Journey at CU School of Dental Medicine
The journey to CU began early 2019, when I first saw the “University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus” exit sign on the interstate. Little did I know at that time that this would be the place where my dreams would come true.
I started the application process in early June 2021. It was a relatively straightforward process, and I could see they care about the person as much as they do about academic credentials. With continuous prayers, I applied around November, and then the waiting began. One fine day in the month of March 2022, I got an email at around 2 am with the subject “University of Colorado April Interview Invitation”. I legit fell off the bed and wanted to shout at the top of my voice, but couldn’t. My mom would have kicked me out!
The next day, I asked my siblings to schedule Zoom calls with me and conduct daily interviews. I asked my friends to do the same. I practiced and practiced until I was confident in front of the camera. I recorded myself and listened to my own answers, took notes, and improved upon them. This continued for a full one and a half months, and then came the interview day!
I chose a well-lit room, dressed professionally, and logged onto the Zoom call. I met with the very warm Admissions team, who were the hosts and fellow candidates. All of us are waiting to be put into our respective interview rooms. Later, I met with my interviewers, very kind and professional CU Faculty and Alumni. I cannot disclose what they asked me, but I can tell that they wanted to know me as a person as much as they wanted to know about my academic and professional career. The interview went on for roughly 40 minutes, and everyone tried to keep my stress level to the bare minimum. It was overall a very welcoming feeling, although I had no clue how it went or how I did.
Colorado Calling – CU A Deep Dive 2025 with Dr. Ritesh Chawla | Caapid Simplified
The following 2 months went by, thinking What’s next? What next was an email titled “Congratulations!- Invited to Bench Exam”. Again, I saw it at 4 am and had to control my excitement!
I had a total of 10 days to prepare for the virtual bench exam. I downloaded each and every cavity prep I could find online and started to critique it in a professional and clinical manner. I got together with my fellow dentists and discussed random cases and treatment planning. It helped a lot, and finally, the bench exam day was here.
I was welcomed by exceptionally kind CU Faculty and Alumni who discussed preparations and cases with me. Again, I had no idea how it went, and I was actually blank at the end.
I got back to my usual life and actually went on a long-awaited vacation with my friends. July 7 was the day when I was flying back, and I landed around 10:30 pm and had a voicemail on my US number (I was in India at that time). It was a Google translation of the voicemail and was not the best translation. I called back, and the Director of the ISP program took the call and verified my CAAPID ID before I heard the most awaited words of my life: “Congratulations! You have been accepted to the Advanced Standing International Student Program Class of 2024,” and I yelled at the top of my voice! I yelled so severely that the cab driver actually took a peek in the rear mirror to make sure I was fine. Little did he know it was the happiest day of my life!
It took me a few days to actually realise what happened. I couldn’t believe that I was finally accepted to a DDS Program. I thanked god for bearing with me through this entire journey!
I started preparing all the necessary documents like vaccination records, financial documents, visa-related documents, etc.
Months went by, and I finally reached the CU School of Dental Medicine for my orientation week. I met my classmates, faculty members, and admission team members, and saw the school. Orientation week went by quickly, although it was a lot of things to absorb.
We started school in January 2023, and the first six months were quite tricky, but we did it. It was a lot of exams, a lot of classes, and a lot of pre-clinicals. We started our first patients in March as part of the Transition Clinic, which is a bridge between pre-clinicals and clinics. The clinical faculty members were very patient and made sure we understood the process. They were always ready to answer any questions we had.
The first year was a nice blend of didactics, pre-clinicals, and a lot of clinical sessions. We were providing comprehensive care while getting specialty consults whenever required.
We had clinical rotations in departments like Oral Surgery, Special Care and Geriatric Clinic, On-Call rotations, etc. It was initially difficult to manage our own ‘Student Practice’, but as time passed, everyone got good at managing their patient pool. Your clinical education entirely depends on what you wish to gain from it.
The second year was full of competencies, licensing exams, didactic exams at school, and figuring out post-graduation plans. The licensing exam ADEX happened in 2 parts, one in March and the other in October. ADEX does conduct the exam at the CU School of Dental Medicine, so there was no need for us to go to different schools. Job search requires a lot of effort so that we are sure that the place and the company match our interests.
Two years went by pretty fast. Met a lot of people, cherished and will continue to cherish a few, a lot of class events and gatherings, and a lot of memories! These 2 years will be the best years of your life. You will be pushed, and it will not be easy, but it was never meant to be easy. That is why you chose it, right? Have your people here; they will help you. Make sure you help others at the same time. Trust me, the view at the end is worth all the struggle and sacrifices you have made to reach here.
Good luck, and I hope your dream will come true very soon!
Frequently Asked Questions :-
- How would you describe the campus atmosphere in simple words?
We are at a Medical Campus surrounded by hospitals. So it is usually a quiet campus with occasional Med. Helicopters are getting in and out. You have food and coffee options in and around the campus as well. Occasionally, food trucks can also be seen around. Basically, very calm and a very beautiful campus. - Are there any popular traditions or events that students look forward to every year?
Student organizations usually put something on every now and then. There are some events organized before the Finals week as well. - What’s the best thing about being a student at CU?
You get to meet some of the most knowledgeable and kind faculty members. I am almost sure you will find 1 or 2 friends that you will cherish for life. You get to shape your clinical education the way you want. - How do students balance academics and social life here?
That is again a personal choice. You can set rules for yourself to make sure things stay in balance. Colorado is a beautiful state, and there is a lot you can get into to de-stress. Denver is a great city to enjoy as well. - How easy is it to get involved in research or internships?
As an ISP, it gets a little tricky, but it’s definitely doable. You can reach out to professors involved in research and see what opportunities they have. - What’s a typical weekend like for students?
Depending on what was accomplished during the week, you can easily have at least one day to yourself. Otherwise, it could involve studying for exams, lab work, or maybe just chilling in Denver or visiting other places. Totally depends on how you shape it. - How are the study spaces and library resources on campus?
Oh, this campus is full of study spots. Library, education buildings, health sciences building, anywhere you can study, and some places it can be ‘studying with a view’ as well. - What advice would you give to a new student starting at CU?
Come with an open mind. Don’t think that you know everything Dentistry has to offer. Once you have that mental lock, there is no growth. Here at CU, you have a chance to grow as a person and as a professional. Give it a try!
