Should I start studying for the CBSE before dental school

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toofuss

toofuss

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Hi guys I was wondering if I should begin studying for the CBSE and take the exam this July before dental school.

I am an incoming d1 and I know for certain I want to specialize into omfs. Currently I am in enrolled in a masters program where this spring we will be taking 4 upper level science classes 3 of which is high yield on the CBSE.

I was thinking since I am taking these course(micro,path,and pharm) at a graduate level and with the supplementation of sketch pharm/micro and pathoma while attending lecture I could go ahead and take the CBSE in July? I will begin u world as well after getting a foundation.

I have a lot of free time outside of studying for classes I’ve dialed in my study routine to where I get my studying in from 5am-9am before class. And during class I really focus and after class it’s really optional reading if I want. I finished me first semester with a 3.9 and plan on finishing this semester with a 4.0.

I know taking the CBSE before dental school is a little unorthodox but with me taking these courses paired with the extra free time and motivation should I give it a crack?

I figure worse case I do terrible and I am that much more prepared to tackle the d1 courses and best case I can knock out the CBSE before dental school.

What you guys think?
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The worst thing that can happen is the exam knocks the wind out of you and you realize you just have to study more to ace next time. Just taking it once really shows you what it’s going to take to do well on it.
 
Thanks! so right now I just plan to start with sketchy micro/pharm linking it with things im learning in class and doing the accompanying Anki(pepper sketchy deck). Also doing pathoma! and since I am already enrolled in these course I will simply learn the material for my exams/ quizzes by studying for the CBSE. So it's not like im doing extra. Then after getting the foundation im gonna start uworld. Does this sound like a solid plan? should I add in any addition resources? Maybe buying the usmle step 1 book to reference things I'm not understanding?
 
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You only need to go through.

First Aid
Pathoma
Uworld

Medical students take 2 years to study for it.

If you want to study for it for 6 months with no background knowledge, go ahead, but be prepared for a score of 30.
 
Doesn’t dental students interested in omfs study only 6-12months while taking dental classes? Why would this be any different?
 
Enjoy your last semester and summer before dental school. Take it in dental school like everyone else, you’ll be fine starting in D1.
 
I would only pregame it if you're going to a school with a poor OMFS match rate.
If you decide to go ahead with it, just know that July is your only shot. Good luck- you got this! 👍
 
Mirizzi said:
I would only pregame it if you're going to a school with a poor OMFS match rate.
If you decide to go ahead with it, just know that July is your only shot. Good luck- you got this! 👍
Click to expand...
thanks but Why would July be my only shot if I don’t get my desired score I’ll just retake.
 
This is just my opinion so take this with a grain of salt:

The CBSE is as much about retaining knowledge as it is about acquiring it.
Before dental school, you juggle learning new material with retaining what you already know for CBSE.
Once you begin dental school, you'll need to juggle 1. learning dentistry, 2. maintaining your CBSE knowledge, and 3. continuing to learn new CBSE material.
In my opinion, you can only do two of the three effectively during dental school (especially during the first half of D1 when you're still finding your groove). If you don't maintain your knowledge, your score won't improve. If you don't learn more material, your score wont improve.
 
Understandable. But if I decide to take in July and don’t get the required score before dental school I’d just jump into the traditional route and take it spring d2 or d3. I definitely don’t think taking it this July would be my only shot. I’ll take it as many times as I need. Thanks for the advice though!!
 
toofuss said:
Hi guys I was wondering if I should begin studying for the CBSE and take the exam this July before dental school.

I am an incoming d1 and I know for certain I want to specialize into omfs. Currently I am in enrolled in a masters program where this spring we will be taking 4 upper level science classes 3 of which is high yield on the CBSE.

I was thinking since I am taking these course(micro,path,and pharm) at a graduate level and with the supplementation of sketch pharm/micro and pathoma while attending lecture I could go ahead and take the CBSE in July? I will begin u world as well after getting a foundation.

I have a lot of free time outside of studying for classes I’ve dialed in my study routine to where I get my studying in from 5am-9am before class. And during class I really focus and after class it’s really optional reading if I want. I finished me first semester with a 3.9 and plan on finishing this semester with a 4.0.

I know taking the CBSE before dental school is a little unorthodox but with me taking these courses paired with the extra free time and motivation should I give it a crack?

I figure worse case I do terrible and I am that much more prepared to tackle the d1 courses and best case I can knock out the CBSE before dental school.

