Should a D-School with 15.8 AA, 2.85 sGPA average be allowed to continue this?

[mydat]

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Ananymous vote.



15.8 AA, 15.6 PAT, 3.01 gpa, 2.85 sgpa


These are the average numbers for Meharry's 2007 entering class.

Should ADA get involved to create higher standard for dental school/dentist?

 

[ummjoey]

i wouldnt really care if they have a good passing rate on their boards.

anyone have the statistics?

 

[scuzfly]

Why don't you apply to go there and get on the board and change something if it matters that much to you. That way you can have a say in the standard of education and possibly recruit better students as the years pass. Unless you're willing to do that, which I don't think you would be, they what does it matter? Are you offended by these stats because yours are much higher and you think you are better than these students for some reason? The ADA must not mind because they haven't pulled their recognition from them and they have passed whatever the ADA requirements are as many years as they have been in business. I'd say leave it how it is. Not everyon gets into UCSF, Tufts, UoP, or Harvard. Maybe the ADA should mandate 3.56 gpa requirements, 19.5 DAT average, 100 hours of shadowing and full time employment through undergraduate school also.

 

[mydat]

Why don't you apply to go there and get on the board and change something if it matters that much to you. That way you can have a say in the standard of education and possibly recruit better students as the years pass. Unless you're willing to do that, which I don't think you would be, they what does it matter? Are you offended by these stats because yours are much higher and you think you are better than these students for some reason? The ADA must not mind because they haven't pulled their recognition from them and they have passed whatever the ADA requirements are as many years as they have been in business. I'd say leave it how it is. Not everyon gets into UCSF, Tufts, UoP, or Harvard. Maybe the ADA should mandate 3.56 gpa requirements, 19.5 DAT average, 100 hours of shadowing and full time employment through undergraduate school also.

I don't understand your logic at all, if there is any. Sorry.

 

[already954]

I think that if Meharry wants to continue accepting applicants that cause these stats that is their business. If they can produce competant dentists from these type of applicants then I don't see any problem. However if dentists trained at Meharry are not qualified to practice I think the ADA should step in to either remedy the situation or revoke their ability to train dentists. I trust that the ADA knows what they are doing.

 

[squeegeediver]

i wouldnt really care if they have a good passing rate on their boards.

anyone have the statistics?

I am of the same mind. Unless they are graduating substandard dentists, or unless they are making unethical admissions decisions, it's none of anyone else's business. And I've seen no evidence to suggest they are doing anything wrong...

 

[thethethe]

is this dental school in the united states? is it for black people?

 

[ummjoey]

I don't understand your logic at all, if there is any. Sorry.

i understand his logic and it makes sense to me. i dont see what is not understandable?

@thethethe it is in the US and i think it is the one for black people. you can google it

 

[armorshell]

Ridiculous thread. Meharry is a private institution and can maintain whatever standards they wish. Students from Meharry or any other dental school can not become licensed dentists unless they maintain the standards set forth by both parts of the NBDE and state licensing exams, which they appear to have no problems with.

 

[Montserrat]

Ananymous vote.



15.8 AA, 15.6 PAT, 3.01 gpa, 2.85 sgpa


These are the average numbers for Meharry's 2007 entering class.

Should ADA get involved to create higher standard for dental school/dentist?

What exactly would you expect the ADA to do? As long as their dental students are passing the licensure examinations at a percentage they deem acceptable, they are accepting the right students for their school.

 

[jrf271psu]

is this dental school in the united states? is it for black people?

really?? wow.

 

[dackmonkey]

i understand his logic and it makes sense to me. i dont see what is not understandable?

@thethethe it is in the US and i think it is the one for black people. you can google it

+1. what's there not to understand?

 

[MonchichiMan]

I also find the logic in this thread ridiculous! Who is to say that entering DAT and academic scores indicate how well a student will perform in dental school? I had a friend who entered with the lowest grades and scores, but is in the top 5 of his class over all, and probably higher clinically. I can't always say the same for others who have gone into school with the highest grades. I say good for them for given others opportunities to go to school. Some people just aren't either great test takers or have are simply later bloomers! So yay....

