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Questions About Australian Dental Schools

uoit101

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uoit101 Newbie

uoit101

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Hey guys, I had a few questions about Australian dental schools and wondering if anyone familiar with the process can give me some input. 

 

Can anyone who got into Melbourne Dental comment on the competitiveness of the applicants/what stats they're looking for etc. 

My weighted GPA currently stands at just 3.4. Haven't taken the DAT yet. I'm trying to figure out whether i should continue undergrad for a 5th year to boost my GPA, do a 1 year masters, or just stick to my current GPA.

 

I've looked into Sydney but from what i know, they weigh all years equally, and my horrendous 1st year would probably make me noncompetitive (cGPA currently stands at 2.9, which currently also counts me out of US schools). And since i'm almost done my bachelor's, i doubt the bachelor level Dental programs in Australia would even consider me. Leaving me with Melbourne being the best option.  

 

As a side note, I don't mind practicing in either Australia or Canada. Just trying to figure out what the best course of action would be for the upcoming year.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

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mandok Newbie

mandok

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I 

 

Hey guys, I had a few questions about Australian dental schools and wondering if anyone familiar with the process can give me some input. 

 

Can anyone who got into Melbourne Dental comment on the competitiveness of the applicants/what stats they're looking for etc. 

My weighted GPA currently stands at just 3.4. Haven't taken the DAT yet. I'm trying to figure out whether i should continue undergrad for a 5th year to boost my GPA, do a 1 year masters, or just stick to my current GPA.

 

I've looked into Sydney but from what i know, they weigh all years equally, and my horrendous 1st year would probably make me noncompetitive (cGPA currently stands at 2.9, which currently also counts me out of US schools). And since i'm almost done my bachelor's, i doubt the bachelor level Dental programs in Australia would even consider me. Leaving me with Melbourne being the best option.  

 

As a side note, I don't mind practicing in either Australia or Canada. Just trying to figure out what the best course of action would be for the upcoming year.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

I am not sure what score Melbourne requires but I would apply for both Melbourne and Sydney - no harm in applying right? The entrance cut offs are usually lower than what they advertise due to second round places and late round offers.

 

Additionally UWA in Perth also offers a four year dentistry program for international students - the cut off is lower than Melbourne and Sydney I believe.

 

You can always apply for the bachelor dentistry programs in Australia. ALL the bachelor programs will consider you.  It does not matter if you have done your degree. Keep in mind that these programs are 5 years in total. The easiest one is Griffith I believe. 

 

Lastly, I would apply to US dental schools before AU mainly because it is a HUGE advantage to work in the US rather in the AU. Getting an AU licence is a LOT  easier than US - you do not need to do any qualifying programs. You can work in Canada with a AU licence but not in the US. 

 

Take an AU school only if it your last option and you dont want to practice in the US.

 

- from an AU dental student

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uoit101 Newbie

uoit101

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I 

 

 

I am not sure what score Melbourne requires but I would apply for both Melbourne and Sydney - no harm in applying right? The entrance cut offs are usually lower than what they advertise due to second round places and late round offers.

 

Additionally UWA in Perth also offers a four year dentistry program for international students - the cut off is lower than Melbourne and Sydney I believe.

 

You can always apply for the bachelor dentistry programs in Australia. ALL the bachelor programs will consider you.  It does not matter if you have done your degree. Keep in mind that these programs are 5 years in total. The easiest one is Griffith I believe. 

 

Lastly, I would apply to US dental schools before AU mainly because it is a HUGE advantage to work in the US rather in the AU. Getting an AU licence is a LOT  easier than US - you do not need to do any qualifying programs. You can work in Canada with a AU licence but not in the US. 

 

Take an AU school only if it your last option and you dont want to practice in the US.

 

- from an AU dental student

 

Thanks for the awesome information. I didn't even know about UWA!

I'll look into the Bachelor level programs as well and hopefully they'll take a shot at me. 

