First of all, I know I could not get here without the help of God. I would like to thank special people for being there for me.
Dear My Mother and My Father, I can not express in words what you do for me. I am speechlees.
Dear my grandmothers(R.I.P),thank you for always praying for me.
Dear My brothers, thanks for being my support. You withstand me when I am angry, upset and sad. Your are very special.
Dear My Uncle,AA. Thanks a lot for hosting me, I appreciate it.
Dear My Friend YM, Thank you for taking time to help me as a true friend.
and finally
Dear my Husband, You helped me before, and I am sure that I can not continue my path without your love, appreciation, help and support. Thanks is not enough.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Source
What you read in this website is my own personal experience. Several links are added to help people who are going through the same path I have been through. Some information could be found on-line, I organized some information so that the international trained dentists can have a clear idea about what he/she has to do. None of the links has been attached for advertisement or any other purpose. Pay attention that some information may be changed with time. For privacy purposes, no names were included. Some contact information may be given upon request. Copyright is reserved.
Contact us
If you have serious question that you could not find its answer then contact us at ama76g@yahoo.ca
I will try to get back to you as soon as I may able, I may be extra busy with my study. Sorry for any inconvinece this may cause.
I will try to get back to you as soon as I may able, I may be extra busy with my study. Sorry for any inconvinece this may cause.
Advice
Advice about our reading strategy:
Know what exactly to be on the test.
Divide your study material over a large number of smaller sessions.
Assemble information before starting studying.
Read in MEANINGFUL way, worst kind of reading is word forward. In your study, be a PARTICIPANT and do not be passive. You will learn more when you do it in an active dynamic way. For example, when you read a topic, ask questions, relate between its parts, explain, think and test yourself. Don’t just read and absorb.
“Remember better and longer when structural information form meaningful whole rather than simply repeating ideas again and again”. That is true.
Use many sense when you study. Talk out loud, visualize things, make up song, imagine stuff, mnemonic strategy and those kinds of things.
Pay attention while reading (and in the exams) to ALWAYS, NONE ,ALL, SUCH...
Gather information, do a study plan, ask, search but do not forget to save time to do actual studying of the material itself.
Take sleep breaks between your study, because of memories consolidation when we sleep.
Know what exactly to be on the test.
Divide your study material over a large number of smaller sessions.
Assemble information before starting studying.
Read in MEANINGFUL way, worst kind of reading is word forward. In your study, be a PARTICIPANT and do not be passive. You will learn more when you do it in an active dynamic way. For example, when you read a topic, ask questions, relate between its parts, explain, think and test yourself. Don’t just read and absorb.
“Remember better and longer when structural information form meaningful whole rather than simply repeating ideas again and again”. That is true.
Use many sense when you study. Talk out loud, visualize things, make up song, imagine stuff, mnemonic strategy and those kinds of things.
Pay attention while reading (and in the exams) to ALWAYS, NONE ,ALL, SUCH...
Gather information, do a study plan, ask, search but do not forget to save time to do actual studying of the material itself.
Take sleep breaks between your study, because of memories consolidation when we sleep.
Links
ACFD
http://www.acfd.ca/index.html
http://www.settlement.org/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4465&whichpage=6
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=266071
TOEFL
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.3a88fea28f42ada7c6ce5a10c3921509/?vgnextoid=85b65784623f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD
http://toeflpractice.ets.org/
IELTS
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/ielts/
http://www.ielts.org/
NBDE
http://ada.org/prof/prac/licensure/index.asp
ASDA
http://68.20.243.219/asda/members_online/members/createorder.asp?action=catalog&catalog=NBR2&aff=ASDA
Dental Decks
http://www.dentaldecks.com/Pages/Default.aspx
Dental Assistant
http://www.ndaeb.ca/international_general_E.php
http://www.ndaeb.ca/application_procedures_int_E.php
Evaluation of credentials
http://www.wes.org/ca/
http://ece.org/
Canadian NBDE
http://www.ndeb.ca/en/accredited/written_examination.htm#section6
Ordering dental instruments and stuff
http://www.hu-friedy.com/index.aspx
http://www.candent.net/en/index.php
http://www.frasacousa.com/
http://www.brasselerusa.com/home.htm
http://www.acfd.ca/index.html
http://www.settlement.org/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4465&whichpage=6
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=266071
TOEFL
http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.3a88fea28f42ada7c6ce5a10c3921509/?vgnextoid=85b65784623f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD
http://toeflpractice.ets.org/
IELTS
http://www.conestogac.on.ca/ielts/
http://www.ielts.org/
NBDE
http://ada.org/prof/prac/licensure/index.asp
ASDA
http://68.20.243.219/asda/members_online/members/createorder.asp?action=catalog&catalog=NBR2&aff=ASDA
Dental Decks
http://www.dentaldecks.com/Pages/Default.aspx
Dental Assistant
http://www.ndaeb.ca/international_general_E.php
http://www.ndaeb.ca/application_procedures_int_E.php
Evaluation of credentials
http://www.wes.org/ca/
http://ece.org/
Canadian NBDE
http://www.ndeb.ca/en/accredited/written_examination.htm#section6
Ordering dental instruments and stuff
http://www.hu-friedy.com/index.aspx
http://www.candent.net/en/index.php
http://www.frasacousa.com/
http://www.brasselerusa.com/home.htm
Practical Training
Practical training and exams:
When you are going through a practical exam, you have to make sure that your clinical skills are competitive.
