Advice on School List

[RK95]

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Hello! I’m new around here but have found this site to be immensely helpful as I work my way through the dental school application process. Thank you!

I am planning to apply this application cycle and was hoping to get some feedback on my list of schools. First, some background information:

AZ resident
GPA: 4.0 (science and overall)
DAT: 23 AA, TS 23 (PAT 21, QR 22, RC 24, BIO 22, GC 22, OC 26)
Volunteering:

116 hours at hospital emergency department
12+ hours at medical supply packaging charity (ongoing)​

Shadowing:

270 hours (single clinic, general dentist)​

Work experience:

4 years, part-time veterinary assistant​

No extracurriculars (besides volunteer work) or research experience

My current list of schools:

1. A.T. Still University - Arizona
2. University of Colorado
3. University of Connecticut
4. LECOM
5. University of Louisville
6. University of Michigan
7. University of Minnesota
8. Rutgers
9. Ohio State University
10. Oregon Health & Science University
11. University of Tennessee Health Science Center
12. University of Utah
13. Virginia Commonwealth University
14. Marquette University

I want to go the HPSP route, but I also only want to apply to relatively affordable schools that I have a good chance of getting into so that if I don’t get the scholarship I will still be able to manage the cost of attending (it might be a long shot since I will need health waivers). Any advice on what schools I should consider adding or taking away, or any recommendations on how to strengthen my application would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!

 

[Badgers2]

Do yourself a favor and cut your school list in half, if not more. I understand that it's hard at times to feel confident about your application, but I promise you that you'll be thankful that you saved some money. It's $200 something to apply to the first school and then $99 for every school after that (if I remember correctly). Then you have supplemental fees, travel costs for interviews, hotels/airbnb, and interview attire costs. Applying to 14 schools is going to cost you way more than it's worth. Think hard about which schools you would really really want to go to and choose one "safety" school. Prepare well for your interviews. I wish that I would have been more honest with myself and you have better stats and ECs than I did. Oh, and go with the Army.

 

[predent2151]

I agree, I had very similar stats as you and applied to 8 got 6 interviews and was accepted to 4 schools and waitlisted at 1.

 

[deleted678432]

I’d take out Louisville. Heard they have a problem with patient pool. Cut down your list, you have a good app.

 

[RK95]

Do yourself a favor and cut your school list in half, if not more. I understand that it's hard at times to feel confident about your application, but I promise you that you'll be thankful that you saved some money. It's $200 something to apply to the first school and then $99 for every school after that (if I remember correctly). Then you have supplemental fees, travel costs for interviews, hotels/airbnb, and interview attire costs. Applying to 14 schools is going to cost you way more than it's worth. Think hard about which schools you would really really want to go to and choose one "safety" school. Prepare well for your interviews. I wish that I would have been more honest with myself and you have better stats and ECs than I did. Oh, and go with the Army.

Thank you for the feedback. I was leaning towards the Navy to be honest. Is there any particular reason for your preference towards the Army? I love to hear your thoughts!

 

[Badgers2]

Thank you for the feedback. I was leaning towards the Navy to be honest. Is there any particular reason for your preference towards the Army? I love to hear your thoughts!

I did ROTC and got accepted for HPSP with the Army so I'm very biased towards it. Unless you want to hear my biased opinions of why it's the best I would just go with wherever you feel that you're most comfortable. You can apply to all branches and then choose whichever one you're accepted to so that's another option.

 

[DDSDCMUU]

100% agree with what Badgers said. I applied to 12 schools this cycle and interviewed at 9. I realized at the end that I could have saved money by applying to less. With your stats, you will have plenty of options. I also got accepted with the Army so I would say go Army too 🙂 but go with what you feel is best for you! Good luck!