OMS: When to take CBSE

[D1Bound]

Hello. This past year I have undergone a grueling masters degree prior to dental school. This masters degree was modeled after first year medical school curriculum. From what people have told me regarding OMS, you need to figure out if this is something you want to do earlier rather than later so you can fully prepare for the application. I have two questions.

1st: When is it feasible to take the CBSE? Since I’m just coming of this masters, it may be possible I take the exam after my D1 year. I’ve briefly researched the study materials required for the exam but I do not know if I will be ready academically or not. I’m not sure how I WOULD know exactly.

2nd: How does someone truly know if OMS is for them? I have very limited shadowing experience so far. When I decided on attending school that was a very easy decision. This is an even bigger decision and I simply don’t have the experience yet to know if it is a career I want to do. I certainly don’t want to close doors too early. I want to do my due diligence and research all possibilities.

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[deleted923283]

Hello. This past year I have undergone a grueling masters degree prior to dental school. This masters degree was modeled after first year medical school curriculum. From what people have told me regarding OMS, you need to figure out if this is something you want to do earlier rather than later so you can fully prepare for the application. I have two questions.

1st: When is it pheasible to take the CBSE? Since I’m just coming of this masters, it may be possible I take the exam after my D1 year. I’ve briefly researched the study materials required for the exam but I do not know if I will be ready academically or not. I’m not sure how I WOULD know exactly.

2nd: How does someone truly know if OMS is for them? I have very limited shadowing experience so far. When I decided on attending school that was a very easy decision. This is an even bigger decision and I simply don’t have the experience yet to know if it is a career I want to do. I certainly don’t want to close doors too early. I want to do my due diligence and research all possibilities.

It’s offered every February and August. The earliest I’ve heard is someone taking it August in the beginning of D2. The latest, if you want to go directly, is August in the beginning of D4.

The exam is much more expansive than you’d expect. Some cram hardcore for 3-5 months. Others like me took about 12+ months steadily studying because school didn’t offer much free time. You just start studying and eventually it becomes clear when you’re ready.

Hang out around OS your first two years. Then start externing, that’s how you really find out.

 

[desertrat12]

If you are curious to experience it, right now they are offering some of the nbme practice tests for free until May 31. You will likely get a sharp reality check, which is a good thing.

If you have a strong suspicion you’ll like OMS but just aren’t 100% yet, then you could start working through Pathoma or Sketchy pharm with an accompanying Pre made anki deck. If you stay up to date with Anki you won’t have to worry about forgetting stuff by the time you take it and you’ll be far ahead of the game if you start your second year of dental school having already memorized pathoma and sketchy pharm. Then, if you end up deciding not to do oms you’ll at least be able to sleep through your dental school pathology and pharmacology courses D2 year. Spacing those out over a year shouldn’t put too much extra strain on your D1 class studying.

 

[D1Bound]

If you are curious to experience it, right now they are offering some of the nbme practice tests for free until May 31. You will likely get a sharp reality check, which is a good thing.

If you have a strong suspicion you’ll like OMS but just aren’t 100% yet, then you could start working through Pathoma or Sketchy pharm with an accompanying Pre made anki deck. If you stay up to date with Anki you won’t have to worry about forgetting stuff by the time you take it and you’ll be far ahead of the game if you start your second year of dental school having already memorized pathoma and sketchy pharm. Then, if you end up deciding not to do oms you’ll at least be able to sleep through your dental school pathology and pharmacology courses D2 year. Spacing those out over a year shouldn’t put too much extra strain on your D1 class studying.

Thanks for the reply! Would the parts of free name that is applicable to me be the CBSSA?

 

[desertrat12]

Thanks for the reply! Would the parts of free name that is applicable to me be the CBSSA?

Yes

 

[D1Bound]

Yes

Okay just for future readers of this forum, not all of the NBME is germane to dental students going towards OMS. Only the CBSSA which is similar to the CBSE.

 

[Charcot-Marie-Tooth]

Okay just for future readers of this forum, not all of the NBME is germane to dental students going towards OMS. Only the CBSSA which is similar to the CBSE.

For future readers of this forum, germane = relevant.

 

[bracketbuster68]

For future readers of this forum, germane = relevant.

$10 GRE word right there. D1Bound, have you considered ortho?

 

[Life of Pablo]

Best time: Feb D2. Then again August D3 if you have to retake.

 

[D1Bound]

$10 GRE word right there. D1Bound, have you considered ortho?

Haha! I've been around it quite a bit. I have no clue what I'll end up doing. I find implants incredibly fascinating though. 🙂

 

[PatsMan1]

Hello. This past year I have undergone a grueling masters degree prior to dental school. This masters degree was modeled after first year medical school curriculum. From what people have told me regarding OMS, you need to figure out if this is something you want to do earlier rather than later so you can fully prepare for the application. I have two questions.

1st: When is it feasible to take the CBSE? Since I’m just coming of this masters, it may be possible I take the exam after my D1 year. I’ve briefly researched the study materials required for the exam but I do not know if I will be ready academically or not. I’m not sure how I WOULD know exactly.

2nd: How does someone truly know if OMS is for them? I have very limited shadowing experience so far. When I decided on attending school that was a very easy decision. This is an even bigger decision and I simply don’t have the experience yet to know if it is a career I want to do. I certainly don’t want to close doors too early. I want to do my due diligence and research all possibilities.

To know if OMS is for you shadow OMS and other specialties, see what you like.

The best time to take CBSE is dependent on the school you go to since the curriculums are different. I would speak to upperclassmen who took CBSE/who are doing OMFS and get their opinions. Ask as many people as you can so you get multiple peoples thoughts.

 

[caffeine jitters]

I’d also just like to point out the OMFS is an incredibly diverse specialty. It’s important to expose yourself to multiple doctors, which doesn’t necessarily mean you have to shadow a bunch of them... even something as simple as following OMFS related instagram accounts will give you valuable insight to the different OMFS paths.

 

[Likkriue]

August prior to D2 year is when I took it the first time. Took it one more time August prior to D3. I feel that the earlier you take it, the more chances you can take it again.

 

[D1Bound]

August prior to D2 year is when I took it the first time. Took it one more time August prior to D3. I feel that the earlier you take it, the more chances you can take it again.

I've dabbled with pharmacology and done all autonomic and the heart failure drugs from the sketchy pepper deck. I've done up to I cell disease in First Aid. Nothing special but I'm getting my feet wet. I'm trying to enjoy a little bit of my last full summer. My transition to dental school shouldn't be an issue, but I'm wondering how much to study everyday during the rest of my activities if I want to take it next August. In theory I could give it a try in January if I pushed myself. From what I've studied I've already seen most of the material and am familiar with all of these mechanisms. I just don't want to mess up my dental school GPA for sure. I'm looking to apply to military OMS.

 

[desertrat12]

I would normally say just enjoy your summer but assuming you are serious about this and given your current head start, you could easily - even leisurely - make it through all of sketchy pharm and micro including anki decks during the summer. Get them out of the way. Then spend the rest of the year hitting the other topics very thoroughly. Might just be me, but things like pathology, genetics, cell biology, etc are more challenging compared to the pretty straight forward pharm and micro. So get through those 2 while still enjoying your summer, keep up with the anki decks, then hit the other info during the time you have during school.

 

[.dentgal]

Do you only have to report your highest CBSE score?

 

[deleted923283]

Do you only have to report your highest CBSE score?

Correct