Undergrad transcripts and residencies

[drillemfillembi]

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So I got in off the alternate list and I'm in the middle of a class that is not required for dental school, but is required for the masters degree that I will no longer get. Should I drop the class and take a W? Will that hurt my chances for residency in the future if I decide on that route? Do they even look at those grades? Let me know what you think.

 

[JamieMac]

I was in a similar situation, but chose to stay in the classes anyway. You already paid for it, so you may as well stick it out. I found that the stress level went way down after my acceptance, and I still pulled A's in both classes.

 

[NSDDS]

So I got in off the alternate list and I'm in the middle of a class that is not required for dental school, but is required for the masters degree that I will no longer get. Should I drop the class and take a W? Will that hurt my chances for residency in the future if I decide on that route? Do they even look at those grades? Let me know what you think.

Although I think you should finish the class (why take any risks), residencies (GPR, or any other specialty) will not take into account your undergrad grades. Once you are in dental school, never again will you have to worry about that. Residencies primarily look at your class rank in dental school, dental school GPA, and board scores.

 

[Dukie]

Although I think you should finish the class (why take any risks), residencies (GPR, or any other specialty) will not take into account your undergrad grades. Once you are in dental school, never again will you have to worry about that. Residencies primarily look at your class rank in dental school, dental school GPA, and board scores.

Not true at all. I have no idea how much weight they give these grades, but they do absolutely look at them. I believe every program I applied to requested my undergraduate transcript.

 

[Hysteria24]

Not true at all. I have no idea how much weight they give these grades, but they do absolutely look at them. I believe every program I applied to requested my undergraduate transcript.

I agree. I ran into this page recently (from the Pacific ortho program): http://dental.pacific.edu/Academic_...ram/Orthodontics_Admissions_Requirements.html



"Factors considered by the Graduate Orthodontic Program Admissions Committee include:

* Possession of the doctoral degree in dentistry;
* Excellence in predental and dental school academic achievement;
* Dental class standing;
* Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score;
* Dental Match Program code;
* Practice, teaching and research experience;
* Possession of advanced academic degree(s);
* Dental National Board Examination scores; and
* Letters of recommendation."

 

[BFord23]

I agree. Finish them out and do as well as you can without killing yourself.

 

[NSDDS]

You will soon see that those are probably just formalities. Honestly, the biggest deciding factor with residencies (in particular specialties) is who you know. Then again, i've been out of the dental school loop for a while so I may be mistaken. If so, my apologies.

 

[jcred10]

Here's my opinion. I think it could effect you in certain situations. If applying to a highly competitive residency a single program may have several people who were #1 or 2 in their respective classes. They probably also have over 90 on Part I, with alot of extracurricular activies and/or research. The only thing that may separate the pack is the undergrad transcripts.
This is only my opinion, but it's best to give it your all at every level of your education

 

[blankguy]

Does that mean that if you have some iffy grades from undergrad a long time ago you are pretty much at a disadvantage? 😕 I don't understand.

 

[shabu2]

Although I think you should finish the class (why take any risks), residencies (GPR, or any other specialty) will not take into account your undergrad grades. Once you are in dental school, never again will you have to worry about that. Residencies primarily look at your class rank in dental school, dental school GPA, and board scores.

Med schools for OMFS look at ALL grades (UG, Masters, Dental, etc) They especially look at UG.