1) What are your thoughts about pass/fail system? How often do you have tests? Once a week?
I love the pass/fail system. It takes away a certain level of stress that is not needed when you already have so much. P/F isn't EASY, you still have to work your tail off to pass the class. UNE does now have letter of commendations for every class you take. These are what will set you apart if you want to go into specialties. Every class has different criteria to get the letter and they based the criteria off of how the top 10% did in previous years.
It varies how often we have tests. Sometimes there will be only one or two exams/quizzes and other weeks you will have 4 or 5 (including stimulation skills assessments - aka hand skills and procedures). There was one week where out class petitioned to have an exam moved to the following week where we didn't have much going on and the professor was happy to it, we just needed majority of the class to want it.
2) How are you guys being prepared for the integrated boards? I didn't get a very clear answer about this in my interview!
From what I've heard, the boards are a lot less random material and so far everything we have been told to be familiar with for the boards is very relevant material. Some questions on every exam are set up like the boards with a case and photos. They've also have swapped around some of the material and plan to integrate some board material somehow through 3rd and 4th year where they didn't before. Next semester it seems like we are missing a class and we are assuming its because they will move that class further on into our schooling to help for the boards.
3) Is D2 mostly sim lab with fewer courses? Correct me if i am wrong please!
I wouldn't say D2's have MOSTLY sim lab classes, but possibly more hours than the first years. Things are being altered because of the combined boards so once you get to be a D2, I bet things will be more fine tuned than what my D2 year will look like.
4) Other than gross anatomy, do you have to go to the other campus to take any other courses?
Nope
4) Do students get to do anything in the oral health clinic in the first two years?
About a month ago there was an event in Maine called "Dentists who care for ME" and UNE participated in it. We had a free clinic one day and the D1's assisted the D3's. It was a really awesome experience. One of our classes uses the clinics for us to practice on each other so you get familiar where things are and the technology. I know the D2's got to do fillings for the first time over the summer in the clinic. So short answer- yes, definitely.
Following are my question for D3/D4 year?
1) Is there a sufficient patient pool for all the students during d3? At any point do we ever have to schedule our own patients?
I don't have any knowledge about the patient pool but from what I've heard there isn't an issue. The bigger issue is patients not showing up for their appointments which is something you'll run into anywhere. But you definitely don't ever schedule your own patients.
2) What kind of support is available to students when they are specifically struggling with a particular areas(s) during clinic?
Every one gets separated into group practices and your group practice leader will know ALL of your strengths and weaknesses. They won't let you fall behind and if they know you need more practice on Class II amalgam restorations, they're gonna give you extra Class II amalgam restorations.
3) How are students matched fro their offsite rotations during D4? I couldn't find any information about it on the website or on sdn in general. If this info is available, please post a link! Where are students matched. I will be coming to dental school with hubby and a 4 yo, so its important for us to know about the 4th year rotation in advance so we can plan ahead of time.
From what I've heard, you will list your top choices or your top geographical areas of where you want to be and your group practice leaders will take that into consideration in where they place you. They consider a lot of aspects is what one leader told me. If they know your personality will clash with the doctors personality of a certain practice, they won't place you there. I would say the majority of the students seem to have families so you'll make it work.
Following are the questions about Portland
1) Also, how is the housing situation in Portland? I couldn't find much options on Trulia (I have not looked else where) but $1500-$2000 for a 2 bedroom condo 🙁
My advice is to not live IN Portland. Plenty married students commute from the surrounding towns, including me. I will say that a condo for 1500 is a good price, in my opinion. You get 1,100 for rent every month so that's only a few hundred bucks that your significant other will have to make up for.
2) What are the schools like in the area? Good public schools. We are looking to enroll in Kindergarten our young one and wanted to get an idea of public/private schools there?
I'm not really sure but one of my peers has his daughters in private school and he seems to like it. No idea where that private school is but I bet you can find reviews online.
3) Overall, what's the general vibe in school and clinic at Portland? I am kind of worried about how cold it gets (do you get used to it??) Sorry, I am from Texas- and hubby and daughter are not used to such cold climate!
I love UNE. Everyone is so helpful and genuinely cares about you getting through these four years with as little torture as possible - I'm referring to classmates, upperclassmen, and your professors. My class and the D2's both made google drives for their classes. We share all of our notes and study guides so our classmates can use them to study for. We also do a lot of group activities. We had a cookout before classes started, bowling, after our last exam of the semester we all went on a ugly christmas sweater bar crawl. And we include significant others in these, so it's a lot of fun. I'm from this area, and you'll never totally be comfortable with how cold it can get, you just get prepared for it. You'll learn that your idea of a winter jacket actually sucks as a winter jacket. You'll get hats, gloves, boots - you'll be good. And honestly, you don't have a lot of time to spend out doors, especially when it's cold out.
Congrats to all who received phone calls today! 