UWO provides a course of 5 days for internationally trained dentists to upgrade their skills to the current Canadian standards. It is directed toward PLA which makes sense. Plus it gives you a general background that may help in the exams of other universities. Yet, it is a very short course and doesn’t give you time to get enough training. You should do more practice by your own.
What most people do is performing their own training at home. They buy a dental unit, or assemble one in a certain way. Order instruments, burs and teeth from some places and then practice at home! They get supervision from internationally trained dentists who are already in the program, from regular dental students or even from family dentists. Couple of places provide dental units and related stuff for student to practice. It is helpful but such places are not many. Most of the time, you may be living in another area which makes this option not practical.
If you are not sure about the instruments’ number that you need, then we may give you helpful advice. Go to “links” section to see from where you can order dental instruments and stuff.
Internationally Trained Dentist
When you are going through a practical exam, you have to make sure that your clinical skills are competitive.
UWO provides a course of 5 days for internationally trained dentists to upgrade their skills to the current Canadian standards. It is directed toward PLA which makes sense. Plus it gives you a general background that may help in the exams of other universities. Yet, it is a very short course and doesn’t give you time to get enough training. You should do more practice by your own.
What most people do is performing their own training at home. They buy a dental unit, or assemble one in a certain way. Order instruments, burs and teeth from some places and then practice at home! They get supervision from internationally trained dentists who are already in the program, from regular dental students or even from family dentists. Couple of places provide dental units and related stuff for student to practice. It is helpful but such places are not many. Most of the time, you may be living in another area which makes this option not practical.
If you are not sure about the instruments’ number that you need, then we may give you helpful advice. Go to “links” section to see from where you can order dental instruments and stuff.
Internationally Trained Dentist
Interview, TIPS
Interview tips:
Dental schools do interview because your past experience and attitude are a reflection of your future in dentistry. The dental schools look for a candidate whom they will be proud of. As most of us, you aim to be a successful dentist so you should already have the characteristic and the potential to be such a dentist. The interview time is an opportunity for you to show this ability, you may never get that chance again.
Hence, your plan in the interview is to show the interviewers the skills that you have (the ones that they are looking for) and what makes you different from other candidates. Sell yourself as an opportunity for the dental school.
SO:
1. Know about the dental school well, understand the school perspectives. You should present yourself in a way that meets the school’s requirements. Make sure your answers are in a way that makes you a superior candidate to fit into the program.
2. Make sure that you referees know you well. Plus, inform them about the name of the dental school which may get in contact with them and provide them with a brief idea of what is going on.
3. Contact the school and give them a confirmation of attendance a few days before the interview date.
4. Dress well, but do not overdress. If you have some concerns then contact the program itself.
5. First impression is important. Pay attention to your body language, handshake and eye contact. Do not underestimate assistances, receptionists, program directories and others.
6. Communication skills count a lot so socialize with people. Develop the linguistic skills as soon as possible; don’t wait until you get an invitation for an interview. Plus, you need to practice, rehearse and do a mimic interview the weeks/days before the interview date.
7. Always send a thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview, if you don’t know the names of the interviewers then send it to the program. E-mail will be faster.
Questions:
*First, expect the idea behind every question. You are not chatting with a new person to be friends. You are talking to interviewers who are looking for some answers. These answers will assist them in choosing numbers of candidates to enrol in their program. See the examples below.
