Chances? Help make this list of 31 schools smaller..

[joker937]

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Hello! I want to apply this cycle, but there is no way I can apply to 31 schools! I want to apply to 20. Here are my stats:

Residence: CA
Race: Hispanic
GPA's: BCP 3.27, sGPA 3.31, cGPA 3.38
DAT: 21 TS/ 23 PAT / 23 AA (20 BIO, 26 GC, 21 OC, 22 RC, 24 QR)
Extracurriculars: Lots and lots of volunteering; heavy involvement in clubs
Shadowing: 140 hours

Schools to Apply to:
UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Meharry
Midwestern - AZ
U of Maryland
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
University of Louisville
Creighton
Case Western Reserve
Loma Linda
UCLA
Indiana University
NYU
Temple University
U of Michigan
Howard University
Lake Erie College of Osteo. Med.
Midwestern - IL
U of New England
Boston University
Tufts University
A. T. Still University
Touro College
U of Tennessee
Roseman University
West Virginia University
Marquette University

 

[kanek2013]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...and-the-universe.1197114/page-2#post-17768209

Honestly, just look through this guide. If you are still at a list of 31, definitely don't apply right away this cycle. That's a load of money that honestly will probably go wasted. I would even say that 20 is a bit much...but it's definitely better than 31.

First thing to do is comb through and get rid of some OOS-unfriendlies -- like Indiana.

My immediate cuts would be WVU, Louisville, Creighton, Howard, Univ of Tennessee, Case Western. BUT, that is literally based on my personal preference with location and the type of program I want to attend. Really, SDN can't formulate a school list based on your stats. I think you need to do a little more soul-searching to narrow it down yourself.

Ask yourself what you want in a program. Ask yourself where you would like to live if location matters to you. Look at different costs if money is an issue.

Trust me, I started with a list of 22, and wanted to cut it down to 9. I found that asking other people (advisors) about it wasn't helpful because they didn't understand the type of program I wanted or the location I wanted to be in.

 

[nonociceptors]

Applying to 20 would be a mistake imo. You're a URM with a decent enough GPA and a solid DAT. Apply to all CA schools and a handful of OOS friendly schools that you would actually want to attend. You'll be fine.

 

[Likkriue]

Honestly I think you are applying to too few. I would up it to all 65 schools in the states and PR(you can speak Spanish since you are Hispanic) Otherwise you have absolutely ZERO chance of getting in.

 

[DC206R]

If you're not a URM, take out Meharry and Howard.

EDIT: I can't read and missed the Hispanic part. I guess you can keep them, but with your numbers, a solid list of 15 is adequate but hey it's your money.

 

[nonociceptors]

Schools to Apply to:
UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Midwestern - AZ
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
Case Western Reserve
UCLA
NYU

This would be my list with your stats, more or less.

 

[nonociceptors]

If you're not a URM, take out Meharry and Howard.

OP is Hispanic but I'd still remove those because he can get in somewhere else

 

[joker937]

This would be my list with your stats, more or less.

Why don't you have any safety schools? What are your stats, if I may ask? Also, no UCLA?

 

[joker937]

If you're not a URM, take out Meharry and Howard.

EDIT: I can't read and missed the Hispanic part. I guess you can keep them, but with your numbers, a solid list of 15 is adequate but hey it's your money.

I'm hispanic, but I look white.

 

[BeaverLover]

I'm hispanic, but I look white.

Can they even ask if you're actually Hispanic??

 

[joker937]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...and-the-universe.1197114/page-2#post-17768209

Honestly, just look through this guide. If you are still at a list of 31, definitely don't apply right away this cycle. That's a load of money that honestly will probably go wasted. I would even say that 20 is a bit much...but it's definitely better than 31.

First thing to do is comb through and get rid of some OOS-unfriendlies -- like Indiana.

My immediate cuts would be WVU, Louisville, Creighton, Howard, Univ of Tennessee, Case Western. BUT, that is literally based on my personal preference with location and the type of program I want to attend. Really, SDN can't formulate a school list based on your stats. I think you need to do a little more soul-searching to narrow it down yourself.

Ask yourself what you want in a program. Ask yourself where you would like to live if location matters to you. Look at different costs if money is an issue.

Trust me, I started with a list of 22, and wanted to cut it down to 9. I found that asking other people (advisors) about it wasn't helpful because they didn't understand the type of program I wanted or the location I wanted to be in.

I have tried.. time and time again.. to comb through this list and ditch schools. What if I take out the one school that I would have gotten an acceptance from? Also, Indiana is a special circumstance for why I am applying since I know someone nearby; I am totally aware of their low OOS.

Also, it's so difficult to analyze these schools from the outside when all you have is SDN (where people can exaggerate or lie, even without meaning to) and the school website/ADEA book.

 

[joker937]

Can they even ask if you're actually Hispanic??

I don't know. I was raised Hispanic in a bilingual home, speak fluent Spanish. I would have no issues recounting how it was growing up, etc. But, I am half European, despite my mother being born in Mexico. So, I look like her - white.

 

[JLT223]

Only apply to schools that you'd actually attend. I'm sure there's a few on your list that look good on paper but you wouldn't want to attend.

 

[DC206R]

Why don't you have any safety schools? What are your stats, if I may ask? Also, no UCLA?

