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SO you have got the interview call, and now what? Here are some amazing REAL LiFE Experiences 10 TIPS for Success in a dental school interview.

So you have your interview tomorrow, but before you reach there, you would decide what to wear. Of course, formal is what everybody says. Formals every one suggests but your dress should not only be formal but crisp and give you a nice sharp look. If you do not have a VERY nice suit or Skirt (for ladies), then BUY it. It is worth all the investment!!


TIP #1: MINIMAL IS MAXIMAL

TIP #1: Wear minimalistic and nice not-so-strong Perfume. If you dont wear one, make sure you dont smell bad, if not too good. (I can write a whole article on perfume, but let google help you with that :))

So you are all set to leave for the interview, all neat and crisp. And you get late.. because the Cab you are in, is stuck in a jam or your Metro train has delayed due to a signal problem. (Very Common in NY). SO, reaching late for the interview is the big NO NO. I am sure you know about that. At the same time, reaching too early also wont be very beneficial. It just does not give you a big advantage either. Just be on time, a little in advance is really good. If you are new to the place, make sure you visit that place a day in advance.

TIP #2:OBSERVE

TIP #2: If possible, go inside and try to feel the place of interview. OBSERVE, what people are wearing, how are they talking, how are they interacting.. in short get a feel of the place of interview. When you come next day you wont feel out of the world, but relaxed!!Now you are waiting there in the waiting hall.Sitting, idling, fiddling your thumb, anxious because You know how important the interview really is.
And you are thinking what should I have done before coming? You are looking better than the rest, but is this what they are actually looking for?

TIP #3: RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH

so RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH
ABOUT? School, ABOUT the interviewer(s) and ABOUT the department, everything that you can get your hand on. If the school has a need of your talent and you represent that area of expertise, you will be matched (most of the time for interview) with somebody from your area of expertise. If that is the case, you know that you DON'T BLUFF

TIP #4:NEVER BLUFF

TIP #4: JUST can't bluff, they would immediately catch you. If your talent, is not an area of expertise but a general experience of everything included in dentistry then you will be matched accordingly.
RESEARCH on the kind of experience the school is looking for!!(Anyways this thing should already be there in your SOP's and Recomendation Letters.. (stick on to it in answering your questions!!)
For eg, your amazing experience in endodontics, may be an asset to a school, but not in surgery esp if they have a general dentistry protocol to refer everything to a specialist, an Oral Surgeon!!

TIP #5: AURA

I remember when I was being interviewed at UCSF, I gave this advice to a friend that you need to know what the school's general thought process is. The school may be sophisticated with people and doctors living a calm life and yet full of enthusiasm while the school in NY will have a fast paced life. You might need to show your caliber of multi tasking and walking (or (almost running) with that fast paced life.
Talk to people, FEEL THE AURA .. Talk to REAL People, with REAL EXPERIENCES, and REAL INFO to know what the school is all about (that's exactly what our website is all about..REAL). So by making a mental note of the school's mentality, you come in for the interview AND  I am expecting that you are crispy-dressed, smelling nice, and with all the research in hand and AURA seeping in your mind, you are sitting at the
interview table.

and your phone rings!!!! BLUNDER!!

TIP #6:DISTANCE

TIP #6: Keep your cell switched off. Tell your mom that your phone is dead for that day, if you have to :).. You will be simply considered inappropriate for the post after this blunder.  DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM PERSONAL LIFE for those 2 hours, you deserve that for the ONCE in a lifetime opportunity!!

TIP #7: BE CONVINCED

The whole idea of the interview is, "to SELL yourself". BUT how would you sell yourself? You need  to understand and be CONVINCED of your capabilities before you can convince interviewing authorities. As someone said, "you cannot convince anybody, if you are not convinced yourself!!"
If you have done what I have said above, you will be relaxed and will seem to be adequately prepared, mentally at least.

SO you all start talking confidently and your interviewer says "I am sorry, I forgot to take a print out of your CV, can I have another one?"
What do you do then?

TIP #8: BE PREPARED

TIP #8: ALWAYS keep an extra copy of the required docs sent to the admission committee arranged in a nice-neat-easy to carry-in a not so flashy professional folder.
Did you carry a nice pen? I love Black Pen, Precise V5 is my favorite.

