by the program director, financial aid officer and then a few others. It is here where you will be getting your interview day. It's mostly alphabetical. So if you are N or P or S, you'll be interviewed on Wednesday. The interview again is very personal. They will also give you a case. Like they asked me how would you approach a case in ur clinic for root canal treatment. Tell me all the steps. I started with informed consent and they were impressed. So be prepared.
School – Dream School. One of the top most. You won't find a school with such excellent research and huge patient flow very often.
City – SF is the best cities to live in. Yes it is expensive but it is a very safe and multicultural city. SO you will find a lot of Indian and Chinese restaurants. We did go for a small outing and I think I loved the city.
My result – Waitlisted
Uop –
This is again the long one. It started on Wednesday the same day that UCSF finishes (in the evening though). There was orientation and very gud food!! The interview dates are given on this day and then you will also get time with the faculty and students. The interview was the coolest of all the 4 I attended. The faculty member who interviewed me talked more than me but it was awesome. She had a lot of gud stuff to tell me. The practical was on Saturday. They had PFM on central incisor and a class 2 on a mandibular molar. It was a table top preparation and was very easy. They give you a manual as well that can be very useful. Just follow it and the sample models they give you. You'll do great!
School – Five star hotel – to call it the least. I have heard that they have an excellent patient flow! Pretty expensive school but it should be worth that money.
City – Same again as above.
My result – Accepted
Bu –
Again nice school but the whether was not very kind on that particular day. That is very normal of Boston whether. You either like it or you hate it. Again a very relaxed day's interview. Just one person (a faculty) will interview you. Tobias (the admissions co-ordinator) is sweet! General questions as we know always.
School – Gud but I have heard a lot about lack of patients even from the school students. So that could be an area of concern. Very cheap though…..
City – Coooooooold….wat else can I say….as the other amenities are common to every big city….
My result – Decision awaited.
Some common things –
1. Every school will be friendly – Don't fall into the trap of considering that you will be admitted for sure.
2. I really like the part when they allow you to meet the seniors. You can be very open and ask them questions.
3. Interviews would always be nice but try to prepare for each and every one well.
4. Last but by no means the least your practical exam – If you want to get admitted to any school dat has a bench exam – you have to do well on this part. I practiced at the place where I did my observer ship. Just buy some teeth onlin and pour them in plaster and request the person you observe to allow you to work and also check your work. It is a sincere request from me to all those who allow people like us to practice to not charge anyone for this. I have seen ads on SDN where they ask you to pay to come and practice at their clinic for money. Please don't do that….my dentist never asked me money and he was kind enough to always check the work I did and give his suggestions.
Finally I would like to end my marathon by wishing every1 the very best of luck!!!
Please don't loose hope and if you ever do - look at this post……..be focused..... be determined.
Another request please don't send PM's, rather post here so that every one can benefit from the discussions. A very big thank you to people like incision, la fea, vejaju, enzosz who come out and help everyone….god bless!!!