What you guys think?
Click to expand...
Yes take it and get it out of the way. Worst case scenario is you don't do well in July and have to keep studying and retake Feb D1. The test is overhyped in my opinion. Yes it’s hard, but the material available these days is so streamlined for people to do well that if you put in committed time you’ll pass. Once you get it done then dental school is easy because you’re not trying to balance. Plus fall D1 is a joke for many schools. You’ll do fine. Just prioritize.
 
Thanks! One last thing how should one prepare for the biochem portion? I don’t think it’s hardly talked about, everyone mentions sketchy pharm/micro and pathoma. I know a good bit of biochem but brushing up on it wouldn’t be bad. or just learn it through uworld?
 
toofuss said:
Thanks! One last thing how should one prepare for the biochem portion? I don’t think it’s hardly talked about, everyone mentions sketchy pharm/micro and pathoma. I know a good bit of biochem but brushing up on it wouldn’t be bad. or just learn it through uworld?
Click to expand...
DirtyMed biochem playlist on Youtube alongside the biochem section of UW is all you need.
 
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toofuss said:
Currently I am in enrolled in a masters program where this spring we will be taking 4 upper level science classes 3 of which is high yield on the CBSE.
Click to expand...

Likely 0 of those 3 are high yield. Master courses are about learning the material in depth, but medical school courses are about learning what happens when things go wrong (mutations, etc).
 
AlbinoPolarBear said:
You only need to go through.

First Aid
Pathoma
Uworld

Medical students take 2 years to study for it.

If you want to study for it for 6 months with no background knowledge, go ahead, but be prepared for a score of 30.
Click to expand...
Why is it not possible, was curious how other people have studied then to get this?
 
CaptainRyanYT Gaming said:
so is it not possible to learn it during undergrad, im planning on starting in a few weeks, and its my soph year.
Click to expand...
Undergrad fails in comparison to the courseload of dental school. Being a sophomore you might be taking 4-5 classes. We take 10-12+ classes a semester. Dental school teaches you how to absorb an enormous amount of information and regurgitate it. Undergrad does not teach you that. You’re also taking classes that are basically prerequisites to all the core basic science classes, and they build up on each other. Think pathology, pharmacology, histology, immunology, microbiology, etc etc. it’s a lot.

There has been some students who’ve taken the CBSE before starting dental school, god bless them idk how they could do it, but a vast majority take it in dental school bc you’ve learned some of the material, and now you’re learning it again. My classes in undergrad also did not go anywhere in depth as much as dental school too. My physiology classes, pharm, biochem, etc were dwarfed in dental school. So the material you’re learning in undergrad isn’t going in depth and you’re going to be teaching yourself a very large majority of it. Which might be hard to do if you don’t have the fundamentals down already, which you’re still being taught.

Nothing is stopping you from trying it. But it’s also very expensive to take the exam. Love the energy, but also just being realistic here, it would be very difficult and time consuming and right now maintaining your GPA is more important than studying for this exam, and you’ve still got the DAT to take first.
 
Ryxndek said:
Undergrad fails in comparison to the courseload of dental school. Being a sophomore you might be taking 4-5 classes. We take 10-12+ classes a semester. Dental school teaches you how to absorb an enormous amount of information and regurgitate it. Undergrad does not teach you that. You’re also taking classes that are basically prerequisites to all the core basic science classes, and they build up on each other. Think pathology, pharmacology, histology, immunology, microbiology, etc etc. it’s a lot.

There has been some students who’ve taken the CBSE before starting dental school, god bless them idk how they could do it, but a vast majority take it in dental school bc you’ve learned some of the material, and now you’re learning it again. My classes in undergrad also did not go anywhere in depth as much as dental school too. My physiology classes, pharm, biochem, etc were dwarfed in dental school. So the material you’re learning in undergrad isn’t going in depth and you’re going to be teaching yourself a very large majority of it. Which might be hard to do if you don’t have the fundamentals down already, which you’re still being taught.

Nothing is stopping you from trying it. But it’s also very expensive to take the exam. Love the energy, but also just being realistic here, it would be very difficult and time consuming and right now maintaining your GPA is more important than studying for this exam, and you’ve still got the DAT to take first.
Click to expand...
I've already taken the DAT and everything, I'm planning on buying bootcamp. Still got a 4.0 maybe not after this sem cuz i hate genetics. I planned this all around the CBSE.

And I'm being realistic. I have 2+ years of my life before going to dental school im willing to slave it away to get a OFMS residency spot. I go to the gym and do other stuff, but I wake up and all I can think about is this exam. Is it really that impossible to start now, I know this what I want. I planned my whole undergrad around this exam. I'll finish undergrad in 3 years, I already took the DAT (23 AA) which is okay, I feel like i choked it, but ima move on from that. This is the next step for me, while building my EC's. The 4th year of college, which is technically my gap, I will do only CBSE 10 hour a day. I already planned on buying bootcamp in the next 2 weeks because I want this so bad.

