“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”-Helen Keller
Photo Courtesy @indykadeer
If you’re still unsure of which pathway/state would be ideal for you it may be worth considering one of the advanced standing programs.
This course is called with different names across universities (PASS, PPID, IDP, ASPID, IASP ) these admit you into the second or third year of a DDS or DMD program which will make you eligible for licensure in any state after taking the required clinical exam.
Of the 66 dental schools in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 36/38 offer opportunities for foreign-trained dentists to acquire a full U.S. dental degree through an advanced standing program.
I have made a detailed table to help you make some quick rule out depending on the visa status and GPA scores and then come to an informed decision. These courses are quite expensive. ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 per semester (living costs in certain cities are real high ) - I have included this in the table as well.
Foreign-trained dentists are allowed to gain acceptance in the second or third year of dental school and acquire a degree in dentistry in the U.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD)) after completing 2 or 3 years of undergraduate study.
The course usually has a preparatory period of 2 - 6 months and orientation before admitting you to the third year as can been seen in costs. some colleges require you to do all 4 years although the application is the same as CAAPID rather than the normal route which could be a tough competition.
The number of U.S. dental schools offering educational programs for foreign-trained dentists has increased substantially as well in the past years. The class size varies for each university with the highest at Boston University which admits 85 international dentists each year. Annually, there are about 400- 500 seats and around 4000+ applicants.
Selecting a dental school
This is one of the first decisions to take as this is crucial for tailoring the rest of your application to meet the needs for the first choice.
If you are bound by state then the choice is easier as most have 1- 2 but if not and ANYWHERE in the US is your destination - this is a VERY VERY IMPORTANT DECISION.
A copy of ASDA’s Getting into Dental School book to get an overview of all the 66 schools. The book gives sufficient information on schools including tuition, the school’s GPA range, DAT score range and more. You have to apply for ASDA membership to get a free copy. International membership dues are $101.
Of these 38 of the schools provide an Advanced Standing program (for you to do a 2/3 year towards - DMD/DDS). You can find names and links to their web page is on the above chart.
This ADEA/CAAPID page gives you each programme requirements for each uni and the application forms.
All this is again down to cost so you will have to think this through - each application has to be done only if you this it is good for you, the cost of application to each school, the ECE to be sent along with each application, the costs of other tests of TOFEL and INDBE all add up. Also if you get to interview the cost of the travel and the bench test(usually cost around $200-300 ) and if required the ADAT, so it's better to plan where all you want to apply.
Again it's also about keeping focus - so read about how the focus is important and how the first time I applied for MClinDent I did not get invited for an interview and how I changed the application a second time on my blog pages.
I came across this video of a dentist who has got the application to a program her thought on selecting a dental school will be relevant for most of you.
An informative video.
BEST OF LUCK IN THIS PROCESS!!!