adea pass personal statement character limit

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Personal statement

Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry.

Although there is no set of rules mandating what a strong personal statement should include, here are a few tips to help you successfully craft a winning personal statement:

• Explain a defining moment that helped steer you toward a career in dentistry. Consider using that moment as the focal point of your essay.
• Be colorful, positive, imaginative and personal when discussing why you’re a good candidate for dental school. Ask yourself—in a pile of 100 applications, would I enjoy reading my statement? Be sure to convey your passion for dentistry in your statement.
• Be yourself.  Don’t use jargon, clichés or big phrases that you would not use in daily conversation. Remember, dental schools want to know about the real you.
• Be original and thoughtful: Discuss how you would contribute to the profession and patient care, all of which will help you stand out from other applicants.
• Tell your story—make sure the essay is your story, not someone else’s. 
• Recruit a friend. Ask a friend, relative or faculty advisor to read your essay and provide constructive criticism. Ask them to think about whether the essay is a good representation of your character, and what they know of your ideals and aspirations.
• Give yourself time to organize your thoughts, write well and edit as necessary. And don’t forget to proofread, proofread, proofread!

Here are a few things to avoid when writing your personal statement:

• Writing what you think the admissions committee wants to hear.
• Using a gimmicky style or format.
• Summarizing your resume or repeating information directly from your transcripts or recommendation letters.
• Emphasizing the negative.
• Waiting until the last minute to get started on your statement.

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This video provides suggestions on developing your applications strategically to highlight your strengths and maturing competencies for a future in dentistry.

Some tips for applying to dental school—apply early, ask early, research, proofread your work, be organized and talk to your health professions advisor!

Have some burning questions about dentistry and/or dental hygiene? Check out our FAQ section to see if we have the answers you're looking for!

Tufts University

• Massachusetts
• Orthodontics
• dental.tufts.edu

Program Contact

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Office of Admissions , One Kneeland St. - 15th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts, 02111

The program is accredited by the ADA  Commission on Dental Accreditation for Advanced Specialty Education Programs in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The program offers a 24- month certificate program, at the end if which, residents are awarded with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. The program can be combined with a Master of Science or a Doctor of Science degree. At the end of the combined programs, residents are awarded with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics and a Master of Science degree, or a Doctor of Science degree conferred by Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. 

As part of graduation requirements, residents complete the written examination of American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) examination before graduation and are encouraged to obtain board certification.

The program provides emphasis on the clinical aspects of the specialty. The program graduates are trained in all aspects of clinical orthodontics and designed to prepare all graduates for a private practice setting. The program has a highly involved network of accomplished alumni that contribute to and enrich the residents’ experience.

Areas of training include, but are not limited to, treatment of adolescent and adult patients, early and interceptive treatment, orthognathic surgery and interdisciplinary treatment, cleft lip and palate and craniofacial anomalies. The program introduces and trains its residents on the use of technology, such as digital radiography, digital imaging, digital diagnostic records, and 3D printing and in-house aligner manufacturing. The program proudly maintains modern technology, with a complete 3D printing lab within the department.

Emphasis is placed on the treatment of patient cases to American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) standards. And expose residents to organized orthodontics via encouraging and supporting attending NESO, AAO, and other national meetings.

Program Information

Application requirements, required standardized tests.

• Passing the INBDE before matriculation into the advanced dental education program
• Only US or Canadian trained dentists are required to submit the INBDE results before matriculation into the advanced education program. If you have graduated from your dental program, INBDE or NBDE (Part I and II) results must be submitted at the time of application. Foreign-trained applicants are NOT required to take the INBD or NBD Part I and II exams; however, if you have taken these exams, you are required to submit the INBDE or NBDE (Part I and II) results at the time of application. Applicants are encouraged, but NOT required, to take the ADAT test.

Supplemental Requirements

• Requires supplemental fee

Transcript Evaluation and Instructions

Official transcripts from all postsecondary education must be uploaded through PASS.  Any additional official transcripts should be sent in PDF format via email to [email protected] . Please visit our website for full details.

Letters of Evaluation Instructions

• Dean's evaluation letter is required.
• Minimum three letters of evaluation (excluding dean's letter) is required.
• Maximum four letters of evaluation (excluding dean's letter) allowed.

TOEFL Requirement Instructions

The TOEFL or IELTS exams are required by all internationally trained applicants.  Please visit our website for details on this requirement- 

PASS Application | School of Dental Medicine (tufts.edu)

Other Requirement Instructions

All applicants are required to submit either an official GRE score report if you are applying to the Orthodontics program. To have your GRE scores sent to Tufts University School of Dental Medicine use code 3902. For more information regarding the GREs contact: GRE Customer Service at 609-771-7670. You may also visit their  website .

