UWO interviews

[Guest DentalChick]

To clarify: I know that McGill dentistry spends the first 2 years with the med students and that U of T does not...are you saying that Western does this as well? I can't find this info on their website. Thanks!

[Guest tamkhan1]

i did not know that, either..how sad. i know harvard follows the same process..med and dent. students in the same class for 2 years

[Guest BeEasyy]

in Mcgill it is not first 2 years perse, it is first 1.5 years. the second half of the second yr, u would be with dental students. but they make the whole 1.5 years pass/fail, so u wouldn't need to study ur ass off, as long as u pass the course. But overall I dunno what the big deal is about being with med students?! in the beginning u learn about general stuff anyways..

[Guest Kooman]

BeEasyy,

 

I think the big deal is the arrogance of med students, especially those of UWO med. You should've watched their med orientation video for this year. A-R-R-O-G-A-N-T!

[Guest sparhawkbeans]

just to clarify, med and dents dont share classes at uwo

[Guest TheChosenOneDDS]

like to make some clarifications. The guy that teaches the kaplan course, well that taught is a guy in my class, his name is Mike and he's Korean not chinese. lol. He happens to be our class president as well.

 

Ok, onto the matter of ultra competitive students at U of T, after 3rd year they die...

 

Any school is competitive because face it the students will all be dentists and most likely type A personality. They got to where they are because they were hardcore at one point in time and smarter than the average bear lol..

 

There's actually a few Western guys in grad Ortho at our school so I wouldn't say going to Western doesn't mean you can't specialize.

 

To comment on why Western is so tough this year besides the fact that there is a double cohort is that Western wants to change its image as the party school or the school that people go to when they can't get into U of T.

 

These are the facts:

 

U of T used to send out interviews earlier as well as acceptances than Western.. Where a lot of their applicants were interviewed after they had already been accepted by U of T, not to mention Western's notorious interviews prior to the CDA standardization.

 

Therefore, this lead to many criticisms and comments being made. For instance, the former President of the CDA, tells every U of T dents entering class, that Toronto is the center of Canadian Dental Research and academics and has set the standard to be the best school and a school that others schools should strive to become. Not in those very words but that's basically what he said.

 

Furthermore, the Dean of U of T has said that Western does the late interviews and acceptances to take the people who were rejected by U of T because no one refuses U of T to go to Western (he took into account that people from OOP who got acceptance may reject U of T for a closer school).

 

if you look at the stats, the trend seems to show that U of T students have higher admission averages and dat scores over the past few years. And on paper it looks like the quality of the applicants at least academically is better for U of T. And that is what matters since we are dealing with academic institutions. Grades are like currency....

 

When you have all this @#%$ thrown at you, and when no one takes your school seriously, you have to somehow find a way to gain back credibility. With all these facts presented, it is not surprising that Western has to make their admissions harder. They too want to get better students and to fix up their reputation. Because when it all comes down to it, at least to the general public, the reputation of the school is based on its past and preconceived notions associated with it.

 

Another interesting topic unrelated to above..:

It is a common misconception that a school that is good clinically is bad academically and vice versa. Western is supposedly better in clinic because the students see more things, get more experience, etc. U of T is better academically because more students get into specialty but they are hardcore nerds into research....

 

Well Western Students have to go to U of T to conduct the big time research because Western is limited in their resources, but to say that U of T is less of a clinic school is a lie because U of T is the only school in Canada that has ALL the specialties available and so logically it would make sense to refer a lot of cases out to the specialists not to mention a greater patient pool and more unusual cases to be found in the population of Toronto vs. London.... To be honest, in private practice, it is a very common thing for complex cases to be referred out anyways. Just because you have some more exposure does not make you more qualified or certified than someone who did not have this exposure because a general dentist, unless trained to have a certification for certain procedures would still get sued even if they screw up, even though they might have seen it many times in clinic.

 

To my understanding, Western does not give out extra credentials for clinical skills versus U of T. If anything, I believe U of T is the only school that gives out a cert for Infection Protocol Control. (correct me if I am wrong).

 

Well ultimately i believe it is up to the individual student to choose a school not solely based on reputation and statistics, not to mention being the only school one can get in, etc, but also on which school will be the BEST FIT for his/her needs. Because remember, the school chooses you, just as much as you choose them.

