Road to specializing

[deleted678432]

Hello all,

What did those of you who are D2/3/4s do to start your "road" to specializing? I know it is important to get involved with research and develop faculty relationships, so how did you all do it? Did you start the first month of D1 if you had an idea on what you wanted to do? Did you start later on? I know that I'm a pre-dent and should be "focusing on general", but I am just curious on how, and how early you get involved so that the opportunity does not escape you to get a personal connection w/ the X department faculty.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[lamemrsa]

Hello all,

What did those of you who are D2/3/4s do to start your "road" to specializing? I know it is important to get involved with research and develop faculty relationships, so how did you all do it? Did you start the first month of D1 if you had an idea on what you wanted to do? Did you start later on? I know that I'm a pre-dent and should be "focusing on general", but I am just curious on how, and how early you get involved so that the opportunity does not escape you to get a personal connection w/ the X department faculty.

D1 year will be enough of a hurdle w/o thinking about specializing. Focus on getting through it first, then start figuring out if specializing is for you after making note of what interests you clinically.

 

[kingme23]

Also, it’s much much easier to form connections with the “important” people when you’re an upperclassman seeing them in clinic or on rotation. If you’re not sure what you want to do yet, maybe get involved in research but your grades trump anything else at this point. If you know you wanna do omfs like you’re username suggests, join your schools OMS club if there is one and if not, start one (even better).

 

[deleted678432]

Also, it’s much much easier to form connections with the “important” people when you’re an upperclassman seeing them in clinic or on rotation. If you’re not sure what you want to do yet, maybe get involved in research but your grades trump anything else at this point. If you know you wanna do omfs like you’re username suggests, join your schools OMS club if there is one and if not, start one (even better).

D1 year will be enough of a hurdle w/o thinking about specializing. Focus on getting through it first, then start figuring out if specializing is for you after making note of what interests you clinically.

Thank you both for your responses. I see around that the consensus timeline of specializing is that you generally have your specialty interest picked by the end of your D2 year/beginning of D3. At this point, is it normal to already have established a mentor-figure, along with being involved in research in the field of your interest? If so, I'm wondering how you'd first approach this person to get involved.

 

[omfsing]

It all depends on what speciality you want to do. For OMFS, research (unless it is with OMFS faculty) isn’t really necessary. Main thing now CBSE and GPA (with 6 year programs favoring CBSE). Also, make sure to do at least 3 weeks of externships in your D3 year.

 

[Medin2017]

It all depends on what speciality you want to do. For OMFS, research (unless it is with OMFS faculty) isn’t really necessary. Main thing now CBSE and GPA (with 6 year programs favoring CBSE). Also, make sure to do at least 3 weeks of externships in your D3 year.

So if research isn't really necessary, what else is there to go for extracurricular wise?

 

[omfsing]

So if research isn't really necessary, what else is there to go for extracurricular wise?

For OMFS, best extracurricular are externships and leadship postions. But, in all my interviews people really only cared about CBSE, GPA, and what I thought about my externships.

 

[deleted678432]

For OMFS, best extracurricular are externships and leadship postions. But, in all my interviews people really only cared about CBSE, GPA, and what I thought about my externships.

I guess I had misconceptions on what residency programs look for. My friend matched into an Ivy League head and neck surgery spot and did a TON of research and extracurriculars. That’s a relief to know


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[omfsing]

I guess I had misconceptions on what residency programs look for. My friend matched into an Ivy League head and neck surgery spot and did a TON of research and extracurriculars. That’s a relief to know


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

What do you mean by head and neck? ENT? Also IVY league institutions look more at research and I’m also generalizing OMFS programs (i.e. MGH looks strongly at research experience). I’m not saying research doesn’t look good. I did my fair share of research in dental school, had to chance to travel and met some really cool people (and even got a small publication). I’m just saying that for many OMFS programs, the main thing they look for is cbse, gpa, externships. Don’t think research can be the silver bullet that may get you into a program, it may be better to focus that time studying for your cbse. But, if you are going to do some research, your best bet is to do research with OMFS faculty if available or do it if you are interested or enjoy it (I did microbio research, which was brought up briefly at a couple interviews). On a side note, I’ve had buddies put beer brewing as a hobby and that turned out to be an OMFS director’s passion as well (and he got into that program).

