2013 cycle vs. SMP

[timmytim]

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So currently I'm on the "boat" that nobody wants to be on.
I applied to 14 school and so far I've only received 6 rejection letters and I kinda given up on the 8 schools that haven't contacted me yet.
At this point I don't can't decide whether I want to prepare for 2013 cycle or apply for SMP and I'm here to get some advice so I can make the better decision.
(My school offers graduate courses for non matriculated students so I could take those courses instead applying for SMP)

Here are some stats about me.


Submitted my AADSAS application on 8/15/11
All secondary Apps were submitted before 10/10/11

Approximately 1300hrs of dental experience and still counting (I work full time as a sterilization tech for a restorative dentist. But I do pretty much everything besides dentistry and hygiene.)

Don't have any "official" volunteer experience. (I did some small volunteering through church here and there but I didn't include it in the application since those are unverifiable works. Also in my defense, I really didn't have time for volunteer work because I was taking care of my brother in high school from 08-11. I even had to attend various PTA meetings...smh)

PAT 23
QR 30
RC 22
Bio 20
Gen-Chem 23
O-chem 19
TS 21
AA 23

Inc +- W/O +-
BCP 3.13 3.21
Science 3.19 3.28
Non-Science 3.11 3.27
Total 3.17 3.28
(My gpa is low because I f'd up my first two years pretty bad...damn you halo..so there is a significant uptrend in my gpa)

So what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[r2thekesh]

So I had similar grades, worse DAT but I haven't been accepted. If I were you, I would apply early next cycle, take the GRE and apply to true masters programs on the basis a lot of them are free/pay you for TAships/RAships but take the year off. I would bet you'll be accepted to dental school next year if you apply broadly and you could save money on not doing an SMP and working a job.

If you did an SMP and succeeded (easier said than done), you should have your pick of schools. Watch out with certain schools and when your DAT expires.

 

[wired202808]

So currently I'm on the "boat" that nobody wants to be on.
I applied to 14 school and so far I've only received 6 rejection letters and I kinda given up on the 8 schools that haven't contacted me yet.
At this point I don't can't decide whether I want to prepare for 2013 cycle or apply for SMP and I'm here to get some advice so I can make the better decision.
(My school offers graduate courses for non matriculated students so I could take those courses instead applying for SMP)

Here are some stats about me.


Submitted my AADSAS application on 8/15/11
All secondary Apps were submitted before 10/10/11

Approximately 1300hrs of dental experience and still counting (I work full time as a sterilization tech for a restorative dentist. But I do pretty much everything besides dentistry and hygiene.)

Don't have any "official" volunteer experience. (I did some small volunteering through church here and there but I didn't include it in the application since those are unverifiable works. Also in my defense, I really didn't have time for volunteer work because I was taking care of my brother in high school from 08-11. I even had to attend various PTA meetings...smh)

PAT 23
QR 30
RC 22
Bio 20
Gen-Chem 23
O-chem 19
TS 21
AA 23

Inc +- W/O +-
BCP 3.13 3.21
Science 3.19 3.28
Non-Science 3.11 3.27
Total 3.17 3.28
(My gpa is low because I f'd up my first two years pretty bad...damn you halo..so there is a significant uptrend in my gpa)

So what would you do if you were in my shoes?

Sign up for a Masters program and take courses to boost that low GPA. your BCP is so low that it leads schools to think that you're not ready for d-school. In fact your DAT score is supported by your perfect QR score, otherwise you would have had a 20 or 21.

If I were you, I would reapply while pursing a Masters program. You should apply to 20 schools including a ton of private schools i.e. NYU, Tufts, Case, etc. Don't waste your time on state schools because they'll probably overlook you. Apply June 1st and pray for a miracle. If you dont get in for 2013 then hopefully you can excel in your Masters program and boost up your BCP and sGPA to respectable levels, reapply and get in for 2014. Gl.

 

[dental diva]

@timmytim i have similar stats to you, but haven't taken my DAT yet, applying to the 2013 cycle, is there anything you would suggest for me to do or wish you would've done? i'm debating whether I should even apply to 2013 or just wait a year to boost the gpa. thanks in advance 🙂