Dental school

[PharmDr.]

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I am wondering how competetive dental school admissions really are. I know pharmacy school has gotten extremely competetive and it seems that almost everyone in my sience classes want to become a pharmacist and those I talked to haven't even worked in a pharmacy or know a thing about drugs. Anyways, do schools have 1000+ applications they have to weed through or is the number less. Also if you guys know what the average gpa was for admission. I have tried searching on the net but have had no luck. Also, I live in florida and there are only two schools, Nova and UF. I have heard that UF is exremely hard to get in and as of now I got a 3.3 gpa. Hopefully there are a lot of states that accept out-of-staters.

 

[Typo]

I'd say it depends on what you compare it too. If you compare it to medical school admissions, it's definitely less competive. The competitiveness ultimately depends on which schools you apply to, and whether you have a state school in your home state. The schools that get the most applications are receiving 2,000+ applications for no more than 140 spots, and usually less than 100 spots. Keep in mind, though, that the first 500 applications to the school have a much better chance at getting in than the last 1,500+ - rolling admissions is what it's all about. If you're smart about where you apply, and you apply early, you can make it way less competitive on yourself.

A 3.3 GPA is absolutely competitive, especially provided that you do well on the DAT. Dental schools take way more into consideration than just grades and DAT. Here are the stats, though:
http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~hpo/dstats.htm

Since Nova's a relatively new school its average acceptance stats are a little lower than the average, which makes your chances better. These stats are a little old, though, so they've probably risen since then.

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

...Keep in mind, though, that the first 500 applications to the school have a much better chance at getting in than the last 1,500+ - rolling admissions is what it's all about. If you're smart about where you apply, and you apply early, you can make it way less competitive on yourself.

when u say apply early how early do u think? i know people on here have already applied for 2005 but i haven't even taken the DAT yet, done any shadowing yet, gotten any LORs yet, or done much volunteer work yet, am i really that behind the ball? i figured i had till at least october to apply, especially to schools like NYU, BU, Tufts, etc. what do you think?

 

[omaralt]

hey, i dont know, but from what i hear, this year they are expecting a ton of applicants. i submitted my aadsas on June 2nd, and i was number 587! thats crazy! if i were you, i would definately go ahead and fill out my AADSAS, its going to take you a few days to enter in all your classes and work on your personal statement. go ahead and submit it, and then as soon as you take the DAT, all you have to do is submit your scores directly to the schools you applied too. that way, your applying by early august, which is still relatively early. good luck.

omar

 

[Dr. Steve Brule]

wow..i don't get it though why would there be so many more this year than any other year? i hope that's not true cuz otherwise there's going to be too much competition for my paltry gpa

 

[PharmDr.]

Thanks for your replies. I've only completed my freshman yr. of college and am currently taking summer classes, so I will just see how long that 3.3 gpa can stay. Also, do the schools in georgia and in the south give preference to the neighboring states like Florida?

 

[Typo]

when u say apply early how early do u think? i know people on here have already applied for 2005 but i haven't even taken the DAT yet, done any shadowing yet, gotten any LORs yet, or done much volunteer work yet, am i really that behind the ball? i figured i had till at least october to apply, especially to schools like NYU, BU, Tufts, etc. what do you think?

Most schools will start reviewing applications this summer. I'd just say to apply as early as possible. Maybe try spending as much time as you can during the next month volunteering and shadowing, and then apply in July. Lots of people apply without their DAT scores, and some people get interviews without them. AADSAS will go ahead and send your application to the schools you've picked without LORs or DAT scores, but you'll want to get those ready as soon as you can.

Lots of people apply in October or later and get in. Still, the earlier you apply the better your chances. If you can get everything done earlier, it's to your advantage. Even still, it's probably best to send it in piecemeal so that you don't have a sudden onslaught of things to do in October. For example, get your shadowing and volunteering done so that you can put it on the AADSAS, then send it in. Maybe take the DAT in August or September, or when you feel ready.

 

[Typo]

hey, i dont know, but from what i hear, this year they are expecting a ton of applicants. i submitted my aadsas on June 2nd, and i was number 587!

Actually, I think that the way AADSAS did things this year may have skewed the numbers a bit. I might be wrong, but I think in past years they've opened up the application on June 1st, while this year they opened it up almost two full weeks early (May 18th). With over 7,000 applicants on average, it makes sense that it'd be above 500 after two weeks.

