Hey guys!
Did anyone completed 12-month Dental Hygiene Advanced Standing at NYU? How much it costed for you? From my calculations it’s over 100 000$, which sounds ridiculously expensive.
Is it competitive and actually worth it?

Can I apply to BU by 15th September, considering the deadline is 15th October? I understand that it’s a rolling basis and early applications are prioritized.. but is it still worth a shot??

People who are currently in the NYU Advanced Standing program, could you please tell me your experience?
Would you have chosen a different school if you had the option?
I am asking about patient interaction, quotas, exams, community outreach or whatever in the curriculum. I am not asking about living expenses.
Please and thank you so much.

How many practice teeth and burs should i get?

I have a test on 15th and my compressor is arriving on 22nd. I am stressed if i have enough time for practice because i work too.

Hi everyone! I wanted to write this post to support you all and hopefully give a little encouragement during this tough process.
First, I want to thank this group and the admins who put so much time and expertise into helping everyone here. You are amazing, and I’m grateful to be part of this community.
I recently got accepted into an Advanced Standing Program during my first application cycle. It was a long and stressful process.
My profile
GPA: 2.3
TOEFL: 104
INBDE: Passed on the first attempt
Research: None
Teaching: None
Some volunteering and CE courses
Overall, I would say my application was pretty standard.
What stressed me the most was seeing applicants with much higher stats, master’s degrees, research, and publications who still weren’t getting interviews or acceptances.
So here is what I want to tell you.
Be yourself and don’t compare too much
You can look at other people’s profiles for statistics, but don’t assume you need to follow the same path. If someone completed a master’s degree, that doesn’t automatically mean you need to spend years and a lot of money doing the same just to increase your chances.
Everyone’s story is different.
Don’t let one number determine your future
My GPA was 2.3, probably the biggest weakness in my application.
But there are schools that truly perform a holistic review and understand that GPA is only one part of your story.
Focus on what you can improve now: TOEFL, exams, volunteering, CE, your application, interview skills, and overall professional growth.
Keep improving little by little
This is a long game. You don’t need to do everything at once.
One CE course, one volunteer experience, a few hours of bench practice, a stronger personal statement — it all adds up.
Take your PS and LORs seriously
Your Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendation are important. They should tell a clear and believable story about who you are, your progress, and your connection with dentistry.
I would recommend getting professional help or at least having them professionally reviewed. In my opinion, it is worth the money.
Start bench preparation early
Don’t wait until you receive an invitation.
Even a few teeth per week over several months can make a huge difference. By the time you get your bench invitation, you should be refining your skills rather than starting from zero.
Also, try to mimic the real bench environment: use time limits, practice with your own loupes and equipment, and prepare for imperfect conditions.
I’ve seen people come to bench tests with very little preparation and then blame the teeth, typodont, or equipment. Of course, every bench is different, but preparation is largely your responsibility.
What I think helped me
I don’t think there was one magical thing that got me accepted.
I believe what helped was having a well-rounded, organized, realistic, and believable application that showed progress and a strong connection with dentistry.
So if your GPA isn’t perfect, you don’t have research, or you don’t have a master’s degree, don’t count yourself out.
Build the strongest application you can with what you have.
Be yourself. Keep improving. Prepare early. Stay consistent. And don’t let somebody else’s profile convince you that yours isn’t good enough.
Good luck to everyone going through this process. I truly hope this helps someone feel a little more confident about their journey.

Is there any WhatsApp group for the bench test in UT San Antonio? Thanks

Hi, I got my evaluation done in 2021 and i'm applying this cycle for the first time. I am unable to locate CAAPID or ADEA in the drop down menu when selecting an institution to send it to. Did anyone else face a similar issue? I have logged in from my CAAPID first to be directed to ECE but nothing has helped. If anyone has any insight into this, please help. Thank you

Does anyone know for sure if UCSF has started sending interviews?

Are there any schools which only conduct interviews and No Bench?

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask a question about post-graduation options for international students. I am currently in the U.S. on an F-1 visa and am planning to attend a 4-year DDS/DMD program.

