What will I have to do for OMFS after 2 first crappy quarters.

[wildcarddat]

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I did it. I made it to one of the best dental schools in the country. Unfortunately life hit me in the face with a brick and I went into a deep depression as I started due to family issues. I passed my first 2 quarters, barely.

On the bright side Ive been seeing a therapist and with the help of some self reflection Ive been gaining steam.

The fire is back and I would like to get back on track. I plan to study for the CBSE this summer. How can I compensate for my terrible first 2 quarter grades? Research? Honors? Community service?

What is the best use of my time. How can I prove that I want this.

 

[deleted480308]

How do you know you will get better grades, what’s the plan?

 

[BlackThought]

Research? Honors? Community service?

Just keep up good grades from now and do well on the CBSE.

Community service will not help. Research that is OMFS related can help, but it is not by any means a necessity.

The best use of your time is to study and get better grades.

 

[wildcarddat]

How do you know you will get better grades, what’s the plan?

My mental state is better and my grades have picked up over the 2nd quarter. As long as I keep this up through exercise and other forms of stress relief I think I should be fine.

 

[PatsMan1]

I did it. I made it to one of the best dental schools in the country. Unfortunately life hit me in the face with a brick and I went into a deep depression as I started due to family issues. I passed my first 2 quarters, barely.

On the bright side Ive been seeing a therapist and with the help of some self reflection Ive been gaining steam.

The fire is back and I would like to get back on track. I plan to study for the CBSE this summer. How can I compensate for my terrible first 2 quarter grades? Research? Honors? Community service?

What is the best use of my time. How can I prove that I want this.

doing well on the CBSE is the best compensation for the grades in my opinion. Focus on doing very well. If you have any questions about studying or whatever feel free to PM me.
Good luck!

 

[Sublimazing]

1. CBSE
-well established as the most important part of your application

2. Class Rank > Grades
-I say class rank more so than grades, only because GPA can be fairly irrelevant...but being top #5 in your class is a notable accomplishment...and many times in the past 6 years I’ve heard attendings push for applicants saying “this guy is #2 in his class”
-Being from a top tier school also vastly improves your chances...especially with good grades. Program directors are academicians...and all acadmeicians are impressed by a good educational CV

3. Non Categorical Intern Year
-After your numbers, this is the next most significant addition to your application
-anyone who doesn’t match should always do a non cat year...the only exception is for those who screwed up on the CBSE and aren’t capable of studying during an intern year

4. Good LORs
-LORs from non OMFS...or generic LORs...aren’t going to help much. But a personalized LOR from a big name can carry a lot of weight.

5. Externships
-Do at least 3 externships outside your home program and make sure they’re diverse in scope and geography

6. Notable Research
-This will really only help if you did good research with your school’s OMFS program

7. Extracurriculars
-These are pretty much insignificant for your application...a pre-OMFS club is beneficial for advice as a dental student though

Things that detract from an application (not in order)

1. Bad numbers (obviously)

2. LORs from non OMFS...or lackluster LORs from OMFS

3. Time in private practice

4. Doing your externships all in the same geographic area as your dental school...can hurt your application at programs outside of that area

5. A cringe personal essay...I mean 90% of them are a little cringe...but some of them make you want to puke

6. Failure to prepare for the interview

 

[caffeine jitters]

1. CBSE
-well established as the most important part of your application

2. Class Rank > Grades
-I say class rank more so than grades, only because GPA can be fairly irrelevant...but being top #5 in your class is a notable accomplishment...and many times in the past 6 years I’ve heard attendings push for applicants saying “this guy is #2 in his class”
-Being from a top tier school also vastly improves your chances...especially with good grades. Program directors are academicians...and all acadmeicians are impressed by a good educational CV

3. Non Categorical Intern Year
-After your numbers, this is the next most significant addition to your application
-anyone who doesn’t match should always do a non cat year...the only exception is for those who screwed up on the CBSE and aren’t capable of studying during an intern year

4. Good LORs
-LORs from non OMFS...or generic LORs...aren’t going to help much. But a personalized LOR from a big name can carry a lot of weight.

5. Externships
-Do at least 3 externships outside your home program and make sure they’re diverse in scope and geography

6. Notable Research
-This will really only help if you did good research with your school’s OMFS program

7. Extracurriculars
-These are pretty much insignificant for your application...a pre-OMFS club is beneficial for advice as a dental student though

Things that detract from an application (not in order)

1. Bad numbers (obviously)

2. LORs from non OMFS...or lackluster LORs from OMFS

3. Time in private practice

4. Doing your externships all in the same geographic area as your dental school...can hurt your application at programs outside of that area

5. A cringe personal essay...I mean 90% of them are a little cringe...but some of them make you want to puke

6. Failure to prepare for the interview

When you say “Time in private practice,” does that mean practicing as a general dentist or shadowing private practice oral surgeons? Also, would shadowing a private practice surgeon be something to even include on an application? What if that same surgeon also has OR privileges at a big name hospital and you’ve also shadowed him/her there?

