Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry

From Student Doctor Network Wiki

1) Name of Your Dental School Virginia Commonwealth University - MCV 2) What is your examination schedule like? Block Schedule (midterms and finals week) or several every week? several every week + a finals week at the end of semster

3) What is the hardest class? Why? Depends on what your strengths are. If sciences are your strength, then pre-clinical labs especially Fix Prosth is the Hardest. -- Subjective evals.

4) What is the easiest class? Why? easiest would probably Peds in 2nd year. First year there are multiple easy other classes.

5) Are your classmates generally gunners and try to sabatoge each other? If not, is the culture one where everybody tries to help everybody out? There few gunners in my level, however, the class tends to try to help each other out.

6) Are the class notes based primarily on textbooks? or based on lecture powerpoints made up by professors? Most classes have sylabbi (sp?). Some classes are powerpoint based. Overall textbooks usually are not needed.

7) Are there any classes taken with medical students? If so, which ones? No classes are taken with med students. But when i took physiology, and microbiology and biochemistry was taken with the Pharm students. But there has been recent change in curriculum. 8) What is the grading system? Pass/Fail/Honors? Letter Grades? Percentages? Normal Grading system . A, B, C, F.

9) Is there a notetaking service for lecture available? No.

10) Is class attendance mandatory? For some classes yes.

11) In general, are teachers approachable for questions? Or are they for the most part very busy and unreachable (research, etc...)? Teachers are intimating at first, but they are approachable.

12) Is there a big brother/big sister program that pairs you with an upperclassman or professor who "mentors" you? Each first year has a mento from a 2nd year, but overall i dont' think the program is strong.

13) What is the % first time board pass rate? What is the average score? How would I know?? Avg I would say mid 80s. 14) When do you take the NDBE? 1st year or second year? After 1st year, and after summer session (ends around June 20?) -- Take the boards by late July. 15) Do you get a block of time off before boards to study? If so, how long? If not, do you have to study simultaneously with classes? Above. 16) Do most people study in the University Library? Or does the place clear out right after school and everybody studies on their own? Place pretty much clears out, except for some library rats (aka me) 17) Are patients readily available to fulfill clinical requirements or do you have to do a lot of work to get them in? Not sure yet, not in clinic yet.

18) Is it a hassle to get a chair once you get patients in? In your opinion, does your school have enough chairs? Above.

19) What are the clinical requirements to graduate? (number of crowns, fillings, etc...) Is it reasonably attainable or pretty difficult? The requirements are changing currently, they are making the school run as practices so req. not official yet.

20) Are there opportunities for different off-site dental clinic rotations? If so, what are they? Yes. Multiple out-reach service opportunities. Multiple free clinics. and Cheap clinics out of town.

21) Are there opportunites for outreach trips to underserved areas or countries? If so, what are they and for how long? Above. Multiple 3-4 day trips to areas around virginia (search for MOM project) + Jamaica trip that occurs yearly.

22) Is there sufficent preparation for practice management? What career placement opportunites does your school offer? not sure.

23) What is the dress code at your school? Scrubs? For what years? A new dress code started last year. Each year wears a different color scrubs that has your name and year of graduation on it.