What are the best things about attending Harvard School of Dental Medicine?

HSDM’s mission is to integrate dental medicine with systemic health. They are dedicated to removing the barrier between dentistry and medicine and to training dentists to respond to health disparities and treat medically complex patients. The curriculum is an excellent example of this commitment. The first year (D1), HSDM students are enrolled at Harvard Medical School. We are in the same classes, with the same professors and take the same exams. There is no distinction between the dental students and medical students. In fact, unless you make a point of telling the faculty, they don’t know who is a dental or medical student. In the past HSDM students have spent their first two years at the Medical school to complete the pre-clerkship didactic portion of Medical school. Several years ago I think an important reason HSDM students match so well to specialties, especially to Oral Surgery, is the option to rearrange the timing of certain components of the curriculum during years 3-4 and to use elective time to prepare students for their desired specialty. For example, students who are interested in Oral Surgery may use their elective time to go on externships at programs that interest them. While students at other dental school might struggle to get 2 weeks of externships, HSDM students interested in our surgery usually have about 10 weeks. There are many benefits to being at HSDM and a part of the larger Harvard society. One that is especially cool is that students may take leave and study at other graduate programs before completing their DMD. Students have studied in the Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School and taken a dedicated research year. You can really make your education what you are looking for at Harvard. Also, Boston is an amazing city!

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What are worst things about attending Harvard School of Dental Medicine?

Cost of attendance and debt is a factor to consider at any dental school and HSDM is no different. Cost of attendance is high at HSDM. Additionally, Boston is an expensive city to live in. Off-campus housing especially can be somewhat tricky to find and quite expensive. HSDM has a graduate dormitory with the Medical school where primarily first and second year dental and medical students live that is right across the street from the school. Living off-campus is very doable however,

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What do students need to know/what do you wish you knew before attending Harvard School of Dental Medicine?

Fit is an important factor in attending HSDM. It’s important that prospective students consider how they fit the mission of HSDM and how the mission of HSDM aligns with their career goals and interests.

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