AVG # of schools applied to..

[dentaldoc1515]

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I was just curious what the average number of schools people apply to? Please give me some input and any extra detail would be greatly appreciated 🙂 Such as how many schools you applied to, interviewed at, and acceptance. Thanks!!

 

[sfrice80]

I think the average number of schools jumps every year, I recall hearing this last cycle at an interview that its around 9.5 or something to that extent.

I personally applied to 13, had 10 interviews and 6 acceptances.

My advice is to scatter your application out to a fair amount of schools if you really want to get in.

 

[dentaldoc1515]

Okay that is what I kind of figured..I am looking at applying to 10-14 schools or so and it's kinda pricey :/ I just wanted to get an idea of what others usually do. Thanks for the input 🙂

 

[never giveup]

I am not sure of the average, but I applied to 12, interviewed at 4, and was accepted at two. I think if you really break down the schools, you can see which ones you are most competitive for. Every school looks at GPA, DAT, community college credits, out of state seats,and other things differently. I think if you study each school out you can save some money and not have to apply to excess schools. Just a thought, good luck.

 

[MrBeans]

I'm planning on applying to 7-12 schools, personally.

I have 5 that are my priority choices.

 

[sfrice80]

I am not sure of the average, but I applied to 12, interviewed at 4, and was accepted at two. I think if you really break down the schools, you can see which ones you are most competitive for. Every school looks at GPA, DAT, community college credits, out of state seats,and other things differently. I think if you study each school out you can save some money and not have to apply to excess schools. Just a thought, good luck.

Absolutely. I should have specified above, research your schools and then go from there with a fair number of schools. You don't want to apply to a school just for sheer quantity just to find out MCG doesn't accept out of state applicants.

 

[emurocker]

I'm planning on applying to 5. Hopefully I'll wow at least one!

 

[MrBeans]

I'm planning on applying to 5. Hopefully I'll wow at least one!

For me, landing just one interview would be the best feeling ever! 👍

Landing the interview at my top school choice (and getting in) would be AMAZING!

Good luck to you 😉

 

[cjb04]

I'm planning on applying to 5. Hopefully I'll wow at least one!

Unless you have stellar stats, I would recommend against that approach. I applied to 5 my first time and did not get in. Applying to 15 the second time around did the trick, and my second cycle was based on better research. In the end, I spent more money overall than I would have if I had just applied to 15 schools the first time. I see now that the whole application cycle is an investment, and not a cheap one. Of course, that is just my experience. I know of 1 girl in my class who applied only to Midwestern and got in on her first try, but I suspect this is the exception and not the rule.

 

[MrBeans]

Unless you have stellar stats, I would recommend against that approach. I applied to 5 my first time and did not get in. Applying to 15 the second time around did the trick, and my second cycle was based on better research. In the end, I spent more money overall than I would have if I had just applied to 15 schools the first time. I see now that the whole application cycle is an investment, and not a cheap one. Of course, that is just my experience. I know of 1 girl in my class who applied only to Midwestern and got in on her first try, but I suspect this is the exception and not the rule.

Did you improve your stats at all in the next application cycle (e.g. re-take DAT, or dental assistant experience)?

Also, I hear that re-applicants are sometimes more favored than first time applicants with similar stats.

 

[dentaldoc1515]

No, this will be the first time I am applying. That is why I was unsure about how many schools to apply to..

 

[emurocker]

Unless you have stellar stats, I would recommend against that approach. I applied to 5 my first time and did not get in. Applying to 15 the second time around did the trick, and my second cycle was based on better research. In the end, I spent more money overall than I would have if I had just applied to 15 schools the first time. I see now that the whole application cycle is an investment, and not a cheap one. Of course, that is just my experience. I know of 1 girl in my class who applied only to Midwestern and got in on her first try, but I suspect this is the exception and not the rule.

Thanks for the tip! I haven't taken the DAT yet...so that's still up in the air. The two things I have going for me are: that I am in state with one school I'm applying to (I've met with the unofficial head of admissions and as long as I don't seriously mess up the DAT he said I have a good shot) and religiously affiliated with another.

But 5 is definitely not set, I'm sure I won't completely decide until I hit the submit button.

 

[emurocker]

For me, landing just one interview would be the best feeling ever! 👍

Landing the interview at my top school choice (and getting in) would be AMAZING!

Good luck to you 😉

I'm def going to be ecstatic if I just interview and get accepted to one! Good luck to you too 😀

 

[dentalWorks]

The average applicant applies to about 9-10 schools.

I am aiming for 20+

 

[MrBeans]

The average applicant applies to about 9-10 schools.

I am aiming for 20+

But I thought you have pretty competitive stats...

Just playing it safe?

 

[lazybummy]

Just apply wisely.