Please limit your personal statement to 3000 characters maximum. In your personal statement, please include   what makes you an ideal candidate for the next class of Tufts Orthodontic Residency Program.

International Student Eligibility

This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school : Yes

Applicants are eligible to enroll if they are:

• US Permanent Resident
• Canadian Citizen
• Canadian Permanent Resident
• Non-US Citizen/Resident (applicant must obtain their own sponsorship)

Additional Information

When uploading undergraduate transcripts please upload only official transcripts.   If you submit unofficial transcripts or student grade reports you will be asked to send the official transcript by mail or in PDF format to the school.   When transcripts are uploaded with the PASS application they are considered unofficial and we require the information from the official transcript that can be lacking in the unofficial forms. Should you be accepted to the program the hardcopy official transcripts will need to be sent to the school.  

Internationally trained Applicants - Please make sure to review our website for additional requirements- https://dental.tufts.edu/academics-admissions/postgraduate-programs/pass-application

CAAPID v. PASS PERSONAL STATEMENT(S)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Imagine that your personal statement is a dish you are preparing for a culinary competition. You want to create a dish that is both delicious as well as aesthetically and visually appealing.

The CAAPID personal statement is like a classic dish, such as a chocolate chip cookie. It is something that everyone knows and loves. But, you still want to put your own personal spin on it and make it your own, customizing aspects of it to fit in with the true essence of you.

The PASS personal statement on the other hand, is more like a signature dish. It is something that is unique and exclusive to you and is one that perfectly showcases your skills and aptitude for a specific aspect, well-curated to appeal to that aspect/specialty, in this case.

Regardless of the dish you prepare, it must be well-seasoned with a clear flavor profile. Similarly, your personal statement should be well-written and engaging; it should communicate why you are a good fit for the school or residency program you are applying to.

CAAPID and PASS

The Centralized Application Service for Advanced Placement in Dentistry (CAAPID) and the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) are two different application services used by dental schools and residency programs in the United States and Canada.

CAAPID is a centralized application service that allows applicants to submit a single application to multiple dental schools. PASS is a similar service for residency programs.

Why do dental school and residency applicants need to write personal statements?

Personal statements are an important part of the dental school and residency application process. They provide an opportunity for applicants to tell their story and explain why they are interested in the specific program to which they are applying. This is a crucial part in one’s application, it is one of the only documents that strikes a personal chord. Unlike your transcripts and CV, a personal statement allows the admissions committee a peak into not just your dental journey but a clear understanding of who you are as a dentist and person. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills, strengths, and most importantly, the essence of who you are. 

Key differences between CAAPID and PASS Personal Statements

CAAPID and PASS personal statements stem from the same foundation, that is -your opportunity to showcase your skills, strengths, and most importantly, the essence of who you are. However, they differ in a few aspects that we like to call “The Four C’s”-

• Character Count

Customization

Let us take a look at these points in a little more detail to truly understand what each one entails.

Character Count 

CAAPID –  CAAPID statements mandate a 5200 character limit. While it does seem like a daunting task to encapsulate your life in 5200 characters, what helps is setting a definitive structure in mind. Decide the aspects, experiences, and categories of your life you want to showcase and allocate them to a roughly watertight structure before you commence the writing process. This ensures that you do justice to every aspect that you want to talk about, without running out of character count.

A CAAPID personal statement is generic but should convince the reader of your suitability not just as a dentist but also as a person. From personal experiences, to your dental journey, to patient instances, it can and should include any and all fragments that make you, you.

 There is no blueprint or rulebook for writing the perfect CAAPID statement-recounting past experiences to talking about your goals in the future, the canvas is yours to paint with vibrant colors and an honest expression of you.  

PASS – 

PASS statements on the other hand are a writer’s desire- free and liberated expression devoid of a character limit. Applicants have more freedom to portray their background, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. However, this no-character-limit concept can also be a double-edged sword. Statements that run into 3 pages or 9,000 characters are a hard no. It is pertinent to factor in that one must keep the reader engaged, and anything more than about 6000 characters makes that difficult. A statement extremely short and brief does not engage enough, while a long winding statement become a boring monologue. Find the sweet spot in between by recounting experiences that stand out in your personal and professional life while showcasing your qualities.

CAAPID –

CAAPID statements tend to be generic in terms of content, showcasing the essence of who you are as a person and a dentist.   The goal here, is to engage the reader with your life story in an authentic manner. I know this sounds overwhelming but with our pointers, this shouldn’t be as overwhelming as it sounds. Spend some time evaluating what bits of your life showcase your inclination towards and fit into dentistry – then integrating them would be like stringing beads together to form a necklace. A good statement should ideally provide answers to the following questions – who are you as a human, why you chose dentistry, what is your niche as a dentist, why do you want to pursue dentistry in the US now, what advantages can you bring to the cohort, and what your future aspirations are. It need not focus on a particular area or specialty.

