Any Freelance Advisors Want to Help?

[Intriguing Owl]

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So here's my story...

I graduated business school (finance) in 2003. I was very successful by most standards. I decided to do something a little more meaningful with my life so in 2009 I started taking prerequisites for dental school.

My business school GPA is around 3.20. The last 3 years, I've taken 70 or so science credits with a major university earning a 3.60 GPA. I took the DAT last year and scored 19 science and 18 AA. I was working on two research projects at the time (both were presented at a national conference) and taking physics so I didn't study as much as I should have.... No excuses, I'm going to re-take it in June and I'm sure I can score 20+.

I called my state school today and the person I spoke with pretty much said I need to take a two year MS to be considered. He said I need to work on my OVERALL GPA. Needless to say, this is a little heartbreaking to hear two weeks before the next cycle opens. The bottom line is I come from a poor family and had to work full-time to make ends meet when I was in business school. I was proud to be the first person in my family to graduate college.... Unfortunately, my state school seems to be focusing on my past and not my future. (I have nothing but respect for the school so I will not mention their name) To make things more interesting, my pre-dental advisor doesn't think I need to do a master's program. He thinks my academic performance over the last three years is sufficient...

Here is where I need help: Where should I apply?? Are they any schools that like post-bacc students? What schools will look mainly at my post-bacc GPA and not my undergrad GPA?

Thanks.

 

[goffdent]

Apply broadly.... Does your state school have a dental school (is that who you called and talked to?) Apply smart though. It's hard to say.. if they tell you to get a master's, then it will defintiely help you, but i don't see why they are asking for it. Apply to schools that typically take more out-of-staters if your state doesn't have a dental school. re-take the DAT as planned and apply. I don't see what they're talking about. your advisor is correct. You shouldn't need to do a master's. If you're not stuck on a state-school, then apply around you. You could just give it a shot this round and see how it goes. If you get in somewhere it will be worth it.

 

[Intriguing Owl]

Yeah, the state I live in has a dental school. I spoke with the dean of admissions at the school. He's the one saying I need a two year MS to be considered. I applied last year and they didn't even interview me. I'm definitely going to apply this year. I'm just trying to figure out where to apply... I'm thinking Midwestern IL and AZ, Roseman, NYU, OHSU, Western, CWRU, and a few others.

 

[goffdent]

I would perhaps consider some other schools that aren't quite so "new". Not that I'm against them. Just a little weary that's all. Also, I would pruchase the official ADEA guide to dentistry to see how many OOS applicants interview/ and are accepted/matriculate at schools to maximize your chances. It really depends on where you live too.. It seems like east coast schools didn't like me not being from the east coast.

 

[Intriguing Owl]

Yeah, I hear you want to apply to schools that have the same regional testing as your home state. Not sure if it's true or not but statistics would probably support the theory.

 

[dentite1127]

Apply early, choose schools with high OOS, apply early, study hard for the DAT, and apply early.

My story is similar to yours I got my bachelor's in mechanical engineering in '06, successfully worked as an engineer, decided to pursue dental and started the prereqs in 2010. My GPAs weren't stellar because engineering isn't the easiest major and it's hard to make big changes in GPA when you have a degree's worth of credits. I applied mid-Oct last cycle with 3.3/3.3 GPAs and 21/20/25 DAT. I was waitlisted and then accepted. I think I could have gotten more interviews/acceptances if I would have applied earlier, but who can say for sure. Point is, you can definitely get in. Play up your life/business experience and relate it to how it will help you in d-school and dentistry as a career. Use your differences to stand out to adcoms. You didn't say what your EC's were but you don't want to be lacking there, you have a couple weeks before the cycle opens to boost those if you need to.

Also, If you are worried about money, consider HPSP.

 

[Intriguing Owl]

My ECs are not all that bad but could be a little better. I've done fundraising for charity, pre-dental club member, TA for general chemistry, ACS member, 150 hours of shadowing, two presentations at a national conference, starting a research position with the school of medicine this July, some others. I also worked full-time in college and then worked 55+ hours a week in finance for 8 years which didn't leave a lot of time for volunteering.