Thank you for doing this, Were you IS or OOS when you applied to UTSD? Also what were your stats and were you offered a pre-dec interview invite?
I am not from TX but at the time I applied I was technically a TX resident so i was IS.
My stats were:
Date of submission: End of July (2017)
Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.3
Master's program: Microbiology/Immunology at Tulane Medical School
Master's GPA: 3.97
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 22 AA, tbh I dont remember the specific sections but I think my lowest was a 20
State of Residence: TX
Undergrad Attended: U Tulsa
Major: Biology
Minor: Spanish
Minority? No
Reapplicant? Yes (3x)
Nontrad? Yes - graduated undergrad in 2014, worked as an ortho assistant for 1 year, moved to TX and worked as a general assistant for 2 years, then moved to NOLA for my masters program in 2017
Shadowing Experience: Probably like 75-100 hrs at various dental offices. Sorry i cant remember exact.
Volunteering Experience: I don't remember. A lot, probably about 500 over the various things I did? I worked once a week during undergrad doing admin work for a hospice center and also for the American Diabetes Association. I did a dental mission trip to Guatemala that was about 80 hrs of work. Various volunteering opportunities with my university etc. When i was an assistant we did Dentistry from the Heart events each year. I did another dental mission trip to the Dominican that was about 60 hrs.
Employment: Around 5000 hrs of ortho assisting/general assisting over 3 years. I also worked full time 40-45 hrs per week at Outback Steakhouse Jr/Sr yr of high school and all through college to pay bills.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Treasurer for Iota Sigma Pi women in chemistry honor society was my only leadership position
My interview was actually in January. I had already been accepted to 2 other schools on Dec 1st but I obviously decided to go to the interview bc TX schools are so economical lol. Actually, 4 of us out of my interview group that day are now currently in my class so. I always tell people don't let the interview date fool you. Our school is awesome about not accepting most of the class Dec 1st. In fact our associate dean of student affairs has said its more like 50% of spots are offered on Dec 1st and the rest are offered at various times through the spring.
I know I had a bit of a different path than most applicants! But I would be happy to answer any more questions. Also FWIW I was a 3x reapplicant with not great undergrad stats and now i am in the top 10 of my class and applying for ortho residencies. Don't give up guys its seriously so worth it.
