Q. Can I apply to the IDS program with a medical degree from a foreign country?
A. To be eligible to apply to the IDS program, a student must have earned a dental degree (BDS, DDs, DMD, Odontology, Stomatology or equivalent). A medical degree does not qualify a student to apply to the IDS program.
Q. I have graduated from a program in my home country but have not received my degree. I have to wait for the next graduation ceremony. In the meantime, they have issued a provisional,which states that I have completed my degree requirements. Will you accept the provisional in lieu of the actual degree?
A. Unfortunately, the IDS program does not accept provisional degrees and cannot offer any exceptions to this requirement.
Q. What grade point average (GPA) will be considered?
A. A U.S. GPA of 2.00 or above is required. Applicants with a GPA below 2.00 will not be considered. The ECE course-by-course evaluation provides the GPA.
Q: Should I send my application and required documentation all at once?
A: The IDS Office encourages applicants to send completed applications and all required documentation together, if possible. This ensures that nothing is missing from your application.
If you prefer or have requested agencies (ADA, ECE, ETS) to send official documents directly to the IDS Office, it is still your responsibility to ensure that they arrive by the application deadline: 1p.m. (Pacific Time) on September 2, 2008.
Q. To whom should letters of recommendation be addressed?
A. Address the letters of recommendation to: IDS Admissions Committee. It is recommended that you collect the letters of recommendation (two minimum and four maximum) and enclose them with your admission packet. This will ensure that you know if the letters were submitted.
Q. To whom should the application fee be paid?
A. The $75 application fee is payable to: University of the Pacific.
Q. Does my visa status have any bearing on the acceptance process?
A. During the acceptance process, the IDS program does not take your visa status into consideration.
Q. Does the school provide any kind of scholarship for students?
A. The University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry does not have a scholarship program for entering IDS students.
Q. Am I eligible for financial aid?
A. Financial aid is awarded based on financial need as long as the applicant is a United States citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible non-citizen. The Financial Aid Office will mail application materials in January to all accepted students.
The Financial Aid Office assists students in managing their financial resources and their indebtedness. The financial aid staff conducts a need analysis and provides comprehensive financial guidance for every student applying for financial aid. All applicants who meet the criteria listed above are encouraged to apply for assistance. Please refer to the Financial Aid section of our Web site for more detailed information.
All applicants are considered for admission regardless of their financial circumstances.
Q. I have already received my Alien number from USCIS, but not the Permanent Residency Card (green card). Can I get accepted and receive financial aid?
A. Your USCIS status has no effect on your consideration for acceptance into the IDS program. Please see the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) web site at www.FAFSA.ed.gov and click on FAQs.
Q. I have applied for my Permanent Residency Card (green card) but have not received it yet; I expect it in the mail at any time. Can I be accepted and receive financial aid?
A. Your USCIS status has no effect on your consideration for acceptance into the IDS program. Please see the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) web site at www.FAFSA.ed.gov and click on FAQs.
Q. Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the NB-1 dental examination later?
A. No, your application will not be considered without the NB-1 examination result.
Q. Will my application be considered with a NB-1 test score of 79 (just one point from 80)?
A. No. Only applications with the minimum NB-1 overall average test score of 80 will be considered. An official or original notarized NB-1 examination result, with the comprehensive score of 80 or above (there are no sectional scores to be considered). Examination result earned prior to 2007 requires the average score of 80 or above AND all four test section scores with a minimum of 75 or above.
Q. Am I required to take the TOEFL?
A. Yes, everyone applying to the IDS program is required to take the TOEFL, including U.S. citizens. Official or original notarized TOEFL results of 92 or above (internet-based version) , 580 or above (paper-based version) or 237 or above (computer-based version) must be submitted.
Q. Am I exempt from taking the TOEFL when I have earned a degree from an U.S. college/university that did not require me to take a TOEFL since my English is good/proficient?
A. No, everyone applying to the IDS program is required to take the TOEFL.
Q. Can I apply to the IDS program now and take the TOEFL later?
A. The application will not be considered for the program without the TOEFL results.
Q. Will my application be considered with TOEFL test score of 91 (internet-based version), 579 (paper-based version) or 236 (computer-based version)?
A. No. Only applications with a minimum TOEFL test score of 92 or above (internet-based version), 580 or above (paper-based version) or 237 or above (computer-based version) will be considered.
Q. What countries do IDS students come from?
A. Our students come from all over the globe. Since the inception of the IDS program in 1987, we have had students from:
| Albania | India | Poland |
| Algeria | Iran | Romania |
| Brazil | Iraq | Russia |
| Bulgaria | Japan | Serbia & Montenegro (Yugoslavia) |
| China | Jordan | Slovakia (Czechoslovakia) |
| Colombia | Kenya | South Korea |
| Dominican Republic | Latvia | Spain |
| Egypt | Lithuania | Sudan |
| El Salvador | Malaysia | Syria |
| England | Mexico | Taiwan |
| Fiji | Nicaragua | Thailand |
| France | Nigeria | Ukraine |
| Germany | Pakistan | Uzbekistan |
| Greece | Peru | Venezuela |
| Hong Kong, China | Philippines | Vietnam |