 

 

Final note: As for arrogant people, doesn't matter where you go, there will always be arrogant people. You just have to learn to deal with them and tolerate or at least be able to ignore. Don't just label the meds. I bet I am a lot more arrogant than that western med class combined...you really can't blame the med people for being arrogant, i mean they have acheived a high level of success. The more successful people you interact with, the more arrogant people you will meet (not to say that all successful people are arrogant). And it is not always insecurity either. Some people, including myself but I am working on it, just like to show off coz it's a great feeling. Different strokes for different folks. Trust me you get a real kick out of it, knowing people hate you because you're a bastard or coz they envy you yet you still are a prick about it. Face it, no one likes someone who always win. No matter what you say or do, and I am the same, you can't deny the fact that when you encounter a person who has success yet brags about it, but they keep on succeeding that you just wanna see them fail and it pisses you off when they don't. That feeling is called jealousy to a degree, everyone wants to win, no one likes losing. it's human nature. no worries..but i am getting off track now.so that is all

 

sorry i know this message is long.

 

i didn't read over this so if there are grammar mistakes.. ignore.

[Guest sensodyne]

U of T used to send out interviews earlier as well as acceptances than Western.. Where a lot of their applicants were interviewed after they had already been accepted by U of T

 

my understanding is that u of t still does send out interviews and acceptances earlier than Western. What difference would this make anyways? Let's just say that Western is an inferior school compared to U of T for argument sake. Then even if Western was to send their acceptances earlier than U of T, Western would probably still end up w/ students who were rejected by U of T. People would just accept Western, pay the small deposit, and then drop their spots once U of T send their acceptances. This is exactly what happens at UBC even htough their deposits are 8900 dollars.

 

no one refuses U of T to go to Western

 

I disagree w/ you on this one. Maybe Toronto is a better school. However, the city itself is not for everyone. It's a big city and expensive to live in. Moreover, some people have no interest in specializing and would rather go to a school with a smaller class size.

 

I'd also like to see where you found the stats for u of t students. I can't find the entrance stats on their website.

[Guest TheChosenOneDDS]

hold on, read, i did not say that, the Dean did.

 

u of T stats for last year's incoming class.

206.47.130.246/results.jsp

 

Best Response

 

 

Statistics for the Doctor of Dental Surgery Program (DDS) 2005-2006 Session

 

TOTAL APPLICANT POOL: 488

 

Male: 225

Female: 263

Aboriginal: 3

 

Mean Grade Point Average: 3.49

 

Mean DAT Scores (0-30 range): Academic Average (AA): 20

Perceptual Ability Test (PAT): 18

 

TOTAL OFFERS OF ADMISSION: 99

 

Male: 48

Female: 51

 

TOTAL REGISTERED STUDENTS: 64

 

Male: 30

Female: 34

 

Distribution by Province:

Ontario: 59

Other: 5

 

Level of University Education:

3 Years: 27

4 (or more) Years: 38

Master's: 2

Ph.D.: 0

 

Mean Grade Point Average: 3.84

 

Mean Interview Score (0-35 range): 29

 

Mean DAT Scores: Academic Average (AA): 20 {Range: 14-25}

Perceptual Ability Test (PAT): 18 {Range: 15-25}

 

versus western's last year

Class of 2009

The following statistics are presented for the class of 2009 relative to the five preceding classes:

Class

Applicant Pool:

Gender: Female

Male

486

258

228

Class Size:

Including Internationals

Gender: Females

Males

55

3

29

26

Qualifications of Admitted Applicants:

Class average based on best 2 years

preceding admission (%)

84.47

Interview 83.50

Dental Aptitude Test: Average Scores

Reading

Biology

Chemistry

Perception

Carving

Composite Score over 5 Sections

21

21

21

18

19

98

Number of Admitted Applicants with

Degrees (4 Yr, 3 Yr = BSc/BA)

1-PhD

7-MSc

28-Hons

3-4 Yr.

4-3 Yr.

