to think about !

Well guys this is an e-mail i got recently and i am putting it here bcos this one is so good at putting all the questions down which u have to prepare from ur application starting till the interview and acceptance into a school. Iliked this email especially becos it puts down clearly everything one has to know when they start preparing and as i said till the end so when ever you guys who are taking there first step get hold of somebody who is doing good and had gone past all these steps try askin them all these things, its gonna do wonders !

These questions might appear to be stupid, naïve, repetitive, but all feedback from you will be very appreciated.
Please tell me about yourself ( acceptance stats, where you applied, interviewed, accepted, reapplicant?)

IF YOU DONT WANT TO ANSWER SOMETHING...PLEASE IGNORE IT.

Stats - 1 and 2, GPA, Experience, Extra things (masters, certificates, teaching, research, dental hygiene, dental assistant, volunteer work, ce couses- online or person, observorship, externships, teaching, anything else ……) .
Please give me details answers of each question….so I get some idea of what I can do to improve my chances of admission.
The school you got accepted into – by now you must have an idea of what they are looking for?

What made you stand out?
What do you suggest - can be done to improve an application?Any tips? Any advice?

How did you figure out what to write in your SOP ? What are the most imp points in a sop? Who helped you with it?

Can you please describe what exactly happened in each interview you attended? Step wise? Parts?
Day 1-what happened?
Day 2-what happened?
How did you prepare for interviews?
Any books, videos, links, classes, websites, resources?
Who took your interview-names? How many interviewers were there? How many rounds?
One to one? Friendly/ tough?
What type of questions were asked dental or personal?
Some interview questions? Personal, Clinical, Ethical
How long was your interview for?
How many people interviewed with you?
What kind of stats did they have?
Same interviewers for all parts of the interview?

If you have a GPA below 3.0 -were there any questions about your low GPA?
How did you explain that?
If you had a gap in your education , how did you explain it?
For the question –what have you been doing since you came to the States-(I’m just sitting at home right now). What should be my answer ?
Some bright ideas/personal advice required?
If you have a non dental master’s degree from the States, do you submit the transcript with your application, or do you have to take it with you to the interview?
Do they discuss your Master’s grades/ graduate work/thesis/lab work/research?
Are they detailed or superficial questions?

BENCH EXAM
Do you have to take your instruments with you for the bench test?
Can you give me an idea of how to prepare for the bench test in each school?
A basic list of instruments which can kick start my practice (a) names, b) model number, c) source to buy from?
Do you have to buy a slow or fast hand piece?
Any instruments you recommend getting from India?
How did you practice?
How many times did you practice each type of prep?
Who checked your practical preps?
Do you recommend any prep course-Duggan’s course, any other course?
Any books, videos, links, classes, websites, resources?
If we practice on one type of typhodont, is it enough?
How did you equilibrate each time or did you just practice on single teeth?
Did you practice on ivory or real teeth?

FOR EACH SCHOOL INTERVIEW
Manikin or bench?
Rubberdam asked for?
Columbia or Kilgore?
Which tooth and what preparation?
If a restoration-only cavity cutting or filling too?
How much time for each part of the exam?
Is there a written component in the interview also?
How much time do they give you for this??
What do they test you on in that?Part1, part 2, or what??
Some specific subject-which one and which topics should be read?
Any suggestions from where to prepare for this component?Some questions?
Do you think passing part2 would help here?
Any x rays, spotters, instruments, casts (please identify this) type of thing?
Do they show x-rays and expect a diagnosis/treatment plan?
Do they test your clinical knowledge?


All the best folks...

Back again...

Well it has been a while and here i am back writing again ! What was the gap for? Well i had an all important trip back home before i continue my journey at UCSF. It was a period of fun and was so quick that i hardly could belive. Anyhow i think thats the way life goes. One good news i had was finally my room mate got accepted at BOston and what a big relief and happy moment that was

All the best folks...

A new journey begins...

Well it did took some time for euphoria to settle down for me. Am little more relaxed now. Getting acceptance from UCSF was like a dream come true. Though getting a seat itself is a big big achievement but getting somewhere which you know is good and tough and you somewhere deep inside want it to happen is a great feeling. It had been a while like i was getting a lil impatient. Today i remember all my Teachers, friends back there in manglore and here who have always been there and helped me become what i am, shaped me through this journey. I am really really grateful to them.
Am just waiting for my Boston result and decided not to go for Newyork interview !
till then..

All the best folks...

Mail of my life !

IDP PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE LETTER

Pham, Mary to me

November 19th, 2007

Dear Dr. Kaushal Dhawan,

It was a pleasure to meet you during the recent International Dentist Program (IDP) orientation, interview and testing period on October 21-24, 2007. I sincerely hope that it was not too much of a stressful time for you.

It is my pleasure to inform you that the Executive Committee for Dental Admissions has granted you Provisional Acceptance to the 2008 entering IDP class. Candidates are admitted on a provisional basis pending fulfillment of additional requirements and submission of required documents. Your final acceptance depends on receipt of the required documents by the stated deadlines and verification of all documentation by the Admissions Office. You will receive more information about this in the coming days.

You are to be congratulated and commended on achieving an important milestone in your career and professional growth in the United States. We hope you will consider our offer and seriously commit to attending UCSF to continue your dental education and to receive your DDS degree.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call our Dental Admissions Office at (415) 476-2739.

Again, congratulations and I look forward to seeing you with the new class.

Sincerely,

Mark D. Kirkland,
DDSAssistant Dean,
Clinic Administration andDirector,
International Dentist Program

All the best folks...

Ranveer Chandi and Sahil Goyal !

BU students, my seniors, my friends !

The Boston Chronicle 2 !

Well its the trip to boston which i had been long waiting for,the interview. It was a general interview, i know now lot of people wonder whats a general interview ? Well its the one where they just asked like why USA, why BU, why MPH and that too in which ever university you are, Do u want to do PG ? if yes which one? if no why, interests in research? where do u see urself in next 5 or 10 years ? ur hobbies? plans for future life etc etc. just stick to ur sop and be true thats what all i can say. Very nice and comforting people there. Anyhow the interview went fine, like i felt it went better than that at UCSF. I have high hopes, meanwhile the Texas school uff...heard that they had a tough written first essay and other questions, PFM crown prepration on maxillary molar and class 2 cavity on mandibular molar and a great interview.
Rest of trip was fine had a nice diwali...thanks to Sahil and Chandi bhai.
i wont tell anybody reading whts to see in boston but once u are there and could make it do go to bollywood grill ! had the best Indian food outside India there till now !
Had a rejection from UMN today...they say i don have enuf experience :-) maybe they are not lucky enuf to have me there..... Now its time for some acceptance to come ! Few of friend have got through USC, BU and UPenn, I am waiting patiently for mine, till then......
All the best folks...

The Boston trip...

Its gonna really really cold here...sitting at Chicago airport waiting to board my flight i just cant stop thinking about how far i have come, from that small railway station at Kankanadi to here. I don know why now maybe cos i have nobody at present to talk to. I am more relaxed and more apprehensive both. Relaxed in a way i know how an interview goes about, apprehensive well one always is when something big is at stake, its just that i wanna get into a dental school now....am i getting a lil impatient ? i guess so !
anyhow looking at different faces here at airport i am thinking how many of these am i going to see on interview day? All those student types look cool and relaxed i wonder whts going on in thier mind right now. I just pray to God and hope for the best.
Its time to board the plane ......

All the best folks...