TIP #9: SPEAK OPTIMUM

Interviewers are experts in their field. You are called to the interview...TO SPEAK and not sit silently. So speak. But are you chatting too much? What is the optimum talk?

There can be a whole article on this but the TIP is "Take your time", "Speak the way you do", Dont put an accent to imitate anybody, is what I would say!!

TIP #9: I would frame my first sentence in 2-3 seconds (delayed start) and take it from there. FOCUSSING will do the trick. They are there to select you, thats why you are sitting there in the first place. Why do you think I am not sitting in that chair ?
The art of talking cannot be developed soon after reading this article. You cannot be transformed in a moment. Work on the way you talk during the whole 6 months of application.
If you lose FOCUS (what happens with me sometimes) while talking, then develop your focus gradually.
BUT if you have your interview next week, FOCUSING to what the interviewer says and replying honestly always does the TRICK.

TIP #10: SPEAK PERFECT

Many students ask me, what should I answer for this question? so , what is the perfect answer?
The perfect answer or close to it is what your interviewer wants to hear..
Which is????
It is a mixture of what you are + how your experiences fit in schools' policies + mixture of TIPS from # 1 to 9 in the RIGHT mix.
Your research will actually guide you, what kind of replies you need to give for a particular question. You can substantiate whatever you say either with your experience, your grades, or simply your interest.
Read the TIPS again and make a mental picture of what am trying to say, YOUR mind will ACTUALLY  know what is the Perfect Answer and no one else knows whats best for you!!


I hope you enjoyed the article but if you have any other TIP, I will love to add to it? Please do so in the comments section above


MedA
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Sincere People · Real Experiences · Authentic Info

I visited many places for a Perfect ECE Evaluation and I found none. ECE is a very crucial first step in applying for DDS program in US. So, I worked harder so that you don't have to really work that hard!! I have attached screenshots for ECE Evaluation. Please click them and see how I have filled in each page.


Good thing about this process

• You don't have to finish this application in one sitting. You can always save your application and log in using the access code you get after your step 1.

Bad Thing:

• You can nnot finish the application online entirely.You will need a printer at the time of finishing the application to print the application and send it to ECE. Please follow screenshots for step by step instructions.
  

Screenshots are filled fully to guide you. You can enlarge them by clicking on them and see exactly how to fill the application.

Lets Begin::
First go to http://ece.org/

click start your evaluation

After you click Start Your Evaluation you will see

Click DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS BY COUNTRY

Click United States and Read the Documents you need to send to ECE.
You need to send all these documents in an envelope along with completing these online steps and taking a print out of this final application.





Click Start new Application>>> Apply Now and you would see the image below

• Please note the access code on this page. You will use this code to log in again on ECE so finish your application just in case you are not able to finish in one sitting.

.
Click continue after you fill in all your personal details then follow step 2
This step is important.




Step 2 Customise your application
Click Course-By-Course $135

Check how quickly you want the report. if you dont want it too early then dont select anything , else select 1day 5days or 12 business days depending ion your requirement

then click Report Copies (this will tell ECE how you want the report!!)

I would choose the second option and send a copy to ADA and get one copy free. Additiuonal copues can also be sent to the other universities if you are sure where you want to send the report to. I would send it to BU and NYU!!

Two copies of the evaluation report are included in the report fee. Additional copies requested with the initial application cost $10 each. An unofficial faxed copy of your evaluation report is available at a cost of $10. Courier delivery has an additional fee of $35 (U.S. & Canada) and $50 (International).


1st option: Mail both copies of the evaluation report to the applicant's address. Additional copies can be ordered for a fee of $10 each.
(Choose this if you want all report copies to go the applicant address.)
2nd option: Mail one copy of the evaluation report to the applicant's mailing address, and one copy to another address you will enter below. Additional copies can be ordered for a fee of $10 each.
(Choose this if you want report copies to go to both the applicant address and another remote address

Once you choose the second choice then you will find ENTER OR CHANGE THE MAILING ADDRESS. Click that and add the address in the new window that pops!! Get all the addresses from the respective universities!!

Keep on adding all the names of all the universities and also American Dental Association according to your choice. (I have added TWO names NYU and BU, Verify addresses!!)