*Some questions will be traditional one like tell me about you. Behavioural question is like tell me about a time when you had..................
*Interview questions vary from dental school to another. For example, University of Toronto concentrates on behavioural questions while McGill University on traditional ones. Though, you can be asked a behavioural question in McGill interview .You should be prepared for all kind of questions. You want to enrol into the program thus you have to do whatever it takes to be well prepared.
* You need to have a clue and answer about some potential questions; here are some:
Strength, weaknesses, leadership, teamwork, determination, creativity, adaptability, motivation, conflict and disagreement, decision making, challenge, initiative, maturity, judgement, helping others, emotional stability, moral integrity, analytical and intellectual wellbeing to accept and discharge responsibility.
There is a certain way to answer these questions; the point is to give the interview the FULL answer. If you just speak to offer an answer, then you will probably ruin it. They ask a question because they are looking for something so why don’t you do it. Go into it. Don’t be rush, take your time to think thoroughly. That is the KEY.
Your answer has to be divided into three MAIN PARTS:
A. Stating the problem/the change that happened in the past.
B. Your reaction and response to this matter.
C. The end result.
Each of these points above has to be followed by DETAILS AND EXPLANIATION. Your total answer at the end has to be comprehensive and cover most aspects of the issue. It has to give the exact answer to the question.
Let say, for example, tell me about a time when you were adaptable to the changes that took place in your past, the idea behind this question is to know how you would deal with such challenges that may occur in your future life and consequently on your performance when you are a student in the program.
Example from my own experience:
A. When I was in high school, I had infectious mononucleosis. (This is the main part)
this disease put me away from school, I didn’t go to school for 3 weeks. I was behind in my courses and exams were coming up.(explanation: the effects of the problem)
B. I decided to catch up with my friends. (The main part)
I managed to study in the morning when I was at the hospital because I had energy to do so better than any other time during the day. In the recovery period at home, I did a study plan. I studied Mon-Thurs and I used to do some quizzes for myself on Fridays. Saturdays were a general revision of what I studied that week. Sundays were free. I depended on my textbooks to study, plus, I took my friends’ notes. When I went back to school, I used to go to my teachers and ask many questions to make sure I understood the material.
C. After all, I was able to catch up with my friends in our courses; I got high scores in my exams, and obtained a scholarship from one of the most prestigious school in my country for the next year. (You should talk here about accomplishments and achievements).
From the above answer, the interviewers will recognize your ability regarding adaptability, time management, determination, organization, hard work...ect. Such answer will give them the chance to be familiar with your strength and skills. Bingo!!
Dental schools do interview because your past experience and attitude are a reflection of your future in dentistry. The dental schools look for a candidate whom they will be proud of. As most of us, you aim to be a successful dentist so you should already have the characteristic and the potential to be such a dentist. The interview time is an opportunity for you to show this ability, you may never get that chance again.
Hence, your plan in the interview is to show the interviewers the skills that you have (the ones that they are looking for) and what makes you different from other candidates. Sell yourself as an opportunity for the dental school.
SO:
1. Know about the dental school well, understand the school perspectives. You should present yourself in a way that meets the school’s requirements. Make sure your answers are in a way that makes you a superior candidate to fit into the program.
2. Make sure that you referees know you well. Plus, inform them about the name of the dental school which may get in contact with them and provide them with a brief idea of what is going on.
3. Contact the school and give them a confirmation of attendance a few days before the interview date.
4. Dress well, but do not overdress. If you have some concerns then contact the program itself.
5. First impression is important. Pay attention to your body language, handshake and eye contact. Do not underestimate assistances, receptionists, program directories and others.
6. Communication skills count a lot so socialize with people. Develop the linguistic skills as soon as possible; don’t wait until you get an invitation for an interview. Plus, you need to practice, rehearse and do a mimic interview the weeks/days before the interview date.
7. Always send a thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview, if you don’t know the names of the interviewers then send it to the program. E-mail will be faster.
Questions:
*First, expect the idea behind every question. You are not chatting with a new person to be friends. You are talking to interviewers who are looking for some answers. These answers will assist them in choosing numbers of candidates to enrol in their program. See the examples below.
*Some questions will be traditional one like tell me about you. Behavioural question is like tell me about a time when you had..................
