Are My Action's Bizarre? Or Sensible?

[Elshaer]

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Hello everyone! I would like your opinion on the following. Your opinions are greatly appreciated!!!

I am currently wait listed at my number 1 school, and I have done everything I could to get my name off the waitlist (letter of intent, and academic update) but I feel like it's not enough.

I plan on emailing the dean of the school to try and get a meeting/interview with him to discuss some issues. I recently switched my program from physics to biology and wanted to explain why I went through with the change. I also want to discuss what I can further do to show why I am a qualified candidate. Also, I have been accepted at another school and wanted to discuss the possibility of transferring after 1st year.

My question is, is it sensible to directly email the dean and ask for a meeting to discuss these issues? Or is it not a normal thing to do?

 

[doc toothache]

Yes. No.

 

[Elshaer]

Yes. No.

Can you elaborate please. Would you take this course of action?

 

[Hawkteeth]

I don't think the dean is actually on the admissions committee so I'm not sure how much it would help, besides maybe knowing what might be holding them back on giving you an acceptance. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to meet with him, but I don't think it will increase your chances since you have already shown great interest. I'm in the same boat with my number one and was told to be happy with the acceptance I already had. There will be movement coming in April I believe when they limit the number of schools applicants can hold spots at, so there is still hope for us yet! In the end your going to be a dentist so be proud of what you've achieved.

 

[Teeths]

Please take what I'm saying with a grain of salt because I don't know if there's actually any truth to it, but it's what I've observed through friends and others in similar situations-

Some schools keep track of how often you contact them and if you're actively showing this is your top choice and will most definitely enroll if accepted (meaning, if accepted anywhere else you won't think about it and take the acceptance there). I would email the dean and adcom members if you can. What's the worst that can happen? They ignore it? It certainly won't cause you any harm or be looked upon negatively so I say go for it! 👍

Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Can you elaborate please. Would you take this course of action?

Bizarre? Yes-Sensible? No.

 

[Wiredtrix]

In my opinion, an email to a secretary or admissions office doesn't do anything. But, on the other hand, I can't believe that a dean of a Dental school wants to hear from hundreds of applicants about how much they want to attend their school. If I were you, I would email the people that you interviewed with and tell them about your situation. That you have gotten into other schools, but that you would without a doubt go to that school if accepted. Ask them if there is any other information that you could provide for them and tell them that you are grateful for the chance to interview with them and be on the wait list. The people who you interview with usually meet often with the admissions committee or are part of it, and they will already have a good grasp of who your are and your situation.

But, in the end I don't think this will have that much of an effect on your chances, but couldn't hurt though.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hello everyone! I would like your opinion on the following. Your opinions are greatly appreciated!!!

I am currently wait listed at my number 1 school, and I have done everything I could to get my name off the waitlist (letter of intent, and academic update) but I feel like it's not enough.

I plan on emailing the dean of the school to try and get a meeting/interview with him to discuss some issues. I recently switched my program from physics to biology and wanted to explain why I went through with the change. I also want to discuss what I can further do to show why I am a qualified candidate. Also, I have been accepted at another school and wanted to discuss the possibility of transferring after 1st year.

My question is, is it sensible to directly email the dean and ask for a meeting to discuss these issues? Or is it not a normal thing to do?

explaining why ur switching major = bizarre

meeting up with dean to talk about ur chances = okay

meeting up to talk about possible 1 year transfer = bizarre, and almost offensive to the schools thats accepted you already

 

[nikond600]

Usually the Dean is not in the Admission Committee. So he has no control over who gets in. Secondly, as the Dean of a dental school, s/he must have tons of things to take care of. So I personally don't think s/he will have the time for you.

 

[timmytim]

three word comes to mind

stupid futile immature

 

[goffdent]

some dental school have many deans.. Dean of the college, dean of patient affairs, dean of student affairs.. etc. LIkely, if there is a dean of student affairs.. they would likely be in the admissions circle; however, I don't necessarily talking to them will help. A call with explanation may help to the admissions office in general, and they can add it to their file. If they think it's worth talking to someone else, they will let you know, or you could ask them. Also.. I wouldn't call the people you interviewed with. they are usually faculty who are very busy and don't necessarily have time to be fielding all these calls. They are seeing patients, overseeing dental students seeing patients, or lecturing etc.. They usually see you for your interview, review files over the internet, and give yes/No's..