 

[KinKs]

What exactly would you like the ADA to do? Are you sure that you are not just picking on a small, predominantly black school?

Do you know that since inception, Howard and Meharry have educated the majority of black dentists in the US and Caribbean. If we remove those two school, the racial and ethnic disparities that exist within oral healthcare will grow exponentially.

Meharry serves an important service to the black community. This school accepts students (minorities) that are at a disadvantaged from day 1 at kindergarten. Meharry accepts students that would never get into Harvard, or Nova or Baylor and gives them the opportunity to make something of themselves and provide healthcare to the people that you will not see when you become a dentist.

Meharry has a strong committment of serving underserved communities. I think 60% of their graduates work in underserved communities. The dentists they graduate take less sexy cosmetic dentry jobs and go into the deep rural areas where patients routinely die from an abcess tooth that spread to the brain. And you wish to interfere with this school because you think that thier stats are too low. Go look at the stats of where their graduates practice.

I am confused. Why do you give a hell about the type of students that a private institution accepts. Please tell me how many black students attend Harvard dental school, or Nova or Temple or Buffalo or Detroit. Tell me please. I am certain that between Howard and Meharry, the two school have more or at least as much black students as all the other dental schools combined.

Minorities have reached a place where instead of looking to the majority for their eduction, they have decided to build, support and maintian thier own institution. Find a way to fill the void that meharry does, and I might be willing to entertain the thought of ADA interfering in their PRIVATE affairs.

Until then let Meharry do whatever they wish to do. I believe in free speech, but threads like this make me wish that I lived under dictatorship where garbage thought can be violently subdued.

Your thoughts are deeply depressing.

 

[UCSF2012]

Dentistry isn't rocket science. Dental anatomy's a joke. It's fluff classes in Gross anatomy and everything else that's making dental school hard.

Anyway, if a school doesn't teach the material in the manner in which it's used in practice, most that knowledge's bound to be forgotten. How much of the stuff in college do you remember anyway? My DAT was in the 100th percentile but I don't remember anything. Biochem...gone. Genetics...never knew it in the first place.

 

[lphiewok]

you cant even spell anonymous correctly.. instead of being bitter and jealous about others, go study more so you can get into dental schools without crying =\

 

[pharoh]

I think that if Meharry wants to continue accepting applicants that cause these stats that is their business. If they can produce competant dentists from these type of applicants then I don't see any problem. However if dentists trained at Meharry are not qualified to practice I think the ADA should step in to either remedy the situation or revoke their ability to train dentists. I trust that the ADA knows what they are doing.

i agree...
if anything that goes to show that meharry is a great school because they don't take the brightest students but yet can manage to produce competent dentists that can pass their boards. it;s easy to take bright, highly motivated students and produce great professionals .... you gota give'em some credit for that

 

[blankguy]

Why butt in the accreditation process? It is up to that not us students or soon to be students. This thread is disrespectful for people who go to Meharry.

 

[bluejellybelly]

I really think you might be overstepping the line. How do you know that there aren't a decent number of overqualified kids in the sample they have? In any case, even if they do have low GPAs, they could still as an institution produce great dentists. Some schools purposely maintain their low GPA average just to give lower-stat applicants a chance. Doesn't mean that it should be shunned from the rest.

I think KinKs is right on the dollar about racial disparity-this the OP might or might not have known. You cant eliminate standards made to appeal to a certain population of applicants.

 

[small]

Maybe what the OP is really getting as is the idea of affirmative action in dental school given that Meharry is a predominately minority institution. He or she might be thinking "what about all the people with higher scores (than the Meharry average) who don't get into dental school because they are white?" It's a fair question, and addressing it and similar concerns about affirmative action in a logical and convincing manner is essential to improving minority education in America.

Meharry provides an opportunity for many intelligent minority students to pursue a career that might otherwise be closed to them due to the inequities and prejudices of the past and present. Pointing to the few African-American men and women who have managed to rise to the "top" under these circumstances as proof that "all you need is a little hard work" to get ahead does not dismiss the reality that many black men and women are at an extreme disadvantage.