*Interview questions vary from dental school to another. For example, University of Toronto concentrates on behavioural questions while McGill University on traditional ones. Though, you can be asked a behavioural question in McGill interview .You should be prepared for all kind of questions. You want to enrol into the program thus you have to do whatever it takes to be well prepared.
* You need to have a clue and answer about some potential questions; here are some:
Strength, weaknesses, leadership, teamwork, determination, creativity, adaptability, motivation, conflict and disagreement, decision making, challenge, initiative, maturity, judgement, helping others, emotional stability, moral integrity, analytical and intellectual wellbeing to accept and discharge responsibility.
There is a certain way to answer these questions; the point is to give the interview the FULL answer. If you just speak to offer an answer, then you will probably ruin it. They ask a question because they are looking for something so why don’t you do it. Go into it. Don’t be rush, take your time to think thoroughly. That is the KEY.
Your answer has to be divided into three MAIN PARTS:
A. Stating the problem/the change that happened in the past.
B. Your reaction and response to this matter.
C. The end result.
Each of these points above has to be followed by DETAILS AND EXPLANIATION. Your total answer at the end has to be comprehensive and cover most aspects of the issue. It has to give the exact answer to the question.
Let say, for example, tell me about a time when you were adaptable to the changes that took place in your past, the idea behind this question is to know how you would deal with such challenges that may occur in your future life and consequently on your performance when you are a student in the program.
Example from my own experience:
A. When I was in high school, I had infectious mononucleosis. (This is the main part)
this disease put me away from school, I didn’t go to school for 3 weeks. I was behind in my courses and exams were coming up.(explanation: the effects of the problem)
B. I decided to catch up with my friends. (The main part)
I managed to study in the morning when I was at the hospital because I had energy to do so better than any other time during the day. In the recovery period at home, I did a study plan. I studied Mon-Thurs and I used to do some quizzes for myself on Fridays. Saturdays were a general revision of what I studied that week. Sundays were free. I depended on my textbooks to study, plus, I took my friends’ notes. When I went back to school, I used to go to my teachers and ask many questions to make sure I understood the material.
C. After all, I was able to catch up with my friends in our courses; I got high scores in my exams, and obtained a scholarship from one of the most prestigious school in my country for the next year. (You should talk here about accomplishments and achievements).
From the above answer, the interviewers will recognize your ability regarding adaptability, time management, determination, organization, hard work...ect. Such answer will give them the chance to be familiar with your strength and skills. Bingo!!
Interview
Interview:
Having an interview will occur at some points. It is a critical stage and the main point is HOW TO SELL/PRESENT YOURSELF. Being PREPARED is the KEY factor.
No one can tell how the interview will look like. Yet, each university focuses on some aspects. Knowing that is very important.
What you have to do, when you get an interview letter, is:
1. Know about the university and browse its website.
2. Ask the candidate who have been through this experience before. Try to collect as many questions as possible.
3. Sit with yourself and do a list of questions that you believe they are important. Write all the questions down then think deeply about some characteristics in you such as: your personality, strength, weakness, and experience.
Write down possible answers next to each question. Your answer has to be positive all the time.
4. Find a professional person who can review the answers with you. Such thing will make a huge difference in the way you think about yourself and consequently in how you present yourself to the interviewers. Talk to a friend too because they may look to something from different point of view.
5. After several lessons with a professional trainer, you must practice doing the interview yourself loudly imagining that you are having a real interview. It is recommended to do a recording for yourself as you practice.
6. There is no right or wrong answer. Most of the time, we do have the logical answer but due to pressure and stress, we forget to mention essential parts of that answer. We may be looking for answers somewhere, but when we think of it right after the interview, we figure out that the answer is obvious. In conclusion, during the interview, try to be yourself.
Through my experience, the following points may be true:
1.UWO interview concentrates on English mostly and questions are not very difficult.
2. U of T interview questions is behavioural ones mostly. For example, what will you do if your classmate cheats in the exam? Collecting many questions will affect your way of thinking and accordingly your response.
3. Dalhousie and Manitoba, English is really important.
4. McGill university interview will be a review of your autobiographical sketch with the interviewers. What has been mentioned in this sketch should be covered well.
Contact us if you have questions. Some questions can be given as examples, plus, some professional trainers can be recommended upon request.
Having an interview will occur at some points. It is a critical stage and the main point is HOW TO SELL/PRESENT YOURSELF. Being PREPARED is the KEY factor.
No one can tell how the interview will look like. Yet, each university focuses on some aspects. Knowing that is very important.
