Thoughts

[futuredoctor262626]

What are the real advantages of going to a P/NP dental school over one that is ranked for specialization? Specifically OMFS...I mean, you still need to crush the CBSE, have great letters, do externships and have some research. Would a great numbers on the CBSE (I'm thinking 70+....I also realize this test is not a joke, just talking in the hypotheticals) kinda trump an ehh GPA (idk what this would be) in dental school? In other words, in choosing between a school thats P/NP and one thats graded, should I be choosing strategically (one that could more possibly land an interview) or cost of school/lifestyle (see myself living in the area)? I would be able to "rough it out" in a school if I knew my struggles would pay it off at the end....Thanks so much guys

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[Likkriue]

$$$$$ is where the descision is at.

 

[futuredoctor262626]

wouldn't a watered down science curriculum make your life so much harder for the CBSE? Are there prep programs like for the DAT and MCAT

 

[artist2022]

wouldn't a watered down science curriculum make your life so much harder for the CBSE? Are there prep programs like for the DAT and MCAT

What makes you think a P/NP school would have a watered down science curriculum? UCLA is P/F/H but our curriculum has so much medicine infused into it, it's ridiculous sometimes. Obviously I don't know how hard med school is, but sometimes it feels like our classes are pretty comparable to theirs, in regards to didactic classes. I think a benefit to P/F is that you don't have to worry about maintaining a high GPA and can focus more on improving other parts of your application & being unique. Of course, just like the DAT is an equalizer when applying to dental schools, I'd think the CBSE is an equalizer when applying to OMFS programs?

Idk, just a D2 not interested in OMFS at all whatsoever but I do to go a school that's very well-known for producing specialists

Anyway, moving to the dental student forum, and also the search bar is a great way to find tons of threads about this exact same topic...........
P/F Schools and Implications on OMFS
Does attending a pass/fail school affect your chances of getting into a specialty program?
Which Dental Schools will help me specialize?

 

[futuredoctor262626]

haha sorry i didnt mean to imply that. I was trying to respond to the previous post that said its all about the cash...and I was asking if you had to choose between a cheap school + watered down science vs a very expensive school thats better science

UCLAs a great school thanks so much for your help

 

[futuredoctor262626]

Was throwing out the hypothetical. Thanks!

 

[Likkriue]

There’s 3 dental schools that teach to a medical school curriculum out of 66. Everywhere else you teach yourself. In fact many medical students end up teaching themselves anyways.

If you got the guts to go for omfs you shouldn’t be worrying about what school.

 

[futuredoctor262626]

Are those schools CDM, HSDM and stony brook?

 

[artist2022]

I was asking if you had to choose between a cheap school + watered down science vs a very expensive school thats better science

Sometimes you get the best of both worlds - UCLA is a cheap school because it's a state school and it has a great science curriculum - we're taught by med school faculty even though we don't take classes alongside med students. Ivys aren't the only schools that produce specialists, and honestly you can specialize from any school so you should pick your cheapest option.

Also, since you're a current applicant, I would wait to see how the cycle goes to see what schools you get into. I wouldn't count your eggs before they hatch. No use worrying about what school is better until you have acceptances in hand

 

[Likkriue]

Are those schools CDM, HSDM and stony brook?

UConn cdm and hsdm. Stony brook does only 2/3 of the first year. The others are year and a half to two.

 

[ToothJockey]

UConn cdm and hsdm. Stony brook does only 2/3 of the first year. The others are year and a half to two.

Why don't all schools integrate med curriculum?

Dentistry is like a subspecialty of medicine anyways.

 

[Likkriue]

Why don't all schools integrate med curriculum?

Dentistry is like a subspecialty of medicine anyways.

Disagree with you on that one.

 

[resiliens]

Screw the grading scheme, look carefully at the curriculum and go to the one you think will better prepare you for CBSE, so long as it's financially reasonable. I feel like my school's curriculum is probably one of the worst out there in terms of CBSE prep.

 

[ToothJockey]

Screw the grading scheme, look carefully at the curriculum and go to the one you think will better prepare you for CBSE, so long as it's financially reasonable. I feel like my school's curriculum is probably one of the worst out there in terms of CBSE prep.

Which school, if you don't mind?

And is it a PBL curriculum? I've heard mixed reviews about those.

 

[TanMan]

What are the real advantages of going to a P/NP dental school over one that is ranked for specialization? Specifically OMFS...I mean, you still need to crush the CBSE, have great letters, do externships and have some research. Would a great numbers on the CBSE (I'm thinking 70+....I also realize this test is not a joke, just talking in the hypotheticals) kinda trump an ehh GPA (idk what this would be) in dental school? In other words, in choosing between a school thats P/NP and one thats graded, should I be choosing strategically (one that could more possibly land an interview) or cost of school/lifestyle (see myself living in the area)? I would be able to "rough it out" in a school if I knew my struggles would pay it off at the end....Thanks so much guys

It really depends on how tough your competition is in your class. If most of your class doesn't care for grades, it's a huge advantage for you. If most of your class are gunners and courses are graded on a curve, you're going to have to work a lot harder in those courses. You have to know the value of the courses as well, does it prepare you for the CBSE or is it a bunch of busy work that's going to distract you from getting a good score on CBSE.

P/NP schools are awesome when your admissions criteria depends heavily on other things besides coursework. If you go to a reputable institution that's P/NP, you will have the reputation, the ability to do the bare minimum in those courses to pass, and allocate in studying for CBSE/research/pursuing a master's in something all within 4 years.

