Advantage when applying from a top tier school?

[doc3232]

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Anyone have any info on this? Is the advantage significant? Also, what have schools told you about it?

Thanks
doc3232

 

[klutzy1987]

Anyone have any info on this? Is the advantage significant? Also, what have schools told you about it?

Thanks
doc3232

Of course if you have a high GPA from a good school it looks better than from a no name school

 

[somethinpositiv]

The advantage occurs when you have the same GPA at a better school than someone with the same GPA at a lower tier school, than all else being equal, you are the more desirable candidate. It doesn't mean that if you have a lower GPA, that your GPA is offset by a big name school.

 

[alanan84]

I think the advantage shows up in the DAT score. If you're really "better" than someone from a "lower tier" school, you probably should score better on a standardized test. I'm pretty sure that's why they have the DAT.

 

[ucla2134]

Anyone have any info on this? Is the advantage significant? Also, what have schools told you about it?

Thanks
doc3232

My friend from cal state northdridge only took 4 years undergrad got into ivy ucla dental school.

 

[Rubber Dam Man]

the DAT levels out the playing field and gives you the opportunity to prove yourself over someone else regardless of your school. It seems to be true that if you went to a "big name" school and did poor compared to someone who attended a lower tier school and did outstanding... the person with the higher GPA at the lower tier school will be selected over. In other words, don't expect for the name of your school to carry much weight if you end up doing poorly at that school.

 

[klutzy1987]

My friend from cal state northdridge only took 4 years undergrad got into ivy ucla dental school.

My friend from a no name new york school took only 3 years undergrad and got into IVY leagyue Penn.

 

[Chesnok]

I think the advantage shows up in the DAT score. If you're really "better" than someone from a "lower tier" school, you probably should score better on a standardized test. I'm pretty sure that's why they have the DAT.

Yep, especially when you are get Frapped or pianoed

 

[dr bojangles]

here is my case in point.....2 students, different colleges, similar gpas. student that went to a so-called "top-tier" school will probably have an advantage. this is usually because a "top-tier" school has higher admissions for its students, meaning that student probably has a longer track record of high academic performance (e.g. in high school). this is not to say there aren't reasons that the perfect high school kid chose his state school for undergrad and not harvard, but i feel that is more of the exception.

 

[Lopyswine]

what does frapped mean?

also, I will not say where I went to undergrad, but it is a known top tier school. At my NYU interview the interviewer said for me not to be worried about my GPA. He said, "you went to XXXX. We know how difficult their curriculum is. Basically add a point to your GPA. That's how we look at it."


So yes your undergrad institution does matter. How much does it matter? Well that will depend on where you are applying and where you came from. There is not a hard and fast rule.

 

[alanan84]

what does frapped mean?
quote]

It's an excuse for someone's poor RC grade. LOL, you can search it in the DAT Discussions forum and you'll find the answer.

 

[Britty894]

what does frapped mean?

also, I will not say where I went to undergrad, but it is a known top tier school. At my NYU interview the interviewer said for me not to be worried about my GPA. He said, "you went to XXXX. We know how difficult their curriculum is. Basically add a point to your GPA. That's how we look at it."


So yes your undergrad institution does matter. How much does it matter? Well that will depend on where you are applying and where you came from. There is not a hard and fast rule.

I completely agree. At my first interview this past week more than one prof/admissions person told us that coming from a prestigious school gets you more of a look and that they understand that lower grades from you school are still awesome. Its not always an eye for an eye comparison, where if two people have the same grade the better school is more influential, its more of the overall picture that they get of students that go to certain schools.