UCLA interview-exam

[sck]

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They are over. and i would just like to share my experience with everyone. The interview was a panel interview, 4 people interviewing for half an hr. it was general and how laid back it was would depend on u. they tried to ask some clinical questions and probe into your dental school, how 'deficient' it was etc... but if one could divert the talks and lead the conversation, it was smooth. the financial aid sessions are always boring!! there was no tour in the interview. there was lunch with the 3rd and final year DDS students.
about the exam, the written exam was tough, really tough. there were 120 multi choice questions and about 17 short answer questions where they asked some definitions, some questions to name some diseases with particular characteristics. it was a mix of Pathology and oral pathology with some genetics intermingled!!!!!!! the practical exam had a couple of class 2s and a PFM on central and an option MOD onlay on upper first premolar. the hand instruments they gave were so dull that they did more harm to the class 2 than any good. also, there techniques of PFM are so different and the burs they gave were suited to their techniques. so if u are used to practising with a different set of burs, it was hard.. when i asked them for a particular bur, they said 'u will have to use these burs as that's what is taught in UCLA'.
the program is good in the sense that u get integrated with the 3rd and final year students. campus is ofcourse great and the area is one of the best in Los Angeles. also, good chances of going into specialty as 60% of their students go into specialty. it is a very new program, 2 batches before our batch. the first one will graduate next May with 6 PPID students, the next one has 10 and ours will have 12 and next year 14 or 15.
So these were some highlights of the experience.. ofcourse its subjective.. but it will be nice if everyone can share their experiences.

 

[green emerald]

great job sck

 

[ivshah]

hi! sck,
thanks for info.
can u tell more about written test as i have it with ucsf, may be they have similar pattern of questions means sub...or something ...
it will be great help.

thanks.

 

[Meggs]

Good job Sck. That interview process sure seemed hard, 🙁 But hopefully you did great. Good luck! 🙂

 

[Laser]

OK..here's something for you guys. Don't you all think that it's a little bit odd that some schools require a test for their admission. They already have your part I and some your part II.....isn't that enough along with your GPA and all other stuff to decide whether you are a good candidate for their school. I think that the practicals are definitely justified...but I don't think that additional testing (which most advertise to be just like part I or part II) is really necessary.
I think that if they would get rid of that...it would make it much easier on us and probably on them too.
I mean, it's not like you are going to get any dumber or smarter after a couple of months of taking the test.
I don't know..just my feeling.
What do you think?

 

[Meggs]

Laser, they need to disqualify as many people as possible.

 

[Laser]

Meggs,

I understand and know that they need to eliminate as many people as possible...but I don't see the need for an examination. They can just as easily eliminate people by sending a letter rejecting them. As it is right now, they still offer no explanation for rejections...so that would still make no difference.

 

[Henna]

I think it's more like....how far are you willing to go, to get into that particular school.....kinda thought.




sadists !

 

[Laser]

Henna,

That's exactly my point. They ARE sadistic. But neverthelss, thanks for making me laugh...

 

[Henna]

Yeah, it's tough, it's freaking frustrating but then you got to do what you got to do, just go with that attitude as there is nothing we can do to change the system right now.

 

[shad]

Hi sck
thanks for your great info
Could you please share your scores whith us?(part1,part2,toefl, research experience)

 

[cods]

that seems quite tough sck......... sure u must hav done well.. all the best.......🙂

 

[DDS_FIGHT]

Hi SCK,

Of the 25 people called how many people finally turned up for the interview?.

 

[sck]

all 25 turned up. the thing is they had taken 300$ to for confirmation of spots!! also, about the criteria for selection, they looked at the whole picture and not just board scores. A high GPA was a common factor that was present in the candidates. also their were candidates who were either accepted elsewhere or had interviews elsewhere. as for me, i had not applied to the other places. even if someone had an ok board score, other credentials helped them get the interview.

 

[KATIA]

hi the description of sck about the interview and exam is perfect.
I think they had chosen people for intervew based on a combination of gpa, part1,toefl scores, extra curricular activities and dental experiences.
I am waiting for the result

 

[sara25]

Since UCLA has one of the younger programs, I think they are still struggling to put a good foundation under their IDP program.
It'll be a while until one can see how good their program is.

By the way, WHY isn't there a dental school ranking. Does anyone know of one????? I haven't been able to find a recent one.

 

[Meggs]

Originally posted by sara25
Since UCLA has one of the younger programs, I think they are still struggling to put a good foundation under their IDP program...

They're not struggling, WE ARE!! 😡 Anyway, I think they are making it so difficult, so since the beggining their program builds really good stats and therefore good reputation (just like their regular DDS class). You know like " our addmited students all had over 95 on the board, and we did so well on the practical test, they could have passed easily the bench test". 🙄

Now that I think about it, I wonder if people who took the UCLA bench test preparation course, will have better chances of beign addmited to thir IDS program, regardless of board scores and stats. 😕

Originally posted by sara25

By the way, WHY isn't there a dental school ranking. Does anyone know of one????? I haven't been able to find a recent one.

