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What in the world are schools looking for, don't you want to get inside their brains
for a moment?
What do they want and what can you do to increase your chances of getting accepted into your
dream program as an international dentist?
Hi this is Alyssa, author of the international dentists guide to obtaining a US dental license,
and today let's talk about what schools are looking for when accepting new students into
their program.
Test scores? GPA? number of degrees? US work experience?
Let's take a few steps back from all those stats and numbers and think about what it
mean for a school to select a student into there program? Let's think about it from their
point of view and try to understand them that way.
By accepting somebody, schools are committing to educate and interact with that candidate
while they are in school for a few years, and that candidate will continue to represent
the school as a graduate, forever.
So the answer is not simple, they are looking for the best 'complete packages' they can
get.
The candidate should be smart, a good team player with a great personality that will
get along with other students smoothly, have the willingness to be a student, not a dentist,
for a few years, know what it means to be a dentist in the states with clearly defined
feature goals, and have great leadership and hand skills which is necessary to be a great
dentist.
Each program puts emphasis on different things, depending whats more important for them, but
at the end of the day that's what they are looking for.
test scores and GPA shows that you are smart and capable of learning. Work experience as
a dentist shows that you have what it takes to be a dentist, know all about it and want
to continue to be one. Work experience in the US shows that you know the culture here,
which is essential to make sure everything will be fine without a "culture shock". More
degrees and publications show your enthusiasm, willingness, ambition and ability. Volunteer
work shows that you are a good person, giving back to the community is very important in
the US. If the volunteer work was done here in the states it also shows that you're actively
involved in something and can get along with the people here, which is great.
Okay but what if I have a low GPA, didn't do any research or published any papers, have
no work experience, and didn't do any further education beyond dental school? Do I still
have a chance?
Well,,,,,,, YES
That's exactly where I was, and it did take 2 years for me but at the end I had the luxury
to choose the program I wanted to join.
There are very few applicants that are seemingly "perfect", I'm not talking about people with
seemingly perfect CVs and amazing scores, that's just half the story - it tells very
little about the candidate's personality and ability to get along with other people. You
can shine through your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and at the in-person
interview. Don't underestimate this, the admissions committee is consisted of - people, and people
have emotions and preferences. You must be likable.
So if you feel like you've got nothing going for you than what should you do? Volunteer
at your local dental office and at health fares to add to your CV and work *** your
personal statement CV and recommendation letters. It bumps up your US work experience and having
a recommendation letter coming from the states is powerful. Express your personality and
uniquest through your personal statement.
More on this coming up so click the link to get on my email list, it can make a huge difference
in your future.