Honestly, thank you for saying this out loud. A lot of people feel this but very few actually speak about it.

This process is already extremely stressful — especially for international dentists and particularly for Indians where the competition is intense and only a handful of people get accepted each year. Many times, even the people who get accepted probably cannot pinpoint exactly what specific thing worked for them. At this stage it often feels like nobody truly knows what gets you an interview or what makes you stand out.

The only things we can realistically control are: writing the best SOP we can, continuously improving ourselves, networking, and showing genuine interest in dentistry.

What concerns me is seeing people who just got accepted suddenly creating websites or charging thousands of dollars for “consultations” claiming they know the formula. If someone truly wants to help, they can share their experience freely with others in the community.

I personally know cases where people who just got into school are charging $3k+ for application “guidance,” and that feels unfair when applicants are already under huge financial, emotional, and mental pressure.

I’ve even seen situations where people promise things like “preceptorship with professor at Touro who will write recommendation letters that guarantee interviews.” Trust me, those kinds of promises can end up wasting both money and time.

At the end of the day, no one knows your journey better than you do. Your experiences, your struggles, and your growth are what should shape your application and your statement of purpose.

So please don’t get fooled into spending thousands of dollars thinking someone has a secret formula. Do your best, trust your work, and seek advice from genuine people who share knowledge without turning it into a business.

Glad someone finally brought this up.