1. Name of Your Dental School
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
2. Your Year (if you're not comfortable answering that, have you taken Part I of the NBDE?)
First year - just finished first semester
3. What is your examination schedule like? Block Schedule (midterms and finals week) or several every week?
~1 exam per week, sometimes two toward the end of the semester. I find that most people like this set up. It's never a roller coaster of stress; it's more of a constant level. We study for exams during the week, and then have one night of fun. It's never overly stressful where we can't handle things.
4. What is the hardest class? Why? If you don't like very conceptual courses, then biochemistry will probably be tough. It's a lot of interrelations, and it moves very fast. People say that all of undergrad biochem is our second exam, just in more detail.
Depends on what you like. If you don't like memorizing copious amounts of information, then gross anatomy might be tough. The good thing about our set up is that we do it section by section - first osteology, then angiology, then myology, etc., So we end up seeing the same regions over and over again, and by the time you get to neuro, you've seen these parts so many times. And then you do cadaveric anatomy in the spring, so then it's just all repeated on the human body. That's for first year. I've heard the upper years saying Pathology is the toughest course, but they have the highest board scores for that section, so I guess it helps?
5. What is the easiest class? Why?
People tend to do very well in health promotion. It's different. It's tied in with dental anatomy, but you also learn about all the various toothpastes and fluorides, etc. It prepares you for patient interaction in the clinic, so that when you start assisting in DAU in your spring semester, you are able to answer a lot of common dental patient questions and make recommendations.
6. Are class notes based primarily on textbooks? or based on lecture powerpoints made up by professors?
Powerpoints by professors. All your bigs and clubs that you join will give you a plethora of study guides that (most of the time) help you do well. Sometimes you have too much material and it's hard choosing which one to use/sort through. You'll have the odd question from "the reading". So if you want that 1 extra point, then buy the textbook. All of them are in the library, anyway, so you can borrow them to do the reading, if you have time to. I would say 99% of my class doesn't use textbooks.
7. Are traditional (paper) textbooks used or are they electronic? If electronic, do you prefer traditional textbooks?
Traditional text books. I think some have electronic on their iPads. again, I would say 99% of my class doesn't use textbooks.
8. What is the grading system? Pass/Fail/Honors? Letter Grades? Percentages?
Honors and letter grades and percentages: Only the top 10 students are ranked. Everyone else is, I guess, #11.
H=95-100=4.0
A=90-94=4.0
B+= 85-89
B=80-84
C=70-79 (i think??)
F=0-69
9. Are your classmates generally gunners and try to sabatoge each other? If not, is the culture one where everybody tries to help everybody out?
My class is, for some reason, known as the "gunner" class by the upper years. I have no idea why, considering people are always posting study guides on facebook. People study together in groups, and it's generally a pretty close knit class. I mean, there are people in every class/school who will be looking out for themselves, but there hasn't been any "sabotaging". I don't see that ever happening, either.
10. Is there a notetaking service for lecture available?
Class are audio-recorded. Most of them are videotaped, too (depends on the professor). Your class decides on whether or not they want a transcription service ($100/year). My class did not want the service, other classes did.
11. Is class attendance mandatory?
No. Although, "technically" you're supposed to email administration if you're going to be sick, but even our professors have said their classes are not mandatory. Some labs and stuff will be, though.
12. In general, are teachers approachable for questions? Or are they for the most part very busy and unreachable (research, etc...)?
They're very good by e-mail and during breaks. All of them have office hours for explaining concepts. They're very active on blackboard for that, too.
13. What is the drop out rate?
Not sure. They don't want you to fail out - you go through remediation and mandatory tutoring, if you are in jeopardy of failing a course, or have failed a course.
14. Are there any resources to help students who are struggling?
See above. Also, you have big sibs who will help you out.
15. What is the % first time board pass rate? What is the average score (if available)?
I think it has always been in the very high 90s/100. I've only heard of one person not passing on their first go, but did on their second. But I don't know this answer for sure. I've been told that Penn has had the highest scores on Pharmacology and Pathology, as well as the highest scores on the NERB.
16. When do you take the NDBE Part 1?
Summer after second year.
17. Does the school offer classes/review sessions to prepare for Part 1?
I don't think we have formal classes/review sessions. We have the summer to study.
18. Do you get a block of time off before boards to study? If so, how long? If not, do you have to study simultaneously with classes?
See above.
19. Do most people study in the University Library? Or does the place clear out right after school and everybody studies on their own?
Everyone has their own study spots. The dental library can get depressing, so people like to switch it up. Penn has more libraries than I can count, and you get access to all of them, so it's great to have options. They're beautiful, so change your scenery once in a while!
