For those accepted...Do anything different?

[bipster10]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys,

At our school we have a board of pre dental/medical/optometry/pharmacy etc. seniors who have been accepted to answer anybody's questions. I thought it was helpful, so I thought I might try the same on SDN. So...for all you guys accepted....what would be something that you might do differently??

One thing I might have done would be apply to at least one "long shot" school (UPENN in my case) to see if I could get in.


Bipster

 

[Enamelize]

Hey guys,

At our school we have a board of pre dental/medical/optometry/pharmacy etc. seniors who have been accepted to answer anybody's questions. I thought it was helpful, so I thought I might try the same on SDN. So...for all you guys accepted....what would be something that you might do differently??

One thing I might have done would be apply to at least one "long shot" school (UPENN in my case) to see if I could get in.


Bipster

I would not have applied to so many out-of-state schools just because they were relatively close to my location. I would have just applied to my state school and some private schools.

 

[study girl]

If I was going to do it again... I would have been more aware of how long the AADSAS process takes. My transcripts were sent in during June and they took so long to process my application didn't get sent out until July. Just send in your transcripts, letter of recommendations, and DAT as soon as you can. Because it could take weeks after you submit them for them to be processed and approved.

 

[shaiboy]

1) Applied during the first few weeks of the application cycle opening
2) Looked at the prices of the schools more closely

 

[321931]

Don't get so caught up in the 3.7+ 25 DAT scores and feel like my scores are inferior. In reality, if you apply early/broadly and your scores are around the average 3.4-3.5 19-20 then you will most likely get interviews/acceptances.

It's easy to get caught up in the beast that is SDN; however, come on, the number of kiddos that get 24-25-26 number very very very very very few. Theres a reason why its 99.9% percentile. Considering 4500 applicants do get in, a 19-23 is an amazing score! But if you have a low sub section I still recommend a retake, I.E. 15-16 RC/PAT etc.

 

[prsndwg]

Dont apply to schools that you wont attend if accepted

 

[Philippines03j]

I would have looked into more schools....Not just based on location!

I applied to Indiana because it was recommended by a friend...I got in and love it here..Keep you mind open and look into a variety of schools not just ones that are "popular" or close to home👍

 

[dentalWorks]

I should have applied to all 3 Tx schools (even tho I am out-of-state)... My odds of getting in were probably 1 in a thousand (literally)... but man... If I woulda gotten in, 15k per year tuition, I'd finish dent school with less than 150k debt.

 

[CANgnome]

I really showed my interest with letters of interest and keeping in touch with schools. I am pretty sure it made a difference.

 

[peanutb123]

its funny how a lot of people say that they applied to too many schools or applied to schools which they wont attend.

But when you see people with 20+ not getting to couple schools that they applied to scares the SH88 of these people. My advice is if you can afford to apply to more schools even if you dont think you would attend, i say load up. because these days you never know.

 

[MechZZ]

I would have went to all my interviews. Owell.

 

[aznxsa2587]

I would have asked for all my recommendation letters way ahead of time. The reason my application got delayed to August is because it took my professors two month to write me one (my fault too for asking late). I would also major in biology or something similar, so I don't get asked "why not do something in Mathematics?" in every interviews. Lastly, I would try my luck on Harvard just for the heck of it 😀.

 

[Dusk]

its funny how a lot of people say that they applied to too many schools or applied to schools which they wont attend.

But when you see people with 20+ not getting to couple schools that they applied to scares the SH88 of these people. My advice is if you can afford to apply to more schools even if you dont think you would attend, i say load up. because these days you never know.

i'm curious, can anyone give a ballpark estimate of how much applying to 20+ schools would cost?

 

[Smilemaker12]

i'm curious, can anyone give a ballpark estimate of how much applying to 20+ schools would cost?

~3,000

 

[peanutb123]

i'm curious, can anyone give a ballpark estimate of how much applying to 20+ schools would cost?

I was talking about people who have high dat scores.

An avg. applicant applies to min 10 schools.

So for 20 schools rough estimate

300 - 1
75 - 19
80 - 20 secondary fees avg
---------
3325 W/ transcripts fees etc.. i say save up to 3500 just for applications

another say 3000 - 4000 for interviews and travel. And if you do not have the money swipe that card and pay it off later.

 

[dentalWorks]

i'm curious, can anyone give a ballpark estimate of how much applying to 20+ schools would cost?

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=10727157&postcount=50

 

[slm266]

I'm Texas resident and only applied to the 3 Texas schools. I'd spend the extra money and apply to some OOS schools just to be sure.

I'd choose a physiology major instead of biology (although the ecology, evolution, etc did prepareme well for the DAT).

 

[Dusk]

I was talking about people who have high dat scores.

An avg. applicant applies to min 10 schools.

So for 20 schools rough estimate

300 - 1
75 - 19
80 - 20 secondary fees avg
---------
3325 W/ transcripts fees etc.. i say save up to 3500 just for applications

another say 3000 - 4000 for interviews and travel. And if you do not have the money swipe that card and pay it off later.

awesome thanks for the responses everyone, and ty DW for the link.
and oops, that was reading comprehension fail on my part...

 

[John Durian]

1) Book hotels/flights as soon as you get an interview invite. Waiting last minute to book them will cost you a few hundred extra.

2) Practice more mock interviews. Despite how good/great your GPA/DAT you should practice, practice, practice.

 

[Maygyver]

I would have applied to less "safety" schools.

 

[Mr Tooth Fairy]

Applied to less "long-shot" schools. 3 of the 13 stand out...