Click Continue>>>>

Step 3 purpose of education

Further Education Check the Screenshot






Step 4: Educational History



Click Enter or Change Educational History
A window pops out.. simply enter your previous Dental Education background

Check (after reading) I have read and understand the required documents for this evaluation.

Check (after reading) I have read and understand the terms and conditions for this evaluation.

Click Continue




Step 5 Complete your application

Finally Print your application



Now, Finally, You need to send all the documents you read in step 2 in an envelope along with completing these online steps and taking a print out of this final application. (See the documents that I sent at this link)

FEES
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"It was in Bio-statistics and since the subject is more class oriented,
and the course was online, so I was not able to do good.
All my other grades are good".

( You will wonder when and how would they even come to know. Simple, they have asked for your transcript of MPH, MHA etc whatever you are doing. The answers will vary dependent on the course you withdrew.. you may say that you were not convinced about its usefulness, and lack of my interest, prioritization for other important topics etc.Please note your answer will guide your Interviewer to ask you more specific questions. You should steer the Interview by dropping some ideas that take your interviewer in the desired direction)

14. Dentists require a great deal of hand coordination. Do you have any relevant experience?

(Talk about your enriching clinical experience. -
Please note some of you might really have a lot of experience. Good for you but you have to be concise and you should be able to speak about your experience in as few lines as possible with as much impact as possible- like, 3 yrs of clinical experience along with 2 years in hospital based experience totalling 5 years. If he asks then you may mention the important work you actually did. Please make sure that the college Philosophy is very important in such a question.-- Like some colleges, as i see UCSF doesnot give more experience in Oral Surgery during your DDS so talking a lot about OS will not be very effective)

15. Do you think the role of a Dentist has changed, and how so?

( You may say it has changed from extraction to preventive based,
better equipments, better diagnostic facilities,
Fluoride introduction has reduced caries )

16. How did your friends/family react to your interest in Dentistry?

( It can be a positive point for you to mention that your parents are dentists, or any experience that has convinced them that Dentistry has done wonders for you personally or your relatives)

17. Do you have any friends or family who are Dentists?

( See above)

18. Do you have any plans after graduation?

( I will say the there is no correct answer for this- coz this is tricky-- you may ask why? if you say you want to do M.S. then they can catch you how would you pay the loan- the huge loan that you would take to pay the tuition fees etc.... and
If you say that you want to join a practice- it may give them a reason that you are not interested in learning.
The idea is to keep a great balance of both: "Earning for a year or two and then joining an M.S. program is what you would prefer but make sure your choice of M.S. is justified- either by experience or by a confirmed interest)

19. What would make you happy 10 years from now?

( its the same question as above )

20. If you had to change anything about yourself, what would it be?

( Speak something that has a "positively negative" impact on you--
eg: You may want to say..I work too hard at times that I may not take care of my health and sleep :) )

21. How do you spend your free time? OR What do you do to relax?

( You know what to do.. Don't lie!
unless you know about the sports and extra curricular you talking about, which is impossible and hence really not recommended)

Other Questions that may be asked are::

• What would you say was the best day or experience you ever had?
• How do you see yourself, what are your good characteristics?
• How do you think the Dental profession has changed over the last 25 years?
• What book have you read recently?
• Who is your favorite author?
• What types of books do you enjoy reading?
• If you could meet anybody, in all of history, and eat dinner with them, who would it be?
• What do you do when you are stressed out?
• What would you say is a weak area that you'd like to improve on yourself?

Also Read
TOP 10 DENTAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS>>

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You got that Interview call from Dental School? Gear Yourself on these interview questions as you will be asked questions in one way or the other!! Another detailed interview questions are also seen in the second part which can be read here
Discuss your answers with your mentors, friends, or post your discussions here. Reach me also at ask@medabroad.info or on Facebook, LinkedIn etc

So lets begin....

1. So tell me a little about yourself.

2. Why do you want to be a dentist?

3. Have you had any experience with dentistry?

4. What differentiates you from the rest of the applicants?

5. I like you and this all sounds great, but what can I go back and tell the admissions committee that will convince them that we want you in our upcoming class?

6. Why did you apply to our Dental school?

7. What other Dental schools have you applied to?

8. Have you had any other interviews at other schools?

9. What type of dental program are you interested in?

10.What did you think about our school (ie. facilities, program)?