 

[kcumb12]

For the most part schools have no interest in transfers, it only happens if they need to fill a seat because someone failed out or was dismissed, each schools curriculum is different for the most part and make tranfers difficult.

 

[tigerteeth22]

Yeah this sounds pretty ridiculous to me.

 

[leo_spaceman]

People are leaning towards immature and juvenile, but let me put my annoyingly optimistic 0.02 in.

first of all, you were wait-listed, so odds are you will do as good or better next time if for some reason you don't go to the school you got accepted to.

Expressing intent and a strong desire to attend your dream school is by no means futile or immature, as long as you don't sound desperate! Don't transfer, maybe use the other school as leverage to get in to the school you want. Or just go to the other school and be thankful you got in! But if you want to write an email, go ahead, it's not like you are going to lose anything, just be polite, and know it really can work...but really...its just an email. Being polite, passionate, yet restrained in demeanor can get you much more in life than just a bump off some wait list.

Either way congrats on getting in somewhere and gl if you choose to contact someone at the school.

Seriously dont transfer after a year though. Thats the only thing I disagree with.

 

[stoopidmonkeycatdog]

People are leaning towards immature and juvenile, but let me put my annoyingly optimistic 0.02 in.

first of all, you were wait-listed, so odds are you will do as good or better next time if for some reason you don't go to the school you got accepted to.

Expressing intent and a strong desire to attend your dream school is by no means futile or immature, as long as you don't sound desperate! Don't transfer, maybe use the other school as leverage to get in to the school you want. Or just go to the other school and be thankful you got in! But if you want to write an email, go ahead, it's not like you are going to lose anything, just be polite, and know it really can work...but really...its just an email. Being polite, passionate, yet restrained in demeanor can get you much more in life than just a bump off some wait list.

Either way congrats on getting in somewhere and gl if you choose to contact someone at the school.

Seriously dont transfer after a year though. Thats the only thing I disagree with.

Three years old

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Three years old

Regardless of the age, I am still interested in hearing peoples' opinions

 

[leo_spaceman]

oh wow totally missed that. Lazarus syndrome detected. My fault.

 

[setdoc7]

Be patient. Leave all the very busy people at the dental school alone. Please go and read all of the posts on this forum about those who have not gotten into any school.

 

[Cello]

Old post, but still relevant to many applicants each cycle.

Dental deans are busy people. They spend very little time thinking about applicants because the vast majority of their time is spent running the school. There is a process in place. Most deans will likely be annoyed if you circumvent that process and interrupt their busy schedule to explain something as innocuous as why you changed majors.

 

[Panis et Circenses]

Old post, but still relevant to many applicants each cycle.

Dental deans are busy people. They spend very little time thinking about applicants because the vast majority of their time is spent running the school. There is a process in place. Most deans will likely be annoyed if you circumvent that process and interrupt their busy schedule to explain something as innocuous as why you changed majors.

I think this paints a rather sinister picture of a dental school dean. I believe most of them are doing the job they do because they like to be around young people, and to help them get started on their career. Otherwise, they wouldn't be there. Yeah I wouldn't talk to a dean just because I wanted to explain why I wanted to change my major. But I don't think it would be that much of a chore for them to just sit down and talk to you for a few minutes if it's something important you want to talk about.

 

[Cello]

I think this paints a rather sinister picture of a dental school dean. I believe most of them are doing the job they do because they like to be around young people, and to help them get started on their career. Otherwise, they wouldn't be there. Yeah I wouldn't talk to a dean just because I wanted to explain why I wanted to change my major. But I don't think it would be that much of a chore for them to just sit down and talk to you for a few minutes if it's something important you want to talk about.

It probably depends on the dean. Our dean is very accommodating and would go out of his way to assist a student or an applicant if possible. There are plenty of deans out there who get very upset if you reach out to them directly. It has happened to several posters over the years.