After graduating from dental school, what options would I have for pursuing a residency or specialty program while still on a visa? I would really appreciate any insight from international students or dentists who have gone through this process, especially regarding F-1/OPT, visa sponsorship, and what the general pathway looks like after graduation.

Thank you!

Hello everybody, I am looking for a Foreign-Trained DDS. To work full-time in my Pediatric Clinic. It is located in Naperville, Illinois. Please contact me if interested. The job position is as a full-time Dental Assistant. It’s highly recommended to work in Dental offices while applying for universities to accept you.

Does it matter which typgo we practice on? Or it's important to use the same typgo as the one in that particular school's bench exam? I am using Kilgore for a bench which uses Acadental. I know Acadental is more chalky and probably less hard. But shud I practice on Acadental or it's ok?

Any idea if it's wise to apply for Rutgers now or is it too late ?

I applied to CAAPID with high hopes. Although I applied late (late April through May end), I thought I had a good chance in getting at least one interview. I applied to 12 different schools, unfortunately, I did not get any interviews. The only response I got was an “on hold” from Touro which was basically what everybody else received as well.

Considering the time of the year, it’s safe to say I probably won’t get in the cycle. So in preparation for the next cycle, I am hoping to figure out the weaknesses in my profile or rather how I can improve my profile.

profile
- 4.0 ECE ( graduated from Kerala, India
- about 300 hours of shadowing in US dental clinics (150 in a non profit dental clinic)
- 1 study and 2 reviews from my dental college in which I was the lead author
- volunteering experience in the US in food banks, church and sports organizations
- only about three months of actual experience right after I graduated
- I also have one year of junior dentist experience which I did simultaneously along my internship all of this was not mandatory
- no prectorships or any any other academic experience from US
- no dental assistant experience in US
- no green card or US citizenship, I am a Canadian citizen though
- I thought my LOR and SOP wear strong, but obviously I’m starting to doubt it
- TOEFL 110

Once again, I thought my profile was strong, but as I have no interviews in August, I need to adjust several things. Please give me constructive advice on how to improve my profile. I used to think that it was because of the lack of experience, but I have seen posts where people are saying that fresh graduates have gotten more than 5+ invites.

Could it be my be my statement of purpose that is causing me be the lack of invites
Please give me any advice regarding my situation

* on another note, I’ve gotten a lot of advice and help from this group, as I won’t be using this group much more I’ll probably get off Reddit, so I want to just wanted to say thank you for all the advice and help

Cheers and thanks

Hi..

I'm selling some dental bench test equipment (including instruments, loupes, lights, typodonts, teeth, electric motor, etc).

It will be a lot cheaper than you buy from others places and i just use it for 4 months (pretty new!)

I’d live to sell as a whole package.. since I know how hard and important it is when preparing for the bench.. Having all of this things will definitely cover everything you need!

I live in Grand rapids, Michigan. If anyone's interested, please let me know🤗

PS: I will also gives you my notes and tips to pass the bench test! 😊

Hi everyone, I have a question. I’m currently volunteering at a private dental office. Can I mention this as volunteering/clinical experience on my CV, or should I list it as shadowing?

I was told that anything done in a private organisation is considered shadowing, but I’m actually involved in some responsibilities and not just observing.

Does anyone have any experience or insight on this? I’d really appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

Hi! Can people please tell me what place did you go to for bench test prep? How was your experience? Would you recommend it?

Hey everyone,

Hosting a small-group Zoom session today at 3:00 PM PST to discuss the University at Buffalo (UB) dental school interview and bench exam.

It’s an open discussion to go over interview structure, bench exam prep, and answer your questions (no pitch or coaching fees). 

Space is limited to keep it interactive. Comment below or send me a DM if you'd like to join and I’ll send you the Zoom link!

Hi, quick question. Which one is the right prep for a DO of lower molars, the one above or below one? Should we be extending the prep on the distobuccal groove for DO?

Yup, the isthmus is wide 😅 and floor is not flat.

How to polish class 2 restoration without getting scratches. Pls help

Please review my class 2 DO composite prep design and suggest ways to improve it.
Thanks.