Q1: What was your Stats?
Graduating with a BS in Biology and Health minor this may.
Current GPA: 3.85
sGPA: 3.74
18AA/17TS/15PAT
Q2: what factor/s is important for each school? In other hand what they are looking for? Or which factor has more weight for each school?
SA: Never really figured it out. I'm guessing a lot of emphasis is put on experience in the field. People with average range DAT scores do get in.
Baylor: For sure, above average DAT score and UPPER LEVELS are a must
Houston: AA should be at least around a 19 no matter what the GPA, which was what I was told in the interview. A lot of emphasis is placed on RC, in which I managed a 24.
All three schools have high regards for the TS section which is why I think I was rejected by both UT schools. My chemistry sucks, which is why I have to buckle down and bring those scores up (primarily what bought my score down). PAT and QR are the least regarded it seems.
Q3: how late did you apply and got an interview /acceptance? When did you take your DAT?
Applied in mid-May got all three interviews in August and one in Mid-May for NYU. Still waiting on my rejection for Baylor and NYU (waitlisted).
Q4: What is the specific character for interview in each school?
All the interviews were relaxed. Just basics as to why you chose dentistry, what do plan on doing for the community, what are your future plans, what happens if you don't get in, why a low grade here, why low DAT score there. Nothing real major. Just relax and think through the question in a normal manner, don't become too obsessive. In Houston, my interviewer introduced me to the head of prosthodontics since I told I was interested in the field of cancer reconstruction (I thought for sure she liked me and I was in..lol). In SA there is a student interview and a faculty interview; in Houston there is a single faculty interview; and at Baylor there is a three person interview with the Dean and two other faculty members. Be careful with the lady that heads research in systemic diseases in the oral cavity, if she is your interviewer, she will GRILL YOU. I forget names, sorry. All were open file.
Q5:
in addition to those three schools, which other schools did you apply and got interview/acceptance?
NYU, currently waitlisted after an interview in Mid-March. NYU is a great school with a completely restructured program. The building is like a hotel, a place where you want to come back all the time. Facilities are top of the line and everyone is SOOO friendly. There is a brief interview with a faculty member and again was open file and completely relaxing. Wouldn't mind living in NYC for four years either, would be a great experience.
Q6: did you have any interview the year prior to your acceptance year? Last cycle was my first cycle applying.
I think I got good experience from this cycle. I made a mistake by not retaking my DATs and banking on my GPA to get me in somewhere. It taught me not to be overconfident, if in doubt, it will probably be wise to address it. Oh well, cheers to Round 2.
