Can a good GPA and DAT score make up for lack of ECs?

[datle]

Hey Guys, this is my first post so sorry if I sound like I am doing something wrong. I am trying to apply to dental school this upcoming cycle and I thought that I was looking okay heading into the application process but my pre-health advisor was telling me that he sees a red flag when he looks at my ECs. I was wondering if you guys can look into my situation and tell me what are my chances of getting by with my weak ECs. Right now, I am not trying to apply to a whole bunch of schools because I really do not have the money for it. In fact, my goal is actually to get into my state school, University of Florida, to alleviate some of the loans i will inevitably be taking. I currently attend University of Southern California if that matters. If you guys also have suggestions of schools I should apply to, that would be great!

DAT breakdown:
BIO 30
CHEM 25
OCHEM 29
RC 22
QR 22
PAT 20
TS 28
AA 26

oGPA: 3.93 sGPA: 3.96 BCP:3.96

ECs: By the time I apply in June, I should have around ~114 hours of shadowing however this is accumulated over a short period of time and very recently. I dont really have any dental-related volunteering activities. I have participated in some social volunteering event like tutoring elementary students, feeding the homeless, etc. but those probably will only amount to about 30 hours of volunteering.

I work 20-25 hours a week during the semester and I work 45-50 hours a week during summer/winter break. I guess my lack of ECs is due to the fact that I have to work a lot in order to pay for the expensive school I go to. I also can't really volunteer and shadow a lot while I am in school because I don't have a car and transportation costs money that I really do not have to spend.

Edit: I am also in a research lab right now and I believe we should be publishing our work within a month or two. I currently have about 220 hours with the lab as of right now.

Dentistry is really a field I have been pursuing for as long as I can remember but coming from the background I came from, I never really had someone telling me how I am doing so any advice would help.

Thanks for the time and help guys!

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[711769]

From what my friends in dental and the sdn'ers have been saying on the forums, schools REALLY like to see that the applicant isn't just a "robot" who studies and doesn't show commitment to helping out their community. ECs aside, I really think you should be smart with the number of schools and which schools you apply to. Now with your stats you will most definitely get interviews, but depending on your interview skills and how much schools care for ECs, you may or may not get in. From what I recall, there was someone with a 4.0 and relatively good DATs who didnt get any acceptances since he had minimal/no ECs to show his dedication to helping others out.

However, from what i gathered from what people stated here, if you can justify why there was a lack of involvement (please don't say "I was not guided properly"), then you may get away with it.

 

[Cali20002]

While your EC's aren't amazing, they certainly aren't lacking. You've got volunteering, you've got shadowing, and you've got work experience. Your stats are high and those are what's going to get you interviews. You're locked and loaded!

 

[predent000]

Awesome stats! When I started reading this post I thought you literally have 0 hours of ECs, but you have 30. ECs don't all have to be dental related, its good that you helped around the community, so that's better than nothing. 114 hours of shadowing is really good, and in my opinion shows you're interested in dentistry. I'm not from Cali so I don't know how many hours the schools there prefer, but I think you're good to go and shouldn't put off applying because of your ECs. You work a lot of hours too with a great GPA, that alone stands out
Just make sure you indicate in your planned activities that you'll continue volunteering and working after your submit the application. If you get interviews, be prepared for them!
And again, good job on the DAT!

 

[datle]

Thanks for the response guys, @Zen0321 yea, i wasn't planning to blame it on guidance lol. I was just trying to say that my information on dental school is very limited so I thought I would ask you guys for help. I would say that the limited ECs I have is mainly due to the fact that I am working a lot. In fact, it might be over 30 but Im just stating the bare minimum because I really haven't listed them all down yet. When you say choose schools carefully, what do you suggest? I have read many posts about choosing schools but I would like to hear your opinion too.

 

[yaya97]

Wow your GPA and DAT scores are unreal. Good job! After my freshman year of college, I visited a dental school and was talking to them about my lack of EC's and they gave my some suggestions on what I could get involved with but they also told me that they understand that people have to work. The work experience shows that you can interact with other people (depending on what you do) and that you're not a "robot" as others have stated. That's just the advice I got from one school though. I personally think that you're fine but it doesn't hurt to call the schools and get their opinion.....but honestly still think you'll be fine. Lol


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[Cali20002]

Thanks for the response guys, @Zen0321 yea, i wasn't planning to blame it on guidance lol. I was just trying to say that my information on dental school is very limited so I thought I would ask you guys for help. I would say that the limited ECs I have is mainly due to the fact that I am working a lot. In fact, it might be over 30 but Im just stating the bare minimum because I really haven't listed them all down yet. When you say choose schools carefully, what do you suggest? I have read many posts about choosing schools but I would like to hear your opinion too.

Check out the ADEA guide for dental school applications. There is data there that will tell you which schools you have the best shot at OOS. Choose schools carefully because with your stats, you don't need to overapply to 10+ schools.

 

[datle]

@maga1994 Okay, I can definitely do that.