You all can laugh at me and what not, but this has been bugging me since my 1st year of undergrad. I've already gotten into contact with some folks who have taken the CBSE and with someone who has legitimately done what I want to do in a shorter period of time. They've told me I could start studying now and thats fine. I feel like every undergrad student who asks this question gets told to sit back enjoy the high rise and wait till D1, just to get stressed out then. In my opinion, I think that's just ignorant if you know you want this. And I don't mean to come at anyone in a mean way, I'm just saying what I truly think. I appreciate all your support man, and I understand I probably look like an eager gunner who hasn't done any research and doesn't know anything about the actual field. I promise you I looked into it and I understand the amount of crazy work that yall do to get into this field. And I applaud you guys on that! This field is no joke I mean seriously. If anyone could privately message me about how to get started, I appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks all.
 
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CaptainRyanYT Gaming said:
I've already taken the DAT and everything, I'm planning on buying bootcamp. Still got a 4.0 maybe not after this sem cuz i hate genetics. I planned this all around the CBSE.

And I'm being realistic. I have 2+ years of my life before going to dental school im willing to slave it away to get a OFMS residency spot. I go to the gym and do other stuff, but I wake up and all I can think about is this exam. Is it really that impossible to start now, I know this what I want. I planned my whole undergrad around this exam. I'll finish undergrad in 3 years, I already took the DAT (23 AA) which is okay, I feel like i choked it, but ima move on from that. This is the next step for me, while building my EC's. The 4th year of college, which is technically my gap, I will do only CBSE 10 hour a day. I already planned on buying bootcamp in the next 2 weeks because I want this so bad.

You all can laugh at me and what not, but this has been bugging me since my 1st year of undergrad. I've already gotten into contact with some folks who have taken the CBSE and with someone who has legitimately done what I want to do in a shorter period of time. They've told me I could start studying now and thats fine. I feel like every undergrad student who asks this question gets told to sit back enjoy the high rise and wait till D1, just to get stressed out then. In my opinion, I think that's just ignorant if you know you want this. And I don't mean to come at anyone in a mean way, I'm just saying what I truly think. I appreciate all your support man, and I understand I probably look like an eager gunner who hasn't done any research and doesn't know anything about the actual field. I promise you I looked into it and I understand the amount of crazy work that yall do to get into this field. And I applaud you guys on that! This field is no joke I mean seriously. If anyone could privately message me about how to get started, I appreciate all the help I can get.

Thanks all.
Click to expand...
if you got the grit and discipline, go for it. But recognize it's going to be tough. No ones laughing at you, but we're on the other side, and we've been where you're at and where we are now and so that's why you're getting some backlash. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. By all means, if you feel ready and committed and this is what you want to do, give it a run. Your first attempt might give you a better idea of how you'd need to study for it to do well too.
 
Ryxndek said:
if you got the grit and discipline, go for it. But recognize it's going to be tough. No ones laughing at you, but we're on the other side, and we've been where you're at and where we are now and so that's why you're getting some backlash. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. By all means, if you feel ready and committed and this is what you want to do, give it a run. Your first attempt might give you a better idea of how you'd need to study for it to do well too.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I mean first attempt would be not this upcoming July or the next July, but the one after that, if they even make an exception for me to take it since I know I need to be in dental school. But, even if I don't do well, if I start studying now, I'll know what I need to do so that I can actually do well.
 
Ryxndek said:
if you got the grit and discipline, go for it. But recognize it's going to be tough. No ones laughing at you, but we're on the other side, and we've been where you're at and where we are now and so that's why you're getting some backlash. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. By all means, if you feel ready and committed and this is what you want to do, give it a run. Your first attempt might give you a better idea of how you'd need to study for it to do well too.
Click to expand...
Or maybe, even after the first attempt and the next attempt, I'll find out that I'm not meant for it. But bottom line is ima give it my all.
 
CaptainRyanYT Gaming said:
Or maybe, even after the first attempt and the next attempt, I'll find out that I'm not meant for it. But bottom line is ima give it my all.
Click to expand...
You know the goal then, don't worry about what anonymous people have to say about it, just study hard and take it.

Someone on this forum says they took it before dental school and got an 80+, I am sure you came across that thread
 
toofuss said:
One last thing how should one prepare for the biochem portion?
Click to expand...
Highly recommend Pixorize biochem. That's the "sketchy" for biochem and worked insanely well with VerifiedSmoothBrain Pixorize deck.
 
