Dental Application Advice

[Lindseyd25]

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Hi there to anyone reading my story!

I am a 2017 undergraduate from a small, liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia. I have applied to dental school twice now and am getting a bit discouraged. My overall GPA is 3.58, while my science GPA is 3.45. I only applied to five schools this past cycle: UK, WVU, UTennessee, Midwestern-Illinois, and Howard. UK sent me a letter of rejection in December, and I am already preparing rejection from the other four as I have not been contacted about interviews. The advice I was given from UK after the first application cycle was to finish out senior year strong, get more direct volunteer service, get an 18 in all sections on the DAT, and get experience observing under a dentist with a specialty.

I made 10 A's and 1 B my senior year, obtained 60 hours with a pediatric dentist, DAT scores were:
PAT 20/Bio 21/GChem 16/OChem 18/QR 18/RC 19. From October until now, I have 200 volunteer hours working in an elementary school helping to improve students' reading and math skills as well as in a high school working with students with learning disabilities helping to prepare them for their algebra Standard of Learning test. I also have around 150 hours of observation with two general dentists. During undergrad, I completed two senior research projects and was also a lab assistant for my advisor, I was treasurer for my sorority, secretary for Tri-Beta, graduated cum laude, presented my research at ASB last year as well as in front of my student body and faculty as a lyceum. I have other volunteer service working at a free dental clinic, student coordinator for an organization that packages food for students in need, and at a rehabilitation facility.

This year, I have been working as a full-time bartender and I got hired on at the high school as a part-time tutor for the students with learning disabilities. During college, I worked all four years as a server plus 3 years as a student work study in the college book store.

For now, I am studying to retake my DAT for the third time and prepare to apply for third time for the 2018-2019 cycle. I have received offers of acceptance into two masters programs in the UK, which will cost around 35k for the year.

I was hoping to gain some advice about what else to do to gain acceptance into dental school. Should I go to the masters program or try to take some graduate level courses locally? I really don't want to put myself into more debt with the masters program if I don't have to. I'm really at a loss of what my application is lacking in order to gain acceptance. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

 

[HP24]

In your case I wouldn’t do a masters. Your GPA is average for entering dental students. And I assume you have the required pre-reqs for schools, so I wouldn’t really recommend a masters. Rather I would recommend retaking the DAT. That 16 and 18 in Gen Chem and O Chem are probably what schools are looking at and steering away from.

If this year doesn’t go as planned and you have to reapply, shoot for a 21/22+ on the retake. There are many DAT Breakdowns forums on here so I would take a look at those to get an idea of how to study/what materials to use to do well.

Edit: (Forgot to mention) In addition, I would have applied to more schools. For your stats they say to apply to at least 12-15 to be safe. I applied to 9-10 with a lower GPA than you. When did you apply also? That could have played a role in this.

All the best.

 

[shibedeleshibe]

I also attended a small liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia and had a 3.52 overall/3.48 science GPA. I think your retake will be more than enough to get you an acceptance next cycle! Best of luck. 🙂

 

[Lindseyd25]

In your case I wouldn’t do a masters. Your GPA is average for entering dental students. And I assume you have the required pre-reqs for schools, so I wouldn’t really recommend a masters. Rather I would recommend retaking the DAT. That 16 and 18 in Gen Chem and O Chem are probably what schools are looking at and steering away from.

If this year doesn’t go as planned and you have to reapply, shoot for a 21/22+ on the retake. There are many DAT Breakdowns forums on here so I would take a look at those to get an idea of how to study/what materials to use to do well.

Edit: (Forgot to mention) In addition, I would have applied to more schools. For your stats they say to apply to at least 12-15 to be safe. I applied to 9-10 with a lower GPA than you. When did you apply also? That could have played a role in this.

All the best.

I applied late August, but I’m going to have everything together to apply in June this year!

Thank you about the DAT advice. I was thinking the same thing about raising those two schools. I’m currently working on DAT destroyer. I bought four DAT destroyer books with extra Ochem, genchem, and quantitative questions. I don’t have a good foundation in chemistry at all, so I’m currently reading Organic and General Chemistry for dummies haha

 

[Lindseyd25]

I also attended a small liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia and had a 3.52 overall/3.48 science GPA. I think your retake will be more than enough to get you an acceptance next cycle! Best of luck. 🙂

Thank you so much!!! Where did you go!? I went to Emory & Henry College. I did really well in my major - but professors want bio majors to do research and look down upon students that want to go to med/pharmacy/dental school, etc. It’s really sad because I have five courses with one of my bio professors and I made A’s in all of them, but can’t ask for a letter because he wouldn’t write one for me since I want to be go to dental school.

