mamelons, I think we can't make any definite conclusions regarding how the schools choose people to interview because I have slightly better stats except for PAT (19/19/14 with a 19 in both RC and QR) and I didn't get invited to Baylor last cycle nor yet this cycle so to say that they "want lots of upper level science" is BS in a way (it has to be partially true cuz a billion other people said the same thing, but I think that it is just Baylor's "leave us alone" generic response) because all of my classes junior and senior year of college were all upper level science (including human physiology I and II which I took for a grade and WAS NOT required for my microbio major) plus I took upper level science classes at rice Univ as a grad student with the undergrads and did quite well (even though without being curved any differently).
sorry mamelons for coming off as belligerent, I don't mean to, I'm just frustrated with myself for not delivering on the DAT last year and having to study for it again (which I've been for the past 2 months). I do like to tip my hat off to you for being in dental school, it is quite an accomplishment. I do feel like this cycle is moving very very slow, but last year I submitted my application in mid-Sept and got SA and Hou interviews within two weeks, but this year I submitted way early (6/18/08) before the schools were really on the application review move. I just keep praying for a miracle: I'm still on Houston's waitlist until 8/18/08 when they start class. I'm already focused on a late DAT retake.
I understand what you are saying, and there is no way of knowing. I was just stating what I had heard from a few of my friends who either interviewed and were not accepted or did not interview. I do not know what your GPA is like, but I do think my high GPA (3.82 cumulative, 3.91 science) helped offset my average DAT score (20 RC, 19 GC, 19OC, 17BIO, 14 QR, 15 PAT). I wish I knew how applicants were evaluated. Sometimes I wonder if numbers are even as big a role as we all may think. I will say this though, and this is only my opinion, but at my Baylor interview 2 years ago, I was asked a question "What do you think your evaluators said about you in your LOR?" So I think they look highly on LOR. Not saying you would have had a questionable LOR, but it could be a reason, I don't know. Keep your head up, and best of luck to you.
On another note, schools are moving at the same pace, I think it is just that not everyone who has interviews posts on, or even knows about SDN. Remember, the people on here are only a small sample of the total applicant pool.
San Antonio has their first round of interviews Monday, 10-12 interviewees.
And to the those who asked about the essay for the San Antonio interview... it is nothing to stress over. I think they have a rotating pool of questions they pull from, and so maybe 5 interview dates will all get the same question or something like that. My question was something along the lines of "What do you think the most difficult thing will be for you transitioning into dental school?"
! nice!
