Former Pre-med whose clueless about dental. Help!

[dentistry4lifee]

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Hi guys!

So I'm finishing off my 3rd year right now, and I've been a pre-med student this entire time. A week ago, I had an epiphany that I wanted to do dental! I don't know much about the application process though. Could you guys tell me where I can improve my application? My goal is to get into UCLA or UCSF. I really don't have much knowledge about what's considered "good" or "competitive", or what those two schools like.

My stats:
GPA: 3.9
3 years of neurobiology research (is it bad that it's not dental?)
250 hours of volunteering at a hospital
On board of a health-related club at undergrad

I still have to take the DAT. What's the range of scores that is safe for UCLA and UCSF?
Also, is one year of shadowing a dentist enough dental work? Should I try to do a dental internship or find some other dental opportunity?

Also, my mom's a dentist and has her own office. I've actually helped her out a lot in the office throughout the years. Should I write this or is it bad to write anything related to parents?

THANKS GUYS!

 

[RamsFan1991]

Hi guys!

So I'm finishing off my 3rd year right now, and I've been a pre-med student this entire time. A week ago, I had an epiphany that I wanted to do dental! I don't know much about the application process though. Could you guys tell me where I can improve my application? My goal is to get into UCLA or UCSF. I really don't have much knowledge about what's considered "good" or "competitive", or what those two schools like.

My stats:
GPA: 3.9
3 years of neurobiology research (is it bad that it's not dental?)
250 hours of volunteering at a hospital
On board of a health-related club at undergrad

I still have to take the DAT. What's the range of scores that is safe for UCLA and UCSF?
Also, is one year of shadowing a dentist enough dental work? Should I try to do a dental internship or find some other dental opportunity?

Also, my mom's a dentist and has her own office. I've actually helped her out a lot in the office throughout the years. Should I write this or is it bad to write anything related to parents?

THANKS GUYS!

If you're a CA resident getting into UCLA or UCSF with those stats and EC's won't be a problem. It will be a bit tough if you aren't, but if you apply within batch 1-4 I think you'll be fine. Make sure to score a minimum 21 on all sections on the DAT for those two schools especially. Definitely make sure you include helping in your mom's office, and apply to the school your mom went to as that will help you get accepted there as well. I don't think you need to do much more with your application as long as you have at least 100 hours of shadowing at an office other than your mom's. If you haven't already started studying, just take a solid 2 months to study for the DAT and you will be fine. Do not submit your application without your DAT, for some schools sending in an incomplete application may come across as unprofessional apparently (I had no idea myself and I did this last year when I took my DAT in August but submitted my app in June). However, if you do well on the DAT, won't really matter how late you submit your primary application since you have good stats, just don't push it past end of July/beginning of August. Good luck!

 

[I want to go to there]

To be reasonably safe, 22-23+.

Is your one year of shadowing a dentist your mom? I feel like you should shadow other dentists as well. You don't need to do dental internship or similar of that sort. Just shadow and work on your DAT. Also, you can write about the experience at your Mom's clinic in your PS, it would be good and you can say that's where you first got interested in dentistry. Your mom can't write you a recommendation letter for obvious reasons.

 

[dentistry4lifee]

@RamsFan1991 thanks for the response!
Yes, I'm a CA resident, and I would really like to stay in CA for dental school. USC is just way too expensive so I'm really hoping for UCLA or UCSF.
So you think i SHOULD include helping at my mom's office? I don't understand why some people tell me to stay away from that.
and I'll definitely be shadowing a lot this summer and next year.
Do you think 21 is really safe enough? or should I aim for higher?

 

[dentistry4lifee]

To be reasonably safe, 22-23+.

Is your one year of shadowing a dentist your mom? I feel like you should shadow other dentists as well. You don't need to do dental internship or similar of that sort. Just shadow and work on your DAT. Also, you can write about the experience at your Mom's clinic in your PS, it would be good and you can say that's where you first got interested in dentistry. Your mom can't write you a recommendation letter for obvious reasons.

I was going to shadow at some other dentist office, but I was also going to include that I've worked in the front desk at my moms office as well. Do you think being on board of pre-dental society clubs at undergrad is a big deal?
I don't fully know the scoring system for DAT but hopefully 23 is not too impossible

 

[I want to go to there]

I was going to shadow at some other dentist office, but I was also going to include that I've worked in the front desk at my moms office as well. Do you think being on board of pre-dental society clubs at undergrad is a big deal?
I don't fully know the scoring system for DAT but hopefully 23 is not too impossible

That's fine, there's a section where you can include jobs held. Not really. I think 23 is like 95+ percentile, it will be hard, but not impossible. Aim high, do your best, and see where you land.

