Chances- what do you guys think?

[tendram]

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I have been a mamber for some time but I figured I would ask now since I plan on applying this next cycle. Currently, my stats are:

3.20 cGPA
3.75 sGPA (BCP)
Shadowing hours- ~10.5 (I plan on getting quite a few more before applying)
EC- nothing besides the Pre-Health Club at my school. I'm thinking this will hurt my chances fairly well.
DAT- taking before June hopefully

I have not taken physics yet but I will be this summer and I assume that DS's will take into account that I will have met the prereq's prior to matricualtion but if I am wrong, someone please correct me. I should graduate next spring and have sufficient EC's to compensate for my lack of them during application. So basically, what do you guys think? Should I get ready to apply this June (DAT, EC's, shadowing, etc...), wait it out, get a couple EC hours in and apply late, or wait until next cycle? Maybe only apply to the schools I have met the prereq's for? I just wanted to get some opinions. Thanks 👍

 

[TheScienceGuy1]

You science GPA is pretty good, cum GPA is a bit low, but its not too bad. You have like 4 months before applying, I would suggest. Do more volunteer work (just getting it near 100 hours will show Dental schools like you care about community or something).

Also, some dental school's recomment at least 100 volunteer hours http://www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/documents/DentalSchool_Addional_Requirements2011.pdf

If you can volunteer, 6 hrs a week for the next 4 months, 6*4*4 = 96 hours

Apply this year, just try to show Dental schools that you did something else in University besides studying.

 

[Lane138]

what did you do other than studying? did you work? hobbies count as extracurriculars too

 

[tendram]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on trying to get some volunteering in but finding a dental clinic within a reasonable driving distance has been pretty tough. I am going to be trying to get a lot of shadowing hours as well and hopefully that will make up for some lack of volunteering hours.

As far as other EC's, I used to draw quite a bit and still do to some extent. I have been thinking of putting some of my drawings into my applications for the schools I apply to too. And I work in the health care field as well which even though it is not dental related I hope it will help me a bit just to have that experience.

 

[iamjackbauer]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on trying to get some volunteering in but finding a dental clinic within a reasonable driving distance has been pretty tough. I am going to be trying to get a lot of shadowing hours as well and hopefully that will make up for some lack of volunteering hours.

As far as other EC's, I used to draw quite a bit and still do to some extent. I have been thinking of putting some of my drawings into my applications for the schools I apply to too. And I work in the health care field as well which even though it is not dental related I hope it will help me a bit just to have that experience.

i dont think putting drawings in your application would help at all, plus there isn't a way to upload images to AADSAS.

 

[Osity]

Thanks for the replies. I plan on trying to get some volunteering in but finding a dental clinic within a reasonable driving distance has been pretty tough. I am going to be trying to get a lot of shadowing hours as well and hopefully that will make up for some lack of volunteering hours.

As far as other EC's, I used to draw quite a bit and still do to some extent. I have been thinking of putting some of my drawings into my applications for the schools I apply to too. And I work in the health care field as well which even though it is not dental related I hope it will help me a bit just to have that experience.

Definitely don't send drawings to dental schools. It's ok to make a note on your application that you draw (if you have done anything substantial), otherwise leave it off because it will look silly.

Try and pull up your cumulative GPA, that will be critical. Continue shadowing and volunteering. And, most importantly, apply EARLY. Don't put it off because that will significantly decrease your chances.

 

[slm266]

Your ability to manage time from here on out will really determine if you get in b'c you have the potential. I'd do maybe 1-2 hr service, keep developing your ECs, but focus on DAT hardcore while maintaining GPA. You most likely will not see any dramatic changes in gpa that will affect your chances, but your DAT can increase by several points with practice. Every night after you finish studying for your classes, I'd save the last hour of the night to casually study DAT. Saturday mornings I would dedicate to DAT and take a full length test every month. This will really help you realize where you need to focus your time.

Focus on DAT, raise and maintain gpa, and juggle in some service and ECs.

 

[tendram]

i dont think putting drawings in your application would help at all...

Definitely don't send drawings to dental schools. It's ok to make a note on your application that you draw (if you have done anything substantial), otherwise leave it off because it will look silly.

Alright, so no drawings then. I was actually going to ask if there was any way to scan in things to AADSAS but that answers my question

Your ability to manage time from here on out will really determine if you get in b'c you have the potential. I'd do maybe 1-2 hr service, keep developing your ECs, but focus on DAT hardcore while maintaining GPA. You most likely will not see any dramatic changes in gpa that will affect your chances, but your DAT can increase by several points with practice. Every night after you finish studying for your classes, I'd save the last hour of the night to casually study DAT. Saturday mornings I would dedicate to DAT and take a full length test every month. This will really help you realize where you need to focus your time.

