Choosing Where to Apply for Residency

Residency is an exciting time for a young dentist. A new city, a new network, the focus on an area of specialty, plenty hours of restful sleep (hah!) – all of these things are undoubtedly worth looking forward to. That being said, the whole process of applying, interviewing, and matching can be one of the most anxiety-inducing experiences of your life. Let’s start with the basics by looking at some of the key factors to consider when deciding where to apply for residency.

Cost

One of the biggest differences between dental and medical residencies is that a great number of the former charge tuition. Unless you’re applying for oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) or a general practice residency (GPR) and its equivalent (AEGD), chances are your educational debt will increase substantially. Some will say that you’ll be able to pay back your loans at some point with a specialist’s salary, but that’s a gross oversimplification and generalization you should avoid.

Just think about how many future orthodontists and endodontists will finish residency with over $700K in debt at 6.8% interest (for new readers, that’s $400K for dental school and another $300K for residency). And many of these doctors are probably thinking about a mortgage, new car, having kids, starting a practice, saving for retirement, let alone enjoying life. While paid residencies in some specialties are few and far between, the best thing you can do to achieve financial independence is to attend a paid residency program. Hands down.

Location

For a number of people, location is another top factor to consider. I attended a state university for dental school, and the vast majority of my peers not only grew up in my state, but also stayed here for undergrad and dental school. For many, residency was their last opportunity to leave the state before most likely returning to practice. Granted I live in California, so I don’t blame them. That being said, if you’ll be spending the next 1-6 years of your life living somewhere, make sure you live somewhere you like. Whether or not you’ll have time to enjoy what your new city/town has to offer is a whole other story, but as they say in real estate, location is everything. Don’t forget the cost of living differences between locales as well.

Social network

Similar to location, your social network should be high up on your list of factors to consider when deciding where to apply for residency. Do you have family members and close friends in certain cities/states that you can rely on? Is your working spouse able to relocate with you and find a decent job? Do you have a significant other also in dentistry who you may share a future with (couples match, anyone?)? Residency is stressful, and it’s important to think about the people in your life who will be there for you.

Fit of the program

Another big factor to consider is the fit of the program. I get it, you may not be the most competitive applicant or gotten extremely unlucky with interviews and can only rank a handful of programs. In that scenario, your desire to be a specialist at any cost may vastly outweigh the so-called, intangible ‘fit’ of the program. If you are fortunate enough to have more options, however, be sure to consider whether or not you will thrive in your program. How is the program director or department chair? Are the residents happy? Is moonlighting allowed? What are the research requirements? Does the program have a certain reputation in your specialty?

And then consider the specialty-specific questions. For oral surgery, do you want the MD and go with a 6 year program? For orthodontics, do you prefer a 2 year or 3 year program with or without a Masters degree? The list goes on and on, but be sure to consider all of these variables.

What other factors were you considering when applying to residency? How many programs did you apply to? Comment below!