Enough schools with average stats?

[Essentials]

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My GPA is around a 3.6 overall with a 3.4 sgpa. I have an 18 AA, 19 PA, 18 TS. I'm thinking around 7-10 schools, do you think this is enough?

 

[somethinpositiv]

My GPA is around a 3.6 overall with a 3.4 sgpa. I have an 18 AA, 19 PA, 18 TS. I'm thinking around 7-10 schools, do you think this is enough?

I don't think that is enough. Your GPA is average, your DAT is below average for matriculants, so to be safe, you might want to go 12-15 schools, mainly private schools.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I don't think that is enough. Your GPA is average, your DAT is below average for matriculants, so to be safe, you might want to go 12-15 schools, mainly private schools.

It is comments like this from individuals like this that makes the adcom personnel who frequent this website laugh. You get predents who have bee on this website for a year or so and people who have recently been accepted who feel they are now qualified to become gurus in what the adcoms want in their applicants.

What makes you feel that 12-15 schools are going to give Essentials any more of a chance other than just getting more applications out there? What makes you feel that 7-10 apps are not enough? Are you basing this one what you have observed on this website and coorelated it to the number of acceptances? Do you realize that the people who post here on SDN represent a super small minority of individuals who actually apply to dental schools yearly? Most people do not apply to 10+ schools even with lower scores. You'll see this once you talk to your classmates in d-school and to adcom personnel in general chit chat.

Essentials stats - they are not standout scores, but they are good scores overall. You state that his GPA is average and his DAT scores are below average for matriculants. It depends on which schools the individual is applying to. Some schools Essential could be above average. Plus, do you know anything about averages? Anytime there is a score above the average there has to be a score below the average to create the average. So, even if a person has a below average score, they have a chance of getting in because they could a part of the acceptances that fall below the matriculation average for a particular class.

The scores aren't everything. The scores and the rest of the application will get a person the interview. For individuals with scores that may be less than stellar, as long as they get an interview they can prove to the adcom that they belong in the school. There are many people in every dental class that get in with lower than average scores that proved themselves as being worthy in the interview.

My point to all of this for everyone is that you really need to consider the source of information that you seeking info from. Take things with a grain of salt. We can state what we feel, what we have expereinced and what we read here on SDN that others in the past have posted. Some things are blown out of proportion, some things are exaggerated, some things are taken too seriously, some things are just bad advice, some things aren't wrong (but not necessarily right either). How does this apply to the comment above .... well, who is anyone here to determine how many schools Essential should apply to. What makes 7-10 applications less likely to get in to a dental school than 12-15? My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

 

[Teeth4Life]

It is comments like this from individuals like this that makes the adcom personnel who frequent this website laugh. You get predents who have bee on this website for a year or so and people who have recently been accepted who feel they are now qualified to become gurus in what the adcoms want in their applicants.

What makes you feel that 12-15 schools are going to give Essentials any more of a chance other than just getting more applications out there? What makes you feel that 7-10 apps are not enough? Are you basing this one what you have observed on this website and coorelated it to the number of acceptances? Do you realize that the people who post here on SDN represent a super small minority of individuals who actually apply to dental schools yearly? Most people do not apply to 10+ schools even with lower scores. You'll see this once you talk to your classmates in d-school and to adcom personnel in general chit chat.

Essentials stats - they are not standout scores, but they are good scores overall. You state that his GPA is average and his DAT scores are below average for matriculants. It depends on which schools the individual is applying to. Some schools Essential could be above average. Plus, do you know anything about averages? Anytime there is a score above the average there has to be a score below the average to create the average. So, even if a person has a below average score, they have a chance of getting in because they could a part of the acceptances that fall below the matriculation average for a particular class.

The scores aren't everything. The scores and the rest of the application will get a person the interview. For individuals with scores that may be less than stellar, as long as they get an interview they can prove to the adcom that they belong in the school. There are many people in every dental class that get in with lower than average scores that proved themselves as being worthy in the interview.

My point to all of this for everyone is that you really need to consider the source of information that you seeking info from. Take things with a grain of salt. We can state what we feel, what we have expereinced and what we read here on SDN that others in the past have posted. Some things are blown out of proportion, some things are exaggerated, some things are taken too seriously, some things are just bad advice, some things aren't wrong (but not necessarily right either). How does this apply to the comment above .... well, who is anyone here to determine how many schools Essential should apply to. What makes 7-10 applications less likely to get in to a dental school than 12-15? My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

Well put 👍

 

[shah88]

Well said m'dear! 🙂

 

[Essentials]

Agreed, thanks man.

 

[Ranelar]

It is comments like this from individuals like this that makes the adcom personnel who frequent this website laugh. You get predents who have bee on this website for a year or so and people who have recently been accepted who feel they are now qualified to become gurus in what the adcoms want in their applicants.

