Retake OMFS

[zxvanhilsen]

---

Members do not see this ad.

All right here is the story. I want nothing more than to become an OMFS. The problem is I got an 89 on Part 1 (old format). Ya, I know dumb ass. I am very involved in OS at my dental school and I am pretty sure I will have some decent letters of rec. I also go to Univeristy of the Pacific for dental school, so graduating from here is doing me no favors. I am spending pretty much every break on an externship but our school is 3 years and is year round, so there is not a lot of time for externships. So basically my school is not helping me in my pursuit. Anyway, I am debating if I should retake my boards or not. ANyone have any advice? I have been studing for a while now, but I just don't know. Let me know what you guys think. Oh ya I don't give a damn were I go. I would love to go to a kick ass program, but I am will go anywhere do anything to get in. Oh ya my rank is just a touch below top 10%, but I think I might be able to crack the top 10% after this quarter.

ZX

 

[flat4]

All right here is the story. I want nothing more than to become an OMFS. The problem is I got an 89 on Part 1 (old format). Ya, I know dumb ass. I am very involved in OS at my dental school and I am pretty sure I will have some decent letters of rec. I also go to Univeristy of the Pacific for dental school, so graduating from here is doing me no favors. I am spending pretty much every break on an externship but our school is 3 years and is year round, so there is not a lot of time for externships. So basically my school is not helping me in my pursuit. Anyway, I am debating if I should retake my boards or not. ANyone have any advice? I have been studing for a while now, but I just don't know. Let me know what you guys think. Oh ya I don't give a damn were I go. I would love to go to a kick ass program, but I am will go anywhere do anything to get in. Oh ya my rank is just a touch below top 10%, but I think I might be able to crack the top 10% after this quarter.

ZX

I definitely know people that have gotten in with your numbers. However, if you want several interviews and want to increase your chances at matching at your first choice, then retaking may be in your cards. As arbitrary as it may seem, that 1 point from the 90 barrier may make a difference at some programs that do not know you personally. Many of the more competitive programs will use the "90" barrier as a cutoff point to make the intial selections. If they know you from an externship and they liked what they saw, they may overlook the fact that you are 1 point away from their standards. That said, 6year programs where the medschool stipulates that applicants MUST have a 90 will not even give you the time of day.

What does this all mean for you? It's ultimately your choice but since you've already been studying, if you feel confident that you could do better, then maybe you can give it a shot. At the same time, if you do worse, you're gonna dig yourself an even bigger hole. It's all up to you. Personally, if I were in your shoes, I would do anything to help my chances and probably would study my ass off and take it over but that's just me...plus, I had 4 years to play with. Why don't you contact a few PD's of the programs you are interested tell them your scenario and get their opinions?

 

[shabu2]

I would take it over too, but the new format seems to be grading differently. Some of the brightest people in my school took the new format and couldn't break 90.

 

[brycethefatty]

Zach, you're such a piece of ****.

All my love.

You don't need to retake it, your rank is good, you pretty much have no life and all you do is OS stuff all day, plus you're a super kiss@ss, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[GatorDMD]

Zach, you're such a piece of ****.

All my love.

You don't need to retake it, your rank is good, you pretty much have no life and all you do is OS stuff all day, plus you're a super kiss@ss, so I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Doggie]

Several options can be explored with your situation.

1. Retake your boards and make sure that you do better.
2. Enter into a 1 year OMFS internship. Since you go to a 3 year dental school, you technically are not losing any time. (yeah yeah.....tell Dr. Yarborough to shut up. )

 

[setdoc7]

There are definitely NY OMFS programs that will look at you. Otherwise you will have little problem finding a fellowship somewhere.

 

[xXCOwHoRnXx]

i think the fellowship route is better than the retake route. Especially if you do the fellowship at a program you want to get into...

You are a year ahead of everyone so dont rush it. Take some time and get some muscle into your CV and land yourself in a decent program rather than rush to squeeze into a program that might disappoint you for 4-6 yrs.

 

[esclavo]

All right here is the story. I want nothing more than to become an OMFS. The problem is I got an 89 on Part 1 (old format). Ya, I know dumb ass. I am very involved in OS at my dental school and I am pretty sure I will have some decent letters of rec. I also go to Univeristy of the Pacific for dental school, so graduating from here is doing me no favors. I am spending pretty much every break on an externship but our school is 3 years and is year round, so there is not a lot of time for externships. So basically my school is not helping me in my pursuit. Anyway, I am debating if I should retake my boards or not. ANyone have any advice? I have been studing for a while now, but I just don't know. Let me know what you guys think. Oh ya I don't give a damn were I go. I would love to go to a kick ass program, but I am will go anywhere do anything to get in. Oh ya my rank is just a touch below top 10%, but I think I might be able to crack the top 10% after this quarter.

ZX

Apply to about 35-45 programs and be willing to go anywhere. Maybe you can catch a low year and get in under the radar. Interview at any place that gives you an interview. Pray.....did I mention Pray?

I always thought 89 was the sticky spot because what if you did worse (which is very possible)? I think the chance of doing worse than an 89 is very high. I have alot of respect for the guys who retake boards at an 89...very guttsy.

 

[molarjuncky]

what about 86 w/ 3.3 gpa and low class rank? and 1 yr internship followed by 1 yr gpr?

 

[scalpel2008]

All right here is the story. I want nothing more than to become an OMFS. The problem is I got an 89 on Part 1 (old format). Ya, I know dumb ass. I am very involved in OS at my dental school and I am pretty sure I will have some decent letters of rec. I also go to Univeristy of the Pacific for dental school, so graduating from here is doing me no favors. I am spending pretty much every break on an externship but our school is 3 years and is year round, so there is not a lot of time for externships. So basically my school is not helping me in my pursuit. Anyway, I am debating if I should retake my boards or not. ANyone have any advice? I have been studing for a while now, but I just don't know. Let me know what you guys think. Oh ya I don't give a damn were I go. I would love to go to a kick ass program, but I am will go anywhere do anything to get in. Oh ya my rank is just a touch below top 10%, but I think I might be able to crack the top 10% after this quarter.

ZX

if this were blackjack, you have 17 and the dealer has an 8 showing. Do you want to hit or take your chances. Get some good LORs, do your externships, work your a$$ off, make up for the board score, and apply with your 89.

 

[shabu2]

if this were blackjack, you have 17 and the dealer has an 8 showing. Do you want to hit or take your chances. Get some good LORs, do your externships, work your a$$ off, make up for the board score, and apply with your 89.

Great analogy! In total agreement with everyone else. Strengthen the CV, GREAT LORs, shotgun the apps, and PRAY. Otherwise, man up and re take the boards. I know very few who improve 3+ points, most increase 1-2+.

 

[J2AZ]

Do NOT retake. There are some major scoring issues with the new NBDE. Drop in score avg amongst 1st time takers and consistent drop in score for second timers. Very hard to crack 90. Highest score in my class on old format was a 97 and lowest was an 89. On the new format the highest score is a 91 and lowest 80. Many second timers had the same raw score but there scaled score was 4 to 5 pts lower. If you decide to take it again just be sure you are ok with scoring lower because odds are you will.