Application Questions

[ericbball324]

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Hi all,

I know there are tons of these annoying threads but I wanted to share my situation and hopefully get some opinions/advice from some people on the boards here.

I am currently a junior, and just decided that I am going to take a year off and apply after my senior year instead. One of the main reasons for my decision to wait a year is to build up volunteer/community activities(I havent volunteered before). This way I would have all next year and the following year to work on this. The other main reason is I only would have felt comfortable asking 2 profs for LOR's(committee letter requires 4) and now I would have all senior year to get to know teachers better and get these. I also thought it would be good just to have another year to mature as a person before going to dental school

During the gap year I plan to just work and make some money(maybe in something dental related). Does it matter what you do in your year off??
I took the DAT's this Feb. My scores were BIO(20) GC(20) OC(20) TS(20) RC(20) QR(18) AA(20) PAT(18). Current GPA is 3.55 Sci GPA 3.37. I am a Connecticut resident. Approx 70-75 shadow hrs currently. Main activities- varsity track/cross country, peer tutor, pre-dental group.

My question is really do you think I am making a good decision to take a year off? Will my stats be good enough to get me interviews next year along with hopefully a strong senior year to boost my GPA a little? I am really looking forward to going to dental school and any advice/opinions on things that might help me would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi all,

I know there are tons of these annoying threads but I wanted to share my situation and hopefully get some opinions/advice from some people on the boards here.

I am currently a junior, and just decided that I am going to take a year off and apply after my senior year instead. One of the main reasons for my decision to wait a year is to build up volunteer/community activities(I havent volunteered before). This way I would have all next year and the following year to work on this. The other main reason is I only would have felt comfortable asking 2 profs for LOR's(committee letter requires 4) and now I would have all senior year to get to know teachers better and get these. I also thought it would be good just to have another year to mature as a person before going to dental school

During the gap year I plan to just work and make some money(maybe in something dental related). Does it matter what you do in your year off??
I took the DAT's this Feb. My scores were BIO(20) GC(20) OC(20) TS(20) RC(20) QR(18) AA(20) PAT(18). Current GPA is 3.55 Sci GPA 3.37. I am a Connecticut resident. Approx 70-75 shadow hrs currently. Main activities- varsity track/cross country, peer tutor, pre-dental group.

My question is really do you think I am making a good decision to take a year off? Will my stats be good enough to get me interviews next year along with hopefully a strong senior year to boost my GPA a little? I am really looking forward to going to dental school and any advice/opinions on things that might help me would be greatly appreciated!!

There is nothing wrong with taking a gap year. From looks of it, you've thought this through and you've come up with a good plan. Personally, I wouldn't do it because, I don't like to put the inevitable off, but thats just me.

I think you have great stats, 3.5 / 20 AA / 20 TS, whether you apply this coming year or next, I see you landing multiple interviews. The only potential problem I see with applying this year is, your LORs, you NEED to get a hold of 2 more LOR-writers.

As far as volunteering goes, this shouldn't persuade you from applying this year. Its past mid-April, you can get some volunteering done from now till June period to put something down in AADSAS.

Overall, either option (this year vs next year) is fine. Some people will tell you that taking a gap year off looks bad... I dunno how much truth there is behind it. Maybe for some schools it is, but because you have good stats, I don't believe you'll have any trouble.

 

[bing12]

Hi all,

I know there are tons of these annoying threads but I wanted to share my situation and hopefully get some opinions/advice from some people on the boards here.

I am currently a junior, and just decided that I am going to take a year off and apply after my senior year instead. One of the main reasons for my decision to wait a year is to build up volunteer/community activities(I havent volunteered before). This way I would have all next year and the following year to work on this. The other main reason is I only would have felt comfortable asking 2 profs for LOR's(committee letter requires 4) and now I would have all senior year to get to know teachers better and get these. I also thought it would be good just to have another year to mature as a person before going to dental school


IMO, I think those are not great reasons to take a gap year. I did not have much community service, but I still received a few interviews. You dont have to feel very comfortable asking another 2 Professors, because most of them know the drill and most likely dont know all their students well enough to actually write a great LOR, I believe most of them just have a template they use. And believe me, you will mature your senior year. The issue I have with this is your reasons, because they are not legitimate enough ( IMO) to take a year off and forgo a years worth of salary ( as a dentist).

Your stats are pretty good, and you have a good shot at landing at least a few interviews. If you take a year off, and make $15/hr, and work 40 hrs a week, and work every single week of the year, you will make $28,000 for the year. Lets say the starting salary of a dentist is $100,000, so your opportunity cost of taking a year off is : ( 100K-29K) = 71K.

Relook at your situation, if you truly believe that taking a year off is worth 71K to you, then by all means go do it. If you dont believe that its worth that much, then try and apply.

 

[Maygyver]

I took a year off and I'm happy I did. Don't worry too much about costs. Life is more than just making the most money possible.

 

[bing12]

I took a year off and I'm happy I did. Don't worry too much about costs. Life is more than just making the most money possible.

I agree. But to take a year off because of the reasons he stated IMO does not seem like a great idea.

 

[Maygyver]

I agree. But to take a year off because of the reasons he stated IMO does not seem like a great idea.

Touche, I agree. It really isn't that hard to ask people for LORs; professors are used to being asked. Same thing goes for volunteering. There's still plenty of time left.

 

[JcRoughriders]

Hey,
I was in your position... but maybe worse.
I finished my junior year having nothing, no shadowing experience, no LORs, no DAT.
Since then I have shadowed a dentist for almost a year, gotten all my LORs in already, taken the DAT, taking upper level bio classes, and I am so ready to apply this June.
I am very glad I didn't apply when I didn't feel comfortable. Just a year ago I didnt have an answer to the question "why do you wanna be a dentist?" But now after shadowing and thinking everything through, I am sure now I wanna be a dentist and I have so much to talk about in my statement, etc.
It maybe different for you, but I'm just sharing my experience and I'm glad of my decision

 

[ericbball324]

thanks for the responses, hearing others experiences and opinions is very helpful