Prominent figures in the black community (I'm thinking of Bill Cosby) have focused on the need for change from within, while others focus on bringing about change on the outside. I believe both are correct and necessary, and the 110 historically black colleges and universities in America can help lead the way.

Besides, Meharry is a private institution and should be allowed to set admission criteria however they please. The only thing ADA can do is make sure that accreditation standards are being met, which they obviously are. I am disappointed that nearly half of the poll respondees feel the ADA should somehow force Meharry to change its admission criteria.

 

[scuzfly]

I don't understand your logic at all, if there is any. Sorry.

Get into the school and make the changes from the inside out. Apply to the school. Graduate. Get on the board and pick which students get into that school.

If you won't do that then graduate and get into the ADA and work to change the requirements.


Sorry if it was too much for you to read.

 

[litldime]

Let's keep it civil guys...ease up a bit on the op

 

[diane07]

there is a need for more under represented minorities in all health professions. meharry definitely has it's place and serves a purpose. a school like meharry is needed in dentistry.

 

[CMistry]

This school accepts students (minorities) that are at a disadvantaged from day 1 at kindergarten.

Minorities and disadvantaged students are not the same thing. I don't doubt there's a strong correlation, but they're not the same. There are certainly plenty of minority students from well-to-do backgrounds.

-Cyrus

 

[airsimon]

I wish I was black

 

[NewMexDent]

I love how most of the replies on here tend to support the current situation at Meherry, but the poll shows that there should be about the same number of students who would support ADA intervention. Where are all you Meherry haters? Too afraid to voice your opinion? I would be too if I were wrong, like you.

Like everyone else has said, as a private institution Meherry can admit anyone that has taken the DAT (even if all they got right was their name) and has met the minimum course requirements, and as long as they produce competent dentists there is no problem.

 

[rollypolly]

Minorities and disadvantaged students are not the same thing. I don't doubt there's a strong correlation, but they're not the same. There are certainly plenty of minority students from well-to-do backgrounds.

-Cyrus

Agreed. There are also plenty of non-minorities that could be considered disadvantaged. But, like you said, there is likely a strong correlation.

I generally agree with Kinks post though. 👍 I don't see a problem with Meharry's admissions standards as long as they produce competent dentists.

 

[dr bojangles]

wow, this thread definitely struck a chord with many SDNers.
the posts above about letting Meharry do what it wants are very logical. if is ADA accredited, and lets in underrepresented/disadvantaged students, then why butt in? the end result is competent, licensed dentists just as good as graduates from other schools.

 

[jdoc04]

wow, this thread definitely struck a chord with many SDNers.
the posts above about letting Meharry do what it wants are very logical. if is ADA accredited, and lets in underrepresented/disadvantaged students, then why butt in? the end result is competent, licensed dentists just as good as graduates from other schools.

Agreed. Graduating competent dentists is all that matters. The fact that Meharry is still accredited shows they are meeting these standards. It proves that entry stats don't = good dentist. The only thing that higher stats do for you is increase your chance to gain acceptance, after that they mean nothing.

 

[Flavasplash84]

I wish I was black

I really hope this person was only joking. Are you referring to just being black for a year to get into dental school or the whole marginalized, unequal life from birth that comes with it no matter what income level? Racism still exists in America, perhaps not as strong or vocal in past years, but it is still here as shown by this poll. If Meharry were to accept more majority-race students, would this thread/poll even exist?

 

[Montserrat]

Agreed. There are also plenty of non-minorities that could be considered disadvantaged. But, like you said, there is likely a strong correlation.

I generally agree with Kinks post though. 👍 I don't see a problem with Meharry's admissions standards as long as they produce competent dentists.

I don't agree with the OP or some of the above posters, but I do see their argument and it's flying right above some of your heads. To play devil's advocate, the argument may not be that they are producing incompetent practitioners, but that seats are wasted on folks that may not be able to competently practice or pass licensure examinations. It's more a percentage of those who pass, than the quality of those who pass (or at least that is how I read it.) Out of curiosity though, what is Meharry's NDBE I, II, and NERB pass rates ?


