future_dr_18
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What resources should I look into that will help me? Also I received Kira interviews for Roseman and NYU this cycle -- I know it doesn't mean much but it's a start!!I would also see if your program offers any resources you can take advantage of.
Interview prep would be a good one to look into, some schools have a pre-health student resource center that can provide mock interviews/feedback for you to use. Since your app is submitted I'd say that would be the most important one.What resources should I look into that will help me? Also I received Kira interviews for Roseman and NYU this cycle -- I know it doesn't mean much but it's a start!!
you should've applied to a lot more schools, both this year and lastDate of submission: 6/12
Overall GPA: 3.25
Science GPA: 2.96
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 2.79
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
#1 (AA 19, PA 18, QR 21, RC 23, Bio 16, GC 16, OC 17, TS 16)
#2 (AA 20, PA 21, QR 19, RC 22, Bio 19, GC 19, OC 21, TS 20)
State of Residence: Vermont
Major: BS Biology '22
Minor: None
Minority? No
Reapplicant? Yes - applied late (end of august) last cycle. 3 interviews, 1 waitlist (UNE), accepted to Tufts PDND program but it was too expensive
Nontrad? No
Shadowing Experience: Shadowed with two oral surgeons who worked in the same practice (40hrs) and shadowed my dad who is a general dentist (250+ hours)
Volunteering Experience: Outreach center (delivered food/groceries to people unable to go to the food pantry, 20 hrs); volunteered at a therapeutic riding barn and helped with riding lessons for people with disabilities, 30hrs).
Employment: Worked as a dental assistant full-time for the past year (1200+ hours); General chemistry lab assistant senior year of undergrad (48 hours)
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Pre-dental club board member
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean's list for 2 semesters, presidential scholarship
LOR type and strength: 1 committee letter including 3 LORs from science professors; 1 LOR from one of the oral surgeons I shadowed
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: D in OChem 2 but I retook it after graduation and got an A-; C+ in OChem 1, C+ in Biochem, C in Cell bio. I am also worried because most of my dental experience has been with my dad and I don't think schools will like that. I also have very few volunteer hours/extracurriculars.
I am enrolled in a Master of Medical Science program for this year to improve my GPA, so I'm not sure if I should've waited to apply next cycle. Not planning on retaking the DAT. We don't have a dental school in VT, so unfortunately every school I applied to I was an out-of-state applicant.
School list:
MOSDOH
Boston U
LECOM
NYU
Case Western
Tufts
UNE
U of Tennessee
Roseman
Louisville
I applied to 20 schools last year. I knew this cycle would be a long shot again so I didn’t apply to as many, but tried to narrow it down to some schools that were more likely to accept my stats (?? maybe). I’m really just thinking I need to do well in my Master’s program and try again next year. I was accepted to Tufts but for the 5 year program so my interviews had to be decent for UNE and Tufts.you should've applied to a lot more schools, both this year and last
if you had 3 interviews and only one WL, your interviewing skills were likely an issue too...
Yes I did. I wanted to show continued interest.Did you reapply to the schools you interviewed with last cycle?
Didn’t see that, agreed. Schools don’t count shadowing with familyshadowing dad does not count
Wow I did not know that. I’ve been working for him for a year so that’s really disappointing news. I’ve learned so much from the experience so it’s hard for me to see how they can discount it.Didn’t see that, agreed. Schools don’t count shadowing with family
Everything else I’ve read said shadowing a family member was a good option, it’s not like he wrote me a LOR.Didn’t see that, agreed. Schools don’t count shadowing with family
can't be helped nowWow I did not know that. I’ve been working for him for a year so that’s really disappointing news. I’ve learned so much from the experience so it’s hard for me to see how they can discount it.
Well nothing I can do, I’m sure it will be fine. I’m willing to reapply again.can't be helped now
main thing is you concentrate on getting as close to a 4.0 in your masters as you can
3.3-3.5 is not going to cut it at this point, IMO
and practice your interview skills in case you get any bites this cycle...
Where did you read this? Sure no one is going to say you shouldn't but for admissions purposes, we prefer you shadow someone not related to you. Nothing wrong saying you want to work with family, but... you should do work with others.Everything else I’ve read said shadowing a family member was a good option, it’s not like he wrote me a LOR.
wait, are you counting your work hours as shadowing?Wow I did not know that. I’ve been working for him for a year so that’s really disappointing news. I’ve learned so much from the experience so it’s hard for me to see how they can discount it.
I’m not sure where you read that. Quick google search for my program states:Everything else I’ve read said shadowing a family member was a good option, it’s not like he wrote me a LOR.
no, that is work experience lolwait, are you counting your work hours as shadowing?
True. I think my dental assisting hours hold more weight than my shadowing in my application. I will get more shadowing hours in the coming months though because I am moving and will shadow a new dentist. I also think as long as I have more than the minimum hours with a non family member it should be fine.I’m not sure where you read that. Quick google search for my program states:
“Applicants are highly encouraged to complete more than 50 hours, shadow more than one dentist, and shadow in different practice settings. Additional observation in specialty practice is welcome, however, it is recommended that at least half of your shadowing hours are dedicated to general dentistry. Required shadowing hours need to occur outside of a parent’s dental practice.”
I think this is to avoid some nepotism and give you experience outside of what’s comfortable to you. But regardless what’s done is done, can’t really change that.
I don’t think it’s bad to shadow a family member, but I think it’s the fact that most of my shadowing was with my dad. That’s on me, but I am going to shadow more this year anyways. I read a thread on sdn “I shadowed and worked with my Dad! Definitely include it! I only shadowed other specialties a hand full of hours. The bulk was with my father (GP). No one cared in my interviews!”Where did you read this? Sure no one is going to say you shouldn't but for admissions purposes, we prefer you shadow someone not related to you. Nothing wrong saying you want to work with family, but... you should do work with others.
Perhaps the only programs that care are ones where you stand as a legacy. Many others might shy away from your file if they think you aren't going to attend their program.
adcoms want to make sure that your hours were not "fudged"I don’t think it’s bad to shadow a family member, but I think it’s the fact that most of my shadowing was with my dad. That’s on me, but I am going to shadow more this year anyways. I read a thread on sdn “I shadowed and worked with my Dad! Definitely include it! I only shadowed other specialties a hand full of hours. The bulk was with my father (GP). No one cared in my interviews!”
some schools explicitly state it, others dont explicitly state it but it's more of an unspoken rulei dont think adcom is going to like that u didn't follow the stated rules of not including hours done w a parent
It’s okay, I will get more hours. I didn’t see that rule stated for the schools I applied to, but I may be mistaken!i dont think adcom is going to like that u didn't follow the stated rules of not including hours done w a parent
Some have it on websites and some don’t, but for the most part they’d like to see you have some hours outside of family. just to get yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit and see how practices can do the same thing and still be different. Regardless, if you can get some more hours that will help but I don’t think it’s an absolutely massive red flag, but it may pique some interestIt’s okay, I will get more hours. I didn’t see that rule stated for the schools I applied to, but I may be mistaken!
I’ll definitely prepare to answer questions about it if I receive an interview. Thanks for your advice!Some have it on websites and some don’t, but for the most part they’d like to see you have some hours outside of family. just to get yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit and see how practices can do the same thing and still be different. Regardless, if you can get some more hours that will help but I don’t think it’s an absolutely massive red flag, but it may pique some interest