Focus on DAT, raise and maintain gpa, and juggle in some service and ECs.

I'm not taking a full load this semester so I'm hoping that I can get alot of studying done for the DAT when I'm not studying for any of my other classes. I'm buying the Kaplan book and some other supplemental materials and probably some of the Topscore tests as well.

Thanks again for the info 👍

 

[slm266]

I'm not taking a full load this semester so I'm hoping that I can get alot of studying done for the DAT when I'm not studying for any of my other classes. I'm buying the Kaplan book and some other supplemental materials and probably some of the Topscore tests as well.

Thanks again for the info 👍

Make sure to buy Crack DAT PAT and DAT destroyer along with kaplan materials. I wouldnt use Topscore until the 10 days that lead up to the DAT. The 3 Topscore tests are really only good for confidence boosting, not for preparation.

 

[Osity]

I thought that top score was awesome for simulating the actual DAT. It's very, very close in format and content (in my opinion). With all the info everyone had given you, you'll definitely have plenty to help you study. If you shadow a few more hours and nail the DAT, you'll be in great shape.

 

[tendram]

Make sure to buy Crack DAT PAT and DAT destroyer along with kaplan materials. I wouldnt use Topscore until the 10 days that lead up to the DAT. The 3 Topscore tests are really only good for confidence boosting, not for preparation.

I'm thinking about just getting the math destroyer since I am not very good at math and I really need a good review for the DAT. I really don't want to spend the money on the other things since I plan on doing a thorough review of Gchem and Ochem before taking the DAT. I really don't want to spend the money unless I absolutely NEED to (which I may in the long run). And I plan on only reviewing for the PAT using Kaplan and the like. I am a very visual person and the material comes fairly easy to me. I'm hoping with a thorough review of the section in my review materials I can do really well on that section. I will probably get the Crack DAT PAT if I find I'm doing poorly on the practice tests.

I thought that top score was awesome for simulating the actual DAT. It's very, very close in format and content (in my opinion). With all the info everyone had given you, you'll definitely have plenty to help you study. If you shadow a few more hours and nail the DAT, you'll be in great shape.

I will probably get the 3 test pack, do one to see where I stand with little to no studying and build my studying around the sections I do the worst on. Right now I am just trying to convince myself to fork over the money for the tests I know they will definitely be worth the cost in the end.

 

[g0forkurself]

I would say the biggest thing is to get more shadowing hours in and more EC in. Join clubs, do service and etc. For shadowing, I've heard that some schools prefer that you shadow real dentists rather than dental school students since you shadow what you want to become and that'll give them a better feeling that you've seen what your future as a dentist might be and that you are still interested in dentistry despite all that.

Why is your cGPA so low anyway? Are you just failing core classes or something? 😵 I think you should try to get that up to at least a 3.4 or 3.5 but don't bust your balls doing that, focus more on shadowing hours and EC.

 

[tendram]

Why is your cGPA so low anyway?

A couple C's and one D in my general electives. I wasn't really prepared for college out of HS and I had to learn how to study.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

This is what I think would be a good tips for you.

1. Ace the DAT. This is so vital that it can't be stressed enough. Don't make a 19, don't make a 20. Only 21+ is going to work if you want to feel good about your chances with the cumulative GPA.

2. I would think that they would want physics before you apply. Don't quote me on that, but I know almost no one who got in before doing all their pre-reqs. They don't want to risk accepting you and then you blow off physics completely. Physics is also one of the harder sciences so they want to know how well you do in it.

3. Load up on the ECs and especially shadowing big time. They really want to make sure they you know what you're getting into. I don't think 10ish hours or anything under 100 really is going to cut it. Go find a dentist and shadow ASAP. Also join clubs and volunteer to make yourself look well rounded.

Honestly? I'd wait a year before you apply. I don't think you'll have enough time to do the shadowing, ECs, and take the DAT before its crunch time. It sucks I to hear, I know but that's the truth.

 

[tendram]

2. I would think that they would want physics before you apply. Don't quote me on that, but I know almost no one who got in before doing all their pre-reqs. They don't want to risk accepting you and then you blow off physics completely. Physics is also one of the harder sciences so they want to know how well you do in it.

Does anyone know if not having physics yet will actually hurt my chances? I'm not opposed to waiting a year (that is what I had intentionally planned on doing because I thought I couldn't apply this cycle) but if I can still be relatively competitive I thought I might as well give it a shot this cycle. I know that at least one of the schools I have been looking at says that they accept the prerequisites as long as you complete them before admission.

Also, just to keep from making a whole other thread: if I take the DAT this year and don't apply, who keeps the record of my scores and how would I request them to be sent to AADSAS when the time comes to apply? I don't need a really detailed answer but I just want to make sure if I need to send my scores somewhere to be "saved" I can.

Thanks