Back up plan anyone?

[HurricaneAlana]

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I'm getting really bummed out at this point... My entire family keeps talking about what I plan on doing if I don't get in this cycle.

Obvious answer: "Apply Again!!"

Unfortunately my family says I need a back up plan for next year. Meaning they want me to apply for pharmacy programs or physical therapy programs or something else, in case 2nd time it doesn't work out for me.

Personally, I think its a waste of money because I will sooner apply a 3rd time, then settle for something I'm not interested in doing. I think my stats are decent (3.5 overall 3.4 bcp/science 19aa/19ts/17pa.. and I plan on retaking DAT next month), so I'm not losing hope.

As of now I'm sitting on UMDNJ and NYU waitlists, BU and Case interviews still coming up (2/28 and 3/27)


Well, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do as a backup plan.. Or at least offer to my family as a backup plan? I was thinking Masters in Biology bc I thought it may help me get into dental school in the future, but that didn't go over will with the fam.

THANKS

 

[berg1373]

Why didn't a masters program go over with the family? A masters degree is a great accomplishment and will definitely help you more than anything to achieve your dream of dental school!

 

[scottyhoop]

I def. would not apply to pharm or PT just so you have a place to go. You'd hate going thru all of that and end up with a job you don't want. Since you got a few interviews/waitlists this year, I would think that if you had to reapply next year and got better DAT scores when you take them next month you'll be fine. Maybe take a few classes next year and try to get a job as a dental assistant or something that's dental related. Hopefully you won't have to worry about it and you'll get in this cycle. Good luck with your remaining interviews!!
Scott

 

[mut9ya]

Definitely take the DAT again and get a really good score if you don't get accepted this cycle, and take some science classes to bring up your sciGPA. Gain more dental experience will help too and you can find out if you really like dentistry or not. I don't think you should go for pharmacy or PT just because you can't get in this cycle. You might not be happy with your choice in the future but it will be too late. So why not work really hard to bring all the numbers up and get in next year? I think you still have a good chance for this cycle.
Good luck.

 

[pbure]

Definitely take the DAT again and get a really good score if you don't get accepted this cycle, and take some science classes to bring up your sciGPA. Gain more dental experience will help too and you can find out if you really like dentistry or not. I don't think you should go for pharmacy or PT just because you can't get in this cycle. You might not be happy with your choice in the future but it will be too late. So why not work really hard to bring all the numbers up and get in next year? I think you still have a good chance for this cycle.
Good luck.

3.5 gpa and solid DATs? i think you'll get in off the waitlist at nyu and umdnj..or u might just get the flat out acceptance to BU. definitely don't have to panic seeing as how you're getting so many interviews/waitlists..something will give eventually. your stats are above the averages for nyu and bu also

 

[dr bojangles]

i'd say you're on the right track. try enrolling in some classes as a non-degree student (e.g. non-matriculant student at UMDNJ or NYU, as i assume you're in the area). after doing better on the DAT retake, you should be golden.
don't worry, i'm in similar boat. i'm finishing master's this fall, taking DAT this may/june.

 

[Montserrat]

Before getting my acceptance letter, I was feverishly researching post-baccalaureate programs and other options. However, your GPA is strong and if you did decide to retake your DAT and perform better, you'd be golden. In your glide year, a few months of dental experience (assisting, labwork technician, or research) would really help with showing your determination. Overall though, planning is great, but this cycle isn't over yet - a bloke like me got in so I think you should be fine before the cycle's end.

 

[Lurchdubious]

hey tell your family to CHILL! lol. i mean, you've obviously worked hard to get to this point and you still have plenty o' prospects. this is by no means over. kill the DAT next month~i'd say you have a pretty solid chance of getting in off a waitlist and if not, well, LOTS of people have to apply a couple times.

good luck!

 

[eldirty]

Im in the same boat. My family asks everyday "have you gotten in anywhere?" Everyone has a suggestion about what I should do ... pharmacy school, masters degree, become a teacher. After my degree I came back to school to get prerequisites for dental school to become a dentist and thats what im going to do. I cant wait to reapply!