To answer this concern, it's Meharry's money to lose. In the end, they lose money on two fronts: one, if students don't pass and get booted, and two if less of their students graduate, whereby diminishing a pool of alumni that may give back.

I don't care much for Meharry, however. As a minority myself, the idea of minority infusion to inspire or served the underserved is hogwash. People serve the indigent populations out of heart, not race.

 

[toothfairy85]

I don't agree with the OP or some of the above posters, but I do see their argument and it's flying right above some of your heads. To play devil's advocate, the argument may not be that they are producing incompetent practitioners, but that seats are wasted on folks that may not be able to competently practice or pass licensure examinations. It's more a percentage of those who pass, than the quality of those who pass (or at least that is how I read it.) Out of curiosity though, what is Meharry's NDBE I, II, and NERB pass rates ?


To answer this concern, it's Meharry's money to lose. In the end, they lose money on two fronts: one, if students don't pass and get booted, and two if less of their students graduate, whereby diminishing a pool of alumni that may give back.

I don't care much for Meharry, however. As a minority myself, the idea of minority infusion to inspire or served the underserved is hogwash. People serve the indigent populations out of heart, not race.

Well-said.

 

[TheWiredNerv]

Ananymous vote.



15.8 AA, 15.6 PAT, 3.01 gpa, 2.85 sgpa


These are the average numbers for Meharry's 2007 entering class.

Should ADA get involved to create higher standard for dental school/dentist?

What does it matter if they produce good dentists? Upset that some people got in without a 20 on the AA, perhaps even jealous?

If the quality of dentist being produced is compromised than perhaps they should make some changes. I guess you can ask this question to all your interviewers and see what their opinion is... .

 

[rollypolly]

I don't agree with the OP or some of the above posters, but I do see their argument and it's flying right above some of your heads. To play devil's advocate, the argument may not be that they are producing incompetent practitioners, but that seats are wasted on folks that may not be able to competently practice or pass licensure examinations. It's more a percentage of those who pass, than the quality of those who pass (or at least that is how I read it.) Out of curiosity though, what is Meharry's NDBE I, II, and NERB pass rates ?


To answer this concern, it's Meharry's money to lose. In the end, they lose money on two fronts: one, if students don't pass and get booted, and two if less of their students graduate, whereby diminishing a pool of alumni that may give back.

I don't care much for Meharry, however. As a minority myself, the idea of minority infusion to inspire or served the underserved is hogwash. People serve the indigent populations out of heart, not race.

I don't think the OP's argument is flying over anyone's head. He/she asked if Meharry should be able to continue admitting people with these stats. Yes, they should be able to do whatever they want as long as they are a private institution and they maintain their accreditation.

I understand what you are saying about the percentage of students that are able to pass the NBDE vs. the quality of students that do pass the NBDE, but Meharry is an accredited school. Obviously the ADA feels that a high enough percentage of their students are able to pass the boards and is satisfied with the education they provide and the performance of their students.

 

[eldirty]

If Meharry were to accept more majority-race students, would this thread/poll even exist?

I think this thread would most certainly still exist. I dont think the OP meant anything about Meharry being a predominately minority school ... the issue is the far lower than average stats that are being admitted while some applicants with 3.5+ and 20+ DAT scores arent even getting interviewed. I dont understand why it is even necessary to submit your scores if your far superior stats dont even get you in for an interview.

I agree with most that any school should be able to do what they wish if quality dentists are being produced.

 

[PCrooks]

What exactly would you like the ADA to do? Are you sure that you are not just picking on a small, predominantly black school?

Do you know that since inception, Howard and Meharry have educated the majority of black dentists in the US and Caribbean. If we remove those two school, the racial and ethnic disparities that exist within oral healthcare will grow exponentially.

Meharry serves an important service to the black community. This school accepts students (minorities) that are at a disadvantaged from day 1 at kindergarten. Meharry accepts students that would never get into Harvard, or Nova or Baylor and gives them the opportunity to make something of themselves and provide healthcare to the people that you will not see when you become a dentist.

