Characteristics of Applicants Who Obtain Interviews at Orthodontic Postgraduate Programs

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate applicant credentials that are associated with receiving interviews to postgraduate orthodontic programs. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two variables incorporating academic, work, and personal characteristics of 68 applicants were analyzed using a mailed questionnaire survey and data from application files. Applicants were grouped into categories based on the number of interviews reported. Results: Statistically significant associations were identified between interview category and: age, number of programs applied to, grade in orthodontic course, grade point average, scores from part 1 of the national dental board exam, academic honors, research, recommendation letter from orthodontic faculty, general practice residency, work experience, and community service. Conclusions: Programs are interested in rounded, well-balanced individuals who excel at more than one thing. Cumulative grade point average and orthodontic work experience were the most significant. (Angle Orthod 2010;80:373-377.)

Evaluating Postdoctoral Dental Candidates: Assessing the Need and Recommendations for a National Qualifying Examination

“…A significant number of dental schools, however, no longer report specific class rankings for students. A recent study of orthodontic applicants noted that over 50 percent of applicants’ schools either did not rank students or did not report their rank 6 . Without GPA and class rank data, postdoctoral program directors must rely on letters of recommendation as the sole pre‐interview criterion for screening students from certain schools.…”

Assessment of Graduate Orthodontic Programs in North America

“…From the results of our study, it may appear that these types of programs were not a popular route for foreign‐trained residents prior to applying to an orthodontic residency and did not offer an advantage for admission. Nonetheless, these results do not take into account other important aspects of these residents' applications, such as their NBDE scores and private practice experience 29 , 30 . Thus, these results should be viewed as indeterminate and preliminary only, with only one resident completing that type of program.…”

“…Many dental schools have adopted predoctoral admissions processes that are holistic in nature, taking into account qualitative attributes in addition to grade point average (GPA) and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores, such as leadership, volunteering, and social background 28 . While orthodontic programs also take into account both academic and nonacademic factors when considering applicants, they appear to rely more heavily on academic credentials when screening program candidates 29 . In particular, orthodontic residency admissions policies tend to favor those candidates with the best class rank or additional experience working in private practice; 30 , 31 cumulative GPA and orthodontic work experience have also been found to correlate with receiving more interviews at programs 29 .…”

“…While orthodontic programs also take into account both academic and nonacademic factors when considering applicants, they appear to rely more heavily on academic credentials when screening program candidates 29 . In particular, orthodontic residency admissions policies tend to favor those candidates with the best class rank or additional experience working in private practice; 30 , 31 cumulative GPA and orthodontic work experience have also been found to correlate with receiving more interviews at programs 29 . Anning et al emphasized the need for research on admissions criteria since dental class ranking has not been found previously to directly correlate with success in orthodontic residencies 6 .…”

Preliminary Performance of the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT): Association Between ADAT Scores and Other Variables for Applicants to Residency Programs at a U.S. Dental School

“…Therefore, the means by which applicants are assessed have become even more important in the selection process. Historically, dental residency programs have relied on numerous criteria such as an applicant's grades, class rank, National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) scores, and letters of recommendation to determine which candidates will receive an interview 3 . However, significant changes have occurred in dental education over the past few years that have resulted in the elimination of many quantitative indicators formerly used by programs to identify well‐qualified applicants for acceptance into residency programs.…”