taboo to talk about specializing at this point?

[mc719]

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Why is it such a taboo to talk about specializing at this point? People keep saying to wait until a couple of years into dental school. That's what everyone told me when I was in high school, to wait until I had taken some classes in college to decide what I wanted to do. But if I had decided earlier on, then I would have been in a much better position by this point. It seems like a good idea, to me, to be open to talking about our career goals.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Why is it such a taboo to talk about specializing at this point? People keep saying to wait until a couple of years into dental school. That's what everyone told me when I was in high school, to wait until I had taken some classes in college to decide what I wanted to do. But if I had decided earlier on, then I would have been in a much better position by this point. It seems like a good idea, to me, to be open to talking about our career goals.

Generally speaking, talking about specializing now is pretty naive. What most people know of a specialty generally consists of a few shadowing sessions, perhaps reading stuff on the internet, and talking to people. It makes me cringe when people think ortho is simply slapping on braces. Committing to a specialty now, when we've barely even experienced general dentistry, is kinda silly because we could potentially like other specialties once we learn more about them.

Comparing this to deciding on a college major isn't really fair. It's reasonable to decide on doing a biology major during high school...but kind of unreasonable to say "I'm going to do biology, but more specifically cellular biology and molecular biochemistry."...when the extent of our high school knowledge of anything biochem related was pretty much limited to the structure of DNA.

 

[mc719]

Generally speaking, talking about specializing now is pretty naive. What most people know of a specialty generally consists of a few shadowing sessions, perhaps reading stuff on the internet, and talking to people. It makes me cringe when people think ortho is simply slapping on braces. Committing to a specialty now, when we've barely even experienced general dentistry, is kinda silly because we could potentially like other specialties once we learn more about them.

Comparing this to deciding on a college major isn't really fair. It's reasonable to decide on doing a biology major during high school...but kind of unreasonable to say "I'm going to do biology, but more specifically cellular biology and molecular biochemistry."...when the extent of our high school knowledge of anything biochem related was pretty much limited to the structure of DNA.

That's the exact same as the most of us know about general dentistry too. Does that mean it is naive of us to want to go to dental school?

 

[charlestweed]

It is never too early to think about specializing. Since it costs more to specialize, it is important to plan early. For example, instead of living with 1 roommate, you may have to live with 4 other roommates to save money for your post DDS education.

Many dental students wanted to specialize during their 3rd and 4th years but it was too late because they didn’t have good grades during the first 2 years….and their board score was too low. Most specialty programs only look at your academic performance during the first two years. Once you get accepted, you can start to relax during your 3rd and 4th years. With high class rank, you will have a higher chance of getting accepted to a paid (or cheaper) specialty program. I didn’t have good class rank (no ranking at my school because it is a P/F school); therefore, I had to go to a more expensive ortho program.

 

[iralex801]

It's not what you want to specialize in. It's what specialty your GPA/Rank/Test Scores allows you to get into lol. Anyways, I'm pretty sure a lot of people want to specialize until they find out they aren't the top of their class. They just say they aren't sure because they don't want to be perceived as a gunner. Or maybe they are a gunner and don't want to let the competition know their plans lol.

 

[757sharp]

I didn’t have good class rank (no ranking at my school because it is a P/F school); therefore, I had to go to a more expensive ortho program.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that it would be easier to get into good residency programs without class rank, no? This way, they would focus more on board scores, lor's, and extra curriculars--all things which you could invest more time on during ds since you don't have to worry about grades so much.

 

[crew09]

While it's never to early to start to think about specializing, most pre-dents enter dental school with pre concieved notions of specialties and that usually can led to tunnel vision.

There's a difference between a keen interest and a dead set conviction that is probably not based on the actual specialty but more likely the perceived income level or prestige.

A very real reality is indeed that grades can limit what specialty you want to pursue.

A lot is changing regarding the process of getting into a specialty due to dental board exams going P/F

While before the boards were P/F some people felt a no rank school was an advantage, it may not be that way in the future.

 

[evanyou]

I have one question for you. When do most of the dental school students apply for a specialty program? at the end of 2nd year or something? Thank you so much for your input.

It is never too early to think about specializing. Since it costs more to specialize, it is important to plan early. For example, instead of living with 1 roommate, you may have to live with 4 other roommates to save money for your post DDS education.

Many dental students wanted to specialize during their 3rd and 4th years but it was too late because they didn't have good grades during the first 2 years….and their board score was too low. Most specialty programs only look at your academic performance during the first two years. Once you get accepted, you can start to relax during your 3rd and 4th years. With high class rank, you will have a higher chance of getting accepted to a paid (or cheaper) specialty program. I didn't have good class rank (no ranking at my school because it is a P/F school); therefore, I had to go to a more expensive ortho program.

 

[UBDent19]

Everyone at my dental school that is applying to a specialty program is applying during the beginning of their 4th year. Some have already heard back and some are still waiting.

 

[uva09]

Most dental students apply for advanced education programs during the summer and fall of D4 - not after D2 as charlestweed's post might lead you to believe. Some schools have their students take the NBDE Part 1 during D3.

Of course, you could always apply at any time after graduation. Many students work for a few years or complete a GPR/AEGD residency before applying to a certificate specialty program. But no program would offer acceptances before your fourth, or final year.

