Apply Year Early for Experience of Application Process?

[uhcoog92]

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Is it better to apply a year early with minimal shadowing experience and have the chance to get accepted somewhere, or wait a year and create the best resume possible?

My stats:
oGPA: 3.7 sGPA: 3.85 DAT 20AA 19TS 19PAT
100+ hours of dental volunteering/shadowing, but only at 1 place
-no leadership experience, other than being a tutor and teacher for church (if that even counts...)

All feedback is appreciated. Thanks...

 

[two thirty]

What do you mean by year early? Will you have a degree by the time you would enter dental school? If so, you have above average GPA and a solid DAT, you'll be fine. I had worse stats than you and lame EC's and I got in this year.

If you mean applying where you wouldn't finish a undergrad degree though, no, it's not worth the money. If you will graduate though, you should do it. Even with weak EC's you are a very strong applicant. You'll get in somewhere.

 

[uhcoog92]

What do you mean by year early? Will you have a degree by the time you would enter dental school? If so, you have above average GPA and a solid DAT, you'll be fine. I had worse stats than you and lame EC's and I got in this year.

If you mean applying where you wouldn't finish a undergrad degree though, no, it's not worth the money. If you will graduate though, you should do it. Even with weak EC's you are a very strong applicant. You'll get in somewhere.

Im sorry that I forgot to include this, but I am in my 2nd year at a 4-year university (with enough credits to be considered a junior). I will graduate with a degree by the time i get into dental school (if i get in this cycle). I'm just worried that I do not have enough experience.

 

[user101]

100+ shadowing hours..is excessive, more than anybody needs. I only did 30 and got 4 acceptances with gpa/dat scores very similar to yours

dont waste time and money applying for a dental school year you won't be able to start bc you're still in undergrad

 

[Bis-GMA111]

100-150 hours is usually whats desired by dental schools. they also prefer that you shadow in multiple offices over long periods of time. you have enough shadowing hours, but what i would recommend doing is to check out a specialty that you haven't shadowed yet just to be more acquainted with that.

also if your current shadowing hours aren't with a general dentist, i would highly suggest you start shadowing a general dentist. some schools will look down on your app if you don't have hours with a general dentist

 

[RU1992]

Definitely apply this cycle. Change your current status in your school so you're technically considered a junior. Shadow a general dentist (if you haven't) until the application cycle opens. Your stats are solid and you'll get in somewhere. Why wait the extra year?

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=995828
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