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[crust99]

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Starters: I’m a 2nd semester junior with a 3.89 GPA and 23AA/PAT. I have a great position working as a dental assistant during breaks from school (~900 hours) and work in a small chem lab (similar to a prep lab) during the school year. Also, I’ve really enjoyed laboratory work, and would love to land a research position for this summer.

Goals: I’ve always been really interested in surgery and even considered going the medical route in the past. Naturally I’ve found an interest in OMFS moving forward and would appreciate advice for schools that would put me in the best position to do so while being worth the money.

 

[crust99]

Date of submission: 1/10/26
NOTE: 2nd semester junior
Overall GPA: 3.89
Science GPA: 3.95
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.85-3.98-N/A
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
QR- 450/21
RC- 460/24
BIO- 440/21
GCHEM- 490/23
OCHEM- 560/28
TS- 490/23
PAT- 480/22
AA- 480/23
State of Residence: OH

Undergrad Attended:
Major: Biology
Minor: N/A
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: Worked as a dental assistant with my dad for 2 summers(~900 hours) and shadowed OMFS for ~30 hours
Volunteering Experience: Food pantry
Employment: Work in a chem lab (similar to a prep lab) making demonstrations for professors to use in class. Also worked with my dad as a dental assistant for 2 summers.
Research: Would like to begin research this summer, hopefully to land a position.
Other Extracurriculars: Business club member, boxing club
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength:
1 OChem prof- moderate
OMFS- strong
School list: This is the point for my post, I’m interested in going into OMFS moving forward and would like advice on schools that would optimize my chance of doing so while being attainable.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Just confirming, you are planning to apply for 2027 entry (not a current applicant).

Are you thinking about HPSP? Is your father a OMFS?

How many hours in food pantry? What activities reveal your fine manual dexterity?

 

[crust99]

Just confirming, you are planning to apply for 2027 entry (not a current applicant).

Are you thinking about HPSP? Is your father a OMFS?

How many hours in food pantry? What activities reveal your fine manual dexterity?

1. Yes! I plan to apply this summer, before my senior year.
2. I haven’t really considered HPSP because I have some health limitations that I believe would make me ineligible. My father is a general dentist in a rural area with a pretty niche patient base (~30% Amish).
3. Not totally sure right now, but I plan to have 100 hours by the time I apply. I love fishing, and it’s been a hobby since I was very young, I thought about using knot typing as an example of manual dexterity. I’ve also always loved legos and considered using that as an example.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

1. Yes! I plan to apply this summer, before my senior year.
2. I haven’t really considered HPSP because I have some health limitations that I believe would make me ineligible. My father is a general dentist in a rural area with a pretty niche patient base (~30% Amish).
3. Not totally sure right now, but I plan to have 100 hours by the time I apply. I love fishing, and it’s been a hobby since I was very young, I thought about using knot typing as an example of manual dexterity. I’ve also always loved legos and considered using that as an example.

Clearly, you have a good idea of the regional schools you should list:
1. NEOMED
2. Ohio State
3. CWRU
4. UPittsburgh
5. LECOM (since they have dental clinics in Erie for your D4 year as an option)

To me, your metrics and interest should also include a shot at
6. UMichigan (very competitive, but you have the metrics).
7-9. The usual suspects that integrate medical students and dental students in lectures (the 3 Ivys)
10. Many Ohio applicants also find themselves at Louisville, but do your homework.
11. I'd throw in Temple if you are also applying to Penn and Pitt.
12. Wherever your father attended dental school if in the US.

Just my thoughts on it. Have you attended any recruitment events or done your recon on the programs?

 

[crust99]

Clearly, you have a good idea of the regional schools you should list:
1. NEOMED
2. Ohio State
3. CWRU
4. UPittsburgh
5. LECOM (since they have dental clinics in Erie for your D4 year as an option)

To me, your metrics and interest should also include a shot at
6. UMichigan (very competitive, but you have the metrics).
7-9. The usual suspects that integrate medical students and dental students in lectures (the 3 Ivys)
10. Many Ohio applicants also find themselves at Louisville, but do your homework.
11. I'd throw in Temple if you are also applying to Penn and Pitt.
12. Wherever your father attended dental school if in the US.

Just my thoughts on it. Have you attended any recruitment events or done your recon on the programs?

Thank you for your insight! Like I said, I’m fairly set on doing OMFS and would like to make that my priority moving forward. How much do you think the school I attend will affect my chances of placing into residency? Are the prestigious schools worth the money? (Over ISS)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for your insight! Like I said, I’m fairly set on doing OMFS and would like to make that my priority moving forward. How much do you think the school I attend will affect my chances of placing into residency? Are the prestigious schools worth the money? (Over ISS)

I think your exposure to the field and the curriculum's science rigor should be the priority. Prestigious schools with big endowments probably got that way because they had a lot of wealthy alumni give back to the school, so the question is whether you would be mentored by those alumni. But OMFS residencies generally are long and very challenging because most will require you take the USMLE Step 1 exam even though your coverage of human health and disease is lighter (generally speaking) than medical students who take the exam. (Ultimately you'll read about OMFS residents/students taking the CBSE.) Ask other OMFS practitioners, and get connected with your state association that unites all of them (they'll also hang out with OMFS faculty at your public schools).