A detailed interview question in the second part can also be read here
More Interview Questions 

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I believe an article about how the US system of Education and Living works would be a great idea. This article will help you get a first hand glimpse of living in US.

I traveled to India after almost two years since I landed up in US for my MPH at ETSU. The days got over within no time. Days changed into weeks and then into months. In US the time runs away like crazy. You may see why as you read more



My journey to US began with all the fan fare, being the first one to reach US in my whole family. It was like a dream coming true. Reaching and Settling down at ETSU was easy. I was lucky with friends like KP who was my roommate and my classmate at Manipal.

The days,then weeks and finally months passed away and now almost two years have passed. The journey had been lazy and busy both with amazing parties and not to mention some studies for my MPH and NBDE exam.

I was too happy to be in US and it took me a little while to understand and get accustomed to the US way of living. Even though I knew so many things before landing up in US through my friends.

A typical day in a students' life in US is generally spent at 3 major places, College/University , at Job or after-college life at Apartment/ hostel.

College/university

Now depending on the courses and credits, number of classes will depend on your credits. Typically it is one class for every three credits you may take. So, may be for 9 credits you may have 3 classes or so and each class might be for 3 hours at the max. So you have nine hours devoted in a week ONLY to studies. You may be given a quiz after the class generally using an Online software called Blackboard or Desire 2 learn. You finish quizes and during the whole course you may be given couple of assignments and you spend a part of your time in finishing such assignments. The deadlines are always mentioned, but I was lazy and used to finish the course work near the deadlines only.

Now Job

If you get a scholarship or job or graduate assistantship, you may have to work for 8 to 20 hours a week in the university depending on the contract.
In ETSU, your Tuition Scholarship will demand 8 hours a week commitment to your supervisor, rest of the 12 hours may include your Job or may include nothing at all. GA will require a stricter commitment of 20 hours a week at ETSU.
So that is another couple of hours a week.

After-college life/ Hostel/Apartment:

This is very variable. Every person is different and has his own way of living. The usual weekend begins Friday evening and may continue until Sunday late evening.If you are lucky to have no class or Job on Monday then it can stretch until late Monday evening also.

The usual time spent will be laundry, groceries, and of course clubbing and partying. US has so much to do and get wasted. The limits are endless to party and spend. Generally speaking, people work over the weekdays and party like crazy on weekends. My personal experience has been that every fortnight one feels like at least going out and do something other than the usual. It relaxes you and you can concentrate on studies easily later. I didn't have a car and I always missed it since I was at a place where Public Transit is not that great unlike like NY or Boston or Chicago.

Many people are part of some councils or fraternities, like I was the Vice President of GPSA at ETSU and hence spent my Thursdays with other GPSA members going out for great food and discussions. We discussed about future community work and other GPSA events.

We had some amazing interactions and got to know many more people, networking and/or simply for Fun. We even chalked out some plans with Geicko and helped other GPSA members to get better deals on Insurance of their cars and Bikes.

I used to spent some time in getting some great deals on electronics. I love gadgets and working online and maintaining my website. In two years span I got amazing deals on Laptops, Cameras , Cell Phone, I-pods, I phones, and the best deal was my Logitech 5.1 Music speaker system and not to mention Apparels. (May be I should write sometime about how to get some great deals online ).

I hope you got the general idea about how the time runs away in US. Presently I am in India and if everything goes well then, I will be relocating to New York really soon. My College at NYU begins on 1 June 2009. I will be happy to post some great articles about my college life in NYU now.

Do you have anything that you do at Job or After college that you would love to mention? Please feel free to comment..



Do you like the Article? Agreed or Disagreed? Please leave your comments.

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Continued from STEP 4 How to apply for US Universities. Application Form in Detail:

Application form can be Paper-based or Internet-based.

• In paper-based: You fill up the application on paper and then send in the application packet with all the required documents as mentioned in the STEP 4 How to apply for US Universities.
• Internet based: This is the most dominant form of application. You simply fill in the application online and submit your application fees with an INTERNATIONAL Credit Card or simply using your friend's Credit or Debit Card who is in US. (Please see: If you use International Credit Card, like SBI Gold Card or ICICI Gold Card and so on, you will be required to pay a 2.5% Transaction fees above the Application Fees)

Procuring a Credit Card is not really tough. If you don't have one, I will suggest you apply to any of the banks that have this facility and you will get a CREDIT CARD within 15 days or so. This Credit card will be useful for you for all other transactions like TOEFL fees, GRE fees and so on.

