5th Time Applying, need advice

[bangersandmashplease]

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You’d still have to retake the DAT afterwards right?? Personally for me I wouldn’t. I would focus on your DAT and the rest of your application. It’s your DAT you are wanting to improve not necessarily your GPA at the moment.

Ultimately the choice is yours. SDN cannot make this choice for you. This may come off a bit harsh but someone who’s absolutely determined to go to dental school isn’t going to be absolutely dependent on the “advice” of other SDN people who have little experience in this matter. If this is the attitude reflected in your personal statement I would make sure to change it. You need to show you’re driven.

Again, you ultimately need to make your own choice in what to do and stick with it.


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Retaking the DAT is part of the post-bacc program. As for the rest of your post, you're making random assumptions with zero basis but thanks for your input

 

[grapefruit!]

Retaking the DAT is part of the post-bacc program. As for the rest of your post, you're making random assumptions with zero basis but thanks for your input

How long do you have to make a decision?

I maybe have more hangups around debt than the average person, but this program on top of an oos dental school is just A LOT. Sit down and do some research and planning and make sure you have a plan on how you will pay this off both if you do and don’t get into dental school. Have you thought about the military or nhsc?

I do genuinely feel confident about your chances if you do this program, but have you thought seriously about what you will do if you don’t get in?

What have you been doing in the meantime the last few years you have been applying? I’m no admissions expert, but I think that going back to school for a different career field may be cheaper, a safer bet, and still give you the same application boost as doing temple’s postbacc.

Before making this decision, reach out to schools you’ve applied to and schools you will be applying to. Ask what went wrong and what you should focus on to improve your application. Mention this post bacc program and ask what they think.

In particular, what would it take to get into your state school, and how much debt would that save?? I feel like if u can get into your state school, that is the one way this will really be worth it.

Admissions offices will give you better information than we can. If nothing else, I think that building a relationship with the admissions staff is underrated and can be a huge asset.

Also, what is your science GPA and general trend of grades? Unless they’re a liability, I dont know how much this program can help you.

I still think your focus should be squarely centered on the DAT. Temple’s program does include a DAT component, but if I recall correctly, they just incorporate a kaplan course. You could take that independently for far cheaper, without the added stress of balancing a challenging courseload at the same time.

It’s just that if you took the DAT and made a 24, that ALSO shows a major dedication of effort and is bound to gain you an acceptance somewhere. And for far less debt.

I also totally understand this feeling of just wanting to DO SOMETHING and move forward. I’m sorry that I really can’t tell you what to do!

 

[bangersandmashplease]

I have one day left to make this decision. I'm from NY so cheap in state schools aren't very likely considering how competitive Buffalo is. I really don't have time to reach out to schools and discuss this anymore unfortunately. Science GPA is about 3.1, freshman year was strong, sophmore year was weak due to taking on too many responsibilities, junior and senior were strong. I was given incorrect advice from my advisers back in college regarding the DAT so the past few years I have been shadowing/volunteering which led to working as an assistant for ~2years. In hindsight I wish i looked up the information myself but I was told I couldnt improve my grades through community college or online courses and that I couldnt take the DAT any more times. So, I was working on improving my experience on my application the last few years. The debt is EXTREMELY daunting but this is looking like my best opportunity for an acceptance which is making this a very tough decision.

 

[INH]

improve your bio DAT score. that is the most important score on the whole DAT

 

[GypsyHummus]

Have you thought about other alternatives? With your GPA, if you scored solid on the MCAT (500+), you could get into a DO school. If you scored poorly (490-499), you could go to podiatry school, which is basically foot dentist.

Or Physical Therapy? Have you taken the GRE?

If you would have applied to these schools when you first started, you could have been done by now.

If it were me, I would not do a post bacc. There are easier and cheaper ways to get a master's degree and show that you can handle the rigorous coursework. What happens if you dont make the cut? Then you are barred from any dental schools again, and maybe even other proffesional schools.