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

does that mean practicing as a general dentist

This.

Big Hoss

 

[Sublimazing]

When you say “Time in private practice,” does that mean practicing as a general dentist or shadowing private practice oral surgeons? Also, would shadowing a private practice surgeon be something to even include on an application? What if that same surgeon also has OR privileges at a big name hospital and you’ve also shadowed him/her there?

practicing as a general dentist is a negative for OMFS applicants...though not a deal breaker.


And idk that I’d list shadowing in my extracurriculars (probably wouldn’t do any harm), but it’s definitely something that could make it into your personal essay or brought up during the interview.

 

[DocMon16]

1. CBSE
-well established as the most important part of your application

2. Class Rank > Grades
-I say class rank more so than grades, only because GPA can be fairly irrelevant...but being top #5 in your class is a notable accomplishment...and many times in the past 6 years I’ve heard attendings push for applicants saying “this guy is #2 in his class”
-Being from a top tier school also vastly improves your chances...especially with good grades. Program directors are academicians...and all acadmeicians are impressed by a good educational CV

3. Non Categorical Intern Year
-After your numbers, this is the next most significant addition to your application
-anyone who doesn’t match should always do a non cat year...the only exception is for those who screwed up on the CBSE and aren’t capable of studying during an intern year

4. Good LORs
-LORs from non OMFS...or generic LORs...aren’t going to help much. But a personalized LOR from a big name can carry a lot of weight.

5. Externships
-Do at least 3 externships outside your home program and make sure they’re diverse in scope and geography

6. Notable Research
-This will really only help if you did good research with your school’s OMFS program

7. Extracurriculars
-These are pretty much insignificant for your application...a pre-OMFS club is beneficial for advice as a dental student though

Things that detract from an application (not in order)

1. Bad numbers (obviously)

2. LORs from non OMFS...or lackluster LORs from OMFS

3. Time in private practice

4. Doing your externships all in the same geographic area as your dental school...can hurt your application at programs outside of that area

5. A cringe personal essay...I mean 90% of them are a little cringe...but some of them make you want to puke

6. Failure to prepare for the interview

This is a great list and I like how Sublimazing broke it down. I would really look at each of the points and break them down into your personal situation/application and see how they apply to you. I agree with each point and I am finishing up my non-cat year in the next few months (hopefully with this crazy pandemic).

 

[Likkriue]

practicing as a general dentist is a negative for OMFS applicants...though not a deal breaker.


And idk that I’d list shadowing in my extracurriculars (probably wouldn’t do any harm), but it’s definitely something that could make it into your personal essay or brought up during the interview.

What are your thoughts on all the cancelled externships due to COVID. Generally curious what program directors are thinking for the upcoming application cycle. I’ve had 2 cancellations already.

 

[andrewwww]

is private practice omfs shadowing fronted upon/a letter from hometown OS

 

[Sublimazing]

What are your thoughts on all the cancelled externships due to COVID. Generally curious what program directors are thinking for the upcoming application cycle. I’ve had 2 cancellations already.

I think the people who managed to complete externships prior to Covid will look better on paper and have more to talk about during interviews.

But i think many applicants will have done less externships or no externships leaving them all equal on that part of their application.

If you’re submitting this summer I imagine there’s almost zero chance you can set one up as an away...but i would recommend spending extra time at your home OMFS program and listing that under the externships tab. You could even get creative and document

-LSU Externship 2 weeks - Clinic/Outpatient

-LSU Externship 2 weeks - OR


If you don’t have a home program and a legitimate externship is still off the table...then i wouldn’t worry about it. Nothing you can do at that point.

In the end, no one has any idea how this pandemic will impact any part of the residency process. Wouldn’t be crazy to reach out to a PD via email and see what they think...at the very least they’ll remember you made an effort.

 

[Sublimazing]

is private practice omfs shadowing fronted upon/a letter from hometown OS

Private Practice shadowing is definitely a good idea for your own education about the field and to make you more knowledgeable as a dental student.

Shadowing private practice does NOT replace an externship.

Discussing your experience at a private practice should be handled carefully during your interviews, especially at programs that tend to focus on OR training. For example my program is heavily focused on operating room OMFS and big fellowship level cases...our attendings have all completed fellowships...and when applicants reveal that they got interested in the field after watching an implant get placed...or that they want to learn how to do sinus lifts...it is not favorably looked upon.

Lastly, a LoR from a private practice OMFS outranks a LoR from any other specialty...but it will have little to no positive impact for you. The LoRs that matter are recognizable names and/or attending OMFS who write a very personal and glowing review. And then of course any mediocre to bad LoR will have a significant negative impact.

TLDR - definitely shadow a private practice omfs. definitely include it under the appropriate tab when you apply. cautiously discuss the experience at interviews and always know the background of the program and the person interviewing you. Finally, PP OMFS LoR trumps all other specialties...but is just a space filler.