Am I on track to get accepted to a reputable SMP?

[#hashswag]

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If I want to apply to dental SMPs next cycle (to begin in Fall 2017), are my extracurriculars on track? What else should I be doing? BTW I'm a junior at the moment. GPA is a 3.3, no DAT yet.

Extracurriculars
-Research: did neuroscience research (not dental related at all) for 3 semesters (15-20 hrs/wk) and 2 summers (40 hrs/wk). One second author publication. ~1600 hours total, will have a great recommendation from my PI.
-Music: volunteer to teach free violin lessons to low-income children (1 hr/wk for 6 semesters so far, ~70 hours so far) and work for a youth orchestra where I organize and assist in rehearsals (~5 hrs/wk over 5 semesters, ~200 hrs so far)
-Hospital: volunteered for a year at the children's hospital doing art projects with inpatients (2.5 hrs/wk over 2 semesters, 50 hrs total). This was super fun!
-Peer writing advisor: work with undergraduate research grant applicants on their writing skills through the university Writing Center (just started this, 4 hours total. not a major extracurricular activity)
-Honors Program Ambassador: mentor freshman in Honors program and represent Honors Program at recruitment events
-Fundraising: co-organized annual charity tournament for a hospital program. Raised 30k in 6 years. (around 150 hrs total, but some of this was in high school)

I'm also a top viola player at my university; I'm an assistant principal viola at my university symphony that has accompanied multiple Grammy winners. I've probably spent around 500 hrs so far in university-sponsored ensembles, although this is mostly for course credit. I also play quite a few paid gigs, but nothing too structured or consistent.

Awards/Honors-wise, nothing too extraordinary. A couple summer research fellowships, my school's Honors Program (top 10% of each class at a top public school), and a music scholarship.

I unfortunately have not done any shadowing yet (just started getting seriously interested in dental school) but I plan to start doing that this summer and continuing through my senior year.

Other than shadowing, is there anything else I should do in order to get accepted to a dental SMP? Is there a way I can get actual dentally related clinical experience?

 

[Typical Average Student]

Edit: Read this wrong, thought you were talking about SMDEPs.

 

[Dentalnerdz]

I don't think you necessarily NEED a SMP. Your GPA isn't bad really. You would likely get into most of them though if that's what you really want to do. Why not just do a traditional masters? That way you get a somewhat useful masters at least.

But I would suggest just applying especially if your DAT ends up being good. I got accepted to 3 schools this cycle with a GPA lower than yours... The SMP programs in my opinion are only helpful if your undergrad was HORRENDOUS.

 

[stewfoo412]

Different schools differ in what they want. Just look at the school website for the SMP and their requirements, just try to accomplish more than their minimum requirements. Also, most SMPs (or at least the ones in TX) prefer minorities so be weary of that.

wary* 😉

 

[#hashswag]

I don't think you necessarily NEED a SMP. Your GPA isn't bad really. You would likely get into most of them though if that's what you really want to do. Why not just do a traditional masters? That way you get a somewhat useful masters at least.

But I would suggest just applying especially if your DAT ends up being good. I got accepted to 3 schools this cycle with a GPA lower than yours... The SMP programs in my opinion are only helpful if your undergrad was HORRENDOUS.

My science GPA is ****. I got Cs and even had to retake one prereq b/c I failed it before getting my **** together and making mostly As this semester. I definitely need to prove that I can handle difficult science coursework, and I think an SMP is the best way to do that.

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[#hashswag]

You don't need an SMP at all dude. Your sGPA is fine. Just kill the DAT. My sGPA was similar to yours and I got a 25 AA. Six acceptances out of eight interviews, including my top choice. I had one C in Orgo II and was asked about it twice out of eight interviews. If you do well on the DAT nobody will care about the science GPA. I promise you that.

Really? Because I got Cs in Orgo I, Physics I, and Physics II, and failed Analytical Chemistry the first time around. I also had a D+ in a random ecology class. I was fairly certain that I would need an SMP, but would a normal masters do the trick then?

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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