 

[PreDent_Eagle]

^^^^the MCAT is 100x harder than the DAT

 

[bangersandmashplease]

I really haven't given much thought to alternatives because ive been focused on dentistry this entire time, I know that I do not want to attend medical school though. Perhaps I'm missing something but why would I be barred from any dental schools and other professional schools if I don't make the cut?

 

[Incis0r]

No one on this board is an admissions committee member. Use advice cautiously. Without actually seeing your application, LOR's, grades up front, and PS, everything is just conjecture.
Five times is a lot. It may be time to either do some more current work to demonstrate you can handle the course load in D school, or move on. Clearly the way your application reads
presently is not enough.
Think about where you might be next year at this time if nothing better happens. What if you can't "kill" the DAT? There are so many other choices in the world to consider...dentistry is just one.

I would strongly recommend calling some of the schools and asking what they would recommend, and if there is any other ways (in addition to DAT) to improve your application. Getting your name recognized at these schools for applying multiple cycles will only help you, as it shows dedication. Just don't be pushy on the calls, and be as friendly as possible, At this point many schools are winding down their application process, so they shouldn't be as crazy stressed.

Two great pieces of advice in this thread, OP.

There are never any guarantees. Temple is a great school and you will be prepared to be a great clinician. I wouldn’t take a chance.

OP has been offered a spot in the post-bac program, not the dental school. What is the % acceptance from post-bac to the dental program? Does anyone know?

 

[Carlsaganlvr10]

Two great pieces of advice in this thread, OP.



OP has been offered a spot in the post-bac program, not the dental school. What is the % acceptance from post-bac to the dental program? Does anyone know?

Thanks for the clarification. I misread the post. OP, I would not spend more money on a post Bacc. If I were you, I’d take the DAT again. It’s a lot cheaper.

 

[GypsyHummus]

"Perhaps I'm missing something but why would I be barred from any dental schools and other professional schools if I don't make the cut?"

If you cant hack the post bacc, other professional schools might think you cant do their program either.

Id look into Optometry, Podiatry, Physical therapy, etc. You have had 5 chances to stick the landing with no luck. Eventually, you have to think about what you are going to do about a profession.

I can try many times to try and make the swim team, but if Ive been told no 5 times, perhaps its time to look into other althetic teams like tennis or soccer.

 

[bangersandmashplease]

Thanks for the helpful input everybody, it's very much appreciated.

 

[garrypayton]

I don't understand how people with below a 3.0 GPA based on 120 credit units and 3.5 gpa with 30 credits from an SMP can get into dental but OP cannot. Kinda seems unfair.
I would keep on trying retake the DAT maybe add some community service or rewrite your personal statement?

 

[UMDDS]

"Perhaps I'm missing something but why would I be barred from any dental schools and other professional schools if I don't make the cut?"

If you cant hack the post bacc, other professional schools might think you cant do their program either.

Id look into Optometry, Podiatry, Physical therapy, etc. You have had 5 chances to stick the landing with no luck. Eventually, you have to think about what you are going to do about a profession.

I can try many times to try and make the swim team, but if Ive been told no 5 times, perhaps its time to look into other althetic teams like tennis or soccer.

Ugh, I hate to be the debbie downer as well here, but a post-bacc on top of your dental school loans are going to be astronomical. Whether you stay home and go to NYU or go OOS, you will probably have AT LEAST 500k in loans, if not 600k by the time you leave school. With that type of debt, you better be taking an HPSP in the service somewhere, NHSC, etc or becoming one hell of a practice owner. Either way, you're going to be putting pressure on yourself to make a higher income than average right off the bat. I sincerely hope you get into dental school if that's what you truly want in life, but I can't imagine you wouldn't be happy doing something else that's not financial death.

Obviously it's your choice at the end of the day, but you've gotta consider the financial ramifications of the things you're doing now. That bill is coming eventually.