Advice needed + Where to improve?

[DC206R]

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[Rambunctious]

I'm starting to lose hope.
I applied late due to a late DAT date. Anyways I'm just looking for advice on what to improve on my application. Also, should I be considering a SMP since I have a lower GPA or should I focus on making my application more well rounded?

I only applied to 5 schools and that is what I think is the problem + late.

Some basic info:
oGPA 3.3, sGPA 3.2
DAT: 21AA, 21TS, 22 PAT, 23 RC, none under 17
~120 volunteer hours and counting, 120 shadow hours and counting.

I think my DAT scores are good enough not to retake? Seeing 23AA+ everywhere on SDN is discouraging haha. Maybe I need to write a better PS? I don't know.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks SDN

Your DAT scores look great. GPA a little low, so you might have to consider an MS degree. PM me if you need any more help!

 

[ajj70]

What are your EC's besides your volunteer work? How late did you apply? I think applying to so few schools probably hurt you with a late application. I don't know that I would commit to a Master's program yet. Your GPA is a little below average but your DAT is above average so together they are fine. Where did you apply? That might be more of the issue.

 

[DC206R]

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[DC206R]

So instead of making another thread, I'll just bump this one. I've been considering a SMP but not sure if it is worth the 25-30k and another year. Time = money. Volunteering hours have gone up a bit, shadowing hours as well with multiple specialties observed and I do plan to apply to 10-15 schools early June this time. I hope my chances are slightly better but I keep thinking about doing an SMP after I spoke with one school about my rejection. They also said something that threw me off a bit. "You have no clinical experience". So should everyone be an assistant with experience to look good to admission committees now? Just a little lost I guess.

Any thoughts?

 

[Soleus715]

So instead of making another thread, I'll just bump this one. I've been considering a SMP but not sure if it is worth the 25-30k and another year. Time = money. Volunteering hours have gone up a bit, shadowing hours as well with multiple specialties observed and I do plan to apply to 10-15 schools early June this time. I hope my chances are slightly better but I keep thinking about doing an SMP after I spoke with one school about my rejection. They also said something that threw me off a bit. "You have no clinical experience". So should everyone be an assistant with experience to look good to admission committees now? Just a little lost I guess.

Any thoughts?

What the school told you about clinical experience only applies to that school.
Each school has their own philosophy on what kinds of students they want in their class (i.e. ASDOH wants people with strong volunteering background).

Besides that if the other aspects of your application are solid, your stats look good enough to get you some interviews since you have a slightly below avg GPA and above average DAT
I would apply to more schools this time around, but to the schools that you are applying for the second time, you'd have to show some significant improvement or don't apply there.

Definitely try and have your essay peer-reviewed (maybe some professors can help you with that, too) and make yourself stand out as an applicant as much as possible.

 

[JLT223]

Besides volunteering, I don't know what else is considered an EC activity. I don't think hobbies would go here? No research but I'll probably look into that soon. I'm about to start working as a sterilization tech in an office. Everything was mailed October 21st.

UW, MWU, ASDOH, Meharry (stupid idea since I have no chance?), U Florida.

You're not involved in any student clubs or organizations? Every pre dent who knows anything has volunteering hours. With only a 3.3 you're going to need more than just shadowing on your application.

 

[DC206R]

No I was not involved in any student clubs or organizations during my undergrad because I was working when I wasn't studying. I do have volunteering hours through tutoring immigrant students, local food bank, B&G club, and health events here and there.

 

[ncide]

UW likes to see 400 hours of community service. The minimum is 100, but an admissions committee member explicitly stated they like to see more than that.

Apply to a minimum of 15 schools. If you have the funds, I would suggest 20 due to your lower than average GPA.

Apply early.

 

[ncide]

You're not involved in any student clubs or organizations? Every pre dent who knows anything has volunteering hours. With only a 3.3 you're going to need more than just shadowing on your application.

He said he volunteers. There's no need to be a part of student clubs.

 

[DC206R]

My plan is about 15 schools and that's probably due to financial restraints. If I could, I'd apply to more. Probably a good idea to take out a small loan or borrow money from a family member for the extra schools and supplementals.