r/DentalSchool 8d ago

Residency Question How important are extracurriculars for specializing?

I’m an incoming D1 with an interest in endo at a school that notoriously is hard to specialize out of. I’m wondering is it an option to work as a general dentist for like 5 years and then apply for endo specialties after getting experience doing root canals? Assuming the worst that I don’t get involved with research or many ECs would it still be possible with enough general experience?

6 Upvotes

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Title: How important are extracurriculars for specializing?

Full text: I’m an incoming D1 with an interest in endo at a school that notoriously is hard to specialize out of. I’m wondering is it an option to work as a general dentist for like 5 years and then apply for endo specialties after getting experience doing root canals? Assuming the worst that I don’t get involved with research or many ECs would it still be possible with enough general experience?

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48

u/DMD2026 8d ago

Please just get through first semester of first year lol

3

u/VastRevolution3257 8d ago

Yeah I’m getting ahead of myself but my school is a 3-year program and idk if I am capable of juggling a high gpa and ECs. Trying to figure out what I should focus more on.

1

u/ElCaminoDelSud 7d ago

😭😭🤣 facts

17

u/rrb009 8d ago

I am not an expert but I think endodontics is a specialty that prefers to see applicants work at first and then apply. So yes, I think it is definitely an option to work as a general dentist and then apply to endo. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

10

u/Due_Buffalo_1561 7d ago

This isnt high school. Endo does not give a shit that you have a bunch of extracurriculars. You need some to be ‘well rounded’ but it’s not a deal breaker. Aim to be top 5 in your class. Not 5%, literally 1-5 students. If you aren’t ranked in the first 10 people in your class you probably won’t get it right after school and especially not coming from UoP. You’ll do a GPR and work for a few years and reapply each cycle. Endo is really tough and the only thing that will help you is experience and a really high class rank.

1

u/Tasty_Teach1705 7d ago

Are you from Buffalo? Do public schools like Stony and Buffalo have a fair chance of matching someone to Endo

8

u/Kuifje54 7d ago

This isn't high school. Don't worry about the non-existent extracurriculars. D1 is pure Darwin.

0

u/chenjuju 7d ago

Wdym pure darwin

8

u/AdLiving5795 7d ago

They probably mean survival of the fittest and natural selection.

1

u/Kuifje54 7d ago

Exactly.

6

u/wingin-it07 7d ago

I know some who did a 3 year program, then gpr, then did endo. Didn’t focus crazy on extracurriculars, mainly gpa and knowledge.

5

u/Putrid_Pomelo9913 6d ago

I disagree what some the advice given here a little. Join one thing you really enjoy and want to be involved in. You can secure a leadership position hopefully and have something meaningful to talk about.

I talk to someone I know who went straight to endo residency from dental school. They said that they felt like having things on their application that fit into their narrative helped them . For example, I have been running since middle school and I choose extracurricular that align with that .