Advice needed please

[Xdentallos]

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Hello. I need some direction.

This year was my third time applying
Dat: 19 (I increased it from 17-19 for my second application)
Undergraduate gpa: 3.36
Shadowing 80 hours

I took Biochem and a chem class (needed it for certain schools) after my bachelors and got an A in both.

I know I should improve my DAT but im wondering if I can still get in by doing anything else? The problem with retaking it is I would have to quit my job and move back in with my parents just to study for a month and retake it.

I was thinking about doing a Masters program in bio? That way I can use financial aid to pay for housing while I study and also retake the DAT while having more to boost my application? Also as a plan B to take a different career path with biology if I never get into dental?

I know the most helpful thing would probably be to improve the DAT. That’s difficult because I’d have to quit my job and move back in with my dad 🙁. I’ve lived alone since I was 18. I’m 26. Figuring out a way to retake it would be best though huh?

Should I apply again this year or stop applying until I do something?

Thanks for your help guys

 

[akaopua]

I would apply broadly if you can afford it. If money is tight, and dentistry is your main goal, I'd hold off until you can improve your DAT but I would imagine you'd get in somewhere...

 

[Its_Me_G]

Hello. I need some direction.

This year was my third time applying
Dat: 19 (I increased it from 17-19 for my second application)
Undergraduate gpa: 3.36
Shadowing 80 hours

I took Biochem and a chem class (needed it for certain schools) after my bachelors and got an A in both.

I know I should improve my DAT but im wondering if I can still get in by doing anything else? The problem with retaking it is I would have to quit my job and move back in with my parents just to study for a month and retake it.

I was thinking about doing a Masters program in bio? That way I can use financial aid to pay for housing while I study and also retake the DAT while having more to boost my application? Also as a plan B to take a different career path with biology if I never get into dental?

I know the most helpful thing would probably be to improve the DAT. That’s difficult because I’d have to quit my job and move back in with my dad 🙁. I’ve lived alone since I was 18. I’m 26. Figuring out a way to retake it would be best though huh?

Should I apply again this year or stop applying until I do something?

Thanks for your help guys

You need to aim for at least a 20 on the DAT, which means you should definitely study for more than a month. The best course of action would be to really devote your time to the DAT and not take it while you’re also in school

 

[scoobydoo22]

Hello. I need some direction.

This year was my third time applying
Dat: 19 (I increased it from 17-19 for my second application)
Undergraduate gpa: 3.36
Shadowing 80 hours

I took Biochem and a chem class (needed it for certain schools) after my bachelors and got an A in both.

I know I should improve my DAT but im wondering if I can still get in by doing anything else? The problem with retaking it is I would have to quit my job and move back in with my parents just to study for a month and retake it.

I was thinking about doing a Masters program in bio? That way I can use financial aid to pay for housing while I study and also retake the DAT while having more to boost my application? Also as a plan B to take a different career path with biology if I never get into dental?

I know the most helpful thing would probably be to improve the DAT. That’s difficult because I’d have to quit my job and move back in with my dad 🙁. I’ve lived alone since I was 18. I’m 26. Figuring out a way to retake it would be best though huh?

Should I apply again this year or stop applying until I do something?

Thanks for your help guys

Hey. I've also applied 3x and I understand the struggle and pain.

So first off one thing I recommend is calling the schools that rejected you. They can tell you if there is anything else you can improve on.
If you plan on retaking the DAT, please study for more than one month. You should kill it and get at least a 20. I know living with parents can sound awful. But if you really want to be a dentist, then it's gonna be worth it.

What is your sGPA? BCP GPA? Figure those out. I'm doing a Masters program b/c my sGPA is low and I have too many science credits.
If you plan on doing a Masters, aim for at least a 3.5. And I recommend a biomedical science program.

And you should keep on shadowing dentists. At my program, the professors recommended that we continue to shadow dentists to show your commitment and desire to be one. And I think a few schools (I could be wrong) require at least 100 shadowing hours. So please look into that.