So in the end, drink more beer

 

[deleted678432]

What do you mean by head and neck? ENT? Also IVY league institutions look more at research and I’m also generalizing OMFS programs (i.e. MGH looks strongly at research experience). I’m not saying research doesn’t look good. I did my fair share of research in dental school, had to chance to travel and met some really cool people (and even got a small publication). I’m just saying that for many OMFS programs, the main thing they look for is cbse, gpa, externships. Don’t think research can be the silver bullet that may get you into a program, it may be better to focus that time studying for your cbse. But, if you are going to do some research, your best bet is to do research with OMFS faculty if available or do it if you are interested or enjoy it (I did microbio research, which was brought up briefly at a couple interviews). On a side note, I’ve had buddies put beer brewing as a hobby and that turned out to be an OMFS director’s passion as well (and he got into that program).

So in the end, drink more beer

Will drink more beer, don't you worry. And yes, head and neck, ENT, oto., whatever, but it just seemed like research was huge for him, and I though that was essentially a pre-requisite for most surgical programs. Thank you for highlighting the main things. I totally understand that there are secondary and tertiary things too, that would look good. I appreciate the response!

 

[PhansterZ]

Will drink more beer, don't you worry. And yes, head and neck, ENT, oto., whatever, but it just seemed like research was huge for him, and I though that was essentially a pre-requisite for most surgical programs. Thank you for highlighting the main things. I totally understand that there are secondary and tertiary things too, that would look good. I appreciate the response!

CBSE is king, especially with 6-year MD integrated programs. With the way most dental schools are set up, it is very hard to find time to learn the first 2 years of med school on your own while trying to do all the dental stuff to keep your class rank high.

Losing a resident because they can’t pass step 1 is detrimental to a program and creates a lot of unnecessary stress. You can do all the research in the world, but if you can’t pass this test, it’s all for nothing.

 

[deleted678432]

CBSE is king, especially with 6-year MD integrated programs. With the way most dental schools are set up, it is very hard to find time to learn the first 2 years of med school on your own while trying to do all the dental stuff to keep your class rank high.

Losing a resident because they can’t pass step 1 is detrimental to a program and creates a lot of unnecessary stress. You can do all the research in the world, but if you can’t pass this test, it’s all for nothing.

Is this difficulty to find the time to study the med school curriculum generally less at med-school curriculum-based school?

 

[predent2151]

Hello all,

What did those of you who are D2/3/4s do to start your "road" to specializing? I know it is important to get involved with research and develop faculty relationships, so how did you all do it? Did you start the first month of D1 if you had an idea on what you wanted to do? Did you start later on? I know that I'm a pre-dent and should be "focusing on general", but I am just curious on how, and how early you get involved so that the opportunity does not escape you to get a personal connection w/ the X department faculty.

Would it be wise to supplement your courses throughout D1 and D2 with Boards and Beyond if you are potentially interested in OMFS? Would this help with your dental school science curriculum in general?

 

[deleted696582]

Not a direct answer to your question, but some advice nonetheless. Do everything you can to practice your hand skills and do well in pre-clinic classes. There are a lot of dental students who can easily ace the basic science classes, but get hit hard by pre-clinic grades. Things like direct vision and steady-handedness don't come quickly for most.

What I've gathered from older students who have matched into specialties is that it is more time efficient to focus on grades D1 year and then worry about specializing later on.

 

[PhansterZ]

Is this difficulty to find the time to study the med school curriculum generally less at med-school curriculum-based school?

Yes, but if you're dedicated, you'll find the time.

 

[2TH MVR]

Rank is everything. Look at it this way. In 4 yrs of dental school .... there is X number of graded courses. It all starts in D1. If you post average grades the 1st year ... it is literally impossible to catch up to the other students rank wise. This happened to myself. I didn't realize that I wanted to specialize until D2. My grades in D1 were okay, but not perfect. Didn't matter what I did from that point on .... I could not catch the students who made all A's in D1. What did this cost me? I was ranked in the top 10, but not the top 5. I was not accepted into Ortho my 1st year applying. I ended up doing an AEGD and was accepted my 2nd year.

 

[charlestweed]

I agree with 2THMVR. You should study hard right at the beginning of you D1 year. Some 2nd, 3rd, 4th year students and practicing dentists, whom I talked to on this forum, wanted to specialize but couldn't because they didn't do well during their earlier years and their GPA/class rank weren't high enough.

I didn't need to do well in all my classes because I went to a P/F school. It's a lot easier just to pass all the classes. My dental school also required every student to do research from the Spring quarter of the 1st year to the Fall quarter of the 3rd year. At first, I thought this research thing was a stupid requirement since we were already too busy with other classes. When I decided to specialize in ortho at the end of my 2nd year, having done research helped big time. When I was asked to report my class rank on the ortho applications, I put down N/A because I went to a P/F school. Research and a 90+ board score (now we have CBSE and ADAT exams) helped me get 7 interviews (I applied to 17 schools). So attending a P/F dental school gave me a slight advantage😉.

