Advice on reapplication

[jaytner]

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Hiii

Sorry if similar questions were asked in the past.

I’m thinking about reapplying and I need some advice/maybe even reality check.

So to be completely honest I applied REALLY late this cycle. Like October i think. Don’t ask me why or tell me that was stupid bc i know… I had something in March which threw off my whole DAT schedule and from then things just tumbled down…

Even when I was applying I felt and knew that my application was kinda hasty and I didn’t feel confident. I just searched up bunch of schools and applied randomly lowkey.

I have good enough stats I think. (4.0 GPA, 200ish shadowing, 100-150ish volunteering, 100-200(?) rsch; no publication tho, and also worked several on campus jobs to afford my living) Also my LORs I’m sure it’s good to great because I have a good connections/relationship with my recommenders. So I’m thinking one of the main reasons that I didn’t get bunch of offers is bc I applied very late.

I was waitlisted on BU and I recently got invited to interview at Tufts. The thing is, I can’t afford either of them. I should have thought about it, but I really didn’t because at the time I was like “I’ll go anywhere that accepts me”

So now, I’m thinking about reapplying. What makes me hesitant is that 1) idk if this is true, but I heard reapplicants are less likely to get accepted, and 2) I started to work as a dental assistant recently, but during my “gap year” that’s kinda the only thing that I did, so idk if there’s a lot to add on to for my application.

My dentist at the dental office is very kind and he told me that I should reapply and maybe retake DAT for a better chance (mine was 460AA). So I’m also thinking about retaking DAT.

A positive thing about reapplying is though, I have a dream school that I really want to get into now (UCSF; got rejected this cycle tho). So if I do end up reapplying, I’ll probably apply to less schools that I’ll REALLY attend, think about the financial side and make a good decision, and I have more clinical experience and another recommender (my dentist that I work for).

So i guess what I’m asking is, do you guys think it’s worth it to reapply? And do you guy think that I’ll actually have a chance in getting more offers in general if I apply very early and maybe have a better DAT score? I want to hear honest opinions. Thank you!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

We don't have your WAMC profile here to call your chances. However, UCSF is a very challenging program, and you should figure out why they didn't invite you to an interview late (like Boston University and Tufts did). We can't call your chances without a WAMC.

I don't know who you are talking to about reapplying chances because you haven't asked us. However, the new math with loan caps will make it interesting if there are as many reapplicants for the next cycle or so. If you are reapplying to UCSF, your profile must show an improvement with your experiences and your purpose as a future dentist (not just applying earlier/on time).

I advocate for picking up community service and clinical experience in gap years if you have a solid academic profile (not doing a postbac). Your inferred lack of community service over the gap year may make your reapplication challenging.

The most interesting situation is if you got an offer from the waitlist at the schools where you have interviewed. Would you really turn down an offer?

 

[macsak]

Hiii

Sorry if similar questions were asked in the past.

I’m thinking about reapplying and I need some advice/maybe even reality check.

So to be completely honest I applied REALLY late this cycle. Like October i think. Don’t ask me why or tell me that was stupid bc i know… I had something in March which threw off my whole DAT schedule and from then things just tumbled down…

Even when I was applying I felt and knew that my application was kinda hasty and I didn’t feel confident. I just searched up bunch of schools and applied randomly lowkey.

I have good enough stats I think. (4.0 GPA, 200ish shadowing, 100-150ish volunteering, 100-200(?) rsch; no publication tho, and also worked several on campus jobs to afford my living) Also my LORs I’m sure it’s good to great because I have a good connections/relationship with my recommenders. So I’m thinking one of the main reasons that I didn’t get bunch of offers is bc I applied very late.

I was waitlisted on BU and I recently got invited to interview at Tufts. The thing is, I can’t afford either of them. I should have thought about it, but I really didn’t because at the time I was like “I’ll go anywhere that accepts me”

So now, I’m thinking about reapplying. What makes me hesitant is that 1) idk if this is true, but I heard reapplicants are less likely to get accepted, and 2) I started to work as a dental assistant recently, but during my “gap year” that’s kinda the only thing that I did, so idk if there’s a lot to add on to for my application.

My dentist at the dental office is very kind and he told me that I should reapply and maybe retake DAT for a better chance (mine was 460AA). So I’m also thinking about retaking DAT.

