**Official 2026 Ortho Pass/Interviews/Match/Non- match**

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Haven't heard from Eastman yet, and not sure when they're going out. They had their last day of interviews this past Thursday though. What did you think of the program/interview experience? I interviewed there last Tuesday. Seems like a pretty busy 2-year program. Dr. Rossouw also seems like a gem!
 
steevo34 said:
Haven't heard from Eastman yet, and not sure when they're going out. They had their last day of interviews this past Thursday though. What did you think of the program/interview experience? I interviewed there last Tuesday. Seems like a pretty busy 2-year program. Dr. Rossouw also seems like aI agrr
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steevo34 said:
Haven't heard from Eastman yet, and not sure when they're going out. They had their last day of interviews this past Thursday though. What did you think of the program/interview experience? I interviewed there last Tuesday. Seems like a pretty busy 2-year program. Dr. Rossouw also seems like a gem!
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I agree—everyone was so friendly. The program is strong both academically and clinically, and there are lots of patients, which means lots of learning opportunities. It is a two-year, financially reasonable program.
 
steevo34 said:
For those asking about Canadian schools: seems like everything is proceeding quite slowly due to high volume of applications. I contacted Western University directly and confirmed they haven't sent out anything yet, neither has Toronto (Toronto's website says that they can send out invites anywhere from late September to mid October). I reached out to Manitoba and haven't heard back from them yet. I did not apply to Alberta so no info there. Oh and Western said they will notify you for both if you get an interview and if you don't Good luck everyone!
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Has any of the Canadian schools sent out acceptances? Or rejections?
 
Yes they all sent out yesterday (except BC because it's match). Toronto sent a rejection. Haven't heard from Western but a first-year resident that I know there said the three people have accepted.
 
Hockey_Ortho said:
Has Eastman sent acceptances yet/does anyone know their ETA for when they are going out?
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Someone posted on instagram saying that they were offered the admission for the two-year program. The email or acceptance letter (I am not sure which one) on the post stated November 4th, so I'm assuming everyone who were given an offer received it November 4th via email.
 
Did JU give out acceptances?
 
I'm planning to apply in the future and wanted to ask about the Maimonides' program as I couldn't find much info on it. I see they take only 2 per year, what is the culture like, workload, how are didactics provided? Are residents required to take call, work weekends or night clinic? Do you have assistants and how is the director, faculty there? thank you!
 
Hey everyone just putting together my rank list now. Did all the programs you interview at give their program code for Match? I was able to search up the programs with their respective program directors but I just wanted to double check.
 
After we certify the match list, is there anything else we have to do on the Match website or the ADEA PASS?
 
Does anyone have any advice on deciding between an expensive 2 year close to home and a paid 3 year program? Even with the extra year of income, I would say the 2 year would still be ~100k more expensive. Not sure if it's worth it to be done sooner, just curious other's thoughts.
 
ortho26 said:
Does anyone have any advice on deciding between an expensive 2 year close to home and a paid 3 year program? Even with the extra year of income, I would say the 2 year would still be ~100k more expensive. Not sure if it's worth it to be done sooner, just curious other's thoughts.
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Paid 3-year would be unreal. The less debt, the better.
 
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ortho26 said:
Does anyone have any advice on deciding between an expensive 2 year close to home and a paid 3 year program? Even with the extra year of income, I would say the 2 year would still be ~100k more expensive. Not sure if it's worth it to be done sooner, just curious other's thoughts.
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I did a paid 3 year program and I don't regret it - I learned a lot about finishing in my third year, and I would say it's arguably the hardest part of orthodontics. If someone goes to a 2 year program they will learn a lot their first year out in private practice so I think in terms of overall knowledge/skill you end up in the same place either way, but I think I would have felt a lot less confident if I hadn't done that third year. If it's more expensive doing a 2 year then that's even less incentive IMO.
 
Hey everyone,

I know this is last minute, but I’d love any advice on how y’all approached ranking programs.

Some of the questions I’ve been thinking about:

• How much did you rely on your gut versus logic when finalizing your list?

• How much did the “vibe” or how you clicked with current first year residents at the social matter in the long run?

• For those choosing between 2- and 3-year programs, how did you factor in your learning style (fast-paced/self-starter vs needing more time to consolidate)?

• How much weight did you give to a program’s name or alumni network?

• Did you consider anecdotal stories about graduates?

All my programs cost about the same, with a mix of 2- and 3-year tracks. I feel really fortunate to be deciding between great options, but I’d appreciate any last-minute perspective, especially from current residents or those already in practice.


Thank you!
 
ortho26 said:
Does anyone have any advice on deciding between an expensive 2 year close to home and a paid 3 year program? Even with the extra year of income, I would say the 2 year would still be ~100k more expensive. Not sure if it's worth it to be done sooner, just curious other's thoughts.
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What did you end up deciding?
 
protalks102 said:
Anyone know what time the email comes out Wednesday?
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On the NMS website, it officially says 12 PM EST, but it was way earlier last year, like around 8 or 9 AM EST. I live in the Pacific Coast, so I think it will be the first thing I will find out in the morning.
 
