How to be successful during your D1 and D2 years in dental school.
First semester of D1 year is a real challenge! Brian Garner and Tenzin Sengye, D1 students at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, provide an inside look into what to expect during your first semester. It's been a pleasure to follow Brian and Tenzin's journey into dental school. Read their First Semester D1 Recap…
The senior clerkship program at UMSOD allows D4 students to delve further into a specialty of their choice. Students devote a portion of their clinic time to this specialized program (the remaining clinic time is spent in the comprehensive treatment of patients in the regular program). The UMSOD radiology clerkship builds upon basic knowledge of…
Many of my dental school classmates are multi-talented, and Dr. Logan Monighan is no exception! In addition to being a compassionate dentist, she is also an extraordinary artist! Check out Logan's microbiology cartoons below. They are particularly effective for visual learners. Hopefully, you find them helpful as you study for micro! Are you a visual…
Within the didactic curriculum, Gross Anatomy is a heavy-hitter. Typically, it’s the D1 course assigned the most credits; therefore, it’s weighed the most heavily in your GPA calculation. Acing Gross Anatomy will significantly benefit your GPA and class ranking, opening opportunities for scholarships and future specialization. My advice to D1’s, above all else, is ace…
While I impatiently wait for my dental license, I’ve delved into audiobooks and CE on entrepreneurship. For the past four years, I’ve been entrenched in the technical aspect of dentistry. So, learning more about the business side has been refreshing! As I dabble in entrepreneurship, I have gained a greater appreciation for my classmates who…
Stab lab is a dental school rite of passage, in which you and a partner give each other local anesthetic injections. Fun stuff (ha)! Usually, stab lab occurs during the end of your D2 year, before entering clinic. Let me tell you, I was NERVOUS, NERVOUS, NERVOUS! My stab lab session was immediately after lunch,…
Purchasing your first pair of loupes can be so exciting! Using loupes means you’re legit, right?! But, you may also be faced with the daunting cost and numerous questions. When should you purchase loupes? Which features are must haves? And, what magnification is best? When should you purchase loupes? You should be comfortable with your…
Dental school is EXPENSIVE! Luckily, there are many scholarship opportunities to offset the cost. Scholarships usually focus on academics, community service, or both. For advice on how to excel academically (without working harder), see my blog post on How to Boost your Class Rank! One of the major obstacles to winning a scholarship is self-doubt! Many…
Ranking at the top of your class will open opportunities for scholarships and help you secure the specialty of your dreams (see my post, How to Win a Dental School Scholarship)! I graduated in the top 10% of my class. Here is my advice to boost your class rank! HINT: It’s all about working SMARTER,…
Spoiler Alert: If you didn’t like waxing during D1, it will come back to haunt you in remo! Oh remo! I can probably count on one hand the number of classmates who actually enjoyed remo. It’s a grueling process. However, my denture cases in clinic were, without a doubt, the most rewarding. Removable prosthodontics replaces…
