What is an acceptable GRE score for Orthodontic Residencies?

[dentalstudent2022]

Hello,

I have seen a lot of discrepancy in the importance of the GRE for orthodontic residencies - some people say it matters quite a bit, others say it has very little, if any, effect on your admittance. Does anyone know what would be an acceptable score? At least 155 in each section and a 4.0 on writing?

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[blablabla1]

You’re applying to orthodontics, one of the most competitive specialties in dentistry, and it’s getting more and more competitive every year. Why would you want to know what’s just “acceptable.” Shoot to exceed “acceptable” instead. Don’t settle for less than 90 percentile on every section, in my opinion.

Ortho programs are typically looking for people in the top 10-15 percent of their class every year. So why would the GRE be any different?

I do think it’s a lot more important for people who have lower GPA/class rank to do better on the GRE, but if it only takes an extra month of studying to hit that 90 percentile mark, then why not? Especially with GRE study materials being so cheap and readily available. A magoosh subscription is really all you need, and 4-5 practice reps on the writing section.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

The better question would be why do ortho programs even require the GRE? Seriously. If you’re going to require an additional exam, why not the ADAT? At least that one is relevant to dentistry.

Big Hoss

 

[ddsaspi]

The better question would be why do ortho programs even require the GRE? Seriously. If you’re going to require an additional exam, why not the ADAT? At least that one is relevant to dentistry.

Big Hoss

Ortho is one of the fields of dentistry far rom comprehensive dentistry. From the standpoint of the admissions offices they are looking for something to put you apart from other applicants so standardized exams in absence of the NBDE scores; they found some thing else.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Ortho is one of the fields of dentistry far rom comprehensive dentistry. From the standpoint of the admissions offices they are looking for something to put you apart from other applicants so standardized exams in absence of the NBDE scores; they found some thing else.

Many programs required the GRE long before the NBDE went pass/fail. Seems to me they just want to see who’ll jump through the hoops.

Big Hoss

 

[Traag]

You’re applying to orthodontics, one of the most competitive specialties in dentistry, and it’s getting more and more competitive every year. Why would you want to know what’s just “acceptable.” Shoot to exceed “acceptable” instead. Don’t settle for less than 90 percentile on every section, in my opinion.

Ortho programs are typically looking for people in the top 10-15 percent of their class every year. So why would the GRE be any different?

I do think it’s a lot more important for people who have lower GPA/class rank to do better on the GRE, but if it only takes an extra month of studying to hit that 90 percentile mark, then why not? Especially with GRE study materials being so cheap and readily available. A magoosh subscription is really all you need, and 4-5 practice reps on the writing section.

I agree completely with your "exceed acceptable" philosophy, but 90th percentile in each section is not necessary.

You're competing against math/physics PhD hopefuls in the math section and the equivalent in the verbal and writing sections. For most dental students who are literally years removed from each of these topics, studying to get in the 90th+ percentile is going to be a tremendous waste of time if not outright unrealistic. Yes, it's certainly possible if you put in the time... But you can do a lot of other things with that extra month.

Programs differ drastically in how much they care about the GRE. It ranges from literally "not at all" to "very important." Some programs specifically look at certain sections. At my program, I know they really care about writing because they "don't want to write your thesis for you." This is particularly hilarious to me because everyone half-asses preparing for that section (if they do so at all). Others are the opposite. Everything literally comes down to the whims of the specific program chair/director which is why there's no solid answers.

Yes, if the rest of your application is average or poor, you should try to make up for it with the GRE. But I know plenty of people who had tons of interviews with scores in the 50th percentile range. Granted, the rest of their applications were good to excellent. I would say scores of 160 QR/VR and 4.5 writing are "very good" scores that will help you relative to others and those below 50th percentile will hurt you.

I think the GRE is used because many of the M.S. degree granting programs are actually housed in a graduate school that requires it (or did so historically). Once boards dropped the scoring the GRE caught on because many were already taking it to matriculate. Could be wrong.

 

[8_man]

To the best of my knowledge, only UMKC has hard-set minimums: 150 Math, 155 Verbal, 4.0 Writing.

I don't think the GRE is weighted very heavily but FWIW, my scores were brought up on more than one occasion during the interview trail. So if you want to maximize your chances, I'd recommend doing a bit better than decent lol.

 

[ddsaspi]

To the best of my knowledge, only UMKC has hard-set minimums: 150 Math, 155 Verbal, 4.0 Writing.

I don't think the GRE is weighted very heavily but FWIW, my scores were brought up on more than one occasion during the interview trail. So if you want to maximize your chances, I'd recommend doing a bit better than decent lol.

What were your scores like. Do they need to really shine if your other stats are compromised.

 

[8_man]

What were your scores like. Do they need to really shine if your other stats are compromised.

Don’t remember the exact numbers but it was something like 160+/160+, 5.5.

I can’t imagine that it would trump more important metrics like class rank, but it is still a part of your overall application. Doing well on the GRE can only help, but I wouldn’t know how much.