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What NEXT AFTER BDS ??
The foremost question when one graduates with their BDS degree is what next to do??
The various options available to you are, if you are planning for foreign shores are:
1) Dentistry in Australia/New Zealand
2) Dentistry in England
3) DENTISTRY in USA and CANADA: DDS/MSD in USA/Canada
4) MPH/MHA in USA
1) Dentistry in Australia/New Zealand: These countries are really small countries in terms of population. The examination conducted by Australian Dental Council is itself so expensive and with success rate of those appearing in these exams so poor, these countries are not for you. Moreover, immigration policies in these countries changes overnight and can leave you at nowhere if you are applying to these countries.
2) Dentistry in UK: The less said about it, the better it is. With NHS, not welcoming to foreign graduates, one can’t even consider England as an option.
3) Dentistry in USA: USA still and will remain the best country for foreign dental graduates. With India being the center of attraction in US economy, they need India as business partner more than ever before.
The singlemost point which comes to our mind when we plan to go to USA is whether my BDS is a recognized degree or not. As per American Dental Association (ADA), BDS degree in India is classified as a Dental Degree from a regionally accredited university. That means, all people who have BDS degree can take admission in Advanced Standing Program for International Dental Graduates leading to DDS/DMD degree. So, to state that your BDS is not recognized or your BDS has gone waste is not true. They do consider you dentists but from a regionally accredited program. This classification applies even to all European graduates also.
ADMISSION PROCESS for DDS:
Advanced Standing Program leading to DDS/DMD:
1) You need your BDS or MDS degree
2) Please have a Visa or Mastercard International Credit Card by this stage, otherwise you are just delaying your long application process by going to banks and wasting your time unnecessarily. Many universities and ADA accepts only Credit card. So, have one as soon as possible.
3) At this stage, you need to get your Transcript Evaluation done. The cost of evaluation is either $85, $135 or $165 depending upon your current status and aggregate in four years of dentistry program in India.
4) You need to take your National Dental Board Examination (NBDE) Part 1 examination. This examination is conducted throughout the year across various centers in USA/Canada and costs $265. This exam in fully computerized and contains 400 MCQ’s with no negative marking. We’ll conduct Computerized Mock Test for the exam whenever you are ready.
For admissions, one needs greater than 87 percentile score. The more the score, the better it is.
5) Obtaining US Visa is the biggest hurdle in your American dreams. Initially you will go on a Visitors Visa (B1/B2) visa to USA. The cost of this visa is Rs 7000 at this moment.
6) If you score less than 85 percentile in NBDE Part 1, just forget your results and again take your exam. Admissions these days are highly competitive and you need greater than 87 percentile to stand a chance. You can retake the exam after a gap of 90 days.
7) Other thing you need to take is TOEFL iBT (costing US $150). Remember, TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years time while NBDE scores have atleast 10 years validity. One should score 100 and above in TOEFL as this would make you eligibile for all universities.
8) Now if you have scored well in Part 1 and TOEFL iBT, you are ready for applications to various universities. The admissions are dependent upon a number of variables:
a) NBDE Part 1 score
b) TOEFL iBT score
c) GPA (Grade Point Average)
d) 3 Letters of Recommendation
e) A solid and professional Career Statement or Statement of Purpose
f) Original Transcripts signed by Dean/Principal of your college/university
g) Application submission
h) Personal Interviews
9) Typically, yearly expenses are in the range of US $ 70,000 to 90,000 dollar. Then, if you get admitted to DDS/DMD program, you’ll need a co-signer (can be a relative or a friend) who is either a US citizen or Green card holder for your Student loan. Loans are very easy and long term like 15-20 years. The loan amount even covers your living expenses and if you have a spouse and children, they cover even that. So, a two year program will cost in INR 60 lacs to 75 lacs. The expenses covered includes all Tuition fees; Health insurance; Dental instruments/material expenses; laptop and its software charges; all lodging and boarding expenses including meals.
10) But here’s a good news after all the big expenses talk: DENTISTS and SPECIALIST DOCTORS remain the most lucrative and best salaried profession.
11) On an average, a DDS graduate starting salary range from $ 100,000 to $ 1,25,000. As per ADA figures, annual average salary of a dentist across USA in 2006 was in excess on $300,000.
12) In 2005, 7% Americans had an annual salary in excess of one lakh dollar or more. So, when you start your career in USA as a dentist, you straightaway belong to upper 7 % income group bracket in USA. That’s a big reward you get for all pains and hardships associated with being a dentist.
13) Above all, US unlike UK, has a stable work permit, read H1B, plans followed by Green Card, and then US citizenship.
14) And if you want to go for non-clinical fields like MPH, MHA, etc , go to MPH/MHA in USA Page
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