Do we get an email around the same time even if we don’t match? Trying to see if getting an email is a good sign
 
Both match and no match emails are sent
laortho said:
Do we get an email around the same time even if we don’t match? Trying to see if getting an email is a good sign
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around the same time. Timing isn’t exactly the same but it’s close to each other(minutes or so).
 
Pasting this template from previous years so that people can find/use it. Good luck everyone!

Name of Ortho Program:
Dental School Attended:
Year Earned DMD/DDS:
International Student (yes/no):
NBDE Part I/II scores:
GRE Score:
Class Rank:
Match/Non-Match:
Externship(s)/where:
Research:
Extracurriculars:
 
I believe so, at least that’s when people received it last year. I’m assuming we will find out in few hours.
 
Name of Ortho Program: Southeast-2 year program
Dental School Attended: South
Year Earned DMD/DDS: 2026
International Student (yes/no): No
NBDE Part I/II scores: Passed INBDE after applications
GRE Score: Verbal: 150, Quant: 151, Writing: 4.5 (My scores were low, but I had only 2 weeks to study)
Class Rank: 28%
Match/Non-Match: Match
Externship(s)/where: 2 programs, but didn't interview there
Research: 2 research projects in dental school with one being published in Ortho Journal, and I did research in undergrad
Extracurriculars: Not many extracurriculars, but started a pre-dental program at my school, and was a representative of a university wide initiative.

I applied to 32 schools, received 3 interviews, and matched after ranking all 3. It truly only takes one “yes.”


For future applicants (and re-applicants), here are a few things I learned:
  • Take the GRE seriously.
    If I could do it over, I would have invested more time into studying. A higher score could’ve opened more doors, especially at programs with strict numerical cutoffs.
  • Your stats don’t have to be perfect to match.
    My program is under $100,000 total, and I also interviewed at programs under $40k. I didn’t match at those, but the interviews themselves showed me that getting into orthodontics does not require exceptional numbers across the board.
  • Focus on what you can control.
    Strong letters, a genuine personal statement, authentic interviews, and showing who you are—these matter more than you think.
  • Be strategic but open-minded.
    Cast a wide net. Many programs only interview a small percentage of applicants, and sometimes the program you least expected becomes the one that chooses you.

Overall: don’t count yourself out. There were many moments where I didn’t feel competitive enough, but I still matched into a great program. Orthodontics is extremely competitive, but it’s absolutely possible—even without flawless stats.


I'm super fortunate and thankful to have matched the first application cycle. You can message me on here if you have any questions.

Also, I received my match email at 7:55am cst
 
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Name of Ortho Program: East Coast 3 year program
Dental School Attended: west coast P/F school
Year Earned DMD/DDS: 2022
International Student (yes/no): No
NBDE Part I/II scores: part 1 pass/part 2 fail/INBDE pass
GRE Score: Verbal: 161, Quant: 159, Writing: 5.0
Class Rank: no rank school
Match/Non-Match: Match
Externship(s)/where: 3 programs, but didn't interview there
Research: 2 research projects in dental school with one being published in Ortho Journal after graduation(similar to other post), no research in college
Extracurriculars: VP/heavily involved in SNDA all four years in dental school, 6 month ortho preceptorship, ortho club, private practice as GP for 3 years.

Applied to 43 schools, interviewed at 5, ranked all 5.
——

As a three-years-out grad applying for the third time, I knew I wasn’t the typical orthodontic applicant. This cycle I stopped trying to sound perfect and focused on telling my story. I wrote about my connection to ortho, but I also owned the reality of being a reapplicant. I had my essay torn apart by ortho directors and mentors, rebuilt it from scratch, and it got to a point where every interview site brought it up.

Staying connected to the field matters. Whether we want to admit it or not, relationships shape opportunities. I was intentional about building them. I reached out, asked for guidance, and learned from people who were honest enough to push me. Those conversations helped me prepare for interviews, understand programs, and strengthen my application.

The biggest lesson: be authentic and be willing to be vulnerable. The right mentors will rise to meet you. When your heart is in the right place, people can sense it, and they genuinely want to help you grow.

I cast a wide net because I had flags on my application: not passing part 2 boards on the first try, two previous cycles without acceptance, and years out of school. I couldn’t afford to be selective. What I learned is that programs truly value real-life experience. I’d like to think the maturity I gained working in the real world came through.

If you’re debating reapplying or worried that too much time has passed, you can absolutely come back and reapply. Just be authentic and tell your story honestly.

Happy to answer questions if anyone needs support
 
Name of Ortho Program: Southeastern Program
Dental School Attended: Southeastern Program
Year Earned DMD/DDS: 2026
International Student (yes/no): no
NBDE Part I/II scores: INBDE PASS
GRE Score: 310 (156Q, 154V)
Class Rank: 13%
Match/Non-Match: Match
Externship(s)/where: None
Research: Involved in 3 projects, none published, one ortho-related.
Extracurriculars: Multiple leadership positions in various clubs, class officer
Interview Invites/Attended/Ranked: 5/4/4
 
Are AEGDs or GPRs more helpful during the year off before reapplying next cycle. Or is private practice an option? I didn't match and trying to see what to do next year
 
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