 

[HP24]

I applied late August, but I’m going to have everything together to apply in June this year!

Thank you about the DAT advice. I was thinking the same thing about raising those two schools. I’m currently working on DAT destroyer. I bought four DAT destroyer books with extra Ochem, genchem, and quantitative questions. I don’t have a good foundation in chemistry at all, so I’m currently reading Organic and General Chemistry for dummies haha

Sounds like a plan! DAT Destroyers are great. Also check out Chads videos for Gen Chem and O Chem. He does a great job with helping to understand the concepts and walking you through it all! Good luck.

 

[shibedeleshibe]

Thank you so much!!! Where did you go!? I went to Emory & Henry College. I did really well in my major - but professors want bio majors to do research and look down upon students that want to go to med/pharmacy/dental school, etc. It’s really sad because I have five courses with one of my bio professors and I made A’s in all of them, but can’t ask for a letter because he wouldn’t write one for me since I want to be go to dental school.

Oops sorry I meant to say Southeast Virginia* haha. I went to the College of William & Mary. Does your school offer a committee letter of rec? That might help bypass the individual letters of rec. from professors.

 

[Brazilfan]

In addition to applying early, I highly recommend getting the ADEA book with all the stats for every dental school. This helped me select specific dental schools to apply to based on the GPA and DAT averages! I think private schools such as NYU, BU, Tufts, Touro will give you the best shot! Good luck

 

[cystinosis]

Hi there to anyone reading my story!

I am a 2017 undergraduate from a small, liberal arts college in Southwest Virginia. I have applied to dental school twice now and am getting a bit discouraged. My overall GPA is 3.58, while my science GPA is 3.45. I only applied to five schools this past cycle: UK, WVU, UTennessee, Midwestern-Illinois, and Howard. UK sent me a letter of rejection in December, and I am already preparing rejection from the other four as I have not been contacted about interviews. The advice I was given from UK after the first application cycle was to finish out senior year strong, get more direct volunteer service, get an 18 in all sections on the DAT, and get experience observing under a dentist with a specialty.

I made 10 A's and 1 B my senior year, obtained 60 hours with a pediatric dentist, DAT scores were:
PAT 20/Bio 21/GChem 16/OChem 18/QR 18/RC 19. From October until now, I have 200 volunteer hours working in an elementary school helping to improve students' reading and math skills as well as in a high school working with students with learning disabilities helping to prepare them for their algebra Standard of Learning test. I also have around 150 hours of observation with two general dentists. During undergrad, I completed two senior research projects and was also a lab assistant for my advisor, I was treasurer for my sorority, secretary for Tri-Beta, graduated cum laude, presented my research at ASB last year as well as in front of my student body and faculty as a lyceum. I have other volunteer service working at a free dental clinic, student coordinator for an organization that packages food for students in need, and at a rehabilitation facility.

This year, I have been working as a full-time bartender and I got hired on at the high school as a part-time tutor for the students with learning disabilities. During college, I worked all four years as a server plus 3 years as a student work study in the college book store.

For now, I am studying to retake my DAT for the third time and prepare to apply for third time for the 2018-2019 cycle. I have received offers of acceptance into two masters programs in the UK, which will cost around 35k for the year.

I was hoping to gain some advice about what else to do to gain acceptance into dental school. Should I go to the masters program or try to take some graduate level courses locally? I really don't want to put myself into more debt with the masters program if I don't have to. I'm really at a loss of what my application is lacking in order to gain acceptance. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Lindseyd25:
Before applying I looked into statistics from all dental schools and applied only to those that were matching my GPA and DAT.
I also emailed deans/directors of admission of these schools and asked if there are special requirements that they have . Most schools have cut off for DAT sections that are not posted on their website. Many schools & for example NYU told me that high DAT especially TS is very important ( so you need have TS over 20) , so if your score from DAT is GChem 16/OChem 18 they will not interview you unless your GPA is like 3.9 or 4.0 and you can explain why your science DAT was low.
So overall; you GPA is OK, you DAT science is too low, your essay must refer to you research work, your leadership and dentistry related volunteering, you need to apply to at least 10 schools.
Things you need to do:
1. study for your sciences and any section that is lower than 20 , take many practice DAT tests to see where you are and improve to aim for score over 22 in each section, do not have more than 1 section below 18 and none in science. You must be confident that your score will be above 22 beforehand ( at this point you need to show your ability to achieve a high score)
2. Retake DAT
3. check your score against schools records from previous years to verify where you fit best, use this:

2017-ranking-of-ds-based-on-dat-gpa-other.1137667/2017 Ranking of DS Based on GPA/DAT/Other
Ranking of DAT/Other Selection Criteria by US DS http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=657139;

4. Aim for your in-state schools , you have the best chance in your state especially because of your GPA of 3.58- 3.45 which is good for in-state applicant and average for OOS. No point applying to schools that do not take (or take few only) OOS applicants. Aim also for schools that take lots of OOS students ( for example: do not apply to schools in Texas, they almost every year take only in state applicants). Do not waste your money on schools that do not take OOS or take only 1 or 2 OOS applicants. Apply to more schools!! 5 is not enough. Read some forums, many applicants apply to 15 -20 schools. If you can get high DAT sore then you can narrow your school list to 15 or 10 (if your DAT (especially TS is over 23). Check if the neighbouring states dental schools give same admittance for you as for in state ( some states have this reciprocal agreements so its beneficial to you) and apply there as well.

5. Re-write you personal statement explaining how your dedication to dentistry help you achieve high DAT score after 3rd attempt. Go to the English department and ask a grad student or professor to read, comment or help you with it. At this point you need something compelling and different so do not submit your average letter every applicant writes. Also focus on your leadership skills in your application or essay, remember that dental schools look for leaders in their community.

6. you need only 1 letter from a dentist. You need 3 letters from professors, these count the most. reconnect with your profs that you think will give you an excellent recommendation letter (if you got A in their course they should) . Tell them your story and dedication , give them your biography with your achievements so when they write a letter they have it in front of them. Do not get the committee letter, these are good for current students.If you do not have a good feeling about a professor go to another.

7. Do something different, everyone volunteers in a hospital or a clinic but no too many people go to Africa to distribute toothbrushes or dig a water well. Find unique volunteer program connected to dentistry that you will be passionate about and participate and continue doing it even few hours a week so it shows as you r presently still involved. you volunteered a lot but ensure it is connected to dentistry.

8. After you apply always update the dean of admissions with your new achievements related to application. You want them to remember you.

9. Connect with D1 students from schools you are applying to and ask what was important during admission process. They can share their experience and maybe something valuable.
10. During interview: connect with the interviewer as they rate you and your score determines your admission. Share with them something unique about you that they can remember and find exceptional/different ( I won a medal at PanAm games !)
13. Email a thank you letter to the dean of admissions and to the interviewer, but write what you feel, do not use standard forms. Express your interest in the school and being admitted.
Some schools, like NYU and U Mich prefer students with MS but I do not think you need to go for MS if you get DAT over 21 especially in science parts.

I wish you best of luck !! , yes , I think there is some luck involved. I consider myself lucky for being admitted.
And please update us on your progress.

 

[molar743]

I think you have great ECs and shadowing hours, but I agree with those that posted above that you need to raise your DAT score, apply a little earlier, and apply more broadly.

For the DAT, I used destroyer, chad's videos, and DAT bootcamp. By far, I felt DAT bootcamp was the most helpful for me (I got 25 TS, 23 AA, 21 PAT). I have a very strong science background, especially in chemistry, but the questions that bootcamp provided were very similar to those on the actual test, maybe even a little harder, but bootcamp also has full length practice tests in the same format as you will see at the actual testing center. Take the practice tests like you would at the testing center - no bathroom breaks, water, or food until the break/after the test. You need to know the info, but you also need to move fast, and you need to build stamina. Don't get discouraged if you're not hitting scores you want. At first I was scoring like 16/17 for biology, then I finally hit 19/20, but on the actual test I got 26! I actually found destroyer to be the least helpful because the questions were the most different from the actual test, but I also know people use destroyer because it is more difficult that the test. DAT bootcamp has 10 practice tests and also lots of practice sections for each subject. Get bootcamp.