What you have to do, when you get an interview letter, is:
1. Know about the university and browse its website.
2. Ask the candidate who have been through this experience before. Try to collect as many questions as possible.
3. Sit with yourself and do a list of questions that you believe they are important. Write all the questions down then think deeply about some characteristics in you such as: your personality, strength, weakness, and experience.
Write down possible answers next to each question. Your answer has to be positive all the time.
4. Find a professional person who can review the answers with you. Such thing will make a huge difference in the way you think about yourself and consequently in how you present yourself to the interviewers. Talk to a friend too because they may look to something from different point of view.
5. After several lessons with a professional trainer, you must practice doing the interview yourself loudly imagining that you are having a real interview. It is recommended to do a recording for yourself as you practice.
6. There is no right or wrong answer. Most of the time, we do have the logical answer but due to pressure and stress, we forget to mention essential parts of that answer. We may be looking for answers somewhere, but when we think of it right after the interview, we figure out that the answer is obvious. In conclusion, during the interview, try to be yourself.
Through my experience, the following points may be true:
1.UWO interview concentrates on English mostly and questions are not very difficult.
2. U of T interview questions is behavioural ones mostly. For example, what will you do if your classmate cheats in the exam? Collecting many questions will affect your way of thinking and accordingly your response.
3. Dalhousie and Manitoba, English is really important.
4. McGill university interview will be a review of your autobiographical sketch with the interviewers. What has been mentioned in this sketch should be covered well.
Contact us if you have questions. Some questions can be given as examples, plus, some professional trainers can be recommended upon request.
English Tests
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TESTS
As an internationally trained dentist, we have to get a specific score in one of the English tests. Some universities accept some tests while others require something else, therefore sometimes we have to write more than one English test in order to meet the requirements of all universities. Personally I wrote TOEFL and IELTS in order to apply to different universities, pay attention to the minimum score each university requires. Always check the universities' websites for any changes in the required English test/score.
Regarding TOEFL and IELTS, both are close to each other. If you are going to write a couple of English tests or repeat any of them, then it is better to do it at the same time. When you prepare for TOEFL, for instance, then you will develop particular skills. It will be wise to write IELTS or re-write TOEFL, if you need to, within a short period; to make sure that you still have the skills that you have developed in your first preparation and in its highest level, as well.
Time is a critical part in getting a high score in TOEFL. Writing topics are not that difficult but the wording should be very good. Some listening questions are very specific. Reading is difficult for some people, but with practice, you will find a link between a paragraph and its related question. With time, you will predict the questions yourself as you read the passage. You will find TOEFL hard at the beginning, but practice and preparation will make you more confident and will lead you to the score that you are looking for.
I think, IELTS is a little bit easier than TOEFL. Yet, you should practice listening to British accent for a while. The writing topics of IELTS are harder and slightly less common. In general, Speaking, in both IELTS and TOEFL, is about general topics. The more you speak in your daily life, the higher your score will be. “Practice makes perfect”
Some official books are there to help you be well-prepared. Use them and practice over and over. Personally, I mainly used TOEFL IBT by BARRON’S, in addition to a small course where I got important vocabularies. Regarding to IELTS, I read Cambridge IELTS. Moreover, I did a lot of online practice for these 2 tests, and I used to write many essays that have been edited by my brother and my cousin. About other tests, let say CAEL, there is a specific book that you should purchase from the institution sometimes. By the way, NO need to buy all of these materials; you can get them from the public library or from a friend, too.
Some candidates write an English test before writing EE. The thing is that EE needs time, so your English test may get expired before you get a good score in EE. Thus, I would say that in general, it is better to focus on EE first then if things go well, you can write the English test.
Below are a summary of English proficiency tests that are accepted in some dental schools, yet you still have to view their websites for more details and exemptions:
1.UWO ,ITD................ TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB
2.U of T, IDAPP...........TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, COPE, Academic preparation ESL.
3.McGill......................TOEFL
4.Manitoba ,IDDP.......IELTS, iBT TOEFL
5.UBC, IDDCP.............IELTS ONLY
6.Alberta,APP............ MELAB, CAEL, IELTS, TOEFL + spoken English proficiency.
7.Dalhousie ...............TOEFL, MELAB, CAEL, Can Test, IELTS.