So far, I am looking into:
University of Florida
NOVA
USC
Boston U
Tufts
LECOM
NYU(maybe?)

I really do not want to aim for any of the really prestigious schools (ie IVY) because I really do not feel like I will get in. I kind of just want to shoot for the schools that I have a shot at. My goal really is to return back home to Florida though, hopefully. Do you have any suggestions on schools i should take out or add?

 

[DC206R]

Don't be a weirdo at all your interviews and you'll be fine!

 

[Cali20002]

@maga1994 Okay, I can definitely do that.

So far, I am looking into:
University of Florida
NOVA
USC
Boston U
Tufts
LECOM
NYU(maybe?)

I really do not want to aim for any of the really prestigious schools (ie IVY) because I really do not feel like I will get in. I kind of just want to shoot for the schools that I have a shot at. My goal really is to return back home to Florida though, hopefully. Do you have any suggestions on schools i should take out or add?

I'd recommend applying to UF, Nova, Pitt, Columbia, Penn, and any school that's cheap or you can get a scholarship at.

Edit: and Harvard

 

[wengerout]

Highlight the fact that your lack of EC's is due to working (And list how many hours over the course of your UG career that you have worked. Yes, in hours). How many hours of research do you have?

Since cost is your primary focus and nothing else with your stats, I would focus on your state school > Schools that give In-State after a year > Schools that give generous scholarships.

University of Florida
Boston U
UAB
UCLA
Ohio State
Maryland
UNC
UPENN
Columbia
Maryland

I would apply to this list if I were you. All schools that either 1. Offer in-state after a year or 2. Offer generous scholarships/financial aid for certain students.

 

[Noice]

You're getting in...just don't ONLY apply to the University of Florida/act like a jerk during your interviews. If you had like 0 shadowing hours, they might wonder if you made a last minute switch from pre-med to pre-dent.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I really do not want to aim for any of the really prestigious schools (ie IVY) because I really do not feel like I will get in.

You could definitely get in. If you're interested in attending those schools, I would apply.

 

[asdf99]

I feel that the fact that you've worked 20-25 hours of week while maintaining those types of grades would speak volumes and probably highlight some/many of the attributes and competencies that schools look for in ECs.

There might be some dental schools (no idea haven't applied in the states) that may value certain types of volunteering and perhaps reject you based on that, but with there being so many schools I feel like you'll find some success somewhere.

Anecdotally, I know some friends who received medical school interviews in Canada (where ECs are important) with extensive work histories but low volunteering due to their financial situation.

Best of luck

 

[deleted678432]

A humble brag that isn't so subtle...

You will get in. No worries. Grades and shadowing hours come first. EC's are secondary, or, for someone with your stats, tertiary.

Tertiary most stable


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[super frank]

Highlight the fact that your lack of EC's is due to working (And list how many hours over the course of your UG career that you have worked. Yes, in hours). How many hours of research do you have?

Since cost is your primary focus and nothing else with your stats, I would focus on your state school > Schools that give In-State after a year > Schools that give generous scholarships.

University of Florida
Boston U
UAB
UCLA
Ohio State
Maryland
UNC
UPENN
Columbia
Maryland

I would apply to this list if I were you. All schools that either 1. Offer in-state after a year or 2. Offer generous scholarships/financial aid for certain students.

Add UConn.

OP, all those research hours that you mention are considered as extracurricular. It's not just the traditional volunteering experiences at the soup kitchen...

 

[datle]

Thanks for the response guys. I am sorry if I sound like I am bragging. It really is not my intention. I am just trying to give you guys all the information I have so you guys can get a better picture of my situation.

@wengerin I have committed about 220 hours to my research lab. The thing is that I am receiving university credit for it too. Does that make it seem like working in the lab is not considered an EC? I have also worked since the first day of freshman year so I really have to list that in hours? It would probably come out to be like roughly 340 hours a semester during the school year.

 

[StudentDentistsRock]

Wow op. That DAT score...
*Bee boo bee bee bop*

 

[GoHawks18]

Highlight the fact that your lack of EC's is due to working (And list how many hours over the course of your UG career that you have worked. Yes, in hours). How many hours of research do you have?

Since cost is your primary focus and nothing else with your stats, I would focus on your state school > Schools that give In-State after a year > Schools that give generous scholarships.

University of Florida
Boston U
UAB
UCLA
Ohio State
Maryland
UNC
UPENN
Columbia
Maryland

I would apply to this list if I were you. All schools that either 1. Offer in-state after a year or 2. Offer generous scholarships/financial aid for certain students.

I was unaware that dental schools offer scholarships. Is this common, or only for people with scores like the OP?

 

[Likkriue]

I was unaware that dental schools offer scholarships. Is this common, or only for people with scores like the OP?

High scores or you fit a certain endowed scholarship criteria( socioeconomic background, race etc).

And to OP you have a good shot at ALL schools.

 

[wengerout]

I was unaware that dental schools offer scholarships. Is this common, or only for people with scores like the OP?

You will need higher scores to potentially get scholarships, schools have limited funding so they only give them to the students they really want to land.


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