 |
Application Process
Required Application Items
Suggestions for Organizing Your Application
Other Important Information
Important Addresses
Interviews
Further Inquiries
Application Form [PDF]
Deadline: Sept. 15, 2008– All items (for classes starting July 1, 2009)
All mail must be sent directly to the Department of Orthodontics
- Sorry, we are not responsible for misdirected mail to other departments within the school, college or university.
- Please gather all materials and mail together in one envelope.
- All recommendation letters and transcripts must be in their respective envelopes (envelopes must be sealed and signed).
Mailing address:
Postgraduate Selection Committee
Department of Orthodontics
VCU School of Dentistry
520 North 12th Street, Room 111
P.O. Box 980566
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0566
Back to Top
Required Application Items
- Application form. Please fill out the application form completely. To reactivate a previously submitted application, please submit a letter requesting reactivation of last year's file, remit $50 and a new application form, along with any information that may have changed (such as taking Part II Boards, final transcript, etc.). You may add additional information to your file. Note: Only one year's applications are kept, therefore, if your initial application was before last year, submit as if a completely new application package.
- Application fee of $50 (U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank), made payable to VCU.
- Personal statement. Please tell us about your personal history that led you to apply for an educational program in orthodontics. Include your plans for the future and any factors you believe are important for us to know in reviewing your application. Please limit your comments to one page.
- CV. Enclose a curriculum vitae to give us more information about yourself. Your CV should include your education and work experiences, awards, honors, research experiences and personal interests.
- Transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended (an official copy). If you have attended a program without a transcript (residency, etc.), we will need a letter from your program director documenting the experience.
- Dental school evaluation letter with your yearly and cumulative dental class ranking and grade-point average, from the dean's or the registrar's office of the dental school from which you have/will have graduated. Letter not needed if all of this information is included on your transcript. Indicate this fact on your application form.
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can personally attest to your professional/personal qualities (the program director's letter can count as one). A letter from the dean of your school or a letter from the chairperson in orthodontics is not required, but may be included if they have personal knowledge of your skills.
- National Board scores. A copy in your envelope is required. Have an original sent directly to us from the National Board office. No other test scores are required. If you have taken other exams (or if you wish to add to your file), you may send any item of this type for our consideration. The National Board scores, part I, are required (even if you are a graduate of a foreign school).
- TOEFL Scores are required for students whose native language is not English. These scores are not required if you went to dental school or graduate school in an English-speaking environment (USA, Canada, Australia or Great Britain, etc.). Foreign dental school graduates: Graduation from our orthodontic program qualifies you to apply for a dental license in the commonwealth of Virginia; however, other regulations apply. For example, after graduation from our program, you will be required to take and pass a Regional Testing Agency dental examination.
Back to Top
Suggestions for Organizing Your Application
- For recommendation letters, our students found this envelope format to work best:
Back to Top
Other Important Information
- Although two letters are required, you may enclose as many as you wish. A Dean's letter or Chairman's letter is not required, although if they know you personally, you may wish to include one. Letters do not have to be personally addressed to us, although it is advisable to request your recommendation letters on the department's letterhead.
- Foreign dental school graduates, please do not apply unless you have TOEFL scores (exception only if you went to dental school or graduate school in an English-speaking environment) and Part I of the National Boards. Remember, National Boards, Part I is required – no exceptions.
- We do not require nor wish to receive photographs.
- Re-applying? Application files are kept for one year only. If you were a senior last year, we will need your final transcript. If you have taken National Boards Part II since then, send an updated version. We need a completed application form (and check). Other letters, etc. may be enclosed.
- Most important – send all items as one package. Deadline: Sept. 15 in our office; however, packages may be mailed as soon as you have them together. Note: If sending by regular mail, we recommend that you mail no later than Sept. 1.
- Enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard (we will return it to you to confirm receipt of your application) that says:
Back to Top
Important Addresses
National Board of Dental Examiners
Joint Commission of National Dental Examinations
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1846
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 440-2500
Virginia Board of Dentistry
6606 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230-1717
Phone: (804) 662-9906
TOEFL
www.toefl.org or you can contact Educational Testing Service:
Corporate Headquarters, Educational Testing Service
Rosedale Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08541
Phone: (609) 921-9000
Fax: (609) 734-5410
E-mail: etsinfo@ets.org
www.ets.org
National Matching Services, Inc.
20 Holly Street, Suite 301
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4S 3B1
Phone: (416) 977-3431 Fax (416) 977-5020
www.natmatch.com
Back to Top
Interviews
Personal, on-site interviews are held in late October (October 30 and 31, 2008) for applicants selected by the admissions committee. Invitations are extended prior to the interview process, usually in late September to provide candidates ample time to schedule their trips. Interviews are by invitation only. We participate in the Postdoctoral Dental Match Program.
The interview extends over a two-day period to give applicants time to familiarize themselves with the program and the current residents, staff, and faculty. Also, this gives us the opportunity to get to know our candidates for admission better. Four formal interviews with faculty and residents are held with time allowed for questions, tours and socializing.
After lunch on the second day, candidates depart, and the admissions committee meets to discuss its findings. The admissions committee consists of all full-time faculty and residents, as well as representatives from the dental school administration, orthodontic alumni, and part-time orthodontic faculty.
The Department of Orthodontics strictly adheres to regulations of the Postdoctoral Dental Match Program and will not contact candidates with information regarding preferences for admission prior to the Match notification date.
Back to Top
Further inquiries may be directed to:
Darlene D. Johnson
Department of Orthodontics
Postgraduate application coordinator
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Dentistry
P.O. Box 980566
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0566
E-mail: ddjohnso@vcu.edu
Fax: (804) 828-5789
Phone: (804) 828-9326
Back to Top
|
