Take Part I again???

[orthomaybe123]

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Hello Everyone,

I'm thinking of applying to Ortho next year. I'm a third year right now. I took the boards last year and disappointingly I only got an 88. I was wondering if I should take Part I again or not and if I have a chance of matching if I don't.

I know each person is an individual and you have to weigh other aspects of their application so here is a little more about me:

I took the GRE before dental school and I got 790 math 500 verbal and a 6 on the writing section. I'm number 6 in my class of over 100 and my average is over 91%. I have loads of research experience with papers and patents, leadership positions at the local and national level, volunteer experience and ortho assisting experience.

I don't have any geographical constraints and am considering an ortho PhD program with a segway into an academic career.

Let me know what you think and thanks for your help! Sorry to bombard with another "can I match in ortho" thread...I just want to know if having the magic number of 90 or above will really help me that much.

Sarah

 

[Supernova2008]

Sarah,

I think you certainly COULD get into an ortho program since you have a solid class rank and GRE scores, but I feel like your 88 on Part 1 would make it really difficult to do so without applying to 40 plus schools. And more importantly, I think that it would make it almost impossible to have any control over which resicency program you got into if you did get in somewhere. If it was me in your shoes, I would definitely retake the exam. I guess it depends on your personal goals and motivation. Good luck...

 

[endoking]

It sounds like you're dedicated to doing ortho and have a well-rounded profile, so why not take Part I again? You might get in with only an 88, but if you take it again and can bump it up to 90+, then all the better.

 

[vize]

sarah, you're a fool. "hey i have absolutely terrific stats, do you think i can get in?" if you don't, then check yourself. "i scored a 88 on the boards, gee wiizzz, i think i'm totally out of the competition." get real. jesus christ

 

[LeFilDentaire]

Sarah - I see your dilemma. I am not sure if I would take part 1 again. The new format of the exam will not do you any justice because it is a different standardization. People who may have scored in the low 90's in the old format are now scoring in the mid to upper 80's. Residencies have been told not to compare the two types of exams, so maybe you will be lucky and your 88 will squeak by the screening process next year. That's the problem in regards with your 88 - programs need to screen out applicants some way and that is typically GPA/Rank/Board scores. But that does not mean you won't get interviews in some places, it just makes it more difficult. Good luck with your decision and next year's application process!

 

[orthomaybe123]

Wow...thanks for all your help.

If I decide I really want to do ortho, I guess I should have a 90+ on the boards. Perhaps I could get in, but if I am going to invest the time and money and try to get into a top program I should just suck it up and study for a few months. It just seems like so much effort to take the test again.

 

[Cold Front]

I guess I should have a 90+ on the boards.

According to a midwest Ortho program director, "almost all programs will not take anyone who has less than 90 seriously".

The competition is so tough, they simply take the creme of the crop.

In your case, your class rank might compensate for the sub 90 score. Nevertheless, apply to a lot of programs and see what happens.

 

[2thmaker]

sarah, you're a fool. "hey i have absolutely terrific stats, do you think i can get in?" if you don't, then check yourself. "i scored a 88 on the boards, gee wiizzz, i think i'm totally out of the competition." get real. jesus christ

I heard about the new standardizations for NBDE. I've heard both sides, including one from another thread. He contacted the guys over at the testing center and they told him an 88 on the new exam is still an 88 on the old exam. But it all is a crapshoot in the end. I've known of an ortho resident with an 84 and another wanna be resident with a 94 (BTW, it's his third time applying)

 

[cuneatus2]

sarah, you're a fool. "hey i have absolutely terrific stats, do you think i can get in?" if you don't, then check yourself. "i scored a 88 on the boards, gee wiizzz, i think i'm totally out of the competition." get real. jesus christ

W

 

[TeethRichards]

I'm a practicing dentist applying to ortho programs. Is it true that you lose your licensure if you retake the exam and fail?

 

[ElDienteLoco]

I'm not sure how your state board would find out.

 

[vize]

I said what I said because I personally know of many people below 90s that have gotten into ortho. So if you think you have no chance with a 85+ then you either know nobody, or you've done zero research. If you believe what schools tell you, then you also know nothing. Of course schools are going to tell you to accomplish the impossible; if they didn't, then their school would be saturated with a bunch of underachievers. Come on now, it's nothing but reverse psychology.