Q: Can I submit my CAAPID application directly to the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry?
A: No, all IDS applicants (first-time or reapplying) must submit a CAAPID application directly with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Q: Can I apply to the Dugoni School of Dentistry without going through CAAPID?
A: No, all IDS applicants (first-time or reapplying) must submit a CAAPID application directly with ADEA.
Q: I have previously submitted an application directly to the Dugoni School of Dentistry. Do I need to submit a CAAPID application?
A: Yes, all reapplying applicants must submit a CAAPID application with ADEA.
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Q: Should I send my supplemental documents all at once in one application package?
A: The IDS Office encourages applicants to send all supplemental documents (application fee, dental curriculum vitae, IDS questionnaire, letters of evaluation, NBDE-1, TOEFL, dental diploma/certificate, ECE course-by-course evaluation) in one package, if possible. This ensures that you have submitted all the documents and nothing is missing thus mailing a complete application pacakge.
Q: If I applied before and submitted all the supplemental documents, do I have to submit them again?
A: Yes, reapplying applicants will need to resubmit all supplemental documents as detailed in the 2013 Application Checklist.
Q: Can I send some of the supplemental documents while waiting for other documents?
A: Applicants can send partial supplemental documents. It is still encouraged to send all supplemental documents at once in one application package. If you prefer or requested to have the agencies (ADA, ECE, ETS) send original official documents directly to the IDS Office, it is still your responsibility to ensure the documents are received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline – Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 1 pm (Pacific Time).
Q: Can I submit actual notarized documents instead of the original official documents?
A: Applicants can submit actual notarized documents (letters of evaluation, NBDE-1, TOEFL, dental diploma/certificate, ECE course-by-course evaluation). Applicants will not be required to submit original official documents during the interview and the technical examination or acceptance period.
Q: Can I submit any updated documents to the Dugoni School of Dentistry after the deadline?
A: No, all supplemental documents, as detailed in the 2013 Application Checklist, must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline – Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 1 pm (Pacific Time). Documents received after the deadline will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: What happens to my CAAPID application and supplemental documents if my application status is considered incomplete?
A: Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee. All received applications and documents will become the property of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and will not be returned. The $$75 application fee is non-refundable.
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Q: Can I pay the application fee online with a credit card?
A: Applicants will pay the $75 (USD — non-refundable) application fee online with a credit card (American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa). Please be sure to include your CAAPID #.
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Q: Do I need to copy the same format of the provided sample dental CV?
A: Applicants will provide information of their experience from dental school to present. It is not required to replicate the sample format; however, we ask that you provide and elaborate any information of each bold heading (Applicants Name, Dental School, Education, Work & Volunteer Experience, Publications & Presentations and Awards & Honors). If you do not have any information to share, omit typing the heading in the CV.
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Q: Am I supposed to use the provided PDF form to answer the questionnaire?
A: Applicants will use the customized PDF form from the 2013 IDS Application Packet to complete the questionnaire.
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Q: Do I need to submit letters of evaluation to the Dugoni School of Dentistry when I already submitted them to ADEA?
A: Applicants submitting letters of evaluation directly to the IDS Office will have the flexibility to provide 2-3 letters in English that would be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee. The letters must be written recently by international or U.S. dental professionals (dentists, dental faculty, etc.) with whom you have worked. Letters of evaluation submitted to ADEA will not be considered.
Q: To whom should the letters of evaluation be addressed?
A: The letters of evaluation may be addressed to the IDS Admissions Committee.
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Q: Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the NBDE-1 later?
A: Applicants can initially apply to the IDS program without the taking the NBDE-1; however, your application will be considered incomplete. An actual notarized or original official NBDE-1 report with a score of 75 or higher or a Pass result must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline – Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 1 pm (Pacific Time).
Q: Will my application be considered with a NBDE-1 score of 74 (just one point from 75) or a Fail result?
A: No, applicants who earned a score less than 75 or a Fail result, are encouraged to retake the NBDE-1 to score 75 or higher or earn a Pass result ; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: Is NBDE-2 an admissions requirement?
A: No, NBDE-2 is not a dental admissions requirement for the IDS program but will be encouraged to provide a score of 75 or higher or a Pass result. Applicants submitting a passing NBDE-2 score will not be given special consideration in the review process.
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Q: Am I required to take the TOEFL?
A: Yes, all applicants, including U.S. citizens, are required to take the TOEFL. An actual notarized or original official TOEFL score report with a internet-based test (iBT) total score of 92 or higher or paper-based test (PBT) total score of 580 or higher must be submitted.
Q: Am I exempt from taking the TOEFL when I have earned a degree from a U.S. college/university that did not require me to take a TOEFL since my English is good/proficient?
A: No exemptions. All applicants are required to take the TOEFL.
Q: Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the TOEFL later?
A: Applicants can initially apply to the IDS program without the taking the TOEFL; however, your application will be considered incomplete. An actual notarized or original official TOEFL iBT score report with an iBT total score 92 or higher or PBT total score of 580 or higher must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline – Wednesday, August 1, 2012, 1:00 pm (Pacific Time).
Q: Will my application be considered with a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) total score of 91 or paper-based test (PBT) total score of 579?
A: No, applicants who earned less than the iBT total score of 92 or PBT total score of 580 are encouraged to retake the TOEFL; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
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Q: Can I apply with a medical degree?
A: Only applicants who have earned a dental degree (BDS, DDS, DMD, Odontology, Stomatology) are eligible to apply to the IDS program.
Q: Can I apply with a provisional dental degree?
A: The IDS program does not accept provisional dental degrees nor offer any exceptions to this dental degree requirement. Applicants are required to submit an actual notarized document of the dental diploma/certificate.
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Q: What grade point average (GPA) will be considered?
A: A U.S. GPA of 2.00 or higher is required. Applicants with a GPA below 2.00 will not be eligible to apply to the IDS program.
Q: Do you accept any other agency’s evaluations?
A: The IDS program will only accept ECE course-by-course evaluation with a U.S. GPA of 2.00 or higher.
Q: What if I discover an error was made on my GPA calculation?
A: Corrected GPA from the ECE course-by-course evaluation will not be accepted after deadline. Only the "comprehensive" GPA will be considered when ECE provides two GPAs.
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Q: As an international student, am I eligible to apply for federal financial aid?
A: No, only students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or eligible non-citizens, are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
Q: Does the Dugoni School of Dentistry provide any kind scholarships for the applicants?
A: The Dugoni School of Dentistry does not have a scholarship program for incoming IDS students.
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Q: Does my visa status have any bearing on the application process?
A: The IDS Office does not take your visa status into consideration during the application process.
Q: As an international student, will I be required to submit a proof of financial ability, Certification of Finances (COF) form, to request a student visa?
A: Yes, all accepted, incoming students on a visa will be required to submit a COF form to show available funds to cover full costs (tuition, dental kit, books, fees and living expenses) for the program. The COF form will be released in March prior to matriculation in July.
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Q: What countries/cities do our IDS students come from?
A: Listed by dental education, IDS students come from all over the world — 50 countries/cities. Since the inception of the IDS program in 1987 to 2012, we have had students from:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam.
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