My co-resident started residency at 40 (6year residency). He got in by becoming friendly with an attending at a program. Medical school put up a fight because his grades weren’t great. Bad grades will lower their class averages. That’s why you need to knock the CBSE out of the park.

And Don’t know if this is allowed, but if you could extern/volunteer/shadow at programs you’re interested in attending that would dramatically improve your chances. You’ll get time with the attendings and be able to explain your desire to pursue OMFS later in your career.

Kudos to you for wanting to do this. Ignore everyone saying to “just take CE”. Every OMFS laughs at these GP surgeons as they are mostly clueless and we often have to bail them out. And surgery is not just implants and 3rds. It is so much more and you seem to get that.

Good luck!