Case! Am I too late ??

[IntlMed]

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I am taking the DAT's in 3 weeks (Change of Heart !! I recently decided that I will pursue dentistry instead of medicine.. GO DENTISTRY ) .. I have decent GPA (3.3) and good extra curriculars.
Called the school and they said, any applicant at this point would be applying to get into the Alternate List.
What scores should I get on the DAT's to get interviewed and to be put on the Alternate list, and if it happens, what are my chances to be pulled off the list to get in the main class ??
I need help .. big time. Please advice

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'm not sure how Case ranks their alternate list. MOST schools rank the applicants in the order that they would prefer them in the class.

So, on top of having a sparkling personality, I'd say you should get 20s across the board on your DAT. Even then, however, I don't think there is any real way of finding out what the stats are of the applicants ahead of you on the waitlist.

Your situation poses an interesting problem--Case isn't too difficult to get into (hell, even I got into it 😉 ), however you are posing a situation where the class is already close to full (if not completely full already).

I'll stand by my initial idea of 20s on the DAT. Quite honestly, to succeed at what you are asking, I'd say the higher the better. A 25 on the DAT couldn't hurt you.

 

[aphistis]

Boy, it's getting late in the season. Ditto to everything Gavin said, and then just cross your fingers. If you don't squeeze in the door this year, you'll be in great shape for next. Good luck!

 

[Rezdawg]

Its very late in the game, especially for Case.

You would need your DAT scores to be 20+ across the boards, at least.

 

[Sam Spade]

As much as I hate to be discouraging, if they're telling you that the alternate list is your best-case scenario, then there is a real chance that your time, energy, and money will be completely squandered on applying this year. On the other hand, if you postpone your application until next year, you'll be in a fine position to gain entrance to a dental school. You'll have more time to prepare for admissions exams, research dental schools more thoroughly, and learn about the profession so that you will be very certain of your career choice at the time that you begin dental school (since you mentioned a recent transformation from pre-med). If you're finishing college this year, don't feel that a year off before entering dental school is necessarily a wasted year.

However, if you're positive that Dentistry is for you and that CWRU is where you want to be, if you're more thick-skinned than I am and are willing to risk potential rejection, or if you've simply already submitted the AADSAS application, then focus on scoring very well on the DATs and demonstrating something unique about yourself that sets you apart from the others. Have a sense of humor and be able to explain why your application arrived so late. My situation was very similar to yours, although I was fortunate to have experienced my I'm-going-to-dental-school revelation about five months earlier. However you decide, I wish you the best.

 

[IntlMed]

Sorry it took me a couple of days to access my post.. but .. Thank you so much for your advice.

You guys did make a LOTTT of sense... After I read your posts, I thought about my decision to apply this year once again.. and decided that I am not going to apply for this year's entry.

I am going to study well and do well on the DAT's and hopefully that will give me an edge in many schools next year.. I will apply to get into Fall 2005.

Since I recently changed my mind from Pre-med to Pre-Dent, I have a lot of unanswered questions that I hope someone could answer:
1. Anyone accepted to Case or OSU, would you please share your stats and experiences in this post, as a guidance to us ohio pre-dents.
2. What are the cheapest schools out there ???
3. Like volunteer work is for pre-meds, what kind of work experience (or experience) do the dental schools look for in a candidate apart from the regular Academics and DAT's ???
4. I am international student by definition (Non US citizen or PR). Are there any International students out there who have been accpeted to the regular US 4 year programs ??? Please post your info..

Thanks a bunch ... You guys have been a great help so far !!!
I bank on every one of you to get me thru this transition.. .

 

[IntlMed]

BUMPY BUMP

 

[Sam Spade]

Dear INTLMED: I think that you are wise to postpone your application. I am certainly not as knowledgeable as many of the contributors to this forum, but I can try to answer some of your questions very generally.

(1) For specific information on particular schools, check out the interview feedback section of SDN, conduct a search for related posts, or open a new thread on this topic. Consult a reference book for pertinent statistics such as entering class GPA, test scores, M/F and resident/nonresident distribution, and estimated tuition. Sometimes this information is also included in admissions guidebooks issued by the school so you should call to request a copy.

(2) The least expensive route to a DDS is a state school in a state that you are considered a resident. It is possible (but often difficult) to establish legal residency for tuition purposes with 1Y+ before entering dental school. This only applies to some schools and each has its own specific requirements. I don't know if this option would be available to you as an international student.

(3) I think that it is important to have some knowledge of the Dental profession, which can be acquired by "shadowing" a practicing dentist or by assisting in a dental office. These experiences are also very important for personal reasons: You should know what Dentistry looks like before you embark on a career in this field. Beyond that, I think that the ideal Pre-medical resume is largely transferable to a dental school application. Research, teaching, and public service are all worthy activities. Your employment history (including volunteering) should demonstrate your interest in science and health care as well as your ability to work and communicate effectively with people.

Good luck.

Sam Spade

 

[preludexl]

Bah, apply anyway if you dont mind spending the bucks. But I hope you at least turned your AADSAS app in already, if not get cracking. What's the worse that can happen? You apply again next year, and borrow all the guys who got in this year's old exams. There is a possibility you will get in. Afterall, March 1 st is the deadline for quite a few schools. Plus you will be relaxed next year b/c you already did all this this year. Yay.