dental reapplicant

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Hello everyone,
I submitted my AADSAS in the second week of October, and took my first and only DAT in early December for this 2011-2012 app cycle---
my sGPA is a 3.72 and overall is 3.75
-my DAT scores:
PAT: 20
QR: 21
RC: 19
Bio: 20
GC: 21
OC: 20
Total Science: 20
AA: 20

I have hands-on research experience and dental experience....so what what wrong? I have not gotten any interviews...no wait-lists either. Did I apply too late in the cycle? Any suggestions? Should I take the DAT again? Would applying early this upcoming summer 2012 in June help? Thanks for your feedback in advance.

Your numbers look good. It is most likely you applied way, way too late. Remember it takes 4-6 weeks for schools to get your official DAT scores, so your application was not complete technically until Jan/Feb if you took the DAT in December. By this time, most schools have given out most of their interviews and are finalizing their classes.
I would suggest re-applying as soon as AADSAS opens for the upcoming cycle. Get all your stuff ready now (LOR, personal statement, etc). Be one of the first batches out and you should get some responses

ya

october's considered late for a lot of schools, but slower schools would've still interviewed you had you gotten your dats in sooner

those jan/feb deadlines are a scam for our application fees man

Thanks for your responses so far...so would you guys recommend me taking the DAT again or getting new letter of recs? any other advice would be appreciated.

Thankss

Apply early! I think you are golden.

You shouldn't need to take the DAT again. LORs should be strong, so when you ask for someone to write you a reference letter, ask "Can you write me an outstanding letter?". If they can't move on and find someone who will.

Most schools have already filled 90% of their class by the time they got your DAT score. And then they'll fill the other 10% off the people on the wait-list, or 'outstanding' applicants (3.8+, 23+AA) who applied late.

General rule is to apply before September 1st for serious consideration. The earlier the better though. You're golden when the new application cycle opens up on June 4th. Good luck.

thanks for your input everyone! It means a lot. Also, what about my personal statement? If I am a reapplicant, do the same schools see everything I have submitted before? Thanks!

You applied way too late... Next time apply in June and you should be fine.

thanks for the input, so should I write another personal statement, or submit the same one? I don't know if same colleges see everything I submitted this past cycle...

Originally Posted by sa012

thanks for the input, so should I write another personal statement, or submit the same one? I don't know if same colleges see everything I submitted this past cycle...

Have a couple people read over it and see what they think. If it's okay, I would just make a few minor revisions and use the same one. It's not like your reasons for joining dentistry change after you apply again.

hey, just seeking more input from you guys: would it help if I do an MS program or a MPH program to enhance my application, or would that just be a waste of time and money? Any advice is very much appreciated.

any thoughts?? thanks everyone in advance

Originally Posted by sa012

hey, just seeking more input from you guys: would it help if I do an MS program or a MPH program to enhance my application, or would that just be a waste of time and money? Any advice is very much appreciated.

I wouldn't if I were you--wasted time and effort would be my opinion. Your GPA's are very strong (above average) your DAT scores are on average of accepted folks or slightly better, and it sounds like your EC's are solid too. As a reapplicant you always want to focus on improving your weak areas...I would say GPA and DAT are fine. Just keep doing what youre doing EC wise, and apply early this time--sounds like that was your biggest 'weakness' last time around. Work on having a great personal statement and do a lot of mock interviews, and as counter intuitive as it may sound, enjoy the ride! It's all about the journey, not the destination. Given your stats I would fully expect you'll make it in this time, so enjoy the process.

Best of luck!

Thanks for all your inputs. If I retake the DAT, I am not sure my score will improve much...what do you guys think? I will probably reuse all the same practice materials, but just have a better handle on timing and experience with the material. Thanks!

Originally Posted by sa012

Thanks for all your inputs. If I retake the DAT, I am not sure my score will improve much...what do you guys think? I will probably reuse all the same practice materials, but just have a better handle on timing and experience with the material. Thanks!

I thought everyone already answered your question.

What went wrong was that you applied October. Its really late.
Your stats are really good. No need to retake the DAT.

Apply in June this cycle.

How many schools did you applied? Which ones? Breakdown of your ECs? Did you send in the LORs on time? Did you have leadership? Where did you shadow?
Every little things add up...

^^I applied to like 12 schools, 6 in state (California) and the rest out of state, like NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Temple, Howard.

I have a lot of medical shadowing/volunteering experience (250 hours+) both international and local
-50+ dental shadowing experience at local dentist who has been an old family dental surgeon
-50+ dental volunteering experience at the same place as above
-brain research, hands on with rats, research projects on computer
-EC's: local community fundraisers, honor roll,
tutoring job, sales director of a company,
-needlework.painting/artwork---manual dexterity
....

Based on the stats I just posted above and my other stats, if I apply in June, it will be okay? I will be getting more dental experience like 50 more hours within the next month...The reason I am really concerned is because I have to get in somewhere this cycle, as I cannot waster any more time and money.

Thanks in advance!

The thing is nobody can say that you will get in for sure. The answer is relative, not absolute but your probability of getting in is very good if you apply in June. I have a friend with a 3.8 GPA, 20 DAT. It took him 3 cycles to get in. In the third cycle, he got into 3 pharmacy schools and 2 dental schools.

If you keep this mindset that you HAVE TO get in somewhere, you automatically put a lot of pressure on yourself.