Meharry has a strong committment of serving underserved communities. I think 60% of their graduates work in underserved communities. The dentists they graduate take less sexy cosmetic dentry jobs and go into the deep rural areas where patients routinely die from an abcess tooth that spread to the brain. And you wish to interfere with this school because you think that thier stats are too low. Go look at the stats of where their graduates practice.

I am confused. Why do you give a hell about the type of students that a private institution accepts. Please tell me how many black students attend Harvard dental school, or Nova or Temple or Buffalo or Detroit. Tell me please. I am certain that between Howard and Meharry, the two school have more or at least as much black students as all the other dental schools combined.

Minorities have reached a place where instead of looking to the majority for their eduction, they have decided to build, support and maintian thier own institution. Find a way to fill the void that meharry does, and I might be willing to entertain the thought of ADA interfering in their PRIVATE affairs.

Until then let Meharry do whatever they wish to do. I believe in free speech, but threads like this make me wish that I lived under dictatorship where garbage thought can be violently subdued.

Your thoughts are deeply depressing.

Exactly!! Meharry is a private historically black college. Meaning that it is one of the few colleges in the United States founded to educate the millions of newly freed slaves after the civil war. Their number one interest has always been to educate future black doctors. Since they are privately funded they can accept whoever they want for whatever reason. As long as their students pass the boards then the ADA has no reason to do anything.

Like the poster above stated. Meharry often accepts students who have been disadvantaged from day 1. Not the spoiled kid with low stats. We are talking about students who had little resources or support throughout their entire academic career. In these cases, their numbers will sometimes be slightly lower than other SDN individuals.

To answer the question. Should a D-School with 15.8 AA, 2.85 sGPA average should be allowed to continue? Yes!

 

[TheDrewYouKnew]

.

 

[SugarNaCl]

When I was a bitter wanna be dental student more than anything else, I was upset by my Meharry rejection. Yes, it is historically black and I would have been in the .05% that wasn't, but still when all you are looking for is an acceptance... it doesn't really matter. It took me until after an acceptance somewhere for me to think it out. Yes, Howard and Meharry, despite low stats, should still run.

Very few blacks go into dentistry and medicine. Many inner city communities of major cities have a very large black population. Very few dentists when they get out can relate or want to treat these inner city populations because they don't want to struggle to get paid or they want to treat what they are used to in suburbia. This is why it is NECESSARY to have schools that encourage blacks to enter these professions. If they can pass the boards, they are fine with me. Everyone needs medical and dental care and everyone deserves it... inner city or out.

 

[doc toothache]

Any school that does not meet our criteria for admission stats should be voted off the island.

 

[KinKs]

I wish to share with you guys a little information about Meharry that you may not already know>

"Meharry is in the forefront in this quest for quality and meaningful healthcare delivery to all persons regardless of race, creed, national origin, gender and other circumstances of personal identity.

In order to accomplish our ambitious goals, Meharry selects a diverse body of students who have individually demonstrated a commitment to service, possess cultural sensitivities, demonstrate the ability to successfully complete our rigorous curriculum and have the willingness to serve underserved populations in the Meharry tradition. "

"As a major resource for educating health care professionals, Meharry Medical College has graduated nearly 15 percent of all African American physicians and dentists practicing in the United States. Since 1970, Meharry has awarded more than 10 percent of the Ph.D.'s in biomedical sciences received by African Americans. Today, the majority of Meharry's graduates practice in medically under-served rural and inner city areas."

"Meharry has educated 40% ot black physicians (and dentist) in this country. 46% of black faculty members in US medical schools are Meharry graduates."

" Its impact and effectiveness in adding to the nation's workforce have been outstanding. In 2004, Meharry has graduated nearly 21% (5,531) of all the African American physicians and dentists (26,069) practicing in the United States. This constitutes 5.6% of all the nation's physicians and dentists. Meharry has also produced 10% of the African American PhDs in the biomedical Sciences."

http://www.hbcunetwork.com/modules/...splay.cfm?school_name=Meharry Medical College

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=729&page=309​

 

[KinKs]

I don't care much for Meharry, however. As a minority myself, the idea of minority infusion to inspire or served the underserved is hogwash. People serve the indigent populations out of heart, not race.