Although, there is certainly importance placed on GPA (where applicable), Class Rank (where applicable), and Board Scores - the process is dynamic and quite complex, much like dental school admissions. The numbers aren't everything. Not every dental school features the same curriculum and regulations. And there are always students that get into the highly touted, competitive programs (Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, etc.) without 90+ Part 1 Scores and without being in the top 10% of his/her class. With the NBDE shifting to a P/F system, the Pass/Match process will probably become even more holistic.

It's never taboo to talk about specializing. Many people become initially interested in dentistry due to one of the many specialty tracts. Experiencing general dentistry is not a prerequisite to establishing interest beyond that of a GP. It would be a tremendous generalization to assume that most people, prior to dental school, only have applicable experience through shadowing or reading information online. The legacy dental student is still quite prevalent in many classes - and those that are son/daughter of an Orthodontist, for example, will come in with substantial knowledge and may very well follow through on an early commitment. That being said, in general, you should always keep your options open and not prematurely bias yourself towards any one thing exclusively, especially as a pre-dental student.

Also, regardless of whether you think it's "okay" or not, there is nothing wrong with an individual pursuing a specialty tract due to financial considerations or public perception. Everyone has different reasons for following a career path.

 

[Toothshucker]

Most dental students apply for advanced education programs during the summer and fall of D4 - not after D2 as charlestweed's post might lead you to believe. Some schools have their students take the NBDE Part 1 during D3.

Of course, you could always apply at any time after graduation. Many students work for a few years or complete a GPR/AEGD residency before applying to a certificate specialty program. But no program would offer acceptances before your fourth, or final year.

Although, there is certainly importance placed on GPA (where applicable), Class Rank (where applicable), and Board Scores - the process is dynamic and quite complex, much like dental school admissions. The numbers aren't everything. Not every dental school features the same curriculum and regulations. And there are always students that get into the highly touted, competitive programs (Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, etc.) without 90+ Part 1 Scores and without being in the top 10% of his/her class. With the NBDE shifting to a P/F system, the Pass/Match process will probably become even more holistic.

It's never taboo to talk about specializing. Many people become initially interested in dentistry due to one of the many specialty tracts. Experiencing general dentistry is not a prerequisite to establishing interest beyond that of a GP. It would be a tremendous generalization to assume that most people, prior to dental school, only have applicable experience through shadowing or reading information online. The legacy dental student is still quite prevalent in many classes - and those that are son/daughter of an Orthodontist, for example, will come in with substantial knowledge and may very well follow through on an early commitment. That being said, in general, you should always keep your options open and not prematurely bias yourself towards any one thing exclusively, especially as a pre-dental student.

Also, regardless of whether you think it's "okay" or not, there is nothing wrong with an individual pursuing a specialty tract due to financial considerations or public perception. Everyone has different reasons for following a career path.

What schools? Pretty sure you have to have passed that before you can enter clinic. That's what they've been telling people at interviews.

 

[charlestweed]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that it would be easier to get into good residency programs without class rank, no? This way, they would focus more on board scores, lor's, and extra curriculars--all things which you could invest more time on during ds since you don't have to worry about grades so much.

No, you are not wrong. I had more time to study for the board and to do research because of the P/F curriculum at my school. However, good board score was only good enough to help me get the interviews at the “less desirable” ortho programs (expensive or 3-year ortho programs). My own dental school’s ortho program (27-month and stipend) didn’t call me for interview because a lot of my classmates had better record than mine.

 

[charlestweed]

I have one question for you. When do most of the dental school students apply for a specialty program? at the end of 2nd year or something? Thank you so much for your input.

Toward the end of the 3rd year. Around May/June, many students start to go around asking for letters of recommendation and call the schools to request the applications. Everything (transcripts, applications, CV, LOR etc) has to be turned in before the deadline. Since some ortho programs have very early deadline (August 15th for Tuft Univ.), it is important to prepare early.

 

[uva09]

What schools? Pretty sure you have to have passed that before you can enter clinic. That's what they've been telling people at interviews.

The time you take the NBDE Part 1 will vary significantly from school to school. It also depends on what you consider the actual beginning of D2, D3, etc. - is the summer session included? Some schools will encourage having you sit the exam at the end of 1st year, end of 1st summer session - others during year two, others at the end of year two, or at the beginning of D3 which might still be considered summer time for some schools. It just depends. You can take it whenever you feel ready. I have never heard of the NBDE Part 1 being a prerequisite to enter clinic. Perhaps this is true for some schools. Maybe if you attend a school under the traditional 2+2 model of strict didactic then clinical years - but if you go to an integrated school, you are likely to see patients in clinic during your first two years, before you ever take the exam.

 

[Bereno]

With P/F schools and P/F boards it seems really up in the air right now... makes me nervous if I should ever choose to specialize. Makes me think that some of the specialty programs will develop their own standardized test.

 

[Lane138]

I disagree with the people who say you shouldn't mention it at all.

If you do have dreams to specialize, just say that. If not, then obviously don't. If you have a solid explanation, it shows that you've really done your research and that you're ambitious. In order not to come across as naive, just say that you're keeping your mind open as you enter dental school.

 

[uva09]

With P/F schools and P/F boards it seems really up in the air right now... makes me nervous if I should ever choose to specialize. Makes me think that some of the specialty programs will develop their own standardized test.

Yep. This is already happening with OMFS residency programs and the introduction of the NBME. I'm sure other competitive advanced education tracts will adopt similar policies. I have heard of Orthodontics programs looking to add the GRE to the list.