What makes you feel that 12-15 schools are going to give Essentials any more of a chance other than just getting more applications out there? What makes you feel that 7-10 apps are not enough? Are you basing this one what you have observed on this website and coorelated it to the number of acceptances? Do you realize that the people who post here on SDN represent a super small minority of individuals who actually apply to dental schools yearly? Most people do not apply to 10+ schools even with lower scores. You'll see this once you talk to your classmates in d-school and to adcom personnel in general chit chat.

Essentials stats - they are not standout scores, but they are good scores overall. You state that his GPA is average and his DAT scores are below average for matriculants. It depends on which schools the individual is applying to. Some schools Essential could be above average. Plus, do you know anything about averages? Anytime there is a score above the average there has to be a score below the average to create the average. So, even if a person has a below average score, they have a chance of getting in because they could a part of the acceptances that fall below the matriculation average for a particular class.

The scores aren't everything. The scores and the rest of the application will get a person the interview. For individuals with scores that may be less than stellar, as long as they get an interview they can prove to the adcom that they belong in the school. There are many people in every dental class that get in with lower than average scores that proved themselves as being worthy in the interview.

My point to all of this for everyone is that you really need to consider the source of information that you seeking info from. Take things with a grain of salt. We can state what we feel, what we have expereinced and what we read here on SDN that others in the past have posted. Some things are blown out of proportion, some things are exaggerated, some things are taken too seriously, some things are just bad advice, some things aren't wrong (but not necessarily right either). How does this apply to the comment above .... well, who is anyone here to determine how many schools Essential should apply to. What makes 7-10 applications less likely to get in to a dental school than 12-15? My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

TL;DR: "Don't listen to people on SDN [which ironically includes me] -- do what you want."

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

TL;DR: "Don't listen to people on SDN [which ironically includes me] -- do what you want."

I didn't say don't listen to people on SDN. Your comment is another example of a point I made. You twisted words I said to try to make a point. I said take things with a grain of salt. Don't take the advice given here as the Gospel - and yes, that includes what I say. When asking for advice, a person MUST weight where the advice is coming from. Just because something has been said on SDN before, a lot of people on this site do something or you were fortunate enough to get in under certain circumstances, doesn't mean that is the right thing. I just wanted to make sure that the OP didn't take the first advice that was given as the gospel because it is not necessarily the case. Again, the advice needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[bluejays]

i think the first guy is right. you should apply to 12-15 schools just to be safe. i think the extra couple of hundred bucks will be worth it if you get in somewhere. a gpa of 3.6 and aa of 18 seems to be borderline. so when the ad coms are discussing your file, they can either grant an interview or not. some may decline, some may like you. let's say out of the 7-10 schools, 3-4 people invite for an interview. but what if you applied to 12-15? you may get about 6-7 invites. the more invites, the better your chances. you get more experience and knowledge to prepare for other interviews. in my opinion, just apply to more schools, this will give you a better opportunity. good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

Interesting. The conclusion is based on "numbers of individuals who have posted here" and anecdotal (personal) evidence.

 

[Oracle DMD]

7-10 schools might be fine...depending on which schools they are. i guess my thought is that if you don't get in that you don't want to think that the # of apps was the problem. but you only need 1 acceptance! good luck.

 

[somethinpositiv]

It is comments like this from individuals like this that makes the adcom personnel who frequent this website laugh. You get predents who have bee on this website for a year or so and people who have recently been accepted who feel they are now qualified to become gurus in what the adcoms want in their applicants.

What makes you feel that 12-15 schools are going to give Essentials any more of a chance other than just getting more applications out there? What makes you feel that 7-10 apps are not enough? Are you basing this one what you have observed on this website and coorelated it to the number of acceptances? Do you realize that the people who post here on SDN represent a super small minority of individuals who actually apply to dental schools yearly? Most people do not apply to 10+ schools even with lower scores. You'll see this once you talk to your classmates in d-school and to adcom personnel in general chit chat.

Essentials stats - they are not standout scores, but they are good scores overall. You state that his GPA is average and his DAT scores are below average for matriculants. It depends on which schools the individual is applying to. Some schools Essential could be above average. Plus, do you know anything about averages? Anytime there is a score above the average there has to be a score below the average to create the average. So, even if a person has a below average score, they have a chance of getting in because they could a part of the acceptances that fall below the matriculation average for a particular class.

The scores aren't everything. The scores and the rest of the application will get a person the interview. For individuals with scores that may be less than stellar, as long as they get an interview they can prove to the adcom that they belong in the school. There are many people in every dental class that get in with lower than average scores that proved themselves as being worthy in the interview.