Do you know how hard is it to specialize afterwords IN Australia? I realize US by far offers more opportunities for specialization, but what if I (as a Canadian) wanted to specialize in Australia? Is that too far fetched considering that i'm international?

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uoit101 Newbie

uoit101

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do at least one more year of school. And go US

 

Hey :)  i realize US is the better option and i'm willing to improve my app so i can get in. But i'm in a weird predicament because i'm not even sure how i should "upgrade" my marks. I'm literally done every 3rd/4th year bio courses and have done decent on them. So if i were to come back another year to improve my GPA, i'd have to upgrade my crappy marks from 1st couple of years and i'm not sure if AdComs would look at that favorably. 

 

I'll be e-mailing some of the US schools this week to ask them about my situation.

 

Wouldn't Australia be a simpler/cheaper option than the states though? From what i read, many of the US schools that accept Canadians are even more expensive tuition-wise. I mean, is the saturation issue that bad in Australia to not consider it?   

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uoit101 Newbie

uoit101

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Just curious, if there aren't many restrictions to doing dent abroad and coming back to Canada, wouldn't there become an oversupply in the future? http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/glut-of-dentists-means-tough-times-for-them-good-deals-for-customers-doom-and-gloom-report-says Is this a real thing or just some media article. 

 

To be honest, i'm worried about this as well. Problem is i can't imagine doing anything else. I might have to end up spending a few years in rural Canada/Australia. 

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JohnGrisham Newbie

JohnGrisham

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To be honest, i'm worried about this as well. Problem is i can't imagine doing anything else. I might have to end up spending a few years in rural Canada/Australia. 

As with any profession, you go where there is work. If its what you love and want to do, then do it! The rest will work itself out if you are flexible.

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mandok Newbie

mandok

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Thanks for the awesome information. I didn't even know about UWA!

I'll look into the Bachelor level programs as well and hopefully they'll take a shot at me.

Do you know how hard is it to specialize afterwords IN Australia? I realize US by far offers more opportunities for specialization, but what if I (as a Canadian) wanted to specialize in Australia? Is that too far fetched considering that i'm international?

The Bachelor level programs are easier to enter than graduate programs. So you should have no problems with that.

 

Also, I am not really sure about specialisation, but you would be in a pretty good position if your an Australian graduate. You will certainly have better chances than an internationally trained dentist. Also, keep in mind that specialisation in Australia restricts you to only Australia. The Canadian mutual agreement does not extend to specialitres.

 

Obviously specialities such as prosthodontics and dental public health are the easiest to achieve with orthodontics being the hardest.

 

But if you were to specialise in US or Canada your specialisation may be recognised - barring OMFS (they really like the US degrees). A few Australians have their orthodontics degrees from the US.

 

I would specialise in the US and then try to get it recognised in the Au. There is literally no point doing it in Australia other than cheaper fees.

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GH0ST Enthusiast

GH0ST

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Hey :)  i realize US is the better option and i'm willing to improve my app so i can get in. But i'm in a weird predicament because i'm not even sure how i should "upgrade" my marks. I'm literally done every 3rd/4th year bio courses and have done decent on them. So if i were to come back another year to improve my GPA, i'd have to upgrade my crappy marks from 1st couple of years and i'm not sure if AdComs would look at that favorably. 

 

I'll be e-mailing some of the US schools this week to ask them about my situation.

 

Wouldn't Australia be a simpler/cheaper option than the states though? From what i read, many of the US schools that accept Canadians are even more expensive tuition-wise. I mean, is the saturation issue that bad in Australia to not consider it?   

 

I donno if the cost is more expensive.... looking at Queensland, USyd, and Melbourne the average tuition for this coming year will range from 60-70K at the end (which pretty much rivals only the most expensive US schools).

 

 

As with any profession, you go where there is work. If its what you love and want to do, then do it! The rest will work itself out if you are flexible.

 

Completely agree.... If I didn't get in I would have immediately taken overseas options. If you're realistic about your expectations, did your research, and still want to pursue this goal putting those into consideration, you can shoulder whatever burden is necessary to make it come true.

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