I’m not sure you can register for the test through AAOMS unless you attend a dental school. Having taken the test already I can tell you that a huge factor is having your cumulative knowledge peak at the right time. You do not want to try to maintain that knowledge base continuously for 2 years until you start D1 assuming you go straight out of undergrad. Maybe a better approach would be to wait until Dec of your senior year for an acceptance and then start grinding. Very feasible to register for the July date because you’ll be a D1 or push until February of D1. Definitely feasible to start studying when dental school starts too just requires some sacrifices, good time management, and the right studying tactic
 
yeah i don’t get all the debate. If you wanna take it then take it. Literally does not affect any of us at all haha. Dental school won’t teach you anything for it unless you go to an integrated school. Just contact aaoms and ask if you can. If you bomb it, just take again
 
If you do start studying I’d suggest starting with Sketchy (pharm/micro/maybe path) and pixorize (biochem) along with an Anki deck to help retain the sketches as this duo will help with longer term retention.
 
mada97 said:
If you do start studying I’d suggest starting with Sketchy (pharm/micro/maybe path) and pixorize (biochem) along with an Anki deck to help retain the sketches as this duo will help with longer term retention.
Click to expand...
Do you think medbootcamp is not worth it?
 
I personally haven’t used Bootcamp so I can’t talk to that. But I think picture based learning is great for long term retention, especially if you’re a visual learner. Just my two cents
 
mada97 said:
I personally haven’t used Bootcamp so I can’t talk to that. But I think picture based learning is great for long term retention, especially if you’re a visual learner. Just my two cents
Click to expand...
Are you referring to boo camp, which has picture based learning, yea im a visual learner. or sketchy and pixorize
 
Can you even sit for the CBSE before matriculating to dental school? I am in the same spot (senior in undergrad, start dental school in august) and want to take it in July. I've already started studying pretty intensively because I'll take it either July or February coming up. However, based on my research AAOMS doesn't even let non-current dental students take it. Are there exceptions?
 
toofuss said:
Hi guys I was wondering if I should begin studying for the CBSE and take the exam this July before dental school.

I am an incoming d1 and I know for certain I want to specialize into omfs. Currently I am in enrolled in a masters program where this spring we will be taking 4 upper level science classes 3 of which is high yield on the CBSE.

I was thinking since I am taking these course(micro,path,and pharm) at a graduate level and with the supplementation of sketch pharm/micro and pathoma while attending lecture I could go ahead and take the CBSE in July? I will begin u world as well after getting a foundation.

I have a lot of free time outside of studying for classes I’ve dialed in my study routine to where I get my studying in from 5am-9am before class. And during class I really focus and after class it’s really optional reading if I want. I finished me first semester with a 3.9 and plan on finishing this semester with a 4.0.

I know taking the CBSE before dental school is a little unorthodox but with me taking these courses paired with the extra free time and motivation should I give it a crack?

I figure worse case I do terrible and I am that much more prepared to tackle the d1 courses and best case I can knock out the CBSE before dental school.

What you guys think?
Click to expand...
So did it work out and are you taking it in July?
 
c3tribro said:
Can you even sit for the CBSE before matriculating to dental school? I am in the same spot (senior in undergrad, start dental school in august) and want to take it in July. I've already started studying pretty intensively because I'll take it either July or February coming up. However, based on my research AAOMS doesn't even let non-current dental students take it. Are there exceptions?
Click to expand...
If not, there is merit to the previous comments about focusing on family, dating, hobbies, and having a life while you have time before the craziness of dental school starts.
 
mada97 said:
If not, there is merit to the previous comments about focusing on family, dating, hobbies, and having a life while you have time before the craziness of dental school starts.
Click to expand...
I agree with you, which is why I want to take it before haha. I'm finishing up undergrad away from family and will be moving close to home for dental school. I've seen my brothers who are in dental school juggle everything along with the CBSE and see how much easier it would be to have it done before starting. So I want to get it done fast and furious style over the summer with no life with so I can focus on family for the next four years. In my mind trading one summer for 4 years of going home on weekends with my family and dating (and hopefully getting married) is well worth it...
 
c3tribro said:
I agree with you, which is why I want to take it before haha. I'm finishing up undergrad away from family and will be moving close to home for dental school. I've seen my brothers who are in dental school juggle everything along with the CBSE and see how much easier it would be to have it done before starting. So I want to get it done fast and furious style over the summer with no life with so I can focus on family for the next four years. In my mind trading one summer for 4 years of going home on weekends with my family and dating (and hopefully getting married) is well worth it...
Click to expand...
u seem to get it.
 
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