*P.s: When you register to an English test, it is recommended not to write the institutions names, to which you want your result to be sent, in the application form. Get the result first and if you get a good score then ask the test center to send the result of the English test to the dental school that you want. The point is that each school keeps your record, so it wouldn’t be a good thing if it shows in your file how many times you write TOEFL, for example, and your scores in each trial.
As an internationally trained dentist, we have to get a specific score in one of the English tests. Some universities accept some tests while others require something else, therefore sometimes we have to write more than one English test in order to meet the requirements of all universities. Personally I wrote TOEFL and IELTS in order to apply to different universities, pay attention to the minimum score each university requires. Always check the universities' websites for any changes in the required English test/score.
Regarding TOEFL and IELTS, both are close to each other. If you are going to write a couple of English tests or repeat any of them, then it is better to do it at the same time. When you prepare for TOEFL, for instance, then you will develop particular skills. It will be wise to write IELTS or re-write TOEFL, if you need to, within a short period; to make sure that you still have the skills that you have developed in your first preparation and in its highest level, as well.
Time is a critical part in getting a high score in TOEFL. Writing topics are not that difficult but the wording should be very good. Some listening questions are very specific. Reading is difficult for some people, but with practice, you will find a link between a paragraph and its related question. With time, you will predict the questions yourself as you read the passage. You will find TOEFL hard at the beginning, but practice and preparation will make you more confident and will lead you to the score that you are looking for.
I think, IELTS is a little bit easier than TOEFL. Yet, you should practice listening to British accent for a while. The writing topics of IELTS are harder and slightly less common. In general, Speaking, in both IELTS and TOEFL, is about general topics. The more you speak in your daily life, the higher your score will be. “Practice makes perfect”
Some official books are there to help you be well-prepared. Use them and practice over and over. Personally, I mainly used TOEFL IBT by BARRON’S, in addition to a small course where I got important vocabularies. Regarding to IELTS, I read Cambridge IELTS. Moreover, I did a lot of online practice for these 2 tests, and I used to write many essays that have been edited by my brother and my cousin. About other tests, let say CAEL, there is a specific book that you should purchase from the institution sometimes. By the way, NO need to buy all of these materials; you can get them from the public library or from a friend, too.
Some candidates write an English test before writing EE. The thing is that EE needs time, so your English test may get expired before you get a good score in EE. Thus, I would say that in general, it is better to focus on EE first then if things go well, you can write the English test.
Below are a summary of English proficiency tests that are accepted in some dental schools, yet you still have to view their websites for more details and exemptions:
1.UWO ,ITD................ TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB
2.U of T, IDAPP...........TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, COPE, Academic preparation ESL.
3.McGill......................TOEFL
4.Manitoba ,IDDP.......IELTS, iBT TOEFL
5.UBC, IDDCP.............IELTS ONLY
6.Alberta,APP............ MELAB, CAEL, IELTS, TOEFL + spoken English proficiency.
7.Dalhousie ...............TOEFL, MELAB, CAEL, Can Test, IELTS.
*P.s: When you register to an English test, it is recommended not to write the institutions names, to which you want your result to be sent, in the application form. Get the result first and if you get a good score then ask the test center to send the result of the English test to the dental school that you want. The point is that each school keeps your record, so it wouldn’t be a good thing if it shows in your file how many times you write TOEFL, for example, and your scores in each trial.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Dental Exams
Dental exams:
Eligibility exam and NBDE 1 and 2:
I wrote the EE three times with scores of 74, 86, 94, respectively. Also, I wrote the NBDE 1 with a score of 84 and NBDE 2 with a score of 80
My Experience with EE:
In our case, writing such exam is an excellent experience regardless to the score that we get. I went through a very tough time when I was preparing for my first EE. But, this helped me a lot to get a high score in my second trial. The second exam led me to a dental school where I am now. The score was good to make me a competitive candidate but I was not sure at that time if it is good enough.
The Canadian system is very competitive, thus, I wrote EE for the third time. I had to make that decision because at that time it was hard to tell if my second EE score is good enough.
I got very high score in my 3rd trial, yet I was accepted depending on my score in the second trial. The conclusion is that you can never guarantee your acceptance until you get the acceptance letter itself. If you are not in the dental program yet, then you have to keep improving your situation.
Study strategy:
EE is about basic and clinical knowledge. I have used this strategy in my preparation for EE in the following order:
1. Studying dental decks, part 1 and part 2 (mainly). It gives you a good background about many topics in general. The information that undergoes under note, important or in a box are most probably related to a question in NBDE.