 

[Lfc12]

there are also programs that do a 1-year preparatory program, and you usually get your masters. i know VCU has a program, you should look into something like that. tell your family that it's not uncommon to apply again. my family said the same stuff, so just keep focusing on dental school, i have no doubt you will achieve it in the future!

 

[MonchichiMan]

It is easy for a handful of people on here to give advice as they have been accepted to dental school. I am a qualified, third year applicant holding on to about three schools this year. There looks to be a possibility of not being accepted again. I have worked as a dental assistant full-time for two year as well as working on a MBA in the evenings. I think this is a great options as it adds diversity to your application, especially since few have a lot of business experience to add to their strong science background. I chose this path, because the truth is I will not apply again after this year, a MBA gives me plenty to fall back on, especially in establishing my own business. Good luck though and hang in there. I know it is painful, but it took my brother three years to get in, so I am hoping this is my year as well!

 

[SonicMD]

What the fudge McNuggets is a back-up plan? I've never in my long life have I ever heard of such a thing. Just ignore you family for a bit, you got some interviews coming up so as long as you BU and do good, you should be fine! You need to be confident of yourself and confident that you'll get in!! But...just inCASE, go ahead with that Master's plan, it sounds good to me! If your fam doesn't agree with it, let them know you're an adult, you can make your own choices, and if it really seems that easy to get into a school, then they should try to get into one. :J

 

[denticus]

I'm getting really bummed out at this point... My entire family keeps talking about what I plan on doing if I don't get in this cycle.

Obvious answer: "Apply Again!!"

Unfortunately my family says I need a back up plan for next year. Meaning they want me to apply for pharmacy programs or physical therapy programs or something else, in case 2nd time it doesn't work out for me.

Personally, I think its a waste of money because I will sooner apply a 3rd time, then settle for something I'm not interested in doing. I think my stats are decent (3.5 overall 3.4 bcp/science 19aa/19ts/17pa.. and I plan on retaking DAT next month), so I'm not losing hope.

As of now I'm sitting on UMDNJ and NYU waitlists, BU and Case interviews still coming up (2/28 and 3/27)


Well, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do as a backup plan.. Or at least offer to my family as a backup plan? I was thinking Masters in Biology bc I thought it may help me get into dental school in the future, but that didn't go over will with the fam.

THANKS

Go tell your FAMILY! to go blow it out their!!!...oh...I mean, well you're just going to have to exercise some personal freedom and do what YOU want YOU to do. If you really think "apply again" is the obvious answer then you should. I think your family, like mine, does love you but you have to move on and not let anyone push you around, even in the slightest. I say, this is YOUR life! It's obvious from your post that dentistry is YOUR passion so YOU should follow YOUR dreams. Good luck with everything! I too think that a master's program would be an excellent idea in the event that you are not accepted this year.

 

[predental1984]

I really hope you get into NYU, we need more pretty girls going there 🙂

 

[haisha ni narou]

My backup plan is to sell everything I own, move to Hawaii, live on the beach and eat pineapple, shaved ice and shrimp and play my guitar all day every day.

 

[Lurchdubious]

My backup plan is to sell everything I own, move to Hawaii, live on the beach and eat pineapple, shaved ice and shrimp and play my guitar all day every day.

THAT is an excellent plan!!

 

[small]

I'm sure we're all a little biased here, but I definitely think you'll get in soon enough (if not this cycle, then next) and you should just retake the DAT and maybe take some classes or something.

 

[phraud]

I'm currently practicing my blackjack skills and learning how to count cards. Also, I've been playing the lottery every week. I figure, if my luck is bad enough to where I don't get into any schools this cycle with 4 interviews, then I'm bound to get good luck with something else.

 

[Lurchdubious]

I'm currently practicing my blackjack skills and learning how to count cards. Also, I've been playing the lottery every week. I figure, if my luck is bad enough to where I don't get into any schools this cycle with 4 interviews, then I'm bound to get good luck with something else.

there ya go man! instead of dental school, just borrow an equivalent amount of cash and git 'er done in Vegas!! lol.