Try to apply sometime in June. July at the latest. Apply to around 15 schools. In addition to Tufts, NYU, Touro, BU stated above I would also add Temple, LECOM, and NOVA. Have people critique your PS - that also really helped me.

Good luck, I think you have a great shot once you get your DAT up!

 

[Daniel Schruth]

Don't get discouraged! Just remember that your decision to pursue dentistry is a life-long decision. You will be a dentist for a very, very long time. If it takes an extra year or two don't worry about it! You will discover once you are in school that many students had to apply more than once, just like yourself. I think your grades and DAT scores are pretty good, however, you could probably improve your DAT scores pretty significantly in a short amount of time. I would quit your job for a few months, live at your parents, on a friend's couch, or wherever and just study for your exam. It is incredible to me that the DAT is weighted nearly as heavily by admission committees as your entire college GPA. A couple months of full-time study can make up for 4 years! You should also apply to many more schools. Graduate school is an adventure and you may end up liking a school you would never have imagined going to. Don't worry about short-term costs with your time or wallet. Think long term!

 

[Lindseyd25]

Don't get discouraged! Just remember that your decision to pursue dentistry is a life-long decision. You will be a dentist for a very, very long time. If it takes an extra year or two don't worry about it! You will discover once you are in school that many students had to apply more than once, just like yourself. I think your grades and DAT scores are pretty good, however, you could probably improve your DAT scores pretty significantly in a short amount of time. I would quit your job for a few months, live at your parents, on a friend's couch, or wherever and just study for your exam. It is incredible to me that the DAT is weighted nearly as heavily by admission committees as your entire college GPA. A couple months of full-time study can make up for 4 years! You should also apply to many more schools. Graduate school is an adventure and you may end up liking a school you would never have imagined going to. Don't worry about short-term costs with your time or wallet. Think long term!

Thank you so much for this! I believe I would thoroughly enjoy studying in another country. Not only that, but it would give me a chance to do more research that I would have no previous experience with during undergrad. I am going to the ADEA Go Dental Event next month where I will be able to mingle with admissions officers. I hope to gain more advice that will help improve my application. I’ve been studying throughout the days that I substitute teach and have nearly made it through all of the QR section of the destroyer. I have high anxiety when it comes to big decisions and tests that I have to take, so I am honestly afraid that I will never truly be ready for the DAT. I am trying so unbelievably hard - working to pay my bills/student loans. I want to be a dentist more than anything. Sometimes I rely on someone giving me a direct answer to a solution, but I realize that this is an unrealistic approach to life in general. I want to go get the masters, but I am just truly afraid I won’t be able to afford it. Not only that, but the programs are offered September 2018 - September 2019, so if admitted into dental school, most matriculate July/August and my program wouldn’t be completed by this date.

Thank you again for responding and for the encouragement! It means so much to me.

 

[Lindseyd25]

Lindseyd25:
Before applying I looked into statistics from all dental schools and applied only to those that were matching my GPA and DAT.
I also emailed deans/directors of admission of these schools and asked if there are special requirements that they have . Most schools have cut off for DAT sections that are not posted on their website. Many schools & for example NYU told me that high DAT especially TS is very important ( so you need have TS over 20) , so if your score from DAT is GChem 16/OChem 18 they will not interview you unless your GPA is like 3.9 or 4.0 and you can explain why your science DAT was low.
So overall; you GPA is OK, you DAT science is too low, your essay must refer to you research work, your leadership and dentistry related volunteering, you need to apply to at least 10 schools.
Things you need to do:
1. study for your sciences and any section that is lower than 20 , take many practice DAT tests to see where you are and improve to aim for score over 22 in each section, do not have more than 1 section below 18 and none in science. You must be confident that your score will be above 22 beforehand ( at this point you need to show your ability to achieve a high score)
2. Retake DAT
3. check your score against schools records from previous years to verify where you fit best, use this:

2017-ranking-of-ds-based-on-dat-gpa-other.1137667/2017 Ranking of DS Based on GPA/DAT/Other
Ranking of DAT/Other Selection Criteria by US DS http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=657139;

4. Aim for your in-state schools , you have the best chance in your state especially because of your GPA of 3.58- 3.45 which is good for in-state applicant and average for OOS. No point applying to schools that do not take (or take few only) OOS applicants. Aim also for schools that take lots of OOS students ( for example: do not apply to schools in Texas, they almost every year take only in state applicants). Do not waste your money on schools that do not take OOS or take only 1 or 2 OOS applicants. Apply to more schools!! 5 is not enough. Read some forums, many applicants apply to 15 -20 schools. If you can get high DAT sore then you can narrow your school list to 15 or 10 (if your DAT (especially TS is over 23). Check if the neighbouring states dental schools give same admittance for you as for in state ( some states have this reciprocal agreements so its beneficial to you) and apply there as well.

