Do I gotta be worried at this point?

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eviyang21

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My stat is
23AA 23TS 21 Bio 25 g.Chem 29 o.Chem 21 PAT 25 QR 16RC
BCP 3.81
S. gpa 3.82
O. gpa 3.86
Residency: NY
Non-traditional student; married

100hr shadowing at Orthodontics and Oral surgeon's office( got recommendation letter from Orthodontist)
More than 9999hrs in Military service in South Korea( yeah I'm an international student and have greencard)
More than 9999 working hrs in a restaurant as a waiter( got recommendation letter from my manager too)
Applied 4 schools( Havard, Columbi, Upenn, StonyBrook) and My application was mailed on 8/30. UPenn supplemental app completed 9/24.

By now, I haven't heard anything from those schools above, other than app received/under review. Do I gotta prepare for next cycle in 2014? It is really annoying
 
As repeated by fellow SDN members ad nauseum...

No one is entitled.
Your time will come when it comes.
Patience is a virtue.
 
1. Only applied to 4 schools, 2 of which are Harvard and Columbia
2. International student
3. 16RC

However, you seem like a pretty great applicant. But applying to 4 schools is a major risk. It's possible you won't get any interviews; I would prepare to apply again next summer, this time to at least 3x as many schools.
 
while you do have a very impressive stat and E.C, I do think that you have made a poor decision in the school selection. It is as if you don't just want to go to dental school and be a dentist, you want a prestigious school only. You only applied to 4 schools, and they are all top tier schools. Note that the applicants that applied to those 4 schools all have impressive stat and E.C just like you if not better. Maybe the competition of this year is even more fierce in those schools. The smart strategy would have been apply to a few middle - tier school, a few "safety" schools and a few top tier schools. Well, all I can say now is that the good news is you haven't got a rejection letter yet and it is still early in the process. Your time might come after December. By May and you are not accepted anywhere, then I would learn my lesson and apply smarter next cycle. There is no guarantee in this process even though one might have 4.0 and 28 DAT. Besides the number, they are looking for a fit factor as well. They want to pick a class that consisted of people that fit well together. If I were a member of an adcom and look at someone's application and see that he only applied to Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, UCSF, I would say this guy is too confident to the point that he comes across as arrogant. And I certainly don't want an arrogant kid in my class.
 
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Yeah to be honest I didn't have enough money to afford to apply for more than 4 schools. It was stupid. Thank u for advise.
 
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Qtn2x said:
while you do have a very impressive stat and E.C, I do think that you have made a poor decision in the school selection. It is as if you don't just want to go to dental school and be a dentist, you want a prestigious school only. You only applied to 4 schools, and they are all top tier schools. Note that the applicants that applied to those 4 schools all have impressive stat and E.C just like you if not better. Maybe the competition of this year is even more fierce in those schools. The smart strategy would have been apply to a few middle - tier school, a few "safety" schools and a few top tier schools. Well, all I can say now is that the good news is you haven't got a rejection letter yet and it is still early in the process. Your time might come after December. By May and you are not accepted anywhere, then I would learn my lesson and apply smarter next cycle. There is no guarantee in this process even though one might have 4.0 and 28 DAT. Besides the number, they are looking for a fit factor as well. They want to pick a class that consisted of people that fit well together. If I were a member of an adcom and look at someone's application and see that he only applied to Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, UCSF, I would say this guy is too confident to the point that he comes across as arrogant. And I certainly don't want an arrogant kid in my class.
Click to expand...
By the way, if I reapply next cycle, do u think I need to take DAT again to improve RC?? I had a problem with my stomach on the day I took DAT and was dying for using bathroom while I was taking it.
 
shulk said:
2. International student
Click to expand...

Green card = permanent resident, NOT international student.

Permanent residents are treated the same as US citizens for admissions purposes. They are not considered international students, because their status is closer to that of a citizen than that of an international applicant. For example, they don't need visas to enter the country, are allowed to live in the US indefinitely (and have to spend at least half their time living here if they want to keep the status and progress to becoming a citizen), and are eligible for federal and institutional financial aid.
 
stomatology said:
Green card = permanent resident, NOT international student.

Permanent residents are treated the same as US citizens for admissions purposes. They are not considered international students, because their status is closer to that of a citizen than that of an international applicant. For example, they don't need visas to enter the country, are allowed to live in the US indefinitely (and have to spend at least half their time living here if they want to keep the status and progress to becoming a citizen), and are eligible for federal and institutional financial aid.
Click to expand...

Good to know... I didn't realize there was an "in-between" status!
 
If you used the word "gotta" in your personal statement like you did for this thread title, I would be worried
 
But assuming you didn't I wouldn't be too worried because your credentials are immaculate. Good luck!
 