A positive thing about reapplying is though, I have a dream school that I really want to get into now (UCSF; got rejected this cycle tho). So if I do end up reapplying, I’ll probably apply to less schools that I’ll REALLY attend, think about the financial side and make a good decision, and I have more clinical experience and another recommender (my dentist that I work for).

So i guess what I’m asking is, do you guys think it’s worth it to reapply? And do you guy think that I’ll actually have a chance in getting more offers in general if I apply very early and maybe have a better DAT score? I want to hear honest opinions. Thank you!

please fill out a full WAMC template...

 

[jaytner]

Date of submission: 9/8-9/13
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 460 AA. 450 PAT, 440 QR, 420 RC, 450 Bio, 510 GC, 490 OC
State of Residence: HI

Undergrad Attended: University of Oklahoma
Major: Chemical Biosciences (similar to Biochem) & Letters (Similar to Classics)
Minor: N/A
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 24 hrs in OK familiy dentistry, 48 hrs in another OK familiy dentistry, 150 hrs in dental hospital (general dentistry + diff specialties like endo, implant, ortho, etc; it was in Korea). total +200 hrs
Volunteering Experience: Grant Writing 120 hrs, Clinical volunteer at a hospital in Hawaii 65 hrs, (185 hrs in total)
Employment: 300 hrs working as a student specialist in school 3D printing lab, 160 hrs working as a RA (for a dorm), 400 hrs working as genetics lab TA, 450 hrs working as peer tutor (on campus job)
Research: 400 hrs as undergrad research assistant in biochem lab. no publications, but worked as research technician (compensated) after graduation for few months.
Other Extracurriculars: Ethics Bowl (didn't win anything tho) 225 hrs (feels a lot more since we'd travel to diff states to compete). IDK if this matters but I went on a semester abroad with scholarhips.
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: Outstanding Senior Award (selected as one of the 3 graduating seniors in Natural Sciences). High Impact Award from my peer tutor work place
LOR type and strength: 1 from my genetics lab professor that I TA'd for - probably very strong. 1 from the boss from my peer tutor work place - also pretty strong. 1 from the dentist I shadowed in Korea - also very strong. 1 from my research professor - maybe medium to great? not sure about this one.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I know I applied really late I was really burnt out at that time... I'm trying to see if I can do better if I apply way earlier upcoming cycle. Oh also I've been working as a dental assistant since this Jan/Feb.
School list: Tufts, Rutgers, BU, UCSF, UW (there's more but this is what I remember from this cycle).

 

[jaytner]

We don't have your WAMC profile here to call your chances. However, UCSF is a very challenging program, and you should figure out why they didn't invite you to an interview late (like Boston University and Tufts did). We can't call your chances without a WAMC.

I don't know who you are talking to about reapplying chances because you haven't asked us. However, the new math with loan caps will make it interesting if there are as many reapplicants for the next cycle or so. If you are reapplying to UCSF, your profile must show an improvement with your experiences and your purpose as a future dentist (not just applying earlier/on time).

I advocate for picking up community service and clinical experience in gap years if you have a solid academic profile (not doing a postbac). Your inferred lack of community service over the gap year may make your reapplication challenging.

The most interesting situation is if you got an offer from the waitlist at the schools where you have interviewed. Would you really turn down an offer?

Hi,

sorry I wasn't sure if this questions needed the WAMC filled out or not.
I've just filled it out because I don't really come to the forum as often so I just realized that I got replies at all. Thanks!

(see template above - moderator merged threads)

I'd say I might really have to turn down an offer because financially I get no help and I've saved up no money since I've financed myself throughout college years. I spent it all from applying to schools & DAT etc. I don't know if I even have the money to pay for the deposit to be honest. I mean yes, I could take out a loan but I'm not sure if 600k worth of pure loan is worth it... I get heartburn just thinking about it.... Anyways, I guess right now my main concern is if it's worth reapplying (of course with more volunteering and clinical hours as you've suggested), and if I should retake my DAT.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Are you completing your undergrad? What advice have you gotten from the prehealth advisors at your undergrad? What are you doing now?

What was your previous list?

Do you have any community service activities?

 

[wysdoc]

I know someone who was so excited when he got a good DAT score that he applied in October like you did.
He could not be talked into waiting until the next cycle, and he was likewise rejected.
With your added experiences and a thoughtful rewriting of your personal statement you can try again, early this time.

edited to add - he reapplied early the next cycle to the same schools and had 3 interviews and 2 admission offers.

