Applicants' opinions about the selection process for oral surgery programs.

A survey of applicants to oral surgery graduate programs was distributed to 170 candidates requesting application forms from the University of Kentucky. Eighty-five applicants responded. The average candidate was approximately 28 years old, married, and attended dental school in the southeast or midwest. He applied to ten programs and viewed a personal interview as an important part of the application process. Traditional criteria such as basic science grades and class rank were not uniformly considered as important factors in the initial screening of candidates. Other views and criticisms of the applicants are examined and suggestions are provided to reduce some of the apparent inequities now inherent to the system.