"One Piece of Advice" from Successful CAAPID IDP Applicants

It’s no secret that the International Dentist Pathway (IDP) or Advanced Standing International Dentist Programs (ASIDP) is one of the most competitive and grueling application processes in the United States. If we consider supply and demand, there is a surplus of international dentists wanting to practice dentistry in the states with limited seats across approximately 43 programs nationwide. If you also factor how many applicants require more than one attempt to gain admissions, navigating the CAAPID application requires commitment and proper planning.

One of the achievements Wilson and I are most proud of, which truly reflects the effectiveness of our mentoring services, is that all of our IDP students, whether they were first-time applicants or re-applicants, gained admission in the same cycle.

Despite the arduous road, it is with thoughtful preparation and execution that acceptance to an IDP program can absolutely be accomplished. Rather than diving into rabbit holes of re-applicant horror stories, this blog post serves as a means to offer inspiration, authenticity, and practical advice from previously successful IDP applicants who were recently in your shoes. 

It's that time of the year again for another application season of dental and residency application programs. To help you prepare for this next professional journey, we asked recent IDP successful applicants international dental school admissions process (you can find their success stories here): "What is one piece of advice you have for someone applying grad school in your profession?" and “How did Jenny and Wilson's advice share through mentorship, advising appointments, or blog content help you achieve your professional goals?”

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Below is the compilation of all the great advice they have to share (in no specific order) and a testimonial on how we supported their individual success:

Swati Dogney, UW ℅ 2028

"My biggest piece of advice would be to find a trustworthy and honest mentor who genuinely understands both you and the application process. A good mentor does more than just review applications—they provide clarity, perspective, and, most importantly, honest feedback, even when it’s difficult to hear."

Jenny’s mentorship played a critical role in shaping my IDDS school journey. From the start, she thoroughly reviewed my profile to understand my academic background, professional experience, and long-term goals, and provided honest, thoughtful feedback on where I stood. One of her most impactful recommendations was to take a gap year to strengthen my profile—advice that was difficult to hear at the time but ultimately proved to be the right decision.  Her support went far beyond advice. Throughout my gap year, Jenny stayed consistently involved, guiding me toward meaningful resources, experiences, and opportunities to address gaps in my profile. During the application process, she provided one-on-one mentorship at every step, from working on SOPs to interview preparation, ensuring my responses were authentic, accurate, and truly reflective of my experiences. Her personalized and honest guidance gave me clarity, confidence, and a strong sense of direction toward my professional goals.

Bita Ahmadi, NYU AEGD Class of 2026

"Start preparing early and seek guidance from mentors who understand the application process. Be authentic in telling your story. Programs value applicants who can clearly communicate their motivation, experiences, and future goals, not just a list of achievements."

Jenny’s guidance was invaluable throughout my dental residency application process. Her mentorship not only helped me organize and refine my CV, but also taught me how to present my experiences in a way that truly reflected my strengths and passion for dentistry. She provided practical strategies for highlighting my unique background, and her feedback gave me the confidence to submit a polished and competitive application.

Danielle Moreira Cardoso, Western University of Health Sciences Class of 2026

"Work hard, look for mentorship, and never give up!"

After going through two dental school application cycles unsuccessfully, I was introduced to Jenny. She helped me to refine my writing, make a detailed plan, and practice for interviews. Wilson and I did a mock interview, where he gave me practical tips to feel more calm and confident. I couldn't have asked for a better mentorship! Being accepted into the IDP was one of the best feelings ever

Karan Singh UIC ℅ 2025

"Dedication is the key. Do not lose the hope. Sometimes you have to wait for a while to achieve what are for aiming for so long. Additionally it is also beneficial to get professional help from people like jenny instead of losing your whole year."

Jenny helped me with letter of recommendation. It's helpful to gain advice on how to best ask a doctor for a letter of recommendation. I also learned how to strategically ask each letter writer what to include to best highlight my skills based on my experiences with them. 

Pezhman Ahmadi, NYU AEGD ℅ 2025

"Seeking help from professional people through this challenging journey can be truly beneficial and can increase your chances of success significantly. Find clinical and application mentors. I learned so much from working as an RDAEF and surrounding myself with extern dental students"

Jenny and Wilson provided invaluable assistance in composing my resume and personal statement. Throughout our consultations, they could identify the strengths within my application and highlighted my qualifications perfectly. Additionally, they engaged in constructive dialogue regarding the vulnerabilities within my application, offering guidance on the optimal approach to redress those areas.

Erika Parra UCSF ℅ 2025

"For someone who is applying to the IDP program, I want to tell you that you have all the capabilities to achieve it.  It is not an easy path but with effort and perseverance you will achieve it.  The most important thing is to trust yourself and don't give up."

Jenny was great, I had two very productive sessions in which she advised me and helped me to have more security and confidence at the time of the interview.  She focuses on your strengths and helps you know how to express them clearly and effectively.

Pragati Nahar UCSF IDP 2 year pathway Class of 2025

"Be your true self & be in the profession for all the right reasons to help your patients."

I was a lil skeptical in taking professional help thinking my application would not be authentic or unique to me. The most important thing about Jenny & Wilson was they kept my statement of purpose & my story as authentic as possible. Helped me to write things in much concise manner with a proper flow. I believe there understanding of the whole process is commendable. They understood the process well, were very professional & kind to me.

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Special thanks to all our amazing colleagues above who chose to share their wisdom!

If you would like to be featured in a future success story or post, please email us at thepredentalguide@gmail.com or send us a message in our chat box to your right.

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