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: 9/8-9/13
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 460 AA. 450 PAT, 440 QR, 420 RC, 450 Bio, 510 GC, 490 OC
State of Residence: HI

Undergrad Attended: University of Oklahoma
Major: Chemical Biosciences (similar to Biochem) & Letters (Similar to Classics)
Minor: N/A
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 24 hrs in OK familiy dentistry, 48 hrs in another OK familiy dentistry, 150 hrs in dental hospital (general dentistry + diff specialties like endo, implant, ortho, etc; it was in Korea). total +200 hrs
Volunteering Experience: Grant Writing 120 hrs, Clinical volunteer at a hospital in Hawaii 65 hrs, (185 hrs in total)
Employment: 300 hrs working as a student specialist in school 3D printing lab, 160 hrs working as a RA (for a dorm), 400 hrs working as genetics lab TA, 450 hrs working as peer tutor (on campus job)
Research: 400 hrs as undergrad research assistant in biochem lab. no publications, but worked as research technician (compensated) after graduation for few months.
Other Extracurriculars: Ethics Bowl (didn't win anything tho) 225 hrs (feels a lot more since we'd travel to diff states to compete). IDK if this matters but I went on a semester abroad with scholarhips.
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: Outstanding Senior Award (selected as one of the 3 graduating seniors in Natural Sciences). High Impact Award from my peer tutor work place
LOR type and strength: 1 from my genetics lab professor that I TA'd for - probably very strong. 1 from the boss from my peer tutor work place - also pretty strong. 1 from the dentist I shadowed in Korea - also very strong. 1 from my research professor - maybe medium to great? not sure about this one.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I know I applied really late I was really burnt out at that time... I'm trying to see if I can do better if I apply way earlier upcoming cycle. Oh also I've been working as a dental assistant since this Jan/Feb.
School list: Tufts, Rutgers, BU, UCSF, UW (there's more but this is what I remember from this cycle).

how many interviews did you receive and what were the results?
and i'd prefer to know exactly when you applied (said october in the other post and sept in this one)
and exactly which schools you applied to

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Now that all threads are consolidated, OP has a waitlist at BU and waiting for a decision at Tufts. OP has concerns with costs.

The current financial situation is tough to anticipate whether reapplying dooms you. But if becoming a dentist is your passion and your desired goal, a year deferred means a year in which tuition is likely higher than what you would pay if you started now. Higher education tuition rises at about 3-5% every year. You would defer a year in a role where you would have a chance to pay down that debt if you went forward.

I tell anyone in the medical, PA, vet, or dental admissions process, if you get an offer, take it. If you apply to a school, you need to want to go. You already said you would be happy being accepted anywhere to dental school, and you have the measurables for an offer. Yes, the OB3 situation should give you pause, and many of us here are saying its going to be an anchor on your finances for the rest of your life unless you have the true passion and motivation to make a plan to pay it off quickly.

So I would still plan to reapply because you don't hold an offer. But as I asked before, would you accept an offer? It sounds like you are more likely to turn any offer down.

 

[jaytner]

Are you completing your undergrad? What advice have you gotten from the prehealth advisors at your undergrad? What are you doing now?

What was your previous list?

Do you have any community service activities?

Sorry if it wasn’t clear in the other post
I tried to add the WAMC link that I filled out but it might have not been added.
I graduated in last May. I didn’t really get a good advice from my undergrad tbh… They were just recommending me OK dental school which I’m OOS of… I’m working as a dental assistant now.
Other two questions it should be in my WAMC post. That is my school list tho, those are the schools I applied for.

 

[jaytner]

how many interviews did you receive and what were the results?
and i'd prefer to know exactly when you applied (said october in the other post and sept in this one)
and exactly which schools you applied to

Like how Mr. smile 12 applied

I got interview from BU and Tufts. Wailisted at BU and don’t know for Tufts yet.

I went back and checked and it was september.

Those are the schools I applied for. I’m can’t check every schools that I applied for right now so maybe if you need more info I can check and add when I’m back home

 

[macsak]

Like how Mr. smile 12 applied

I got interview from BU and Tufts. Wailisted at BU and don’t know for Tufts yet.

I went back and checked and it was september.

Those are the schools I applied for. I’m can’t check every schools that I applied for right now so maybe if you need more info I can check and add when I’m back home

what is your dat TS score?