This must be one if the most FAQ on the predental forum. No, they aren't any official rankings. Go the ADA and read why. There are some unofficial ones on the web, but you'll be amazed if you read their reasons to be ranked (which they state next to the school name). Ivy league schools usually como on top, as usual.

 

[DDS_FIGHT]

Hi Meggs,

Can you post the unofficial ranking sites. I am sure the criterias are very stupid as they are unofficial and can be arbitrary. Just curious to see how they are.

 

[bpl77]

hi all,
I got accepted in ucla ....they had called me and told me the results.
thanks
sang

 

[ivshah]

congrats bpl77!

 

[KATIA]

Congratulation bpl77 Could you please share your score

 

[bpl77]

hi katia,
my score is part 1- 94, toefl -263 & gpa- 3.94.i wish you good luck.
thanks

 

[KATIA]

thanks pbl 77

 

[snehal]

congrat bpl77

 

[ritu14]

Hi all,
I just found out that I also got accepted in UCLA.
Congratulations to you,bpl...

Ritu14

 

[KATIA]

HI RITU14
CONGRATULATIONS COULD YOU PLEASE SHARE YOUR SCORE

 

[ritu14]

Hi Katia,
Thanks!
My scores are NDBE part 1- 96 ,Toefl-263 and GPA-3.81.
Good luck .


-Ritu

 

[sck]

Hi all,
I got accepted at UCLA too. i haven't talked to them, but a lady named Evelyn left a message regarding my acceptance!!!!!! its a relief for me!!

 

[Meggs]

Congrats sck! You've been so helpful and nice, you deserve it.

 

[propel]

To everybody who was accepted at UCLA:

Congratulations on your acceptance. I am very happy for you.

 

[sck]

Thanks meggs,
i wish that all of u get accepted at your place of choice. I am sure eventually it works out for everyone.

 

[dentek2]

Congrats ritu14,sck and bpl77 for your acceptance.great job!!

 

[bpl77]

hi ritu 14,
i would like to know whether u received acceptance letter and if yes i would like to know how much time they give us to confirm the acceptance.
thanking you
sang

 

[ritu14]

UCLA is requiring a $5000.00 deposit and a confirmation letter accepting their invitation by February 1, 2004.

 

[cods]

congrats to alll who got accepted......

its really good to hear from so many people.................. abt thier acceptances.....
🙂

 

[buttersnow]

One of my friends....he has taken the UCLA bench preparation courses, he even passed the bench exam. He applied for the UCLA program..He was not called for the interview.....UCLA had called students with scores 90 and above I guess. This friend got a score of 88 or 89......So I guess, taking the bench preparation course didn't play the only part (or didn't play a part at all) in securing admission.

buttersnow.

 

[Meggs]

there goes his over 4000 dollars down the drain.... well, at least he passed the bench test.

 

[sck]

Hi,
UCLA didnot call everyone with NDBE scores above 90. mine were not above 90 too and i got accepted, i am not a permanent resident either. there were people with scores less than me too in the interview. the main criteria was a total and all around picture, with an emphasis on GPA. i observed that everyone called for an interview had really high GPAs. ofcourse then, other credentials mattered

 

[Meggs]

EDIT: Congratulations everyone!!! It will be awesome if you condensed all acceptances and scores at the "Acceptances thread", so everyone can have an idea of what schools are looking for this year, you know....what the schools expects from us and score related stuff........ That way we can tell which schools have raised or lowered their addmission standards. And next time we know were to wisely direct our money, time and energy towards. Thank you.

Originally posted by sck
the main criteria was a total and all around picture, with an emphasis on GPA. i observed that everyone called for an interview had really high GPAs.

The total opposite of UOP. UOP said GPA does not matter to them, because different schools have different grading criteria. So they couldn't take GPA as a criteria for addmission.

 

[indiandentist]

Hi,
I got in to UCLA, but unfortunately, they gave me a conditional admission, which means, i have to finish the present program before june and then only i can join in UCLA. I dont know what will happen as i will be done with the course work except the internship part by may and i was wondering whether they will accept it or not. I hope they will accept. I f any one of u have any idea about this type of probelms do let me know in this thread or at [email protected]. I will be waiting for ur suggestions.
Have a nice day and take care

indian dentist

 

[sck]

hi Indiandentist,
that is the same letter everyone received and it is not 'conditional admission'. it just means that in order to start your program in June, u need to be done with whatever other program u are doing before that. As long as u finish your course work, it wont be a problem. by the way, what is it that u are pursuing?

 

[indiandentist]

Hi,
ia m doing my Masters in Health Care Administration and what about you. I think i must have met there in UCLA. Can u give me ur number i can talk to you.
Have a nice day

Indian dentist