Don't feel rejected. Applying to dental school is hard. This process is long, but it is worth it.

 

[Xdentallos]

Hey. I've also applied 3x and I understand the struggle and pain.

So first off one thing I recommend is calling the schools that rejected you. They can tell you if there is anything else you can improve on.
If you plan on retaking the DAT, please study for more than one month. You should kill it and get at least a 20. I know living with parents can sound awful. But if you really want to be a dentist, then it's gonna be worth it.

What is your sGPA? BCP GPA? Figure those out. I'm doing a Masters program b/c my sGPA is low and I have too many science credits.
If you plan on doing a Masters, aim for at least a 3.5. And I recommend a biomedical science program.

And you should keep on shadowing dentists. At my program, the professors recommended that we continue to shadow dentists to show your commitment and desire to be one. And I think a few schools (I could be wrong) require at least 100 shadowing hours. So please look into that.

Don't feel rejected. Applying to dental school is hard. This process is long, but it is worth it.

Thank you all for your advice. All of you keep saying please study for more than a month, I was planning on studying intensively that month like 8 hours a day, you don’t think that would be enough?

The other thing I tried was studying an hour or two every night after work for like a 8 months and then intensively the week before (took my week vacation from work to study and take it) and did even worse than I did when I studied intensively for like 3 weeks and got a 19

Funny thing is u got an interview the first year I applied with the DAT at 17 lol

Also you don’t recommend to keep applying anyways? While I’m bettering the DAT? My dad wants me to

 

[Its_Me_G]

Thank you all for your advice. All of you keep saying please study for more than a month, I was planning on studying intensively that month like 8 hours a day, you don’t think that would be enough?

The other thing I tried was studying an hour or two every night after work for like a 8 months and then intensively the week before (took my week vacation from work to study and take it) and did even worse than I did when I studied intensively for like 3 weeks and got a 19

Funny thing is u got an interview the first year I applied with the DAT at 17 lol

Also you don’t recommend to keep applying anyways? While I’m bettering the DAT? My dad wants me to

Studying for 8 hours a day for only a month is not enough. Try following Ari’s 10 week schedule, I found that to be extremely helpful. Conversely, studying for 8 months is just going to cause you to burn out and you’ll have a tough time remembering stuff you learned months ago.

As for applying again, I think at this point it would be a waste of money if you are already planning on re-taking the DAT and enrolling in a masters program

 

[Xdentallos]

You need to aim for at least a 20 on the DAT, which means you should definitely study for more than a month. The best course of action would be to really devote your time to the DAT and not take it while you’re also in school

Final question. So if I can get my DAT above a 20, let’s say hopefully like a 22, I should consider myself competitive?

My only worry is I don’t have any research experience or publications but that’s not really needed right?

Just want to make sure I’ll be in a good spot after this since I’m gna have to quit a job that pays well (banker) and go back to living with my dad lol. Taking a big risk

 

[toothyprincess]

I'm sure improving your DAT would help! However, I applied with very similar stats to you this past cycle and I currently have two offers to schools and an interview coming up next week. I realize that this process is crazy expensive but I would say to really take a look at the schools you are applying to. I applied very broadly (15 schools) and I truly believe that made the difference. Also, look at the stats of the schools you are applying to.. research makes all the difference!

 

[Xdentallos]

I'm sure improving your DAT would help! However, I applied with very similar stats to you this past cycle and I currently have two offers to schools and an interview coming up next week. I realize that this process is crazy expensive but I would say to really take a look at the schools you are applying to. I applied very broadly (15 schools) and I truly believe that made the difference. Also, look at the stats of the schools you are applying to.. research makes all the difference!

Thank you that gave me a lot of hope. Would you mind telling me what states you applied to since we had similar stats? I take it your gpa was close to mine too and little to no research (I had like a couple days of volunteer work) or publications

I’m a California resident so I applied to all the ones here 2 in Florida 1 in Chicago and 1 in Colorado. With my stats I’m going to have to apply more spread out unless I up my DAT (and even then?)