What makes you think a P/NP school would have a watered down science curriculum? UCLA is P/F/H but our curriculum has so much medicine infused into it, it's ridiculous sometimes. Obviously I don't know how hard med school is, but sometimes it feels like our classes are pretty comparable to theirs, in regards to didactic classes. I think a benefit to P/F is that you don't have to worry about maintaining a high GPA and can focus more on improving other parts of your application & being unique. Of course, just like the DAT is an equalizer when applying to dental schools, I'd think the CBSE is an equalizer when applying to OMFS programs?

Idk, just a D2 not interested in OMFS at all whatsoever but I do to go a school that's very well-known for producing specialists

Anyway, moving to the dental student forum, and also the search bar is a great way to find tons of threads about this exact same topic...........
P/F Schools and Implications on OMFS
Does attending a pass/fail school affect your chances of getting into a specialty program?
Which Dental Schools will help me specialize?

UCLA is great at producing specialists for the point above. H/P/MP/F is a great system, there's still internal rankings, but a lot less pressure unless you're looking to graduate with honors. That's usually decided after you've gotten into your respective specialty program already, so it's a moot point.

 

[resiliens]

Which school, if you don't mind?

And is it a PBL curriculum? I've heard mixed reviews about those.

I'd rather not bash my school's curriculum publicly in case admin here read this (still gotta graduate ), although I believe they are trying to update it a bit. I will say that imo, for OMFS purposes, it's better to go to schools where basic sciences are completed in the 1st or at the latest, 2nd year. Also, schools with "flexible" clinical reqs must be a godsend for OMFS-bound students at those schools; time is a finite resource, and if you know you're going OMFS, imo, it's difficult justifying the day-to-day of fillings, etc., when you know you could instead be spending time learning/doing OMFS-related things. Idc about the latest dual/self-curing properties of whatever resin is new on the market. OMFS afaik is far removed from that stuff.

Mine isn't PBL, although if grading was P/F or there was no rank, I'd prefer that, cuz there'd be more time to study CBSE

 

[ToothJockey]

I'd rather not bash my school's curriculum publicly in case admin here read this (still gotta graduate ), although I believe they are trying to update it a bit. I will say that imo, for OMFS purposes, it's better to go to schools where basic sciences are completed in the 1st or at the latest, 2nd year. Also, schools with "flexible" clinical reqs must be a godsend for OMFS-bound students at those schools; time is a finite resource, and if you know you're going OMFS, imo, it's difficult justifying the day-to-day of fillings, etc., when you know you could instead be spending time learning/doing OMFS-related things. Idc about the latest dual/self-curing properties of whatever resin is new on the market. OMFS afaik is far removed from that stuff.

Mine isn't PBL, although if grading was P/F or there was no rank, I'd prefer that, cuz there'd be more time to study CBSE

Gotcha that's completely fine no pressure haha

Is there any way to find out about a schools clinical requirements/course structure etc. before you apply to schools, or atleast before you matriculate?
I don't find that information on school websites anywhere.

 

[Ivy.ch]

Reiterating things already posted above ...
1) You are going to be teaching yourself material for the CBSE for months. No matter how medically based the curriculum, you'll be spending countless weekends and nights teaching yourself just like the med students for step 1.
2) So few pre-dents end up applying to OS, let alone match. Don't make your decision about school solely on your current future plans. Consider the fact you may practice as a DDS. Too many pre-dents underestimate how exhausting dental school is and how drastically it changes people.
3) Yes, the CBSE is the most important factor. Seems like ranking matters less and less each year. Just keep in mind that even at H/P/F schools, there are rumored ways they still find out your rank when applications go out.
4) There's a good reason virtually everyone says go to the cheapest school. Please, listen to the ones who have traveled the path before you. Even at ranked, non-med public schools - guys make it work.

 

[setdoc7]

P/F schools issue an institutional letter to PASS which spells out your place in the class, so no grades is not a way to hide out. Besides, there are grades, just not reported on the transcript.

 

[futuredoctor262626]

It really depends on how tough your competition is in your class. If most of your class doesn't care for grades, it's a huge advantage for you. If most of your class are gunners and courses are graded on a curve, you're going to have to work a lot harder in those courses. You have to know the value of the courses as well, does it prepare you for the CBSE or is it a bunch of busy work that's going to distract you from getting a good score on CBSE.

P/NP schools are awesome when your admissions criteria depends heavily on other things besides coursework. If you go to a reputable institution that's P/NP, you will have the reputation, the ability to do the bare minimum in those courses to pass, and allocate in studying for CBSE/research/pursuing a master's in something all within 4 years.



UCLA is great at producing specialists for the point above. H/P/MP/F is a great system, there's still internal rankings, but a lot less pressure unless you're looking to graduate with honors. That's usually decided after you've gotten into your respective specialty program already, so it's a moot point.

what do you mean get a masters still in 4 years?

 

[8_man]

P/F schools issue an institutional letter to PASS which spells out your place in the class, so no grades is not a way to hide out. Besides, there are grades, just not reported on the transcript.

That's interesting. Never knew that

 

[futuredoctor262626]

Gotcha that's completely fine no pressure haha

Is there any way to find out about a schools clinical requirements/course structure etc. before you apply to schools, or atleast before you matriculate?
I don't find that information on school websites anywhere.

it should be on their websites, but its a moot point until you have to choose between your schools
ik UCLA's is on their website https://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/Curriculum by Track.pdf

 

[futuredoctor262626]

Would probobly be a good idea to breakdown your 4 years in dental school when your studying, what classes are useful, when you want to do research, etc right

 

[TanMan]

what do you mean get a masters still in 4 years?

Some programs have a DDS/MS in Oral biology that can be completed in 4 years.

 

[futuredoctor262626]

can you name a few

 

[TanMan]

can you name a few

UCLA. I don't know of others since I don't care much about DDS/MS programs.