It really gets to me that people talk hogwash and dont know hogwash. Race is an important factor that predicts who you serve and where you serve regardless of whether you like it or not. Also, a school whose primary focus is underserved populations will tend to matriculate alumni that serve underserved populations. Either that or meharry is a brilliant exception that rightly deserves its acredition for doing what the other school will never do. Read and learn.

"Of the 3,724 living MMC alumni, 78 percent practice in lower socioeconomic and disadvantaged urban and rural communities, and more than 50 percent practice in primary care specialties. Based on data from a 1999 American Dental Association survey of 1,548 dentists, 64% of Meharry dental graduates practice in socio-economically deprived areas and 67% of the patients served are from low-income families. Meharry alumni dentists practicing in primary care settings account for 78% of the total number of practicing alumni."

http://www.mmc.edu/education/dentistry/center.html

I DARE YOU TO FIND ME STATS FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL (except howard) THAT CAN RIVAL THOSE OF MEHARRY.

 

[Dan3223]

Admissions standards havent always been as high as they are now. A dentist I worked for told me that he or any of his friends never even studied for the DAT.... or were very concerned about their GPA in school. Just a few years ago, a 16 to 17 DAT was considered average. I'm sure that a lot of the practicing dentists out there now might have trouble getting accepted to a school now... but they are still competent dentists.

 

[btizzels]

Um this thread is intense..... If i hadn't already been accepted somewhere I would be a little peeved that I was rejected at Meharry, but I do understand where they are coming from. I am white and i do believe diversity is an important part or any profession. As far as i am concerned, if they produce competent dentists then there really isn't an issue.......

 

[PCrooks]

Admissions standards havent always been as high as they are now. A dentist I worked for told me that he or any of his friends never even studied for the DAT.... or were very concerned about their GPA in school. Just a few years ago, a 16 to 17 DAT was considered average. I'm sure that a lot of the practicing dentists out there now might have trouble getting accepted to a school now... but they are still competent dentists.

Amen!

 

[fiddlestix]

Why doesn't the ADA start a mostly white school to serve the underserved people in rural areas? Or would that be racist?

That's right, I said it...

 

[Montserrat]

It really gets to me that people talk hogwash and dont know hogwash. Race is an important factor that predicts who you serve and where you serve regardless of whether you like it or not. Also, a school whose primary focus is underserved populations will tend to matriculate alumni that serve underserved populations. Either that or meharry is a brilliant exception that rightly deserves its acredition for doing what the other school will never do. Read and learn.

"Of the 3,724 living MMC alumni, 78 percent practice in lower socioeconomic and disadvantaged urban and rural communities, and more than 50 percent practice in primary care specialties. Based on data from a 1999 American Dental Association survey of 1,548 dentists, 64% of Meharry dental graduates practice in socio-economically deprived areas and 67% of the patients served are from low-income families. Meharry alumni dentists practicing in primary care settings account for 78% of the total number of practicing alumni."

http://www.mmc.edu/education/dentistry/center.html

I DARE YOU TO FIND ME STATS FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL (except howard) THAT CAN RIVAL THOSE OF MEHARRY.

The percentage of students that go on to pursue primary care means squat. Meharry isn't the only private school out there to boast low specialization percentages. Look at the larger, private schools in the nation.

Furthermore, I dare you to find those minority alumni who could have gone back to serve their community and didn't. Remember to ask them why they chose to leave the underserved. Really, you do that. I'm sure the ~22% of them will tell you that for all the jargon, it's not all about race.

Anywhere in those grand statistics of yours, did it mention that they served their respective communities because of racial ties ? If everyone adopted such myopic views, where we held fealty to only commonly held racial ties, the underserved would be even moreso. From speaking with many community leaders, a fair portion of them returned to where their heart was, before they left to attend a school to earn a prestigious degree, and chose compassion. You argue race, as if it is the largest keystone determinant of targeted empathy. You argue incorrectly.