20. Are patients readily available to fulfill clinical requirements or do you have to do a lot of work to get them in?
The upper years that I've talked to said that they don't have any problems getting patients. I always see a line-up of patients at admissions, so I think the patient pool here is very strong. The struggle is fulfilling all the requirements. Apparently Penn's clinical requirements are pretty intense, so that's where the stress comes in.
21. Is it a hassle to get a chair once you get patients in? In your opinion, does your school have enough chairs?
Not sure. The upper years I've asked said they've never had a problem getting a chair.
22. What are the clinical requirements to graduate? (number of crowns, fillings, etc...) Is it reasonably attainable or pretty difficult?
God, I'm not helping at all here. I'll come back in 2 years to answer this for you. Promise. See above.
23. What types of opportunities do students have to explore different specialties?
When the upper years aren't in main clinic, they're on rotations amongst the specialty clinics. My bigs have all said that they're very confident - borderline co*cky- about how much they know about certain specialties compared to other candidates during their interviews. There is also a mandatory externship in 4th year, where everyone has to do a placement for 4 weeks. You can split this up into two 2 week sessions, and check out multiple externship programs at other schools/hospitals.
24. Is there sufficent preparation for practice management? What career placement opportunites does your school offer?
There are business courses that you can take for small-business ownership. We have a pretty solid alumni database to contact. I'm only in first year, and I've already been offered to come down for a pseudo-externship in DC with an endodontist alumnus (I'm sure I just got lucky, but Penn hosts a bunch of these meet and greet events where you can make these sorts of connections).
25. What is the dress code at your school? Scrubs? For what years?
Scrubs or business casual in clinic. Whatever you want in lecture.
26. Is there much camaraderie between students in the same class? Do students generally associate with each other outside of school?
My class is very good about balancing school and fun. We're a pretty close-knit class.
27. What student organizations are most active?
There are so many organizations you can get involved with: relaxation club, all the specialties have a club, running club, cooking club, research club, etc. The most active one is probably ASDA (they host a lunch and learn maybe once every 2 weeks). We also have 3 fraternities: Psi Omega, Delta Sigma Delta, and Alpha Omega
28. What are your opinions on the location of the dental school? Is finding housing an issue? Is safety an issue?
Philadelphia is great. I love it here - there's a lot of culture and great food. Safety can be an issue if you're not smart about it, but that's every city. Penn has done a great job of minimizing crime by installing motion sensitive cameras that record activity all across campus, so many security guards on bikes on every street corner, shuttles to drive you home, security to walk you home, etc. Housing is easy to come by, depending on your needs. Most people live in the apartments next to the school (~1000ish/month). Some live in center city - most art 3rd and 4th years, since we need to be in school a lot for our first two years.
29. What do you not like about your dental school?
Pre-clinical lab needs to be upgraded. If we're paying 400,000 then I feel like we deserve to have an insanely amazing lab and gold-plated clinic chairs. They're almost at their goal to start renovating the pre-clinical labs, I'm just bitter that I won't be there to experience it (it'll be done in 10 years, I think). But as long as I'm receiving solid instruction/education, I can deal with my mannequin not having shoulders, or missing ceiling tiles in the basem*nt. The few things I dislike about Penn are issues that you would see at EVERY school: a subpar professor, unnecessarily tough exam, ugly lab, etc. However, for me, the great far outweighs the bad. I know there is a method behind the madness, and if I just trust the upper years, I'll get where I need to be and be extremely happy I chose this school.
What do I like most about my dental school? I think it's only fair to add this question in, too. There really are too many to list, but thing that made me choose Penn was the people. My Penn interview was the only one I had where I was absolutely impressed with the candidates. It was clear that administration did a solid job of thoroughly screening their applicants, because everyone had accomplished great things: founding their own NGOs/charities, varsity athletes, olympians, PhDs who have published multiple papers, foreign DMDs, and MDs wanting to now become OMFS, etc. The caliber of students here honestly inspires me to want to better myself in various aspects of my life. The students and faculty here constantly challenge me to redefine my potential and strive for more. I worked hard to get to this point, so it was important to me to surround myself with others who have done the same.
30. Any last words or advice?
Dental school is a roller coaster of emotion: for the most part you will feel blessed to be there, but there are some days where you'll just want to quit. Make sure you choose the school where you'll be happy OUTSIDE of class, because if you let your school work define your happiness, then you're going to be miserable anywhere you go. Pick the school where you jive best with your classmates because they are what will get you through the madness that is dental school. Always keep in mind that the first two years suck in terms of learning didactics - it's just something you have to bear; the last two years suck in terms having senioritis - you'll be worried about graduation and where you'll have to move for your specialty or residency. You will always have stress, so have friends to help you manage it.
