177 - Academic Trends Among Applicants to a Pediatric Dentistry Program from 2014-2018, Padhi C, Kane D, (NYU Langone Hospital, Providence, RI)

Purpose: Analyze academic background and determine trends of applicants to NYU Langone Pediatric Dentistry Residency programs from 2014-2018

Methods: The ADEA Pass Application data for 2091 applicants (n=2091) across the five years was analyzed to construct comparable academic profiles. Metrics of undergraduate GPA, postgraduate degrees awarded, previous residency history, dental school GPA, dental school rank, and number years between dental school and residency were used.

 

Results: The number of applicants rose from 375 applicants in 2014 to 421 applicants in 2018.  The average undergraduate GPA across years was 3.51 (3.51 and 3.52 for 2014 and 2018 cycles respectively). Dental school overall GPA rose from 3.34 in 2014 to 3.43 in 2018. Applicants remained similar in dental school ranking; 116 (48.3%) in 2014 within the 1^st and 2^nd quartiles, and 116 (47.2%) for 2018. The average number of years between completion of dental school and start of residency fell from 2.7 years in 2014 to 2.2 years in 2018, although the percentage of applicants who completed a previous residency remained steady with 67 (17.9%) in 2014 and 79 (18.4%) in 2017. The percentage applicants with postgraduate degrees fell from 106 (28%) in 2014 to 99 (23.5%) in 2018.

Conclusions: The results show minimal change in undergraduate GPA, dental school GPA, and percentage of applicants who had completed a post-graduate degree or previous residency. Applicants remained in similar quartiles when analyzing dental school rank. There was a trend towards fewer years between completion of dental school and starting residency.