Qtn2x said:
while you do have a very impressive stat and E.C, I do think that you have made a poor decision in the school selection. It is as if you don't just want to go to dental school and be a dentist, you want a prestigious school only. You only applied to 4 schools, and they are all top tier schools. Note that the applicants that applied to those 4 schools all have impressive stat and E.C just like you if not better. Maybe the competition of this year is even more fierce in those schools. The smart strategy would have been apply to a few middle - tier school, a few "safety" schools and a few top tier schools. Well, all I can say now is that the good news is you haven't got a rejection letter yet and it is still early in the process. Your time might come after December. By May and you are not accepted anywhere, then I would learn my lesson and apply smarter next cycle. There is no guarantee in this process even though one might have 4.0 and 28 DAT. Besides the number, they are looking for a fit factor as well. They want to pick a class that consisted of people that fit well together. If I were a member of an adcom and look at someone's application and see that he only applied to Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, UCSF, I would say this guy is too confident to the point that he comes across as arrogant. And I certainly don't want an arrogant kid in my class.
Click to expand...

Can adcom members see the list of schools you applied to?!
 
yeah your RC is really bad. i think you should prepare to apply next cycle and apply to schools within your reach.
 
I just want an invite to sleep better. I've woken up in a cold sweat twice this week from nightmares.
 
Within my reach... Yeah that makes sense. I should reapply next year.Thank u
 
rryn said:
Can adcom members see the list of schools you applied to?!
Click to expand...

I am not 100% sure but I would think so. I received an email from Pittsburg saying they don't have my letters of rec and requested me to send. So I thought AADSAS screw my application and forgot to mail to Pittsburg so I called them. AADSAS told me to instruct Pittsburg on how to gain access to my file. So turned out, somehow there was glitch in Pittsburg computer system that didn't allow to them access to my AADSAS online. So yea, besides the hard copy that AADSAS mail to them, they also have a system that they can gain access to your entire AADSAS application online.
 
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Illini0909 said:
yeah your RC is really bad. i think you should prepare to apply next cycle and apply to schools within your reach.
Click to expand...
I found you got 2 interviews out of 12 by now as a second batcher, right? Good luck!!
 
Well it depends on which school you really want to go to. With your current stat and DAT score, even with a 16 in RC, I still think you have a good shot at the mid-tier schools. If you really want Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, then you should consider trying to pump up that RC score to increase your chance. But it is such a waste on those other scores like a 25 and 29 in Chems. So it's up to you to make a decision whether or not you should retake.
If I could only have money to apply to 4, i woulda picked harvard, then buffalo, nyu and temple or similar schools. it doesn't matter the number of schools you want to apply to, always have a good mix of top tier, middle and a safety. I really don't understand why you picked just those 4 schools that you picked, given your RC is a bit less than stellar too. I would say over-confident and poor judgement 🙂. Believe it or not, the number of schools and the type of schools one applies to does reveal something about an individual.
Having said that, good luck though. I do hope you will get in this cycle and not having to waste a whole year. I am a non-traditional applicant just like you so I know how hard it is to be married, to live an adult life, worrying about bills and to find time to study and come back to school. So i wish you the best of luck.
 
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Qtn2x said:
Well it depends on which school you really want to go to. With your current stat and DAT score, even with a 16 in RC, I still think you have a good shot at the mid-tier schools. If you really want Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, then you should consider trying to pump up that RC score to increase your chance. But it is such a waste on those other scores like a 25 and 29 in Chems. So it's up to you to make a decision whether or not you should retake.
If I could only have money to apply to 4, i woulda picked harvard, then buffalo, nyu and temple or similar schools. it doesn't matter the number of schools you want to apply to, always have a good mix of top tier, middle and a safety. I really don't understand why you picked just those 4 schools that you picked, given your RC is a bit less than stellar too. I would say over-confident and poor judgement 🙂. Believe it or not, the number of schools and the type of schools one applies to does reveal something about an individual.
Having said that, good luck though. I do hope you will get in this cycle and not having to waste a whole year. I am a non-traditional applicant just like you so I know how hard it is to be married, to live an adult life, worrying about bills and to find time to study and come back to school. So i wish you the best of luck.
Click to expand...
Amazingly, I'm still in a college and a senior. I would take other interesting classes to get myself prepared for next year and retake DAT. I would be fine. This is just the first try. Thank u.
 
