Working and then specializing?

[ayytommy]

I applied for the NHSC Scholarship, so if I receive this I will have to work in an underprivileged area for however many years my schooling was paid for, which I actually really want to do. Although I'm all about this plan, my true passion is in orthodontics, but I know you cannot go straight through school into a specialty if you receive this scholarship, so therefore I would have to go work and then specialize four years later. That being said, I talked to a few dentists and they have heard that most schools want ortho specializing students straight out of dental school with no work experience. How true is this statement?

 

[telemonster]

I applied for the NHSC Scholarship, so if I receive this I will have to work in an underprivileged area for however many years my schooling was paid for, which I actually really want to do. Although I'm all about this plan, my true passion is in orthodontics, but I know you cannot go straight through school into a specialty if you receive this scholarship, so therefore I would have to go work and then specialize four years later. That being said, I talked to a few dentists and they have heard that most schools want ortho specializing students straight out of dental school with no work experience. How true is this statement?

Are you already in dental school? If not, then you shouldn't worry about specializing yet - once you actually get into the ortho rotation you might not like it, or you might find another specialty that you enjoy more.
If you are in dental school, then you should probably post this over in the dental forum, b/c all you will get here is anecdotal evidence and rumors. For example, I personally know a dentist that I shadowed who did the NHSC, and now she is considering going back for pedo. Not quite ortho, but you get my point.

 

[dentalWorks]

I applied for the NHSC Scholarship, so if I receive this I will have to work in an underprivileged area for however many years my schooling was paid for, which I actually really want to do. Although I'm all about this plan, my true passion is in orthodontics, but I know you cannot go straight through school into a specialty if you receive this scholarship, so therefore I would have to go work and then specialize four years later. That being said, I talked to a few dentists and they have heard that most schools want ortho specializing students straight out of dental school with no work experience. How true is this statement?

The only specialty I know (or heard of) that STRICTLY wants residents straight out of dental school (without working) is oral surgery. Perio, Endo, even Pedo and I think Ortho as well are okay with general dentists wanting to pursue further education HOWEVER, you need strong dental credentials (high class rank, recommendations, proper ECs when you were in DS, etc etc).