2. Studying ASDA thoroughly. It gives you a chance to connect what you have study before.
3. Studying Past EE questions. It gives you the ability to concentrate on the important topics.A GROUP STUDY IS EXTREMLY IMPORTANT. So talk to other candidates who are writing the exam with you and with those who got accepted in dental schools too. Discuss these questions together and listen to each other. Some may be wrong, some may be right.
4. After studying questions as mentioned in points 2 and 3 above, you will find that you need more information about certain topics. Now, you should use the textbooks to read more about them. ACFD has posted a list of textbooks that you may use. It is helpful and you can go to any faculty of dentistry and use the references. No need to read the whole textbook, what we are looking for is few pages or even one page sometimes. Your undergrad lectures and references are useful too; it has to be up-to-date though.
5. At this point, you can tell what is needed to be done. Few days before the exam, revise what you feel you need to know the most. For instance, I reviewed impression materials, chronology ......etc.
6. On the day of the exam, just relax! It is hard to do it but you have to keep trying.
7. During the exam, for sure, we are not in a high school anymore and therefore we will not find questions that we can answer them right away. Be confident and think well and wisely. At the end, you are a dentist and you prepared well for the exam. Do your best and be sure you can do it.
The textbooks that I have used are written below. Pay attention that the revision of past EE questions is a very crucial thing. Practice as much as you can. With time, you will find that some questions are related to specific topics, so make sure you cover them very well.
Resources for EE and NBDE exams:
1. Dental decksYou can buy them from some libraries in Toronto downtown, from ex-students , online through eBay or through Dental Decks’ website.
2. ASDA papers. American Student Dental Association released some questions regarding part 1 and part 2 NBDE. These are helpful and close to EE questions.
You can buy them from their website, eBay, a friend or just go to a dental library and borrow them.
3 Textbooks are available in dental schools’ libraries. No need to buy a particular thing. The reference textbooks list posted on ACFD website is recommended, if you need to cover some topics in depth.
*When I planned to write NBDE 2, I signed up for online Kaplan course for NBDE 2, it was helpful in making me more confident yet, personally, there was no direct connection between the course and the EE itself.
Topics from my past exams:
Dentistry is a big field and it is hard to cover all the materials that we may be asked in the exams. Thus, some topics are more important than others and knowing them well is really crucial. For sure, we are not allowed to distribute the exam questions because this will affect the exam integrity. Below are some of these topics that can direct you in your preparation:
· Chronology
· Salivary glands
· Innervations of the teeth and the surrounded soft tissues
· Hepatitis
· Pain killers and antibiotics
· Periodontitis
Pay attention to the universities’ deadlines, for 2010 program, when you write all exams in general. Below are the deadline plus the application fees, all in CAD.
1. UWO............starts Jan 1st, accept late applicants. $1,500.
2. UBC..............June , $ 400
3. U of T...........August 1st, $ 230
4. Manitoba.....August 30th, $100
5. Dalhousie.....September 1st, $ 70
6. McGill..........November 15th for applicants outside the province of Quebec, January 15th for Quebec residents.
7. Alberta........November 1st, $ 250
Eligibility exam and NBDE 1 and 2:
I wrote the EE three times with scores of 74, 86, 94, respectively. Also, I wrote the NBDE 1 with a score of 84 and NBDE 2 with a score of 80
My Experience with EE:
In our case, writing such exam is an excellent experience regardless to the score that we get. I went through a very tough time when I was preparing for my first EE. But, this helped me a lot to get a high score in my second trial. The second exam led me to a dental school where I am now. The score was good to make me a competitive candidate but I was not sure at that time if it is good enough.
The Canadian system is very competitive, thus, I wrote EE for the third time. I had to make that decision because at that time it was hard to tell if my second EE score is good enough.
I got very high score in my 3rd trial, yet I was accepted depending on my score in the second trial. The conclusion is that you can never guarantee your acceptance until you get the acceptance letter itself. If you are not in the dental program yet, then you have to keep improving your situation.
Study strategy:
EE is about basic and clinical knowledge. I have used this strategy in my preparation for EE in the following order:
1. Studying dental decks, part 1 and part 2 (mainly). It gives you a good background about many topics in general. The information that undergoes under note, important or in a box are most probably related to a question in NBDE.