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

PharmDr. I am assuming you are looking for honest answers, not some pats on the back and a "go get 'em tiger". So... a 3.3 GPA is by no means competitive. It is adequate in that it will probably score you some interviews and possibly an acceptance, but don't expect your mailbox to be bursting at the seems with acceptance letters. Since you just barely finished your freshmen year, work with the assumption that a 3.3 isn't good enough and bust your hump to raise it. If you get better grades you'll have a lot better shot at more schools and if you don't raise it, well you at least still have a shot. 🙂

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Below is a litst containing the number of applications received per school for the 2003 cycle. It also contains the number of actual matriculants and the matriculation percentage per school. I also hear there are more applicants than in recent years.

# School applicants matric. % ovr. gpa
2 Tufts 2038 154 7.6% 3.33
3 Boston 2017 115 5.7% 3.17
4 NYU 1964 228 11.6% 3.15
5 Temple 1874 125 6.7% 3.25
6 Pacific 1764 135 7.7% 3.27
7 Nova Southeastern 1724 100 5.8% 3.40
8 USC 1622 144 8.9% 3.37
9 Creighton 1584 84 5.3% 3.36
10 Marquette 1582 80 5.1% 3.41
11 Case Western 1383 70 5.1% 3.34
12 Loma Linda 1332 93 7.0% 3.44
13 Michigan 1320 105 8.0% 3.42
14 Maryland 1293 98 7.6% 3.37
15 UPENN 1293 97 7.5% 3.50
16 UC San Fran 1234 82 6.6% 3.43
17 UCLA 1192 89 7.5% 3.64
18 Columbia 1192 74 6.2% 3.30
19 Howard 1182 78 6.6% 3.05
20 Louisville 1168 80 6.8% 3.33
21 Buffalo 1007 86 8.5% 3.36
22 Indiana 932 100 10.7% 3.30
23 Meharry Medical 917 48 5.2% 3.00
24 PITT 896 61 6.8% 3.39
25 UCONN 870 43 4.9% 3.42
26 Detroit Mercy 842 77 9.1% 3.54
27 Baylor 841 89 10.6% 3.42
28 New Jersey 825 83 10.1% 3.44
29 UNC 799 81 10.1% 3.50
30 Ohio State 785 104 13.2% 3.50
31 Colorado 757 40 5.3% 3.63
32 Virginia 754 88 11.7% 3.30
33 Kentucky 735 53 7.2% 3.30
34 Harvard 728 35 4.8% 3.71
35 Oregon 728 72 9.9% 3.59
36 Mousouri 696 101 14.5% 3.40
37 Iowa 688 76 11.0% 3.57
38 Chicago 675 65 9.6% 3.43
39 Washington 648 55 8.5% 3.68
40 UT Houston 639 62 9.7% 3.42
41 Florida 632 80 12.7% 3.50
42 Minnesota 604 91 15.1% 3.56
43 UTSA 599 90 15.0% 3.57
44 nebraska 555 45 8.1% 3.74
45 South Carolina 547 55 10.1% 3.42
46 West Virginia 510 43 8.4% 3.43
47 NYU stoneybrook 492 36 7.3% 3.50
48 Southern Illinois 423 47 11.1% 3.50
49 Alabama 357 55 15.4% 3.53
50 Oklahoma 353 54 15.3% 3.51
51 Tennesse 255 80 31.4% 3.33
52 Louisiana 196 60 30.6% 3.38
53 Georgia 143 57 39.9% 3.44
54 Mississippi 92 31 33.7% 3.67
Averages 949 81 11% 3.42

where did you get these numbers from?

 

[UMDeeMan]

good post Dr.SpongeBob. people never like a pessimist, but pessimism prepares you for the worst and allows you to develop alternate plans. i agree with the 3.3 being just average. it is by no means a promised acceptance. i say this knowing that my cum gpa is at 3.2 🙁 , but i dont think i'm heading down the dental path anymore.

as far as why more applications, there are many possible explanations.

-med students final realize they can use those smarts in a much more relaxed and friendly work environment and still make the cash. for example, if you assume the brightest students are med students, and dental school is not as tough a med school, then why not go to dental school, do well and and match in a specialty program, then open up your own business, and bring home the cash. i bet most would agree an orthodontist has it alot easier then a ER surgeon.

-the economy, apparently it's tough to find good jobs, so why enter the job market? why not get more education so you are more marketable and could command a higher starting salary?

-the dental lifestyle seems great, you can start your own business and thus be your own boss (no hospital presidents), work how you want, and have complete control of your job.

-arguably, the schooling process is easier and less time consuming. i say this without ever have been enrolled in med or dental school, but from what friends, forums, professionals tell me, med school is much more of a challenge and time committment (4 years of school + residency)

well that's just my thoughts. could be totally wrong and uninformed. i'm not a dental or medical student but this is what the picture looks like to me.