D-School suggestions please

[USDMD]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone,

I really need help deciding how many schools to apply to and which ones to apply. Specifically, I have applied to 14 schools already and currently debating whether or not to add 5 or 6 more schools (and if so which ones..).

My stats: 3.71 Overall GPA. Not sure about Science GPA but it should be similar.

DAT: this is why i'm worried. I took it and scored far worse than any of my practice exams. I'm not sure what happened, but I don't have the time to retake it unfortunately.

AA: 20 TS:19 PAT:18 QR:17
EC/Volunteer/shadowing: I think I have a sufficient number for all of these.

Schools I have already applied to (not in any particular order):

Loma Linda University (LLU)
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP)
Western University of Health Sciences (WESTU)
University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (USC)
Tufts University (TUF)
Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BU)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HVD)
University of Maryland (MYD)
New York University (NYU)
The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University (TEMP)
University of Pennsylvania (PENN)
University of Washington (WASH)

So... what other schools should I apply to if any?

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi everyone,

I really need help deciding how many schools to apply to and which ones to apply. Specifically, I have applied to 14 schools already and currently debating whether or not to add 5 or 6 more schools (and if so which ones..).

My stats: 3.71 Overall GPA. Not sure about Science GPA but it should be similar.

DAT: this is why i'm worried. I took it and scored far worse than any of my practice exams. I'm not sure what happened, but I don't have the time to retake it unfortunately.

AA: 20 TS:19 PAT:18 QR:17
EC/Volunteer/shadowing: I think I have a sufficient number for all of these.

Schools I have already applied to (not in any particular order):

Loma Linda University (LLU)
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (UOP)
Western University of Health Sciences (WESTU)
University of Southern California Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (USC)
Tufts University (TUF)
Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BU)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HVD)
University of Maryland (MYD)
New York University (NYU)
The Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple University (TEMP)
University of Pennsylvania (PENN)
University of Washington (WASH)

So... what other schools should I apply to if any?

I would probably add Buffalo + detroit + U of Michigan just to help me sleep better.

Overall, your stats are competitive (strong GPA + good DAT)

 

[NTATD]

I would think if Harvard was in your group to consider you will most likely get in somewhere.

 

[USDMD]

@dentalWorks: Thanks very much! I'll check them out. By the way, does applying to 17 schools look bad in the eyes of the admissions committee? (..I'm not sure they know actually...)

@ NTATD: Honestly, I thought Harvard was a reach school on my list. I really am very nervous about getting in because of that darn DAT mess up. sigh.

 

[dentalWorks]

@dentalWorks: Thanks very much! I'll check them out. By the way, does applying to 17 schools look bad in the eyes of the admissions committee? (..I'm not sure they know actually...)

It didn't for me. I was very honest about my 18 schools during the interviews.

 

[Pat Kelly]

what is your extracurriculars like?

 

[mflinchb]

I didn't see your state residence anywhere, but I'd add 2 more to the list (although they're in the Midwest and I noticed most of yours are coastal-type schools):

-Indiana (IUSD), somewhat out of state friendly, but they suggest an RC of 18+ if I'm not mistaken
-University of Louisville (ULSD), very friendly students and faculty, have become more out of state friendly (76 OOS students per class, but many more accepted) You're out of state all 4 years though

I'd check those two out, but if you're not interested in the midwest you may not like it although Indy is a pretty big city and Louisville is kind of big.

 

[USDMD]

@Pat Kelly: I have over 1000 hours from being the director of a youth group, around 200 from a non profit, and around 200 hundred more from providing free tutoring to high school kids.

@mflinchb: I'm a CA resident and not at all against going to the Midwest for dental school. I will definitely look into these 2 options as well.

Thank you guys for taking your time to answer me.
Anyone else have an opinion? (the more the merrier..)