Well this has to be my very first post of the year. Guess I was so busy with my work in the call center while trying to balance it with my academics into finally finishing my 2-year Pre-dentistry course in Davao Medical School. And for the whole summer break I just reviewed for my comprehensive exams, as well as prepare for my much awaited transfer application to the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Dentistry Proper to which this post will be all about.
UP has always been my dream school ever since I started to get serious with my studies. And I've already accepted the fact that it was already too late for me to regret that I wasnt able to take the UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT) when I was in high school. Back then I took my education for granted and as much as I want to go back in time and redo everything, that would be very impossible. But I didn't let that dictate my future tho. When I entered college I turned into a completely different person: A consistent dean's lister, student council officer, event organizer, I was in the cover of the school magazine, I joined my very first pageant and I volunteered in a lot of community extension services, you name it, I've experienced it all, I even experienced to be a working-student which was the toughest one ever.
I jumped from one experience to another but I definitely didnt expect to see UP along the road of my life. When a friend of mine sent me the guidelines for transferees for Dentistry Proper (shown below) my eyes just widened the moment I learned that I actually have a chance of getting in to my dream school!
The cutoff General Weighted Average for pre-dentistry graduates was 1.75 (that's equiv. to 89%) and I managed to keep my GWA above 1.75 so i qualified for transfer.
The transfer process was sort of different this year because it took three days (May 20-22) compared to other batches which just lasted for a day (yes, i asked previous transferees who were admitted before, that's how desperate i was lol) We had an orientation and an unexpected on-the-spot essay on the 1st day, dexterity examinations on the 2nd day, and the most dreaded panel interview on the last day. (Critera shown below)
During the orientation Dr. Lara discussed about the Return Service Agreement (RSA) policy of the college, should we be admitted and she also talked about the required pre-dentistry subjects especially the BIO102 (Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy) which wasn't found in the pre-dentistry curricula of other dental schools. If an admitted student hasn't taken BIO102 yet, then it would mean automatic 1 year delay, because he/she has to drop 1 major subject for it. and I was lucky enough to be the only one among the applicants who already took BIO102 (when i was in PT before shifting to dentistry) so if ever I'll be admitted, then there wouldn't be a problem. So make sure you take BIO102 if you have plans on applying, if it's not offered in your school you can still cross enroll if possible.
Anyway after the orientation we were tasked to answer three questions. all compressed & synthesized in a 1-paragraph-unexpected-on-the-spot essay.
And these questions were:
1. Why do you want to pursue your DDM here in UP?
2. What are your expectations?
3. And what can you contribute to the UP community?
I already prepared answers for these questions beforehand but I was expecting them to be asked during the interview. So basically I was left completely doomed hahaha!
In the afternoon, the UP College of Dentistry Student Council conducted the first ever PRIMER which helped us prepare for the Dexterity Exams the following day. And I really appreciate their effort to help us transferees. So if given the chance to be admitted, I'll definitely push this one for the next batches of aspiring transferees.
Then we had our Dexterity Exams on the 2nd day, and it was indeed very tiring because we took it from 8am to 4pm. The exam is divided into 2 sub tests: Drawing in the morning & Carving in the afternoon.
The Drawing part was further divided into 5 parts:
1. 2D to 3D drawing
2. 3D to 2D drawing
3. Mirror image drawing
4. Perceptual ability drawing (shadows)
The 5th one - Mirror Tracing Exercise (pic shown below) was inserted in the afternoon after they made your hands very tired from all of those drawings. It's a major part of the dexterity exam since it's within time pressure and it's one of the tests that will make or break your dexterity exam since you will be doing that for the rest of your life as a dentist.
(In this exercise youre only allowed to look at the mirror held by a UP professor. You need to get through a maze without lifting the pencil and touching the sides. Expect a more complicated maze than this tho. All of us were shocked during the actual mirror tracing)
For the carving part, all I can say is this:
(Some werent able to finish their carvings, mine almost broke while i was digging the hole at the middle but fortunately i was able to finish both carvings and they fit together perfectly)
Finally on the last day was Panel Interview day! When each of us will be grilled by at least 4 UP professors slash dentists who were members of the admissions committee for at least 30 minutes or so. Everyone was on their business casual attire, some wore ties, some wore high heels and even blazers, already getting nervous because we didn't know what questions are going to be thrown at us.
Just be prepared for the worst case scenario:
>they're a little bit harsh mainly because they want to know how you react to pressure and awkward situations (fortunately I managed to remain calm and confident all throughout the interview)
>they will ask you about current social issues (they asked my opinion about the BBL because I'm from Davao)
>why you chose dentistry, and the rest of the questions will be based on the ones that you wrote in your Work Experience, Extra Curricular activities, Talents and Interests section of the application form. (They asked me to draw on the white board that will symbolize dentistry as how I perceived it because I wrote "drawing" as one of my talents so good luck if you wrote there "singing" hahaha)
>show them that you really want to be here, as if your life depended on it!
>always, ALWAYS thank each of the interviewers paired with a firm, professional handshake. That will at least make them remember your touch, your skin, where do I begin? lol
And that's it. One more thing, the maximum number of students they admit to 1st Year Dentistry Proper is only 60 (which includes pre-dentistry students from UP) And there were more than a dozen of us aspiring transferees who competed for the much coveted slots of the most prestigious dental school in the country. So chances will depend on the number of slots available. Last school year only 1 transferee was admitted because the class size of the pre-dent students from UP was already 60+.
I did my very best to really stand out and I have no regrets whatsoever. I guess if it's meant to be it will be. I'll just keep you guys posted. For the meantime, while waiting for the results on June 15, I made this blog post for the benefit of those who also want to transfer next year. Great, now I'm finished writing this post. Now what? XD
CLAIM IT! UP FIGHT!
Amidst the anxiety and stress that anything brings to you. It helps most of the time when you always wear your smile :D
'Til next time.
-E.R.Q.Y.
