Another opinion question

[Montserrat]

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So... I wanted to bounce a question off you SDN'ers. I e-submitted my application in the late summer, retook the DAT in late October, and haven't heard a peep back from most of the schools I applied to. It's been eerily silent - if anything, I expected more negative responses than positive ones. So far, I've gotten a waitlist letter, and a few rejections. This really can't be a good sign.

If you were me, what would you assume from this lackluster response of schools to your application ?

 

[berg1373]

My opinion is that if you just took the DAT a couple of weeks ago you may just have to keep waiting. It is such a waiting game, once you get everything in you still have to keep waiting to be reviewed. That is what I have experienced anyways.

 

[dental0903]

My opinion is that if you just took the DAT a couple of weeks ago you may just have to keep waiting. It is such a waiting game, once you get everything in you still have to keep waiting to be reviewed. That is what I have experienced anyways.

I agree. The schools are probably overwhelmed with applications right now, but I suspect that things will start picking up again after December 1 when some people decline offers and schools have a better idea of what they are working with. You have great DAT scores and post-bac GPA, so I would not be too worried! Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

So... I wanted to bounce a question off you SDN'ers. I e-submitted my application in the late summer, retook the DAT in late October, and haven't heard a peep back from most of the schools I applied to. It's been eerily silent - if anything, I expected more negative responses than positive ones. So far, I've gotten a waitlist letter, and a few rejections. This really can't be a good sign.

If you were me, what would you assume from this lackluster response of schools to your application ?

Your undergraduate GPA may be weighing you down. Lateness on the DAT didn't help. There should be some hope from the high scores on the DAT. The earliest possible interview date would be mid Dec.

 

[uvaGirL07]

you have such a killer DAT score. if YOU don't get into dental school then i might just not apply next cycle at all... hahahaha jk... well... hahaha we'll see

 

[Montserrat]

Your undergraduate GPA may be weighing you down. Lateness on the DAT didn't help. There should be some hope from the high scores on the DAT. The earliest possible interview date would be mid Dec.

I think there's a misunderstanding from my post. I didn't take the DAT in October for the first time, but retook it then. My original DAT scores (20/21/18) were taken earlier on in the summer, and were mailed off with my AADSAS application well before October.

 

[tamkhan]

hang in there. you'll get in. you have amazing dat scores and some schools will overlook your low gpa. plus, you have a masters degree.

it is true that schools are overwhelmed with apps right now. so it will take time. i dont have a single interview, and i have one rejection so far. my file was complete in mid october (awfully late). but im hoping i can get atleast one interview.🙂

 

[dentalalltheway]

I think you first scores should have gotten you plenty of interviews. You won't want to hear this but:
"How was your personal statement?"
if you are sure that was strong then:
"You may have gotten an LOR from someone who didn't want to write you one or someone who knew they were going to be anonymous and stabbed you in the back."
The latter issue happened to a buddy of mine. UOP looked right past it though. During their interview process they handed him his "packet" to carry between interviews and he read his LORs. One of them floored him because it was terrible and he never would have guessed or known otherwise. Hope that isn't your case- every professor has a story about applicants who they were angry at for whatever reason and the applicant actually asked for an LOR. The teachers usually said, "I can't write you a strong letter of Rec😱" but others accepted because they felt the student deserved it for asking from someone who they had previously angered. People are weird!

 

[Montserrat]

I'm pretty blunt, so I guess it's possible my personal statement rubbed some people the wrong way. However, my personal statement wasn't anything controversial, just my explanation for why and how.

As for the LOR's, I can't imagine any of my professors or employers bending over back to make me look bad. I wasn't buddy buddy with them, but I knew them well enough. I don't mind them being honest and stating any weaknesses they saw, but I can't see them really stabbing me in the back.

I think you first scores should have gotten you plenty of interviews. You won't want to hear this but:
"How was your personal statement?"
if you are sure that was strong then:
"You may have gotten an LOR from someone who didn't want to write you one or someone who knew they were going to be anonymous and stabbed you in the back."
The latter issue happened to a buddy of mine. UOP looked right past it though. During their interview process they handed him his "packet" to carry between interviews and he read his LORs. One of them floored him because it was terrible and he never would have guessed or known otherwise. Hope that isn't your case- every professor has a story about applicants who they were angry at for whatever reason and the applicant actually asked for an LOR. The teachers usually said, "I can't write you a strong letter of Rec😱" but others accepted because they felt the student deserved it for asking from someone who they had previously angered. People are weird!

 

[DentalKitty]

I think with your original DAT scores and GPA, it would make sense that you're kind of holding right now. Your new DAT scores are crazy (congrats!) and should more than make up for the low undergrad GPA. I'm sure that the schools just haven't gotten around to re-reviewing your app with the new scores. They may have not even gotten the official report from the ADA yet.

Also, just because you update schools with awesome scores doesn't necessarily mean that your app would automatically move to the top of the pile. Unfortunately, you will probably just have to wait a little while longer until they have time to readdress your status. I think there's still plenty of time for you to get interviews and acceptances this cycle. Good luck!

 

[Montserrat]

Some tough bits of reality to swallow, but I appreciate the insight guys.

 

[StayinNCali]

If you truly want feedback- I'm gonna' guess by your own answers about your Personal Statement- that it probably does have an "air about it" which makes the reader uncomfortable in any of 1000 different ways. (If you say that you were blunt then OTHERS definitely will think so.) It is so easy to make this mistake- everyone's first draft has "that uneasy feel to it". Let me ask you this and that will tell if it needs to be revamped. Did you ever let any excellent proof-reader totally destroy your CONTENT and make you rework that for several weeks/months. Every PS out there should have perfect grammar- but they should also have been destroyed by others many times until you were left with- less to say- but material that didn't rub anybody the wrong way or make them feel weird while reading it. The good schools all have enough applicants that they will not accept someone who makes THEM uncomfortable.

 

[doc toothache]

I think there's a misunderstanding from my post. I didn't take the DAT in October for the first time, but retook it then. My original DAT scores (20/21/18) were taken earlier on in the summer, and were mailed off with my AADSAS application well before October.

Actually it is not a case of mistaken identity. Your first set of DAT scores were good, however, judging from the lukewarm response you received so far they were not high enough to offset the low undergraduate GPA (even from a prestigious school). There does seems to be some confusion on the post bac program since it is unclear whether we are talking about an M.S. program or the post bac programs designed for aspiring med/dental students. In any case, as impressive as a 3.8 GPA is, one semester does not appear to have given you significant traction. Your remarkable DAT score in October may prove to be too late for this cycle. Based on your brief resume, it is difficult to find a justification for your bluntness on the ps. A more humble attitude might have served you better. (An opinion on this subject you is a pm away.)

While the personal motivation for applying to 24 school is understandable, it may difficult to convince some adcoms that you are genuinely interested in their school, especially with WVU, VCU, PITT, and MD.