Average stats. how many schools?

[tounchie]

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so statistically if an applicant has very average stats, s/he should get into 1 or 2 schools if s/he applied to about 25-30 schools correct? STATISTCALLY

 

[hurley]

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[tounchie]

i don't understand the applying the dozens of school mentality, you're going to spend so much $$ on applications and more than likely end up at a school that you would rather not go to, given the choice. The private schools that take average or lower than average applicants also cost considerably more. Why not spend the $375 (a drop in the bucket compared to the application costs of another dozen schools) retake the dat after studying for another month and focusing on your weaknesses, then get into a school that you would rather be at?

Thoughts? Very open to hearing counter-opinions.

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[tounchie]

I don't understand the applying the dozens of school mentality, you're going to spend so much $$ on applications and more than likely end up at a school that you would rather not go to, given the choice. The private schools that take average or lower than average applicants also cost considerably more. Why not spend the $375 (a drop in the bucket compared to the application costs of another dozen schools) retake the DAT after studying for another month and focusing on your weaknesses, then get into a school that you would rather be at?

Thoughts? Very open to hearing counter-opinions.

First of all, nothing guarantees that I will do better on my next test (even if I spend a million dollars on test prep materials). who knows, I could fall ill on test date and really screw up. No one can predict what's gonna happen in the future. Therefore, I think it's best to just make the best out of what I already have (I.e. the DAT score I achieved previously) and increase my chances into dental school as best as I can (that could mean increasing the amount of schools I apply to).

Secondly, I cannot afford to wait another year (just my preference). That is one year less of salary which can be detrimental to me in the long run. I cannot afford to wait for another cycle just to save a few bucks. Time is money. I am wasting money by waiting and to me, that is a greater loss than a couple thousand bucks more i could spend on applying to more schools.

Lastly,you mentioned "easier" schools are generally more expensive. okay fair enough, but is it so expensive that it should determine my path in the LONG RUN? the difference between te more expensive schools and cheaper schools in the long run is basically half a year to a full year's worth of work salary. That's not too long. What CAN be detrimental though is if you wait for a whole year to apply to schools in the succeeding cycles.


Class dismissed.

 

[ChrisM07]

I don't understand the applying the dozens of school mentality, you're going to spend so much $$ on applications and more than likely end up at a school that you would rather not go to, given the choice. The private schools that take average or lower than average applicants also cost considerably more. Why not spend the $375 (a drop in the bucket compared to the application costs of another dozen schools) retake the DAT after studying for another month and focusing on your weaknesses, then get into a school that you would rather be at?

Thoughts? Very open to hearing counter-opinions.

I see where you're coming from. However, some applicants may not be in the position to KNOW that they will get into their top choice. Others are in fact in that spot simply based on their numbers and they essentially have control over what school they get into (meaning, they are fairly sure that they will get in). What this means to me, is that the applicant with lower than average stats may ultimately need to "settle" on a school if they get accepted whether or not it's their top pick. After all, the goal here is to get into dental school. At the end of four years, the guy with top numbers and the guy with average or below will still be dentists (not that we shouldn't all strive for the best along the way).

My point is, sure, I (and probably a lot of other people) might be applying to a school in which it is not a top choice or "dream school" of mine. But it may be one in which I at least have a better shot at as opposed to others that I would preferably attend. And really, when people have multiple, multiple schools that they're applying to, are they each a "dream school" for that person? I doubt it. Unfortunately, I don't have the 4.0, or even the 3.5+ GPA that many other people here have. But I know that I have lots to offer and that I can bring something different to the table. So if I have to pay more to attend a private school that I may have better chances at, then I guess that's what I have to do. I just want to accomplish my dream.