 

[bing12]

I would have applied to less "safety" schools.

I have to respectably disagree, cause once you have an acceptance, you can say that, because it is much easier to say apply to less safety school if you receive several acceptances ( congradulations.haha).

BUT, as a student not knowing what to expect, its always better to play it safe, because if you dont apply to more "safety" schools, and dont get in, well that turns into a horrible situation to be in.

 

[Maygyver]

I have to respectably disagree, cause once you have an acceptance, you can say that, because it is much easier to say apply to less safety school if you receive several acceptances ( congradulations.haha).

BUT, as a student not knowing what to expect, its always better to play it safe, because if you dont apply to more "safety" schools, and dont get in, well that turns into a horrible situation to be in.

Eh, I think people on here freak out about getting in when they have good stats.

 

[bing12]

Eh, I think people on here freak out about getting in when they have good stats.

I agree with that, but there are also those that might over estimate them self. I believe its safe to underestimate, because we have seen those with pretty good stats still get rejected everywhere, it does happen unfortunately.

 

[Maygyver]

I agree with that, but there are also those that might over estimate them self. I believe its safe to underestimate, because we have seen those with pretty good stats still get rejected everywhere, it does happen unfortunately.

👍Yeah, definitely. I think that people with good stats shouldn't worry as much about getting into their state school though, as long as they are competent interviewees. In the end, some of it is up to chance, but if you have good stats, there's really no need to have multiple back-up schools that you wouldn't attend, in my opinion at least.

 

[PreDent100]

👍Yeah, definitely. I think that people with good stats shouldn't worry as much about getting into their state school though, as long as they are competent interviewees. In the end, some of it is up to chance, but if you have good stats, there's really no need to have multiple back-up schools that you wouldn't attend, in my opinion at least.

+1
I definitely did that and had too many back up schools.

 

[THRILLOFDAFILL]

I agree with that, but there are also those that might over estimate them self. I believe its safe to underestimate, because we have seen those with pretty good stats still get rejected everywhere, it does happen unfortunately.

did that fml. 🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁🙁

 

[TonyTheTigre]

Aside from applying to less schools, I would have done a mock interview with a board of doctors and dentists that would have truly challenged my aspirations and delivery

 

[schulc76]

Although some wish they had applied to less schools, I certainly am not one of them. Also, I had pretty good stats. 21 dat, 22pat, 3.6 gpa with a 3.4 sci gpa. I applied to 15 schools, went to 6 interviews, and was wait listed at all 6 on Dec 1. So just because you hit a certain threshold of gpa/dat, I wouldn't rule out applying to a bunch of schools. It is so competitive, you just never know. Also, I didn't "bomb" any of my interviews, it just didn't happen on Dec 1 for me. Thankfully later on it did.

Best advice: APPLY EARLY. First couple of weeks in June, get it in. Contact the people you want to write letters for you now, so they can have their letters completed and submit them right away. Also have your transcripts sent in during that first week of June. The transcripts seem to hit a bottleneck or something with AADSAS, so get those sent in pronto. Hope this helps you future dentists out there! Good luck!!

 

[Maygyver]

Although some wish they had applied to less schools, I certainly am not one of them. Also, I had pretty good stats. 21 dat, 22pat, 3.6 gpa with a 3.4 sci gpa. I applied to 15 schools, went to 6 interviews, and was wait listed at all 6 on Dec 1. So just because you hit a certain threshold of gpa/dat, I wouldn't rule out applying to a bunch of schools. It is so competitive, you just never know. Also, I didn't "bomb" any of my interviews, it just didn't happen on Dec 1 for me. Thankfully later on it did.

Best advice: APPLY EARLY. First couple of weeks in June, get it in. Contact the people you want to write letters for you now, so they can have their letters completed and submit them right away. Also have your transcripts sent in during that first week of June. The transcripts seem to hit a bottleneck or something with AADSAS, so get those sent in pronto. Hope this helps you future dentists out there! Good luck!!

Very true. I guess, my advice would be not to apply to too many schools, as long as you apply on time. If you apply late, you will need to look at some more safety schools just because of the timing.

 

[amdrocks]

1. Do more research on different schools and the whole application process. (Had no idea what to do while applying. I discovered this website after I took my DAT)

2. Apply really early. I applied way to late (Late August).

3. Study DAT more. (I studied two weeks for real. I should be able to score a 22+ AA if I have studied for two more weeks. Well, I got into a dental school now, so it doesn't matter at all 🙂 )

 

[Huskk]

On a different and most likely unhelpful note, I think my initial thought of it being necessary to continue schooling the full academic year prior to matriculation was a bit overestimated. I wish I would have taken an extra class here or there and graduated a semester early (and right after d-school acceptance). I guess this plan would have shot myself in the foot if I hadn't got in, but I'm definitely kicking myself for not doing it now.

 

[quillow]

Apply early. I applied late July/early August. It didn't hurt me too much but it would've helped to apply early June.

Apply wisely. I shouldn't have applied to some OOS schools based on the chances of an OOS applicant getting accepted there. I was worried about not getting in, so I increased the number of schools I applied to, thinking it'd be better for me. It just ended up costing me more money (and I probably had little to no chance of getting into the OOS schools anyway).

Start working on secondaries as soon as possible. I thought these would be easy but there are a ton of essays.

Prepare for interviews as much as possible. It would've helped me to do mock interviews (rather than just practice on my own).

Saved more money. For interviews... and so I could quit my job earlier and enjoy my time before dental school starts! 😀