1- BEd

Total - 44

Number Married

Age: Range

Median

Average

6

20-31

24

24

Residence:

National: Ontario

Other Provinces

International:

47

5#

3

# - Outside ON ¨C 3 AB, 1 BC, 1 MB

International ¨C 1 China, 2 American

 

 

So the stats this year was very similar, again supporting my argument that Western wants to reinvent their image. Unfortunately we can't see old stats because when i was applying to dental school western was a lot easier to get into.

[Guest nataltula]

Did someone on waitinglist hear something from western?

[Guest qw1222]

you wont hear from them till April 6th or 7th the latest!

[Guest sensodyne]

When you have all this @#%$ thrown at you, and when no one takes your school seriously, you have to somehow find a way to gain back credibility.

 

Who said no one takes UWO seriously? I know that U of T is a great school and perhaps the best dental school in Canada. However, this does not mean that all other schools are @#%$. Maybe you should get off your high horse and realize that UWO as well as other dental schools graduate fine dentists every year...just like U of T does.

 

I didn't notice before that that was a statement by the U of T Dean. However, you did put that to support your argument that UWO takes all the rejected students, which is neither true nor can you prove that. "Furthermore" implies that you agree w/ the Dean.

[Guest roofus]

I am about to graduate from western dental this June.

 

We have had a very competitive class. In our first year 45 or so of the 55 students had an ave grater than 80 % (Honours at western). In every subsequent year more than half of the class has had an hounours GPA.

 

As far as specializing there is no question that the school does not matter. To schools in the US, we are all just Canada. In our class there are 4 of us specializing (paedo/perio/prostho/ortho). 7 people applied in total to specialties. It is your board score and class rank that are the most important. Not the school.

 

In an earlier post the previous years stats at western were questioned. I feel that they have been strong for the past few years. I feel the most important stat is interview. The interview will make or break you. Once you are in the door, by getting an interview, I feel the slate is wiped clean and anyone has a chance.

 

Good luck.

 

Class of 2007

Applicant Pool:

Total Applicant Pool

Sex: Females

Males

383

190

193

Class Size:

includes Int’al

Sex: Females

Males

52

-

24

28

Qualifications of admitted

applicants:

Class average based on best 2

years preceding admission (%)

84.97

#

84.28

Interview 82.1 76.75

Dental Aptitude Test:

Average scores:

Reading

Biology

Chemistry

Perception

Carving

Total of 5 sections used in

Composite Score – avg. of class

18

19

17

17

14

99.2

18

19

17

17

14

97

Number of admitted applicants

with degrees

9 – MSc.

24 - Hons.

10 - BSc.

Total = 43

Number married

Age:

Range

Median

Average

2

20 - 32

23

24

Residence:

Ontario

Outside Ontario

International

44

8#

-

# if wait list included

# Residence Class of 2007 3 - AB; 3 - BC; 1 - NB; 1 - NS

 

Class 2006

Class of 2006

Applicant Pool:

Sex: Females

Males

352

165

187

Class Size:

includes Int’al

Sex: Females

Males

55

3 (2 f; 1 m)

25

30

Class average based on best 2 years preceding admission (%) 85.27

Structured Interview Average (%) 84.11

Dental Aptitude Test:

Average scores:

Reading

Biology

Chemistry

Perception

Carving

Total of five sections used in Composite Score - average of class

22

21

21

19

19

96.4

Number of admitted applicants with degrees 1 - PhD

10 - MSc.

27 - Hons

4 - 4 Yr.

5 - 3 Yr.

Total = 47

Number married

Age: Range

Median

Average

2

20 - 29

23

20.8

Residence:

Ontario

Outside Ontario #

International ##

46

5

4

# Residence Class of 2006 2 - AB; 3 - BC

## Int’al - 1 - Barbados; 1 - India, 1 - Ontario (originally

China); 1 - USA

[Guest rdub86]

Hey guys,

 

Do any of you know if the Western interview is a CDA interview? The letter they sent out indicates that there will be two people conducting the interview and that they only know that you are a competitive applicant. This seems to be CDA style, but it doesn't actually mention that it is a CDA interview. Any insight?

[Guest sensodyne]

yes, it's CDA style.

[Guest Hugo69]

I am in roofus' class and will be graduating in June too.