Generally, how the Internet Based system works is:

• You go to the university's website. Look for the tab called Prospective students or Admissions.
• Choose your category like International Students and you will get to see the application process online. Start filling the online application. Please make sure you have all the required documents in front of you what I mentioned in the STEP 4 How to apply for US Universities. The application process can be very simple or may be really long. If you can not finish it one sitting, it is still ok. Generally you are given a login id and Password which you can use it to retrieve your saved application.

P.S: Before submitting the application, make sure you review all the attributes you filled in to be perfect. As the decision process of your selection depends a lot on what you provide them and you are legally bind on them to be true. I will suggest donot provide any false information what so ever.

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This article specifically deals with "HOW to apply to US Universities". I hope you have read the last article "How to select Universities in US" , Step 3: Selection of Universities. The last article is a big foundation for your research and selection of universities.
Now do you think applying to US universities is an very BIG and elaborate process? Well, I may not agree to this readily. But if you just follow the Check list I put in here, you will be really in a good position to apply perfectly. The list is little long but very doable. Click Read more to get detailed information.

What documents are required to apply to US universities?

• Application Form: Read More..
  
• Application Fees: Read More..
• Mark Sheets of your High School (Tenth and Twelfth Standard): Read More..
• Mark Sheets and Transcripts of your Previous Graduate School: Read More..
• Provisional Degree or Original Degree which ever is available: You can apply with Provisional Degree only. You only need to make sure that you get your final degree certificate whenever you join your college in US
  
• Bank Statements: This is a very crucial part of the whole package. In your application you need to arrange for LIQUID assets close to 2 years of total fees and living expenses combined together. Also you need to send Affidavit of Support.
  
• Affidavit of Support (If your family is sponsoring you) on Rs 10 Stamp/Notary Paper: The letter mentioning that your parents are going to sponsor you for all that fees.
  
• Letter of Recommendations: Its another BIG part of your whole application. You need to get THREE recommendation letters, One from your Dean or Associate Dean/Principal, second is from a Professor under who has supervised you, third is from someone under whom you have worked, professionally, may be in a clinic or in the JOB or your Boss in the last job. Although this is not the strict criteria, but this way you show that you have a whole range of experiences. Alternatively, any professor who can write you a beautiful and a well crafted resume, will be your BEST bet. His good words will certainly take you places especially if you have worked under his supervision, even though he is not your DEAN etc.
  
• Statement of Purpose: This is a letter which helps you sell yourself. You need to write a whole story why you ended up doing what you are doing and why you want to do what you are applying for!! Sounds confusing??? I am sure, even after writing a couple of SOPs myself I am still not so perfect. (will write about it sometime..Its a huge topic!!)
  
• Resume: Check out my resume format which I had.. I can post some resume formats sometime. Till then you make sure have a look at my resume format here
  
• Any Achievement Certificates: These certificates although look so small, but your extra curricular activities actually enhance your profile to a step higher than your peer!! So make sure you send a color copy or simply a good and nice Copy of all the certificates. Believe me they always help.
  
• Any Articles Published Copy to prove your caliber and Interest: If you have done some research and are in the process of your article being published etc, you may mention about them really good and may be attach a copy of the research article published in any small or BIG Journal. You will climb two notches higher than your competitor again.
  
• Passport Photocopy: Simply attach a copy of your Passport. Just for the verification purposes.
  
• Photocopy of your scores GRE, GMAT, TOEFL score reports: You need to attach a copy of your scores received from teh testing agency, even though they ask for ORIGINAL scores sent from the testing agency directly.
• Miscellaneous: There might be some extra requirements of the universities, make sure you read them and send them along, like SDSU they want an extra copy of the reco letters in THEIR own format apart from what you actually send them.
  

Let me contradict myself also by adding that the list of documents looks a little easy but honestly there are certain components in the list that will make a HUGE difference in your selection or rejection. You need to click Read more to every link and it will give you a nice description about each of the documents.

Please Post some comments as each article takes approx 2 hours to publish it.




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