Qtn2x said:
Well it depends on which school you really want to go to. With your current stat and DAT score, even with a 16 in RC, I still think you have a good shot at the mid-tier schools. If you really want Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, then you should consider trying to pump up that RC score to increase your chance. But it is such a waste on those other scores like a 25 and 29 in Chems. So it's up to you to make a decision whether or not you should retake.
If I could only have money to apply to 4, i woulda picked harvard, then buffalo, nyu and temple or similar schools. it doesn't matter the number of schools you want to apply to, always have a good mix of top tier, middle and a safety. I really don't understand why you picked just those 4 schools that you picked, given your RC is a bit less than stellar too. I would say over-confident and poor judgement 🙂. Believe it or not, the number of schools and the type of schools one applies to does reveal something about an individual.
Having said that, good luck though. I do hope you will get in this cycle and not having to waste a whole year. I am a non-traditional applicant just like you so I know how hard it is to be married, to live an adult life, worrying about bills and to find time to study and come back to school. So i wish you the best of luck.
Click to expand...

Amazingly, I'm still in a college and a senior. I would take some interesting classes next year, , retake DAT, and do dental assistant for internship from next semester. Thank u. By the way, I thought you are already a dental school student lol.
 
Why not add few more schools now to your application? Why wait a year? Your stats are good, other than RC which is a bit lower than what most schools want, but your other scores may compensate for it. Some schools consider applicants late in the cycle. The choice of schools was not the best decision you have made as was mentioned by someone else here.
My application was mailed less than a month ago and I've received an interview, so I think it is totally possible for you to get an interview.
 
dent777 said:
Why not add few more schools now to your application? Why wait a year? Your stats are good, other than RC which is a bit lower than what most schools want, but your other scores may compensate for it. Some schools consider applicants late in the cycle. The choice of schools was not the best decision you have made as was mentioned by someone else here.
My application was mailed less than a month ago and I've received an interview, so I think it is totally possible for you to get an interview.
Click to expand...

Is there any way to delete every preceding reply, save this one, and close the thread?
 
eviyang21 said:
My stat is
23AA 23TS 21 Bio 25 g.Chem 29 o.Chem 21 PAT 25 QR 16RC
BCP 3.81
S. gpa 3.82
O. gpa 3.86
Residency: NY
Non-traditional student; married

100hr shadowing at Orthodontics and Oral surgeon's office( got recommendation letter from Orthodontist)
More than 9999hrs in Military service in South Korea( yeah I'm an international student and have greencard)
More than 9999 working hrs in a restaurant as a waiter( got recommendation letter from my manager too)
Applied 4 schools( Havard, Columbi, Upenn, StonyBrook) and My application was mailed on 8/30. UPenn supplemental app completed 9/24.

By now, I haven't heard anything from those schools above, other than app received/under review. Do I gotta prepare for next cycle in 2014? It is really annoying
Click to expand...

Many schools have a computer that automatically cuts off applicants if they don't make the minimum score in any area of the DAT for example, a student may have to score at least a 17 in every area before a person even looks at the application. A computer may have seen your 16RC and automatically rejected your application before seeing your amazing scores in other areas and GPA. Doesn't seem fair that a computer probably did this since you are so strong in many other areas. I'm sure that these four schools have very high minimum standards in all areas of the DAT. I would quickly add some other private schools to your list of schools before their deadline passes. And call each school and ask what the minimum cut-off score is. You might just call the schools you applied to and mention that you could have been looked over by a computer, but you are such a strong applicant in other areas, it's worth a shot!
 
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ToothbrushBuddy said:
Many schools have a computer that automatically cuts off applicants if they don't make the minimum score in any area of the DAT for example, a student may have to score at least a 17 in every area before a person even looks at the application. A computer may have seen your 16RC and automatically rejected your application before seeing your amazing scores in other areas and GPA. Doesn't seem fair that a computer probably did this since you are so strong in many other areas. I'm sure that these four schools have very high minimum standards in all areas of the DAT. I would quickly add some other private schools to your list of schools before their deadline passes. And call each school and ask what the minimum cut-off score is. You might just call the schools you applied to and mention that you could have been looked over by a computer, but you are such a strong applicant in other areas, it's worth a shot!
Click to expand...
I know my RC score is horrible, but it is not true about computer cutoff score. Refer to Harvard school of dental medicine.

"What is the cutoff for DAT scores? GPAs?
HSDM does not have a cutoff for DAT scores or GPAs. We look at each complete application in its entirety, regardless of scores, and make admissions decisions based on the whole application. We do recommend that applicants have at least a 3.0 GPA."
 
Great stats, horrible school selection. My best advice would be to be prepared to apply next year.
 
dentalWorks said:
this.