I personally don't think there's such a thing as a safety schools.

 

[kanek2013]

What if I take out the one school that I would have gotten an acceptance from?

If that is the argument, then what about the other 30 some schools that originally didn't make this list? If you want a list of 20, then here you go:

UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Meharry
Midwestern - AZ
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
UCLA
NYU
Temple University
U of Michigan
Lake Erie College of Osteo. Med.
Midwestern - IL
U of New England
Boston University
Tufts University
A. T. Still University
Roseman University
Marquette University

Again, the ones I removed are the ones I'm not interested in myself. If you tell me (and the rest of SND) some qualities that you want to see in a school, like community health approach, strong medical curriculum, etc. then we can serve you a lot easier. But just based on stats, it's impossible to just cut schools because you are competitive for most of these stat-wise.

I'm not trying to be abrasive, but you we can't tell you what type of school you want to attend. You won't be happy, and when dental school is such a time and financial commitment, you need to attend a program YOU enjoy. Find programs that excite you and want to be a part of. The right school for you will click, but you need to be digging deep. Try looking through some of the school-specific threads. That might help.

 

[nonociceptors]

Why don't you have any safety schools? What are your stats, if I may ask? Also, no UCLA?

ucla is there. click to view the full post lol. in case you don't know how to do that i'll paste it here

UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Midwestern - AZ
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
Case Western Reserve
UCLA
NYU

If I was a URM with your stats that'd be my list. Of course I've already been through the process and I know you might think that isn't enough schools. If that's the case, add a couple you'd consider "safeties" to bring it up to 13-15 schools. Definitely don't waste your money by applying to 20 though. 3.3 GPA and 26 DAT

 

[joker937]

ucla is there. click to view the full post lol. in case you don't know how to do that i'll paste it here

UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Midwestern - AZ
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
Case Western Reserve
UCLA
NYU

If I was a URM with your stats that'd be my list. Of course I've already been through the process and I know you might think that isn't enough schools. If that's the case, add a couple you'd consider "safeties" to bring it up to 13-15 schools. Definitely don't waste your money by applying to 20 though. 3.3 GPA and 26 DAT

You're right, it is there! I just didn't see it since I skimmed too fast. And yeah I just don't feel it's enough schools.. what are schools you'd consider safeties?

 

[joker937]

If that is the argument, then what about the other 30 some schools that originally didn't make this list? If you want a list of 20, then here you go:

UCSF
UOPacific
UOPittsburgh
Meharry
Midwestern - AZ
USC
Western U of Health Sciences
UNLV
UCLA
NYU
Temple University
U of Michigan
Lake Erie College of Osteo. Med.
Midwestern - IL
U of New England
Boston University
Tufts University
A. T. Still University
Roseman University
Marquette University

Again, the ones I removed are the ones I'm not interested in myself. If you tell me (and the rest of SND) some qualities that you want to see in a school, like community health approach, strong medical curriculum, etc. then we can serve you a lot easier. But just based on stats, it's impossible to just cut schools because you are competitive for most of these stat-wise.

I'm not trying to be abrasive, but you we can't tell you what type of school you want to attend. You won't be happy, and when dental school is such a time and financial commitment, you need to attend a program YOU enjoy. Find programs that excite you and want to be a part of. The right school for you will click, but you need to be digging deep. Try looking through some of the school-specific threads. That might help.

Thank you! I appreciate the advice. I have pretty much everything else in my application done, but since my school is on the quarter system, I won't be free really until after finals are over on the 8th. Do you think submitting on June 11th or June 13th is too late for me?

 

[JLT223]

Do you think submitting on June 11th or June 13th is too late for me?

No.

 

[nonociceptors]

Thank you! I appreciate the advice. I have pretty much everything else in my application done, but since my school is on the quarter system, I won't be free really until after finals are over on the 8th. Do you think submitting on June 11th or June 13th is too late for me?

I wouldn't call them safeties, but if you want to feel more confident, pick a few more privates like Roseman, Touro, USC, Nova, etc.

 

[pinkrosie88]

would

Hey what do you mean by this howard, wvu etcc? Just wondering thanks🙂

 

[kanek2013]

Hey what do you mean by this howard, wvu etcc? Just wondering thanks🙂

Why would I cut them from the list? I care a lot about location and the type of educational approach a dental school uses.

Is that what you are asking about?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[pinkrosie88]

Why would I cut them from the list? I care a lot about location and the type of educational approach a dental school uses.

Is that what you are asking about?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Yes why you would cut them, that was my question

 

[kanek2013]

Yes why you would cut them, that was my question

The schools on my initial cut list were based on location and the curriculum. Those are the two biggest deciding factors for me when I was figuring out my own school list. The schools I told the OP I would personally cut either didn't fit my desire for the location, or something about the curriculum. I've shadowed dentists from WVU and Case Western, and while they are great professionals, both have expressed some problems they ran into with their education.

I don't want to have to worry about meeting patient quota, and that's an issue they ran into and said it was a struggle sometimes to get enough patients.

 

[MahiMahi]

Applying to 20 would be a mistake imo. You're a URM with a decent enough GPA and a solid DAT. Apply to all CA schools and a handful of OOS friendly schools that you would actually want to attend. You'll be fine.

This.