PASS –

PASS statements focus on the specific specialty you are applying to. Like a CAAPID statement, you will evaluate which bits of your personal and professional life showcase your competence, however, this will be more tailor-made to the specialty of your choice. For instance, if it’s Prosthodontics that you are applying to, the Statement should highlight your ability to fabricate and construct, your dexterity your collaborative abilities, even your creativity, etc. For a Paediatrics PASS statement, you would write about instances in your life that perhaps paint a picture of your congeniality, how good you are with children, etc.

Aside from the area/specialty taking center stage of your statement, you could also talk about your future aspirations and your expectations from the particular program you are applying to. Ensure your statement answers crucial questions such as- why that particular residency, why you are a ideal candidate for it, and let that flow into your goals within that field. For example, in a Prosthodontics statement you might highlight upcoming advancements in TMJ disorders, among others.  

Thus, the difference between the content in a CAAPID and PASS statement is the amount of focus you need to bring out in the residency you are applying for in PASS. The common theme, however, is that both statements aim at showing the admissions committee how you are the best fit as a person and dentist.

A customized statement is tailor-made exclusively targeting a specific school’s program. 

As a CAAPID applicant, unfortunately, you cannot customize your statements. CAAPID statements follow a One Portal, One Statement formula. You can upload one common Statement that is visible to all the CAAPID participant schools, whether it is NYU or Nebraska. However, some schools like Colorado or UMN do require a customized statement, for which you then have the liberty to customize or reorient your CAAPID statement according to the specific school.

The distinct feature or advantage of a PASS Statement is that it can be customized for every school that you are applying to, and for each specialty that you want to apply to. 

For instance, if you want to apply to AEGD and Endodontics residency programs in both UCSF and UCLA, you can afford to upload 4 separate statements for these 4 different requirements – a statement each for UCSF and UCLA, focusing on why that school, separate statements for AEGD and Endodontics, stating how you are a good fit for that particular residency.  

For this, a basic statement, even a tweaked CAAPID statement, could serve well to showcase your fit for AEGD, with an added focus on the school you are applying to which will change according to whether it’s UCSF or UCLA. For Endodontics, you could then recycle your AEGD statement and reorient it to showcase skills that would highlight your flair and competence for endodontics

CAAPID – 

Creativity is seemingly synonymous with a CAAPID statement. There is no limit to your creativity. You can fly and and wide with analogies and creative comparisons that you feel truly reflect you as a person and as a dentist. From profound quotes, to childhood cartoon influences, to themes like sailing or marathons, the world of creativity is your oyster. You can use it to accessorize your statement as long as the star of the show remains your statement- highlighting your skills and pertinent points.

A PASS statement need not be monotonous and dry. Creativity is most definitely welcome in a PASS statement, but the catch here, is that the spotlight must remain bright and shining on the content. Outline your strengths, list out your aspirations, and highlight your takeaways from that particular PASS program. The goal is to portray why you are a good fit for that particular school and more importantly, that particular specialty. With that as the central point, you can feel free to sprinkle your statement with bits of creativity.

Tips for writing a strong CAAPID or PASS personal statement

• Be honest and authentic . The admissions committees want to get to know the real you.
• Be specific . Don’t just tell the admissions committees that you are passionate about dentistry or that you are interested in the specific residency program to which you are applying. Show them.
• Be concise . The admissions committees have a lot of applications to read, so make sure your personal statement is to the point.
• Proofread carefully. Typos and grammatical errors will make a bad impression on the admissions committees.

Here are detailed videos that encapsulate the process of writing a statement and the difference between writing a CAAPID and PASS Personal Statement- 

Personal Statement (SOP) for International Dental Programs – CAAPID and PASS

Caapid vs pass personal statement | caapid simplified.

The CAAPID and PASS personal statements are like sculpting tools. They help you to chip away at the excess material and shape your story into a masterpiece.

While the CAAPID personal statement is a general tool you use to shape your story into any form that you desire, the PASS personal statement is a more specific tool. It is designed to shape your story into a specific form: a fit for the residency program to which you are applying.

Use the CAAPID and PASS personal statements to sculpt your masterpiece. Be honest, be specific, and be creative. The admissions committees are eager to see what you create.

Also Read:-

The Art of Crafting Your Personal Statement

How to Write a Letter of Recommendation for Dental Schools?

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