Leah K. CohenKyle Mow, currently a DMD Candidate at Midwestern University in Arizona, took a detour on his way to dental school, but when he finally arrived, he felt more prepared than his classmates.
After his undergraduate years at the University of California, Irvine, Mow felt that his grades were not where they needed to be for dental school.
“Instead of trying to reapply and reapply to dental school, I participated in a one-year Biomedical Services program at Midwestern University to strengthen my application.”
Over the course of the year, Mow gained a new focus on school and learned how to navigate a graduate-level course load.
Mow never feared the dentist. “My grandpa was my dentist – I had to like my dentist!” he said.
“My third year in undergrad, I went on a mission trip to Nicaragua where I could really see the impact of dentistry.” Healing patients of their pain and giving them a smile to show off, inspired him to continue pushing toward dental school.
“I knew I wanted to go into dentistry, but also knew I needed to stand out and have a more competitive application,” he said.
Kyle Mow, DMD Candidate at Midwestern University, Arizona
When it was finally time to apply after his one-year program, Mow chose to continue to Midwestern University’s College of Dental Medicine. “Their clinical education is great, and I loved the faculty connections I was able to make during my yearlong program,” the now fourth-year student shared.
“I felt I would be able to learn the most and get exposed to as many procedures as possible.”
How to create a more competitive dental school application? DMD candidate Kyle Mow offers advice
“If you apply a couple of cycles and can’t get in or your GPA is low or you don’t have enough research experience, that’s when you need to put yourself over the hump for schools to notice you,” Mow said.
“Dental school is going to be hard. Stick with it and remember what’s at the end of your journey. Remember why you’re at school, why you’re passionate about dentistry. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Free members-only program includes job placement services for dental students
Learn details about a program that grants members instant free access to a Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) study guide, free job placement services for personal assistance in connecting with the right post-graduation employment or associateship opportunities and a free subscription to Incisal Edge magazine here.
