This is something from SDN, hats off to the writer i am posting it here for those guys who register on SDN but don read thru until its an answer to something they ask. The post was written by user g3k.
Let me begin by saying this is my second round of attempt to get into a two year program. First time I got one interview out of 10. Second time I got 8 out of 9 and out of the 8 - got accepted into 3, waitlisted at 2 and rejected at 2; yet to hear from 1 - well now I may not attend the interview at UMich .
What did I do? Improved my scores and added some work experience and modified my personal statement to fit the school; last but not the least got wonderful recommendation letters. I still made a mistake – I did not prepare for most of the interviews especially the California ones. I was the perfect candidate on paper (that's what got me so many interviews) but did not present myself so (that's what got me so few accepatnces). Please do not repeat it.
It is disheartening especially after all the hardwork. Make a list of possible questions and turn it into a conversation. Remember the way to prepare for an interview is for you to sit down write out the answers to all the questions and then for you to turn it into a conversation… so practice like it is a natural answer practice practice practice… remember you are being interviewed not your husband not your friend not your brother it is you! Also, if you want to be accepted at a California school, even considered – PRACTICE your hand skills! ]
I am writing this like a diary as every day, or I should put interview, goes by for two reasons. One, I give you an unbiased opinion of each school as I am not accepted into any school yet and two, I don’t forget what happened at each school. Remember, I am writing down what I see in each school as pros and cons, which, you might see the same pros and cons as cons and pros respectively. Also my concern is clinical experience. I am a relatively fresh graduate and do not have any clinical experience in my home country except for the compulsory internship. So, what I am looking in a school, is the best clinical education I could get, for the money I am spending. So no school is the best and no school can be ranked overall. It all boils down to what you want – cheapest? shortest? best preclinical? best clinical? specialization? research? and so on. And mine is best clinical education – maximum number of patients I can treat. So as per my rating of schools for clinical experience would be any of these five - UCSF, Pacific, UPenn, UMich and UMN - all have the best clinical education.
UIC – It was a good experience. School tour and interview that’s all.
The interview - I had two, one with an Admissions Committee member (15 minute completely personal interview) and the other with the directors of the program (1 hr dental related and personal interview). When I say dental related it was a series of tooth preparations that you have to evaluate and a case history that you have to solve.
Pros –
Not bad tuition
Down to earth people
Relatively good experience
Great for in state students
Real world situation/ experience in clinics
Excellent faculty
Good research experience
Lots of specialities - opportunities to do externships
Cons -
Not very good clinical experience – almost like a lottery system for patients
No graduating clinical requirements - depends on the group you are assigned to.
They don’t respond too quickly to emails even after you are admitted into the program.
Upenn – Awesome school, very friendly people. It was a day’s interview that started with some history and pride of
Philadelphia. There were three interviews all personal one-on one. Remember if they are picking at the faults in your application, they just want to know more about you. How you face criticism. Just answer those like you would to a friend. They are really nice people.
Pros – Awesome program.
Lots of opportunities to do research and externships.
You have two months off during the program to do what you want to – externships, research, vacation … whatever
Amazing patient pool
State of the art dentsim lab
Amazing faculty
Plus they have the ADLEX… So you could take your state licensing exam at Penn. You don’t need to come back home and look for patients and plus you can retake it if you fail it. So no after program time wasted!!
Cons - Expensive
The clinic and the preclinical lab are both suffocating. I felt like I needed some air to breathe.
You never know what they are looking for, so present your best self as your best package, if it is for you it will
happen!
UCSF( my school ) - Awesome school, very friendly people. It was 3 days interview that started with a written component that was around 120 questions .. study your prostho textbook and perio textbook. Look at all the diagrams possible… know the basic anatomy on a radiograph. Its very basic if possible go through your decks. The second day was the practical examination. We were asked to do an upper and lower molar gold crown preps. They give you all the details 1 month prior to your interview detailing every step in the procedure handout… read it in and out and know it like the back of your hand. I didn’t get to practice a whole lot. A friend of mine walked me through the steps and that’s about it. I practiced just one time before the exam. So if you can get some hands on practice that will help. During the exam do not use the hand instrument as a wedge… take it slowly you have plenty of time. Do not take any instruments. Use only that is provided. Whatever they give is more than sufficient. The personal interview was very nice … general question tell me about yourself, tell me about your family and they basically want to know your history. Tell me about yourself is a very broad question ranging from you as a person to your history. So if you are unsure about what to answer just start with yourself as a person and they will automatically say oh no we want your life history and then you can go to that.
Pros – Awesome program.
Lots of opportunities to do research and externships.
You have two months off during the program to do what you want to.
Amazing patient pool
State of the art dentsim lab
Amazing faculty
Excellent clinical experience with some extra experience at the Buchanan center .. sounds fun but don’t know how much in reality it is fun.
Lots of opportunities to do double degrees
Great specializing rates
Lots of opportunities
Cons -
Expensive
The lady at the dental bookstore is slightly rude… expect that. Otherwise everyone is nice esp. Mary Pham.
All the best folks...
0 comments:
Post a Comment