My point to all of this for everyone is that you really need to consider the source of information that you seeking info from. Take things with a grain of salt. We can state what we feel, what we have expereinced and what we read here on SDN that others in the past have posted. Some things are blown out of proportion, some things are exaggerated, some things are taken too seriously, some things are just bad advice, some things aren't wrong (but not necessarily right either). How does this apply to the comment above .... well, who is anyone here to determine how many schools Essential should apply to. What makes 7-10 applications less likely to get in to a dental school than 12-15? My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

That's a long response to my 2 sentence reply, I'm flattered.

Clearly the phrase "I don't think" is an opinion, my own opinion, and as an opinion, it invites opposing opinions. At no point do I claim to be a guru, at no point do I say the OP needs to apply to more schools, I simply provide my opinion that I believe they should. And you can agree or disagree with it. So seaman 2010, your opinion is that 7-10 is enough, and I respect your opinion.

If people went around telling people with average or below average stats that their chances are better than they are, and that they should apply to less schools, we'd have more re-applicants. Better safe than sorry, I say. Again, feel free to write a 6-paragraph essay on why my response to your previous 6-paragraph essay is laughable 👍

 

[yuppers]

You guys are all wrong!!! I say 11 schools no more no less.
Thought I would try to lighten the mood......

 

[Doh Boy Fresh]

omg, NAVY are you a part time pastor cuz your sermon bored the $h!T outta me 👍

peace.

This kid posted here cuz he wanted an opinion. He got one. Now you posted a sermon about what to take as truth. Do u know the OP to be a clout? Is that why you sermon him on who to listen to and whom not to? I think he makes his own decisions and simply came here to hear others' opinions.

Amen.

 

[mantraman1010]

It is comments like this from individuals like this that makes the adcom personnel who frequent this website laugh. You get predents who have bee on this website for a year or so and people who have recently been accepted who feel they are now qualified to become gurus in what the adcoms want in their applicants.

What makes you feel that 12-15 schools are going to give Essentials any more of a chance other than just getting more applications out there? What makes you feel that 7-10 apps are not enough? Are you basing this one what you have observed on this website and coorelated it to the number of acceptances? Do you realize that the people who post here on SDN represent a super small minority of individuals who actually apply to dental schools yearly? Most people do not apply to 10+ schools even with lower scores. You'll see this once you talk to your classmates in d-school and to adcom personnel in general chit chat.

Essentials stats - they are not standout scores, but they are good scores overall. You state that his GPA is average and his DAT scores are below average for matriculants. It depends on which schools the individual is applying to. Some schools Essential could be above average. Plus, do you know anything about averages? Anytime there is a score above the average there has to be a score below the average to create the average. So, even if a person has a below average score, they have a chance of getting in because they could a part of the acceptances that fall below the matriculation average for a particular class.

The scores aren't everything. The scores and the rest of the application will get a person the interview. For individuals with scores that may be less than stellar, as long as they get an interview they can prove to the adcom that they belong in the school. There are many people in every dental class that get in with lower than average scores that proved themselves as being worthy in the interview.

My point to all of this for everyone is that you really need to consider the source of information that you seeking info from. Take things with a grain of salt. We can state what we feel, what we have expereinced and what we read here on SDN that others in the past have posted. Some things are blown out of proportion, some things are exaggerated, some things are taken too seriously, some things are just bad advice, some things aren't wrong (but not necessarily right either). How does this apply to the comment above .... well, who is anyone here to determine how many schools Essential should apply to. What makes 7-10 applications less likely to get in to a dental school than 12-15? My opinion - the 7 to 10 schools is enough as long as Essential doesn't just try to apply to schools who historically don't accept but a couple out of staters. If a person cannot get in to d-school after applying to 7-10 schools, really what are their chances of gettiing into the additional school? Probably pretty slim.

So, Essential, apply to as many schools as you feel comfortable applying to. You don't have outstanding numbers, but you do have good numbers that could easily get you into d-school based on numbers of individuals who have posted here in the past and people I have spoken to away from this site. If you are doubting yourself, apply to more. But if you feel comfortable with who you are and how you have performed, then you really should be fine with 7-10.

STICKY THIS!!! Possibly one of the best all time posts in this place period.

 

[UCLAzy]

what annoys me more than the fact that everybody here acts like they are an expert is when people quote reaaaally long posts. Its so annoying to scroll and then theres just some 2 line comment that shouldnt have even been posted in the first place. Damn.

 

[Ranelar]

what annoys me more than the fact that everybody here acts like they are an expert is when people quote reaaaally long posts. Its so annoying to scroll and then theres just some 2 line comment that shouldnt have even been posted in the first place. Damn.

Well, there was a point to my using the long quote 😛