 

[Montserrat]

I don't think the OP's argument is flying over anyone's head. He/she asked if Meharry should be able to continue admitting people with these stats. Yes, they should be able to do whatever they want as long as they are a private institution and they maintain their accreditation.

I understand what you are saying about the percentage of students that are able to pass the NBDE vs. the quality of students that do pass the NBDE, but Meharry is an accredited school. Obviously the ADA feels that a high enough percentage of their students are able to pass the boards and is satisfied with the education they provide and the performance of their students.

Scroll back up if you missed it. Some folks insinuated that the school turns out on average, sub par clinicians because of average sub par admissions statistics.

Also, since when does the ADA have jurisdiction over an acceptable pass percentage for students at a given school ? I know zip about accreditation, but is that part of the accreditation process ? If so, how is Midwestern granted accreditation, given they have no pass rate history whatsoever ?

Furthermore, do you honestly believe that the ADA would shut down a predominantly minority school even if it did underperform ? Can you imagine the political backlash ?

 

[eldirty]

I have many black friends who despite any and all discrimination scored very well on the DAT and were able to not only excel on the collegiate athletic field but also had above average GPAs. Why is everyone talking about inner city, I dont see how being black and from the inner city presents anymore of a challenge than being white and from that same inner city or from the back woods trailer parks. I dream to one day take over my fathers practice in a small rural very under-served area and I believe that everyone should have the right to fight for their dream of becoming a dentist but I also think the bar should be placed at the same level for all applying.

 

[PCrooks]

Why doesn't the ADA start a mostly white school to serve the underserved people in rural areas? Or would that be racist?

That's right, I said it...

LOL... First of all the ADA didn't start Meharry or Howard. These schools were founded during a time when black people in this country were prohibited from attending schools like Harvard, Penn, or any other majority university built on the soil of the United States. We had no other choice but to attend these schools if we wanted to have an education. It just so happen that these two historically black colleges now have dental programs. Don't hate because these schools still embrace their original mission statement.

Funny thing is that many of you who are bashing the HBCU's wouldn't even consider enrolling into one for your undergraduate education! However, out of desperation to become a dentist your childhood dream some how switches to you always wanting to attend a historically black college. Give me a break!! Many of you could careless about ever having the black college experience. Which make total sense if you're not black! You just want to graduate with a DDS and go on with your business. There is nothing wrong with that. These schools know that you won't return or even plan to give back to these communities.

Besides, there are plenty of schools that reflect your all white school scenario. Minnesota, Tufts, Harvard, Columbia, Buffalo, just to name a few, have hardly any black students. After looking at the demographics of those schools I decided right away not to apply to them. I didn't want to spend the next four years as the only or one of only two black students in the entire class.

There are about 56 dental schools. Only two are going to have a majority of black students. There are 54 others to choose from which are considered majority schools. Meaning that they are mostly white. So, why be so mad at the only two schools that do things a bit different? It's only 2. You have 54 mostly white schools! 54! LOL....I guess some people just can't be satisfied.

 

[SHC1984]

Exactly!! Meharry is a private historically black college. Meaning that it is one of the few colleges in the United States founded to educate the millions of newly freed slaves after the civil war. Their number one interest has always been to educate future black doctors. Since they are privately funded they can accept whoever they want for whatever reason. As long as their students pass the boards then the ADA has no reason to do anything.

Like the poster above stated. Meharry often accepts students who have been disadvantaged from day 1. Not the spoiled kid with low stats. We are talking about students who had little resources or support throughout their entire academic career. In these cases, their numbers will sometimes be slightly lower than other SDN individuals.

To answer the question. Should a D-School with 15.8 AA, 2.85 sGPA average should be allowed to continue? Yes!

I applied to Meharry and got waitlisted last year. I was mad at first but then I got over it easily since I know I rather reapply and attend another college...So I have nothing against Meharry.

However, I do NOT agree when people give "disadvantaged" students an excuse to have lower stats. If you want high stats you can get high stats NO MATTER what. Just b/c you are not rich doesn't give you an excuse to have lower stats. People with higher stats work hard for it, they are not at an advantage, its call STUDYING! Thats just my opinion.