Thank you

 

[toothyprincess]

Thank you that gave me a lot of hope. Would you mind telling me what states you applied to since we had similar stats? I take it your gpa was close to mine too and little to no research (I had like a couple days of volunteer work) or publications

I’m a California resident so I applied to all the ones here 2 in Florida 1 in Chicago and 1 in Colorado. With my stats I’m going to have to apply more spread out unless I up my DAT (and even then?)

Thank you

Of course! Okay so for starters just wanted to clarify I do have a good amount of research, ECs, and volunteer work which seemed to be the highlight of all of my interviews. I also have been working as a dental assistant since I graduated college, this was also touched upon a lot during my interviews. As for my GPA my overall GPA was a 3.4 and my science GPA was a 3.3. I did not have any publications.

I applied to schools mostly on the East Coast because I am from Maryland. I have had five interviews so far one in Maryland, one in Maine, one in DC, one in New York, and my interview next week is in Florida. Three of the schools I interviewed at is private, and two are public. For you I would definitely consider looking into private schools as they can be a little bit more lenient with the GPA and DAT scores. If you have anymore questions feel free to PM me!

 

[live.dream.dds]

Hey guys,
I was hoping I could get some advice... I applied really late last cycle and got two interviews (waitlisted to my dream school--i was told by the admissions that i'm #3 on the list and rejected to the other) I retook my DAT and I feel completely defeated. I already submitted my applications for this cycle, all that was missing were my DAT scores.... I was wondering if I should retake the DAT for a third time (in 3 months--still in this cycle).

2017/2018
PAT 18/ 20
QR 18/17
RC 16/19
BIO 18/17
GC 17/19
OC 19/20
TS 18/18
AA 18/18

Destroyer and Bootcamp were my best friends and I never received anything less than a 20 on bootcamp bio and averaged -7 in dat destroyer bio section so I was in absolute shock when I saw my biology score.. I quit my job and studied for 3 months. I spent significantly more time studying for biology than I did for any other section. The bio section was heavily ecology, which absolutely sucked.

GPA 3.87
300+ shadow hours
200+ volunteer hours
Former President of Dental Club in college (graduate now)

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

Thank you all for your advice. All of you keep saying please study for more than a month, I was planning on studying intensively that month like 8 hours a day, you don’t think that would be enough?

The other thing I tried was studying an hour or two every night after work for like a 8 months and then intensively the week before (took my week vacation from work to study and take it) and did even worse than I did when I studied intensively for like 3 weeks and got a 19

Funny thing is u got an interview the first year I applied with the DAT at 17 lol

Also you don’t recommend to keep applying anyways? While I’m bettering the DAT? My dad wants me to

You can study your butt off and the DAT will test you on things you didn’t focus on hard enough or not in your best areas of strength. Meanwhile, vice versa on a different exam day. But the more time you put in something, the better your odds are.

I think there’s still plenty of schools that take 19. What’s the average? 20? 21? Means higher and lower get in too.

Remember that SDN is full of people that ask “What are my chances with a 27 5.3GPA and I cured xxxx amount of diseases?” What you don’t see is the 99% who interview and get in not report on SDN.

My suggestion, apply early and apply broadly. You’ll get interviews but it’ll be up to you to make a lasting impression.

Did you get interviews before? Sorry if you wrote that. I skimmed a lot in this thread.

Feel free to inbox me if you have any questions.

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

I'm sure improving your DAT would help! However, I applied with very similar stats to you this past cycle and I currently have two offers to schools and an interview coming up next week. I realize that this process is crazy expensive but I would say to really take a look at the schools you are applying to. I applied very broadly (15 schools) and I truly believe that made the difference. Also, look at the stats of the schools you are applying to.. research makes all the difference!

They offer acceptances before December now? Two offers?