Applied to 9 (1 being four months after the other ones), Invited for Interview to 7, Attended interviews 6, Accepted 6

 

[doanh]

Yeah I would suggest applying to more than 5 because you never know what's going to happen. The best interview I had, was the one I was waitlisted for (and still am) and the worst interview I had, I was accepted.

Sometimes it might just depend on a little luck- who your interviewer is, how their day is going etc. Not to say those are HUGE factors, but I think they do factor into the "luck" part of the procedure. And it might also depend if it's your 1st interview or 7th. I became more relaxed/confident on my latter interviews just because I've had more practice. 🙂 GL!!

 

[dentalWorks]

But I thought you have pretty competitive stats...

Just playing it safe?

I don't consider them "pretty competitive"... 3.3 overall, 3.6 science, 4.0 post-bacc...

and yes, I am playing it safe, the cost of me not getting accepted this cycle is wayyyyy to costly

 

[MrBeans]

I don't consider them "pretty competitive"... 3.3 overall, 3.6 science, 4.0 post-bacc...

and yes, I am playing it safe, the cost of me not getting accepted this cycle is wayyyyy to costly

I think you have an excellent shot! 😉

I would love to flip my cGPA and sGPA to be like yours!

 

[Huskk]

I'm applying to 15 schools that span across three corners of the continental US.

One thing I'm concerned about: I've heard that your school has to record on your transcript where it has sent copies during the prior year. I was told this by an Director of Admissions by one school. So if I apply to 15 schools and don't get in, does that severely hinder my chances during my 2nd cycle seeing that every school will see that I applied to a lot of schools the first time around?

 

[CookimonsterDDS]

.

 

[MrBeans]

I'm applying to 15 schools that span across three corners of the continental US.

One thing I'm concerned about: I've heard that your school has to record on your transcript where it has sent copies during the prior year. I was told this by an Director of Admissions by one school. So if I apply to 15 schools and don't get in, does that severely hinder my chances during my 2nd cycle seeing that every school will see that I applied to a lot of schools the first time around?

I thought that people only send their transcripts to AADSAS, unless dental schools specifically request them (which is rare).

At any rate, even if the schools saw you sent out transcripts all over, what difference should it make? It's a known fact that applicants apply to many schools, and this fact shouldn't (will VERY unlikely) be used against you.

 

[Blue Panther]

10

 

[sfoksn]

I'm probably going to apply to 8 schools.

 

[Nat426]

I had 14 schools i was planning on applying to. I was talking with my advisor one day and mentioned i had a couple i was considering. He said just apply to them if you are going back and forth, he has seen a lot of people apply to 15-20 schools, get 1 interview and 1 acceptance. It's worth the extra cost in the long run if you get into a program.

 

[takedailyfiber]

Just apply wisely.

Applied to 9 (1 being four months after the other ones), Invited for Interview to 7, Attended interviews 6, Accepted 6

I agree with this person's advice. Applied to 5, interviewed at 3, accepted to 2 (one off waitlist).

I picked 5, knowing that it was a small number, because I wasn't sure how strong my application was the first time around. In addition, I was one of those students who did not know much about the application process (having changed my major to pre-dent the year prior), and really just went with the flow after consulting with my advisor throughout the term. I really wanted to get through the process just once, even if just for experience and collecting all my letters. Figured it'd make things easier the second time around and I wouldn't be freaking out as much. My advisor was helpful at answering my questions, and told me which dental schools usually admitted students from my university in recent years, and which ones rarely or never admitted students from my university. (I attend a large state school)

So I marked these, and ended up narrowing it down by comparing my stats to averages of admitted students at schools(thank you ADEA handbook). I also did some research into what schools were welcoming to OOS students, and which ones were not. I also applied in early July.

Do some serious research, choose wisely, and apply early! Apply to a number that you feel comfortable with after this. Don't just click schools for the sake of adding more (i.e. "I need 2 more to make it 10, or 3 more to make it 15, etc.).

 

[archonsbk]

I am planning on applying for like 10 or less. And I think it would cost tons of money.......🙁

 

[hpurviance]

I only applied to 3 schools, received an interview at all 3, and was accepted to 2 of them. DAT was a 19, GPA was 3.5 and my science GPA was around a 3.7. Good luck!

 

[adizzle87]

I only applied to 3 schools, received an interview at all 3, and was accepted to 2 of them. DAT was a 19, GPA was 3.5 and my science GPA was around a 3.7. Good luck!

What it boils down to is stats and state residency. In your case your stats were good and being a TX resident insulated you from OOS competition. Most people have lower stats and don't have the benefit of 3 state schools which are exclusive to residents.

I would apply to 10 even with good stats, 15 if below the average. Some schools hand out lots of interviews but rarely accept anyone (e.g. ASDOH, MWU, Nova, etc). So choose your schools carefully especially if you are applying to less than 10.

 

[D3Nt1st]

boy all mighty, i only applied to 5 and got into 3 of them. But i guess if your grades and DAT are not up to snuff its probably worth saving up $ and applying to more.