Q: Can I submit my CAAPID application directly to the Pacific dental school?
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 Pacific dental school without going through CAAPID?
A: No, all IDS applicants (first-time or reapplying) must submit a CAAPID application directly with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).
Q: I have previously submitted an application directly to the Pacific dental school. Do I need to submit a CAAPID application?
A: Yes, all reapplying applicants must submit a CAAPID application with ADEA.
Back to top
Q: Can I submit my letters of evaluation directly to the Pacific dental school?
A: Applicants will submit two or maximum of three letters of evaluations (in English) directly to CAAPID. The letters must be dated between June 2009 and present and written by international or U.S. dental professionals (dentists, dental faculty, etc.) with whom you have worked recently.
Q: To whom should the letters of evaluation be addressed?
A: The letters of evaluation may be addressed to the IDS Admissions Committee.
Back to top
Q: Should I send my supplemental documentation all at once in one package?
A: The IDS Office encourages applicants to send all supplemental documentations (application fee, dental goals, NBDE-1, TOEFL, dental degree, ECE course-by-course evaluation) in one package, if possible. This ensures that you have submitted all the required documents and nothing is missing to complete your application.
Q: Can I send some of the supplemental documentation while waiting for other documents?
A: Applicants can send partial supplemental documentation. It is still encouraged to send all supplemental documentations at once in one 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 – Friday, August 13, 2010, 1 pm (Pacific time).
Q: Can I submit actual notarized documents instead of the original official documents?
A: Applicants can submit actual notarized documents (NBDE-1, TOEFL, dental degree, ECE course-by-course evaluation). Applicants will not be required to submit original official documents.
Q: Can I submit any updated documents to the Pacific dental school after the deadline?
A: No, all application and supplemental documentation, as detailed in the 2011 Application Checklist, must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline. – Friday, August 13, 2010, 1 pm (Pacific time). Documents received after the deadline date and time will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: What happens to my application and supplemental documentation if my application status is considered incomplete?
A: Incomplete applications will not be considered or reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee. The All received applications and documentations will become the property of the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and will not be returned. The application fee of $75 is non-refundable.
Back to top
Q: To whom should the application fee be paid?
A: Applicants will submit a non-refundable application fee of $75 (USD) in the form of a personal check, cashiers check or money order, payable to: University of the Pacific. Credit and debit cards will not be accepted.
Back to top
Q: What am I supposed to write for the dental goals?
A: In your dental goals, share your future dental plans after earning your U.S. dental degree on a single-sided page with a 1" margin on all four sides and 12-point type.
Back to top
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 score of 75 or higher must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline – Friday, August 13, 2010, 1 pm (Pacific time).
Q: Will my application be considered with a NBDE-1 score of 74 (just one point from 75)?
A: No, applicants who earned less than 75 are encouraged to retake the NBDE-1 to score 75 or higher; otherwise, the application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the IDS Admissions Committee.
Q: If I applied before and submitted a NBDE-1 score, do I have to submit it again?
A: Yes, reapplying applicants will need to resubmit a NBDE-1 score.
Q: Is NBDE-2 a dental admissions requirement?
A: No, NBDE-2 is not a dental admissions requirement for the IDS program. Applicants, who have taken the NBDE-2, passed or failed, will not be given special consideration in the review process. Currently, only the NBDE-1 is required.
Back to top
Q: Am I required to take the TOEFL?
A: Yes, all applicants are required to take the TOEFL, including U.S. citizens. An actual notarized or original official TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of 92 or higher or paper-based test (PBT) 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 of 92 or higher or PBT score of 580 or higher must be received by the IDS Office on or before the deadline date and time – Friday, August 13, 2010, 1 pm (Pacific time).
Q: Will my application be considered with a TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) score of 91 or paper-based test (PBT) score of 579?
A: No, applicants who earned less than the iBT score of 92 or PBT 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.
Back to top
Q: Can I apply with a medical degree?
A: Only applicants who have earned a dental degree (BDS, DDS, DMD, Odontology, Stomatology or comparable degree) 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 and does not offer any exceptions to this dental degree requirement. Applicants are required to submit an actual notarized document of the dental degree.
Back to top
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: after the deadline date and time. corrected GPA from the ECE course-by-course evaluation will not be accepted.
Back to top
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 Pacific dental school provide any kind scholarships for the applicants?
A: The Pacific dental school does not have a scholarship program for incoming IDS students.
Back to top
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.
Back to top
Q: What countries/cities (by dental education) do our IDS students come from?
A: Our IDS students come from all over the world — 48 countries/cities. Since the inception of the IDS program in 1987 to 2009, we have had students from:
Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, 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.
Back to top
