23 year old needs advice

[Rangersfan]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I have decided that I want to pursue dentistry and I have started to prepare for the DAT. This past year I spent working as a research assistant and I graduated last December with a degree in Biology with a 3.4 oGPA and a 3.4 sGPA. I would really like to apply for the next cycle.

I spoke with one of my close friends (who is applying this cycle) about what it would take to be a competitive applicant and he suggested that my DAT would need to be very high, 20+, to get in since my GPA was a little low. He also said I would need some shadowing hours and some way to show I was committed to dentistry and that this was not some random decision.

My question is this, do i really need to score 20+ and 20's on every section to be competitive? I have a state school, Oklahoma, and was wondering what you guys thought. Their average is an 18 I believe and I was just wondering if it was necessary to score so high. Is an 18 not good enough to get in?

My friend had told me that although he's going on all these interviews, he would take his state school over the private ones because the cost was so high. I think he said OU was 120k for four years while others could be two or three times that amount. Any suggestions or response to this?

 

[JAMA0295]

This is how it works. If you want it bad enough, you'll get it.

You will have some obstacles to overcome such as a lower sGPA but you can make up for it on the DAT. You should definitely aim to get 20+ on all sections of the DAT, but falling short in a few will be okay also. Study hard for the DAT and do your best. Do some research and apply with your grades and DAT scores to schools that you realistically would like to attend and could gain entrance to. Find a position shadowing a Dentist and gain some experience. If you don't get in your first time applying, don't give up, if you want it bad enough, you'll get it.

Goodluck

 

[jay47]

I think a 20 overall AA would probably do you fine. 21+ if you want to be sure. However, don't skimp on the rest of the application: make sure you have some volunteer work, some shadowing and good letters of rec.