If you go to a dental school that has grades, GPA, and class rank, you need to work hard on day one. I think having good grades/GPA/class rank will give you more options later on.

 

[Localnative]

Hello all,

What did those of you who are D2/3/4s do to start your "road" to specializing? I know it is important to get involved with research and develop faculty relationships, so how did you all do it? Did you start the first month of D1 if you had an idea on what you wanted to do? Did you start later on? I know that I'm a pre-dent and should be "focusing on general", but I am just curious on how, and how early you get involved so that the opportunity does not escape you to get a personal connection w/ the X department faculty.

Was not in love with drilling and filling as a 3rd yr. Ended up taking a yr off and doing a Howard Hughes Fellowship at the NIH. Year of research screwed my head on straight. Worked in the NCI, saw alot of terminal patients undergoing experimental cancer treatments. Realized I wanted to make a bigger impact in my patient's lives so OMFS it was. Knowing what the environment was like at the NCI, I wanted to find something similar and matched at an academic program with a great hospital. Before I applied, I did some externships, including a month long stint at UConn. I didn't take 3 months off to complete a half dozen externships. Also the connections I made at the NIH helped greatly on the OMFS interview trail. Some modest name dropping with the letters to match gave me a leg up.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY OF EXTRACURRICULAR ENDEAVORS WINS OUT.

Little analogy = listen to all the great investors (Buffett, Ackman, Munger). As a single investor, don't chase 30 stocks. Ultimately you will never see long term growth. *** Choose 10 good ones and do your homework.

 

[Faux]

I agree with 2THMVR. You should study hard right at the beginning of you D1 year. Some 2nd, 3rd, 4th year students and practicing GPs, whom I talked to on this forum, wanted to specialize but couldn't because they didn't do well during their earlier years and their GPA/class rank weren't high enough.

I didn't need to do well in all my classes because I went to a P/F school. It's a lot easier just to pass all the classes. My dental school also required every student to do research from the Spring quarter of the 1st year to the Fall quarter of the 3rd year. At first, I thought this research thing was a stupid requirement since we were already too busy with other classes. When I decided to specialize in ortho at the end of my 2nd year, having done research helped big time. When I was asked to report my class rank on the ortho applications, I put down N/A because I went to a P/F school. Research and a 90+ board score (now we have CBSE and ADAT exams) helped me get 7 interviews (I applied to 17 schools). So attending a P/F dental school gave me a slight advantage😉.

If you go to a dental school that has grades, GPA, and class rank, you need to work hard on day one. I think having good grades/GPA/class rank will give you more options later on.

Do P/F schools give ranks to residency programs?

 

[lamemrsa]

.

 

[Faux]

Typically no (or you can volunteer to do so if your rank is high), but realize these schools attract the highest achieving students. For example, it wouldn’t be fair to rank 1-35 of Harvard Grads. They could have probably been top 10% at most dental schools given their past academic history. That said, if you come from a non-P/F school and rank highly, and get the same test scores on the ADAT/GRE/CBSE - you are more favored IMO for residency applications.

Maybe I should have picked UCONN over UB

I'm interested in general dentistry, just some of the most "selective" residencies

 

[charlestweed]

Do P/F schools give ranks to residency programs?

I don’t know if my school sent out the ranking info to the residency programs or not but I do know that my school ranked the top students in our class base on the number of honor passes. I wasn’t on the rank list. My roommate ranked 2nd in my class and matched to our own school’s OS program. The top guy applied for ortho but didn’t get accepted our school’s program because the director decided to accept another unranked classmate, who published a very good research project. This same top guy had the same interview day with me at a non-match ortho program. He also had a higher board score than mine. For some reasons, the director at this non-match program picked me over him. He did match to an out-of-state ortho program and is now a very successful orthodontist.

 

[2TH MVR]

Maybe the schools are looking for future faculty. Shortage of quality research and academically oriented faculty.

 

[Steins;Gate]

accepted to one of the best regarded ortho residencies (along with many interviews)

Do you mind PM'ing me which programs these may be?

 

[Disintegration93]

Research seems to be HUGE amongst some ortho programs, even more important than class rank. I've recently seen someone from a no-name state dental school with multiple first author publications (wasn't even in ortho field; was in basic science I think) get accepted to one of the best regarded ortho residencies (along with many interviews) with around top50% class rank. Limited sample size but still surprised that the traditional top10% or bust mentality is fading for ortho.

PM me too please if you don't mind!