5. Re-write you personal statement explaining how your dedication to dentistry help you achieve high DAT score after 3rd attempt. Go to the English department and ask a grad student or professor to read, comment or help you with it. At this point you need something compelling and different so do not submit your average letter every applicant writes. Also focus on your leadership skills in your application or essay, remember that dental schools look for leaders in their community.

6. you need only 1 letter from a dentist. You need 3 letters from professors, these count the most. reconnect with your profs that you think will give you an excellent recommendation letter (if you got A in their course they should) . Tell them your story and dedication , give them your biography with your achievements so when they write a letter they have it in front of them. Do not get the committee letter, these are good for current students.If you do not have a good feeling about a professor go to another.

7. Do something different, everyone volunteers in a hospital or a clinic but no too many people go to Africa to distribute toothbrushes or dig a water well. Find unique volunteer program connected to dentistry that you will be passionate about and participate and continue doing it even few hours a week so it shows as you r presently still involved. you volunteered a lot but ensure it is connected to dentistry.

8. After you apply always update the dean of admissions with your new achievements related to application. You want them to remember you.

9. Connect with D1 students from schools you are applying to and ask what was important during admission process. They can share their experience and maybe something valuable.
10. During interview: connect with the interviewer as they rate you and your score determines your admission. Share with them something unique about you that they can remember and find exceptional/different ( I won a medal at PanAm games !)
13. Email a thank you letter to the dean of admissions and to the interviewer, but write what you feel, do not use standard forms. Express your interest in the school and being admitted.
Some schools, like NYU and U Mich prefer students with MS but I do not think you need to go for MS if you get DAT over 21 especially in science parts.

I wish you best of luck !! , yes , I think there is some luck involved. I consider myself lucky for being admitted.
And please update us on your progress.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post! You have giving A LOT of helpful advice! I am currently studying with DAT Destroyer. Would you recommend this study source or another? I am planning on taking the DAT early June. Beginning March, I will have four days a week to study all day, and I’m hopeful that this will be enough.

I’m going to the ADEA Go Dental Event in Kissimmee/Orlando next month. I’m hopping it will give me a chance to net work with Deans of Admissions from the schools that I am interested in, as well as gain some advice about what would be best to improve my application. I have a C- in GenPhysics 1 & 2, and I’m thinking that this may be a negative on my application, so I have applied to another four year university to take Gen Physics 1 this summer in order to earn a better letter grade. In April, I have a meeting with the Assistant Dean of Admissions of VCU. I’m hoping to network with her beforehand in Orlando.

I have signed up to participate in some of the RAM clinics this spring. For recommendations, I have two professors that I am very close with that always write good letters. I thought that I would ask the director of the Highlands Educational Literacy Program to write me a letter as I have volunteered with her organization in the school systems.

I appreciate the luck sent my way! I am a control freak, so when my life isn’t on track to where I would like to be, I have a hard to making big decisions that would make the largest impact for my future. To date, I have been offered three separate offers from the University of Sheffield in the UK for one year masters programs. The programs are: MSc Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicince, MSc Reproductive & Developmental Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Would you chose one of those programs over another? I’m just truly afraid about the costs of going overseas. My parents do not contribute to my finances at all, nor would they be able to even if they would like to. The financial constraints are the only reason for holding me back from any of these programs. The programs are also scheduled for completion throughout September 2018 - September 2019, so if offered acceptance into dental school, most would begin July/August 2019, which is also a downside to these one year masters programs.

Would you mind if I emailed you my application from the 2017-2018 cycle for you to look over?

