Application advice

[NCSMILES]

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I am preparing my application materials for 2005 cycle and was interested in some advice. I applied last year and did not get in; I was told by the schools I applied to that my DAT scores were the reason I didn't get in. Anyway, for re-applying this year do you think I need to change my personal statement at all? Nothing has really changed in my life or the reasons I want to go to dental school since last year. I was wondering if it would be acceptable to just use the same one?? Any thoughts from you?

 

[ShawnOne]

Well, why didnt you get in? Did you apply really late?

If not, I would change (improve) everything I could, including the personal statement. If it didnt work last year, I would NOT submit the same application package again next year.

 

[UBTom]

Shawn is right. On top of that, some schools might keep your previous year's application, and if they see the same personal statement again this year, it is not going to leave a good impression.

HTH!

 

[natush]

Shawn is right. On top of that, some schools might keep your previous year's application, and if they see the same personal statement again this year, it is not going to leave a good impression.

HTH!

I absolutely agree with you UBTom. I think that changing your personal statement will be a good idea. You do not have to completely rewrite the statement, just do not make it identical to what you already sent.
Good luck 🙂

 

[ziptree]

Maybe add in what you did between the last application cycle and this one that has helped you, or has reinforced your wanting to become a dentist.

 

[ItsGavinC]

You've got to change your statement. Schools may have told you that your DAT scores were the reason you didn't get in, but how low were they? If they weren't THAT low, then perhaps it was the combination of lower-end DAT scores and a really crappy essay. Or lower-end DAT scores and poor LORs. Or lower-end DAT scores and a downward grade trend.

You get the point. I don't doubt that the schools were being honest with you, but many a person has overcome low DAT scores to get acceptances. What differs from them to you?

 

[dental44]

You might think this is stupid but, I would include in my personal statement that I did not recieve acceptance to any schools in the previous application cycle. I would seriously doubt that your personal would keep you from gaining acceptance. It does however provide a great opportunity to showcase the very personal side of anyone's application. Say something along the lines of- the application process has only reaffirmed my desire for the profession and has shown that nothing great in life comes without struggle. Let them see that you've been cut, but you are still strong and determined. You know what you need to do, no one else can tell you.

 

[dental44]

I think the key to any personal statement is to try to make a personal connection with whomever is reading the thing. You just need to make a connection with an adcom (easier said than done). That is the key to the personal statement. While adcoms appear to be machines, eventually a real person will read at least a portion of the statement. Maybe the reader didn't gain acceptance to a some school at first, or they have a son/daughter who was in your situation. So try to make the personal connection in the first paragraph (If your first paragraph is cookie-cutter, they will probably never read the remainder until they've gone over your application for a second or third time-if you get that far).