I'm interested in becoming a dental hygienist and live in Oregon. Can anyone recommend good dental hygiene schools in Oregon that I should consider? How competitive are these programs?
In Oregon, there are several reputable dental hygiene programs that you can consider:
- Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) in Klamath Falls offers both an Associate and a Bachelor's program in Dental Hygiene. The Bachelor's program is a degree completion program offered online for those who already have an Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
- Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham provides an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene which takes around two years to complete.
- Portland Community College (PCC) in Portland also offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
As for competitiveness, these programs can be rather competitive due to the limited number of spots available each year. For instance, the dental hygiene program at Mt. Hood only accepts about 24 students per year. Similarly, PCC accepts around 30 students per year.
Admission is typically based on a variety of factors including pre-requisite course grades, overall GPA, observation hours, references, and your interview. It's ideal to maintain a high GPA, secure relevant experience (like shadowing a dental hygienist), and demonstrate a strong commitment to this career path to enhance your application.
Given the limited nature of spots, I would recommend applying to multiple programs to maximize your chances of gaining admission. Remember to review the specific admission requirements for each school to ensure you're a competitive applicant.
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