Its not too late, you seem like a smart guy, do the right thing and go add more schools.
Click to expand...
Oh well, which school would you recommend me to add??? And how many school do I need to add in this point??
 
well, for starters, mix in nyu and buffalo. travel costs (for you) would be minimized for interviews to those schools.

and the bonus is you'll be adding your other state school! i'm sure nobody will ask why you didn't do it in the first place...
 
You should probably shadow a general dentist. That's a red flag that you didn't.
 
Yeah that's why I'm doing internship next semester at general dentist'a office
 
Sorry to say this to you (and I hope you prove me wrong) but I think you wasted a year. Do not think that good stats will guarantee you interviews at the kind of places you applied to. None of the ultra-prestigious places I applied to have granted me interviews, and I have higher stats than you do. But I applied very broadly to 19 schools and received enough IV's at middle of the road schools to feel confident.

If I were you I would apply to at least a dozen schools next year, and make sure you include plenty of safeties.
 
hunterx2 said:
Sorry to say this to you (and I hope you prove me wrong) but I think you wasted a year. Do not think that good stats will guarantee you interviews at the kind of places you applied to. None of the ultra-prestigious places I applied to have granted me interviews, and I have higher stats than you do. But I applied very broadly to 19 schools and received enough IV's at middle of the road schools to feel confident.

If I were you I would apply to at least a dozen schools next year, and make sure you include plenty of safeties.
Click to expand...
Yeah probably you are right. I might waste one year, but I still have to finish my undergraduate. For the last shot, I will add NYU and Buffalo.
 
just add some more schools right now. It's not too late. Instead of wasting a year
 
eviyang21 said:
Yeah probably you are right. I might waste one year, but I still have to finish my undergraduate. For the last shot, I will add NYU and Buffalo.
Click to expand...

this is a wise move. you may not interview until next year, but you are probably "buying" yourself a seat in next year's entering class...wherever that may be.
 
Columbia just updated school decision on my application, yesterday. They said:

"We have received your application from AADSAS and will review. Please note that you will hear from us if something is missing. We will also contact you via email if a decision is made on your file. If you do not hear from us, you should consider your file still being reviewed."
It was found ADEA website( school decision).
Does this mean they just started reviewing my app. Just now??
 
eviyang21 said:
Columbia just updated school decision on my application, yesterday. They said:

"We have received your application from AADSAS and will review. Please note that you will hear from us if something is missing. We will also contact you via email if a decision is made on your file. If you do not hear from us, you should consider your file still being reviewed."
It was found ADEA website( school decision).
Does this mean they just started reviewing my app. Just now??
Click to expand...

i got the same thing
 
eviyang21 said:
Columbia just updated school decision on my application, yesterday. They said:

"We have received your application from AADSAS and will review. Please note that you will hear from us if something is missing. We will also contact you via email if a decision is made on your file. If you do not hear from us, you should consider your file still being reviewed."
It was found ADEA website( school decision).
Does this mean they just started reviewing my app. Just now??
Click to expand...

Pretty sure it's just a AADSAS hiccup, because the contents in the status defined column come and go every so often for me, even after being interviewed :/
Appeared on mine too.
 
Qtn2x said:
while you do have a very impressive stat and E.C, I do think that you have made a poor decision in the school selection. It is as if you don't just want to go to dental school and be a dentist, you want a prestigious school only. You only applied to 4 schools, and they are all top tier schools. Note that the applicants that applied to those 4 schools all have impressive stat and E.C just like you if not better. Maybe the competition of this year is even more fierce in those schools. The smart strategy would have been apply to a few middle - tier school, a few "safety" schools and a few top tier schools. Well, all I can say now is that the good news is you haven't got a rejection letter yet and it is still early in the process. Your time might come after December. By May and you are not accepted anywhere, then I would learn my lesson and apply smarter next cycle. There is no guarantee in this process even though one might have 4.0 and 28 DAT. Besides the number, they are looking for a fit factor as well. They want to pick a class that consisted of people that fit well together. If I were a member of an adcom and look at someone's application and see that he only applied to Harvard, Columbia, UPenn, UCSF, I would say this guy is too confident to the point that he comes across as arrogant. And I certainly don't want an arrogant kid in my class.
Click to expand...
 
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GOOD NEWS!!!
Fortunately, I got two interview invitations from Buffalo and Columbia.
Bad news: rejected from NYU(???) Havard (understandale, I dont have any research hours. ok...)and UPenn.
Still waiting from Stony Brook and UoP.
 
eviyang21 said:
GOOD NEWS!!!
Fortunately, I got two interview invitations from Buffalo and Columbia.
Bad news: rejected from NYU(???) Havard (understandale, I dont have any research hours. ok...)and UPenn.
Still waiting from Stony Brook and UoP.
Click to expand...
Go get em.
 
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