 

As for Western picking up the left over UofT applicants, that's complete garbage. The majority of my classmates were accepted to UofT as well and had declined UofT to come to Western. From my own experience I did my undergrad at UofT and was also accepted to UofT dental but declined to come to Western only b/c I knew what to expect at UofT. Let's put it this way, I had the best time at Western socially and our class on the most part gets along well. I know that if I had gone to UofT I wouldn't have been as tight with my class. Besides, who the hell cares which school you came from? Once you're in you get the same piece of paper that allows you to work, the DDS behind your name. But as a side note, I know that when I go for job interviews they are looking for Western grads over UofT ones b/c of the clinical exposure that we get. Ultimately what makes a good dentist isn't where he/she goes to school, but how the student adapts and learns in the environment that he/she is placed in.

 

To all you waiting to get into dental school, best of luck, and if you don't get in, maybe its a blessing in disguise.

[Guest tamkhan1]

every university has its pros and cons. if you go to uoft, people think ure the smartest kid in town. BUT, things like these, in my opinion, only apply to undergrad. By no means, is western less competitive than uoft where professional schools are concerned.

And yeah, i agree, its all about your own calibre. The mere fact that youve managed to graduate from ANY dental school is a BIG testament of your capibilities. Hell, even making it to any dental school is pretty damn tough.

[Guest tamkhan1]

this is unrelated to dental discussions..but, i was looking at the omsas gpa conversion chart..how do we convert our gpas on that chart? what are all those numbers associated with each uni, at the bottom?

[Guest TheChosenOneDDS]

sensodyne et. al, perhaps I was not as effective in communicating my message as I thought I had been. My mistake, and I do apologize if you felt that I was "dissing" up Western. That was not my intention. in fact, I was defending western.

 

Put it this way, logically, if the U of T dean of dentistry can say what he said about Western, yet there was no rebuttal from Western's dean etc. you can come to three conclusions, 1. it is true, 2. it's not true and U of t's dean is a jerk (he's not), or 3. Western's dean is a nice guy.

 

But simultaneously, does that not imply some sort of correlation with respect to reputation of Western? This has nothing to do with how good Western is, may be they are the best dental school, who knows. But the fact that someone thinks of their reputation that way, like hugo said about Western students being hired over Toronto students due to clinical exposure...this is all due to reputation based on events in the past. Nothing to do with its current state.

 

The best dental student from U of T will be better than the worst from Western and vice versa.

 

Hugo, although you bring up a good pt about your western peers rejecting the U of T dental admission to go to Western, I am sure that there are many of my classmates who did the opposite as many of them have done their undergrads at Western. However, I do agree for the most part that it is the person who makes the dentist and how they adapt.

 

In terms of jobs honestly, it's not that hard to find a job. If you really want I think my uncle is hiring associates for his 3rd practice that he is opening in April. I'll have to ask him.

[Guest sensodyne]

Dentist T: I have more research experience than you, so I'm a better dentist

 

Dentist W: screw you man. I have more clinical exp'ce than you, so I'm the better dentist.

 

Dentist T: nope, my colleague says that I'm the better dentist, so there must be some correlation.

 

Dentist W: wait a minute...your colleague is actually your boss. Of course, he thnks that you're the better dentist. It's called a vested interest.

 

Dentist T: I make more money than you

 

Dentist W: I have more clients than you

 

The moral of this story I made up on a whim: Who's to say that one school is better than another? If one dentist says that his practice is the best in the city and certainly better than the one next door, should we believe him? After all, he wants to attract as many patients as possible. The dentist next door will surely be offended and probably won't have any good things to say about his neighbour either.

 

so, how about we just say that they are both excellent schools....I mean dentists There will always be people who think their school is better than someone else's.

[Guest DentalChick]

I heard McGill and UBC were better than Western...

[Guest MacStudent]

I like lemon pie.

[Guest uofmpredent]

LOL! Awesome MacStudent!

[Guest Audio]

UBC sucks

[Guest MacStudent]

[Guest Massari]

Thanks Audio I needed to hear that... I also have an interview at Western, but hopefully it goes better than the last time. Apparently the interviewers don't like it when you start breakdancing half way through the interview to demonstrate your manual dexterity.