You ECs are good.
All I can say is that you should apply in June and apply to 15+ schools to increase your chance.

Originally Posted by wizi

The thing is nobody can say that you will get in for sure. The answer is relative, not absolute but your probability of getting in is very good if you apply in June. I have a friend with a 3.8 GPA, 20 DAT. It took him 3 cycles to get in. In the third cycle, he got into 3 pharmacy schools and 2 dental schools.

If you keep this mindset that you HAVE TO get in somewhere, you automatically put a lot of pressure on yourself.

You ECs are good.
All I can say is that you should apply in June and apply to 15+ schools to increase your chance.

wow...three cycles???? with those stats????? makes me nervous... there must have been something awry

Originally Posted by olive6

wow...three cycles???? with those stats????? makes me nervous... there must have been something awry

I have been asking myself the same question too lol. He is really a nice guy. U shouldn't worry because I have seen people with lower stats that got in after their first try

With stats like those. It's crazy you didn't get in even if you did apply late.

Originally Posted by olive6

wow...three cycles???? with those stats????? makes me nervous... there must have been something awry

The fact that the applicant applied to both dental and pharmacy in the same cycle might be a big factor. As I understand it, most schools ask what other types of professional schools you are applying to during the current cycle. If you apply to multiple types (med/pharm/dental), it would make them question your dedication to any particular field. Either way, he did end up getting into both fields so it isn't impossible. You just have to be ready to convince them on interviews / personal statements.

Originally Posted by sa012

Hello everyone,
I submitted my AADSAS in the second week of October, and took my first and only DAT in early December for this 2011-2012 app cycle---
my sGPA is a 3.72 and overall is 3.75
-my DAT scores:
PAT: 20
QR: 21
RC: 19
Bio: 20
GC: 21
OC: 20
Total Science: 20
AA: 20

I have hands-on research experience and dental experience....so what what wrong? I have not gotten any interviews...no wait-lists either. Did I apply too late in the cycle? Any suggestions? Should I take the DAT again? Would applying early this upcoming summer 2012 in June help? Thanks for your feedback in advance.

You applied late, but still should have received some interviews as LECOM still appears to be interviewing.

There is (much) more to an application than DAT and GPA. your UG institution, major, course load, GPA trend, UNIQUENESS as measured by your shadowing, x-tra activities, and LoR. Without knowing which state you belong to and other details, you may want to change the list of LoR. Usually, in mysterious cases LoR is the culprit. The other one is some totally screwed up essay (rarely).

I suggest try calling (one last shot) some of the lesser-known schools that you applied, and express interest.

Originally Posted by sa012

^^I applied to like 12 schools, 6 in state (California) and the rest out of state, like NYU, Columbia, UPenn, Temple, Howard.

I have a lot of medical shadowing/volunteering experience (250 hours+) both international and local
-50+ dental shadowing experience at local dentist who has been an old family dental surgeon
-50+ dental volunteering experience at the same place as above
-brain research, hands on with rats, research projects on computer
-EC's: local community fundraisers, honor roll,
tutoring job, sales director of a company,
-needlework.painting/artwork---manual dexterity
....

Based on the stats I just posted above and my other stats, if I apply in June, it will be okay? I will be getting more dental experience like 50 more hours within the next month...The reason I am really concerned is because I have to get in somewhere this cycle, as I cannot waster any more time and money.

Thanks in advance!

Your list of schools could be a problem. It is tough(er) to get interview at Cali schools. Your stats are certainly competitive for Loma Linda (religious factors a neg), and Western (which could have assumed you would get in some other place easily). OOSchools may be competitive, but I noticed that while Cali students have a harder time competing for the limited number of seats in Cali, they are not trusted by out of state schools to practice after graduation. I have come across Cali students with almost fantastic DAT, GPA form great universities getting just 1, 2 or no interviews.

You may want to call USC and Western and express your interest - if you have applied there. Also, why Howard ?

Thanks for your comments, I think USC is done interviewing. I applied to Howard because I have wanted to see if I could get in Washington DC, and perhaps go to school and practice there. I have called Howard several times, but they do not share "such information" about applicants and interviews over the phone and email...so I don't know what to do there. Also I did apply to USCF and Western, but my application was not accepted because my DAT score came in too late, and they straight out rejected me. My undergraduate school was UCLA, for which I am still waiting on. Also, I still have not heard from Southern Illinois University. They notified me my application was complete in February, but still have not heard from them...so I don't know what to do at this point, rather than think of being one of the first batches out for this upcoming cycle, June 2012. Any other comments would be definitely appreciated.
Thanks!

Also, what do you guys write in your personal statements? I just wrote about the motivation behind me pursuing the dental career, maybe I can rewrite my personal statement now, and have a lot of people look over it, like someone suggested before...

As so many posters said before, I also believe it was your "late" application that is at fault. You said you took your DAT in December.

If my memory serves me correctly, I remember hearing that schools don't look at your application until they receive your DAT scores. According to that logic, even though you finished AADSAS in Oct, since most of the schools didn't receive your scores till late Dec, early Jan, its like you applied in late Dec. early Jan. if that makes sense.

Your numbers and ECs look great.
I'd suggest applying as soon as AADSAS comes out June 4 this year if you don't here back from a school (hopefully you will!).

In terms of the personal statement just write about what makes you passionate for dentistry. Everyone has their own unique reasons and situations for what led them to want to pursue a career in dentistry.

Wish you luck.