Am I a competitive applicant?

[Bucks783]

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Hello SDN,

This is all new to me, but I find this site very informative and was hoping for some help. I am a non-traditional applicant. I graduated a handful of years ago (7 years ago to be exact) with a business major and an overall GPA right at a 3.0 . I decided to go back to dental school because dentistry has always been an interesting career to me and actually a dream growing up. I went back to school to take the required science courses (all of them since I had not taken any before). I recently finished all of the courses from Gen Chem and Basic Biology to O-Chem and Cell Bio. My overall GPA for all the science classes is a 3.53 and I am curious if this along with what I have listed below would be considered competitive to apply?

A few other notes:
- I worked for 5 years in various positions at a financial institution and in sales
- I have performed over 100 total hours shadowing three dentists
- DAT score was a 20 AA, 18 PAT, 21 QR, 22 RC, 17 BIO, 18 GC, 20 OC, 18 TS

I know the scores aren't the best, but I had a lot on my plate and was actually pretty proud of my scores considering I was only able to study hard for the DAT for 12 days (I was in accelerated classes at the time so I knew a lot I had learned that year before would show up on the DAT).

Also, what do people recommend doing on a year off (aside from relaxing a bit for once) I would have from now until I possibly get in to dental school for 2016? I don't want to continue to take classes since I seem to have exhausted my FAFSA and would have to take out more loans or pay out of pocket, but I would continue doing more shadowing hours to indicate I am taking this seriously.

Thank you for your help!

 

[ajj70]

With the new stats that Doc just put up, you are pretty much an average accepted student, slightly above average. 32 out of the 65 schools have average DAT and GPA scores right at your scores. Some of those schools are not OOS friendly, but it will give you an idea of where you stand. I would not take a year off at your age. I'd apply broadly, make sure you have a good PS and maybe get some volunteer hours in before you apply if you can.

 

[doc toothache]

Out of school for 5 years, but were itching to take the DAT.

 

[tooth knockn]

Out of school for 5 years, but were itching to take the DAT.

Yea Doc

It is common to be out the game and come back with a nice score.... He said 12 days of super duper studying.

 

[yeslek88]

17 Bio & 18 TS isn't going to impress anyone (Only 5 schools have lower than 18 TS avg for enrollee). If you have the time, why not retake the DAT and crush it? Could be the difference between attending a state vs private school, depending on your state residency.

 

[buffdentist]

17 Bio & 18 TS isn't going to impress anyone (Only 5 schools have lower than 18 TS avg for enrollee). If you have the time, why not retake the DAT and crush it? Could be the difference between attending a state vs private school, depending on your state residency.

5 schools? Which ones?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

5 schools? Which ones?

Meharry, Howard, West Virginia, East Carolina, New England