 

[Jueves]

OP, I had exact stats as you GPA wise, a 21 on the DAT, and 5 interviews. I applied to almost all of the schools you did and out of all of those choices, only MWU-IL gave me an interview. Why did I get 5? I applied to 12-13 schools. Moral of the story- apply to more schools, and figure out which ones to apply to. UK isn’t viable if you’re not from Kentucky. Howard isn’t viable if you aren’t URM. UTenn isn’t viable if you aren’t from Midwest/South. So your only two viable options out of those 5 were WVU and MWU-IL... retake the DAT, get 18+ in all sections, then apply to schools that would fit your profile.

 

[cystinosis]

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post! You have giving A LOT of helpful advice! I am currently studying with DAT Destroyer. Would you recommend this study source or another? I am planning on taking the DAT early June. Beginning March, I will have four days a week to study all day, and I’m hopeful that this will be enough.

I’m going to the ADEA Go Dental Event in Kissimmee/Orlando next month. I’m hopping it will give me a chance to net work with Deans of Admissions from the schools that I am interested in, as well as gain some advice about what would be best to improve my application. I have a C- in GenPhysics 1 & 2, and I’m thinking that this may be a negative on my application, so I have applied to another four year university to take Gen Physics 1 this summer in order to earn a better letter grade. In April, I have a meeting with the Assistant Dean of Admissions of VCU. I’m hoping to network with her beforehand in Orlando.

I have signed up to participate in some of the RAM clinics this spring. For recommendations, I have two professors that I am very close with that always write good letters. I thought that I would ask the director of the Highlands Educational Literacy Program to write me a letter as I have volunteered with her organization in the school systems.

I appreciate the luck sent my way! I am a control freak, so when my life isn’t on track to where I would like to be, I have a hard to making big decisions that would make the largest impact for my future. To date, I have been offered three separate offers from the University of Sheffield in the UK for one year masters programs. The programs are: MSc Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicince, MSc Reproductive & Developmental Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Would you chose one of those programs over another? I’m just truly afraid about the costs of going overseas. My parents do not contribute to my finances at all, nor would they be able to even if they would like to. The financial constraints are the only reason for holding me back from any of these programs. The programs are also scheduled for completion throughout September 2018 - September 2019, so if offered acceptance into dental school, most would begin July/August 2019, which is also a downside to these one year masters programs.

Would you mind if I emailed you my application from the 2017-2018 cycle for you to look over?

I studied from DAT Destroyer, chad's videos, and DAT bootcamp too and was fine, but I studies 10-11 hours a day for 7 weeks because I had only 7 weeks available to me. And I took lots of free tests to see where I need to improve.

 

[tattooeddentist]

My advice (sorry if I missed anyone say this) but apply to as many schools as possible. Increase your odds in numbers, worked for me

 

[Likkriue]

I appreciate the luck sent my way! I am a control freak, so when my life isn’t on track to where I would like to be, I have a hard to making big decisions that would make the largest impact for my future. To date, I have been offered three separate offers from the University of Sheffield in the UK for one year masters programs. The programs are: MSc Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicince, MSc Reproductive & Developmental Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Would you chose one of those programs over another? I’m just truly afraid about the costs of going overseas. My parents do not contribute to my finances at all, nor would they be able to even if they would like to. The financial constraints are the only reason for holding me back from any of these programs. The programs are also scheduled for completion throughout September 2018 - September 2019, so if offered acceptance into dental school, most would begin July/August 2019, which is also a downside to these one year masters programs.

Would not do.

 

[thenextcarnegie]

I appreciate the luck sent my way! I am a control freak, so when my life isn’t on track to where I would like to be, I have a hard to making big decisions that would make the largest impact for my future. To date, I have been offered three separate offers from the University of Sheffield in the UK for one year masters programs. The programs are: MSc Biomaterials & Regenerative Medicince, MSc Reproductive & Developmental Medicine, and Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. Would you chose one of those programs over another? I’m just truly afraid about the costs of going overseas. My parents do not contribute to my finances at all, nor would they be able to even if they would like to. The financial constraints are the only reason for holding me back from any of these programs. The programs are also scheduled for completion throughout September 2018 - September 2019, so if offered acceptance into dental school, most would begin July/August 2019, which is also a downside to these one year masters programs.

Why don't you do other Masters programs? Such as Boston OHS, NSU BMS, Barry BMS, there's quite a few out there. Going to the UK won't really help out, it may hinder your app more (don't quote me on this, however). Also Sheffield is a very dreary place throughout most of the year...very rainy and hilly. I've been there a few times just an fyi.