When you come to the United States with a dream of getting a DDS degree, you are overwhelmed with the process. Now that I have been accepted at the Washington IDDS program, awaiting graduation in 2023, let me narrate my experience from preparing for the NDBE to CAAPID application, explaining all my efforts to be able to get to this point. I hope you can draw inspiration and positivity, which might help in your DDS journey.
Background as a BDS Graduate
I am a BDS graduate from India. Despite having no family background in dentistry with hard work and determination, I graduated in 2014 with a 3.6 GPA. I have 3.5 years of dental clinical experience as a general dentist. After I got my degree, I worked at different clinical setups, including rural, urban, non-profit, mobile dental clinics, and dental camps, to bring diverse experiences. I had the opportunity to work with some fantastic dental professionals throughout my career and treat various patients. My passion for this field has only grown with time.
Along with dentistry, I was fascinated with the world of research, so I pursued a post-graduate diploma in clinical research. I learned how an idea gets converted to innovation in the real world. To put that knowledge to use, I worked part-time as a medical writer in a corporate setup. I was involved in backstage research by writing documents for ongoing human drug trials. The papers I wrote were sent to the regulatory authorities for study drug approval after the risk and benefit evaluation. As a medical writer, my work gave me a front-row seat to some excellent work people have been doing worldwide.
Education in the US as an International Dentist
After a few years, I felt that I have the potential and the opportunity to learn more. Education in the US will help me give a larger platform to nurture my skills and learn from a different perspective, so I moved here in 2018. I started studying for the NBDE exam and TOEFL exams. I also planned to prepare for the CAAPID application and bench test ahead of time. Always shape a blueprint of your CAAPID application before the cycle starts!
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Along with my applications, I started looking for opportunities to stay connected to dentistry. I struggled to find opportunities, but I never lost hope. I registered as a dental assistant in the state of Washington to get firsthand experience. This enabled me to not only shadow but assist the doctors in performing dental procedures. It was a great way to learn about the difference in technology and methodology between India and the US practice. Over time, I was able to build strong working relationships with doctors and support staff. The doctors helped me understand the choice of treatments they made. The front office staff helped me understand various administrative and financial aspects of dental practice. They also encouraged me to ask clarifying questions, which went a long way in bridging the knowledge gap.
I tried to take advantage of as many opportunities as I could. As I have always been captivated by the world of research, I started looking for research-related opportunities. After much effort, I managed to bag an opportunity as a research assistant at the University of Washington in the oral health sciences department. The faculty was looking for someone with good hand skills, and since I was already a dentist in India, I fit right into his requirements. Gradually, he had so much confidence in me that he entrusted me with training his students and independently handling vital tasks.
Volunteering Activities as a Foreign-Trained Dentist
In my free time, I love to volunteer for the causes I believe in. It has been an integral part of my life. Indian curriculum emphasized volunteering activities and outreach programs. I’ve been volunteering from a very young age. It has been a humbling experience. It has made me appreciate the things I have, something I always took for granted. The sense of fulfillment you get by helping someone who needs it makes the experience of life complete. This experience is quintessential in the journey of a medical professional. When I moved to the US, I signed up for various volunteering organizations. I volunteered at mobile dental clinics, dental camps, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and children’s hospitals. I also worked as a donor monitor at various blood donation camps. I had the dedication to fly down to California to participate in a dental camp arranged by the California dental association.
Interview with Dental Schools and Getting Accepted
Then came the nerve-wracking interview season. I was so thrilled to have received interview invites from UW, CU, LLU, and UCSF in my first cycle itself. The interviews got delayed due to the unexpected COVID pandemic, but I kept preparing for every possible dental school interview questions and answers without losing hope. Make sure you portray all your experiences in the interviews in a captivating way. The interview and the bench were a unique experience for everyone this year. Then came the most memorable, delightful news of my acceptance at the University of Washington IDDS program! I am so thrilled and enthusiastic to start school in January 2020.
Even after my acceptance, I am working hard to stay involved in activities that will help me be on par with education. I learned that determination is as important as the environment you want to study. With the correct attitude, one can overcome life’s obstacles. But you must keep trying! The moment you stop the growth of your abilities, you reach stagnation. Hence, it is overly critical to always be on the path of self-improvement, especially in the medical field, where innovations are happening every day.
Let me make it easier for you by listing the key takeaway points- always be on the lookout for opportunities, stay connected to dentistry, networking is vital, keep improving, plan in time, and never lose hope!
Final Advice
A piece of colossal advice is that you should learn to dive deep into your flaws and know when to reach out to people with more experience than yourself. International Dentist Central can help you with every stage of your DDS application. It is vital to have someone who can dedicate time to help and motivate you in achieving your goal. I took the Bench test mastery course, and the best part was the critique on daily submission. They even drew my attention to every tiny detail, which helped me earn brownie points on the bench. I am so grateful to have them by my side.
Lastly, even though this journey is difficult, think about why you love dentistry. The sense of accomplishment on seeing my patients genuinely happy is the force that makes me want to pick up my handpiece every day. I am grateful to everyone who is a part of my DDS journey, and I wish I can be a part of yours someday!
Interested in getting help with your SOP, bench test, and interview? IDC has been helping candidates for several years now. Click below to learn more:
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