2. Studying ASDA thoroughly. It gives you a chance to connect what you have study before.
3. Studying Past EE questions. It gives you the ability to concentrate on the important topics.A GROUP STUDY IS EXTREMLY IMPORTANT. So talk to other candidates who are writing the exam with you and with those who got accepted in dental schools too. Discuss these questions together and listen to each other. Some may be wrong, some may be right.
4. After studying questions as mentioned in points 2 and 3 above, you will find that you need more information about certain topics. Now, you should use the textbooks to read more about them. ACFD has posted a list of textbooks that you may use. It is helpful and you can go to any faculty of dentistry and use the references. No need to read the whole textbook, what we are looking for is few pages or even one page sometimes. Your undergrad lectures and references are useful too; it has to be up-to-date though.
5. At this point, you can tell what is needed to be done. Few days before the exam, revise what you feel you need to know the most. For instance, I reviewed impression materials, chronology ......etc.
6. On the day of the exam, just relax! It is hard to do it but you have to keep trying.
7. During the exam, for sure, we are not in a high school anymore and therefore we will not find questions that we can answer them right away. Be confident and think well and wisely. At the end, you are a dentist and you prepared well for the exam. Do your best and be sure you can do it.
The textbooks that I have used are written below. Pay attention that the revision of past EE questions is a very crucial thing. Practice as much as you can. With time, you will find that some questions are related to specific topics, so make sure you cover them very well.
Resources for EE and NBDE exams:
1. Dental decksYou can buy them from some libraries in Toronto downtown, from ex-students , online through eBay or through Dental Decks’ website.
2. ASDA papers. American Student Dental Association released some questions regarding part 1 and part 2 NBDE. These are helpful and close to EE questions.
You can buy them from their website, eBay, a friend or just go to a dental library and borrow them.
3 Textbooks are available in dental schools’ libraries. No need to buy a particular thing. The reference textbooks list posted on ACFD website is recommended, if you need to cover some topics in depth.
*When I planned to write NBDE 2, I signed up for online Kaplan course for NBDE 2, it was helpful in making me more confident yet, personally, there was no direct connection between the course and the EE itself.
Topics from my past exams:
Dentistry is a big field and it is hard to cover all the materials that we may be asked in the exams. Thus, some topics are more important than others and knowing them well is really crucial. For sure, we are not allowed to distribute the exam questions because this will affect the exam integrity. Below are some of these topics that can direct you in your preparation:
· Chronology
· Salivary glands
· Innervations of the teeth and the surrounded soft tissues
· Hepatitis
· Pain killers and antibiotics
· Periodontitis
Pay attention to the universities’ deadlines, for 2010 program, when you write all exams in general. Below are the deadline plus the application fees, all in CAD.
1. UWO............starts Jan 1st, accept late applicants. $1,500.
2. UBC..............June , $ 400
3. U of T...........August 1st, $ 230
4. Manitoba.....August 30th, $100
5. Dalhousie.....September 1st, $ 70
6. McGill..........November 15th for applicants outside the province of Quebec, January 15th for Quebec residents.
7. Alberta........November 1st, $ 250
Monday, December 22, 2008
My experience
This website is my own experience as an Internationally Trained Dentist in Canada. I graduated from a dental school in Middle East and I came to Canada couple of years ago, I had to write many exams and work hard in order to get accepted in a dental school which offers a program for internationally trained dentist. Such program will open the door for us to practice dentistry in Canada.Thanks God, I got accepted.
Beside my exams, I used to work in a coffee shop to get in contact with customers, be an active member in the society and improve my communication skills.
I want to share my knowledge with you hoping that this information will guide you to your goal.
I believe you can reach the top, with your determination.My advice to you is trust the power that you have and believe in yourself. Be confident and work hard. You can do it.
Wish you all the best,
Internationally Trained Dentist.
MR
P.S: Recently, the regulations, the eligibility examination and the required documents have been changed. Please visit http://www.acfd.ca/ for more up to date information.
Beside my exams, I used to work in a coffee shop to get in contact with customers, be an active member in the society and improve my communication skills.
I want to share my knowledge with you hoping that this information will guide you to your goal.
I believe you can reach the top, with your determination.My advice to you is trust the power that you have and believe in yourself. Be confident and work hard. You can do it.
Wish you all the best,
Internationally Trained Dentist.
MR
P.S: Recently, the regulations, the eligibility examination and the required documents have been changed. Please visit http://www.acfd.ca/ for more up to date information.
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