 

[bennijai]

at least uve been waitlisted and still have interviews. i got 4 rejections and still waiting on 5 schools for interviews/rejections...bummers.

anyway my backup plan is to do a masters in biology/biomedical/oral biology. one of them depending on the school i attend. at the moment my 2 options are: stay in my undergrad and do a one year MA non thesis program or try to get into umdnj's 2 year w/ thesis biomedical masters program. they take your dat scores. hope it helps.

 

[blankguy]

My advice:
1. retake the DAT.
2. look into doing master or post bacc program.

 

[youngmc27]

I had similar stats to yours and got interviews and never got that acceptance I wanted. I did a one year masters degree at Tulane and was in the next year. You may want to look into something like that but don't give up hope. I know Indiana has a program similar to the one that I did in New Orleans. Good Luck.

 

[jdoc04]

I'm not losing hope.

👍👍

Well, anyone have any suggestions on what I can do as a backup plan.. Or at least offer to my family as a backup plan? I was thinking Masters in Biology bc I thought it may help me get into dental school in the future, but that didn't go over will with the fam.

THANKS

I think you already answered your question. If it does not swing your way and I think we are all pulling for you. Continuing your education even though you already have a solid gpa will show the schools that you value education and that you are 100% committed to becoming a dentist. If you improve your DAT look for 1 year Master's program or a solid post-bacc program that will allow you to strengthen your hard core science background.

Remember finding a career that is right for YOU is what's important not satisfying or settling for your family.

Good Luck!!

 

[doubledizzle13]

Don't at all lose hope about getting in next year, they really like 2nd year applicants (I know from personal experience), and just so you know quite a few people get in with worse stats if they applied to the right places and early enough (i.e my buddy got into usc with 17DAT score and lower sci gpa's 3.10 as a first year app.),
Here are some examples of things you could do that set me apart from others as a second year app
(I did lots of additional shadowing (not many hours but with a large variety of specialists and dentists, and even at a dental lab-they were much more impressed with all of this than I expected), I did undergrad research with a professor-which they didn't seem to care much about (but helped raise my sci gpa), took an additional year of science courses which seemed to be important to them (i chose to do it at my undergrad instead of some expensive post-bac or masters program and it worked out great) My sci gpa went up just by a little (mine went from 3.19 to 3.31, did additional service activities, and re-wrote my personal statement till I was very proud of it (had 7 people edit it and it took me at least a week of constant work)...oh I also re-took the dat, but submitted my first dat scores at the same time I submitted my application (very very early), and then sent the second scores in later.
results: first year applied 16 places (in mid june) and got no interviews
second year: applied to 17 places (but didn't waste money on places I didn't have a chance at -aka meharry) and got 8 interview invites (i only went to six of them) and 4 acceptances🙂

 

[newstudent]

Don't at all lose hope about getting in next year, they really like 2nd year applicants (I know from personal experience), and just so you know quite a few people get in with worse stats if they applied to the right places and early enough (i.e my buddy got into usc with 17DAT score and lower sci gpa's 3.10 as a first year app.),
Here are some examples of things you could do that set me apart from others as a second year app
(I did lots of additional shadowing (not many hours but with a large variety of specialists and dentists, and even at a dental lab-they were much more impressed with all of this than I expected), I did undergrad research with a professor-which they didn't seem to care much about (but helped raise my sci gpa), took an additional year of science courses which seemed to be important to them (i chose to do it at my undergrad instead of some expensive post-bac or masters program and it worked out great) My sci gpa went up just by a little (mine went from 3.19 to 3.31, did additional service activities, and re-wrote my personal statement till I was very proud of it (had 7 people edit it and it took me at least a week of constant work)...oh I also re-took the dat, but submitted my first dat scores at the same time I submitted my application (very very early), and then sent the second scores in later.
results: first year applied 16 places (in mid june) and got no interviews
second year: applied to 17 places (but didn't waste money on places I didn't have a chance at -aka meharry) and got 8 interview invites (i only went to six of them) and 4 acceptances🙂

It is a good advise and I will follow your steps if I didn't get in this year.