Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I call to check on the status of my application or to ensure it is complete?

Please do not call or write the program to check on your application status.We will not be able to respond to calls or emails about your application and whether we want additional materials beyond what we ask for. If your application is one that we wish to advance, but one or more elements are missing, we will reach out to you. If you do not hear anything from the program by early November, your application was not advanced. Unfortunately, the application to residency position ratio is 100:1 for this program, so most candidates will not get to the interview stage.
 

2. Can I visit the program to see what it is like?

We accept externship requests on a first come, first served basis and are generally a week in duration.Externs must be enrolled in dental school and covered by the school’s liability policy for their activities while in externship. Potential externs must complete a documentation checklist prior to their arrival.Applicants who are no longer in school are not eligible for externship, but other arrangements may be possible. For more information, please contact the program coordinator at talpades@sjhmc.org.
 

3. What are you looking for when you make your rank order list?

While scores must be utilized in the initial phase of evaluating applicants, the objective elements of the application place a smaller role in the end.We embrace the holistic review concept and value life experience, breadth of interests, professional demeanor and poise even more than exam scores, class rank and traditional measures of academic success. We tend to favor candidates who we feel will fit into our “family” and will thrive in a resource-rich environment designed to serve self-motivated, enthusiastic adult learners.
 

4. When during the program do we let you know if we are interested in the MD option?

For those who may have an interest in the MD option, the current protocol allows for that to begin immediately after program completion or up to two years after training.Residents with interest are encouraged to make that known during their third year so that the process can be set in motion and time is available to prepare for USMLE Step 1.
 

5. What do most program graduates do after residency?

Most go into private practice and acquire hospital privileges in their communities. Some continue their education in fellowship programs and a few enter full time academic careers. All graduates are strongly urged to become Board certified and to find ways to include service, leadership and lifelong learning in their professional careers.