Apply this year or wait? High DAT/Low gpa

[altoidtin]

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What's up guys? I'm looking for advice on my application date. I'm currently set for one gap year, but my advisor recommended I take two, which I'm obviously reluctant to do.
My cum gpa is 3.33, science gpa 3.14 with a upward trend. I took my DAT Nov. 14 and got DAT: AA-23 TS-23
I have about 20 hours of shadowing experience. I've been working at least 20 hrs a weeks my entire time in college, but idk if that means anything to schools. I'm looking for more clinical experience at the moment.
What does everyone think? Is two gap years really the best move?
Thanks

 

[dentaldiva_4]

There's a lot that can be done in one year I don't think 2 is necessary you did better on me in the DAT and I had similar stats when I was applying and I got in. I took 2 years off cause I had no choice I didn't take the DAT till March 2016 but all that extra stuff to make me more competitive was done between then and now so I could've done without the extra year had I already taken the DAT HOWEVER...there's a lot of other factors to consider of course like residency, extracurriculars , community service, leadership which worked in my favor and you def need more shadowing but if you aren't planning on taking classes in the second year then go ahead and apply. Just get your app in early and hit the ground running now! Lol


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[KoonS]

I think your chance of getting in this cycle is very low to zero cuz it is too late into the cycle already. get your shadowing hours to 100 and apply next cycle in couple months.

 

[dentaldiva_4]

I graduated in 2015 btw


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[dentaldiva_4]

I think your chance of getting in this cycle is very low to zero cuz it is too late into the cycle already. get your shadowing hours to 100 and apply next cycle in couple months.

For clarification: If you want to apply now (like 2016 cycle) forget about it it's too late but for the 2017 cycle you're good is what meant.


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[KoonS]

For clarification: If you want to apply now (like 2016 cycle) forget about it it's too late but for the 2017 cycle you're good is what meant.


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i think you are good for 2017 cycle, just need to get more shadowing hours and community service.

 

[Likkriue]

Applying for the 2017 cycle is fine.

 

[osker246]

Up your shadowing to 100 hours minimum. Try finding volunteering opportunities involved in dentistry and use those volunteer hours as shadowing hours. This is what I did when I was volunteering on a mobile dental clinic. You have a higher GPA and DAT than me and I was accepted to 3 of the 5 schools I interviewed at. So you definitely can get in with your stats. You just have to sell yourself with your PS and interviews to the admissions committees.

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[Frank Kennedy]

Definitely up those shadowing hours to 100, I applied with only 35 and it really killed my opportunities this cycle even though I had a 3.9 GPA and 24AA, 24PAT. I learned the hard way. "The wise man learns from other's mistakes". Apply broadly and I think you have a good chance with your high DAT score (Congrats btw!!)

 

[Faefly]

Definitely up those shadowing hours to 100, I applied with only 35 and it really killed my opportunities this cycle even though I had a 3.9 GPA and 24AA, 24PAT. I learned the hard way. "The wise man learns from other's mistakes". Apply broadly and I think you have a good chance with your high DAT score (Congrats btw!!)

That's just not fair at all. I mean you have great scores!

Maybe it's something you said or something that was said about you! or you applied too late or your interviews sucked
Many schools don't even specify how many hours of shadowing they want! There is no way they turn someone like you who is pretty *smart!
and accept someone else with lower stat just because you have less shadowing hours. I mean 35 hours is not many hours but they are still something!
Have you not volunteering hours at all?
Maybe you haven't graduated yet?
Maybe you didn't apply to private schools?
Maybe the schools you applied to specify exactly that they want certain amount of hours
I know VCU wants 100-150 and Tuft wants 75 hours on their website!

You never know the real reasons! not a single school accepted you?
How many schools did you apply to?

 

[Frank Kennedy]

That's just not fair at all. I mean you have great scores!

Maybe it's something you said or something that was said about you! or you applied too late or your interviews sucked
Many schools don't even specify how many hours of shadowing they want! There is no way they turn someone like you who is pretty *smart!
and accept someone else with lower stat just because you have less shadowing hours. I mean 35 hours is not many hours but they are still something!
Have you not volunteering hours at all?
Maybe you haven't graduated yet?
Maybe you didn't apply to private schools?
Maybe the schools you applied to specify exactly that they want certain amount of hours
I know VCU wants 100-150 and Tuft wants 75 hours on their website!

You never know the real reasons! not a single school accepted you?
How many schools did you apply to?

I had two interviews, I got into touro and just interviewed at maryland a couple weeks ago so Im still going to be a dentist! I had 0 volunteering hours (really regret this and shadowing hours), i do not graduate til may and i applied to some difficult schools. It has been quite the humbling experience but I thankfully will still be attending dental school.

 

[predental21250]

You've spent 20 hours shadowing a dentist and you decided already that this is what you want to do for the rest of your life? Do yourself a favor and get more shadowing hours in before you make that commitment, not for the sake of it looking better on your application, but to make sure that this is what you want to do.