 

[dentistry4lifee]

@I want to go to there Okay thanks!
There's also a free dental clinic near my area that I could volunteer at. I know dental school likes community service. Do you think it's better to volunteer there or somewhere else like homeless shelter (which is what I actually would rather do). Or does it not really matter

 

[I want to go to there]

@I want to go to there Okay thanks!
There's also a free clinic near my area that I could volunteer at. I know dental school likes community service. Do you think it's better to volunteer there or somewhere else like homeless shelter (which is what I actually would rather do). Or does it not really matter

They don't care that much about volunteering and you already have more than enough at 250 hours. Academics are the most important aspect of the application, so concentrate on the DAT. Shadow and get the letter you need while you are studying for the DAT. Don't shadow too much that it takes time away from your DAT, 100+ hour is what you need and you said that you already got that.

 

[RamsFan1991]

@RamsFan1991 thanks for the response!
Yes, I'm a CA resident, and I would really like to stay in CA for dental school. USC is just way too expensive so I'm really hoping for UCLA or UCSF.
So you think i SHOULD include helping at my mom's office? I don't understand why some people tell me to stay away from that.
and I'll definitely be shadowing a lot this summer and next year.
Do you think 21 is really safe enough? or should I aim for higher?

Hmm not sure why anyone would think that's bad, I think that would be something great to put down and say what you learned from your mom's office.
21 is top 90th percentile unless things have changed and with that GPA being able to get a 21+ would be plenty good enough for schools like UCLA and UCSF. I did notice though they tend to look for DAT scores in the 21-23 range depending on your GPA so if you don't exactly get something like a 23 that GPA will help offset it, but definitely try not to fall lower than 21 since it's UCLA and UCSF we're talking about.

 

[Loyoladentalman15]

They don't care that much about volunteering and you already have more than enough at 250 hours. Academics are the most important aspect of the application, so concentrate on the DAT. Shadow and get the letter you need while you are studying for the DAT. Don't shadow too much that it takes time away from your DAT, 100+ hour is what you need and you said that you already got that.

Weren't you involved in some other post about how volunteering wasn't important? I'm not saying that its the MOST important thing (grades are numero uno) but they do care. I have had deans and adcoms tell me they have rejected students for having too few volunteering activities despite top grades. But yes, you wont get into dental school with a 2.0 and 1000 volunteering hours.

 

[Loyoladentalman15]

To the OP, volunteer wherever you wish. Both are great and shows that you care. You are giving up your time to help better the lives of those around you. Like my father always says, "Whatever you do, pour your heart and soul into it. You won't regret it." A person is always worth more than their numbers on a sheet of paper.

Regarding shadowing, I highly suggest finding a dentist other than your mom. Adcoms prefer not to see family bias when reading letters. Also, we welcome you to the pre-dental community! Congrats on such a kick butt GPA! Wish mines was that high! 🙂

 

[I want to go to there]

Weren't you involved in some other post about how volunteering wasn't important? I'm not saying that its the MOST important thing (grades are numero uno) but they do care. I have had deans and adcoms tell me they have rejected students for having too few volunteering activities despite top grades. But yes, you wont get into dental school with a 2.0 and 1000 volunteering hours.

It's like one of the least important thing imo. If your time is limited, spending more time to get a better DAT, get good shadowing hours with GP/specialty, get leadership position, do research/publish, etc. would strengthen your app more than volunteering. My lack of volunteering wasn't a problem in my application, maybe it was because my application was strong in other areas.

Anyhow, OP already has 250 hours of volunteering, which is more than enough. For strengthening his/her application, OP's time is better spend on getting a high DAT score, good variety/hours of shadowing or a dental assisting job, and some EC in leadership position.

 

[andreadds]

Hi guys!

So I'm finishing off my 3rd year right now, and I've been a pre-med student this entire time. A week ago, I had an epiphany that I wanted to do dental! I don't know much about the application process though. Could you guys tell me where I can improve my application? My goal is to get into UCLA or UCSF. I really don't have much knowledge about what's considered "good" or "competitive", or what those two schools like.

My stats:
GPA: 3.9
3 years of neurobiology research (is it bad that it's not dental?)
250 hours of volunteering at a hospital
On board of a health-related club at undergrad

I still have to take the DAT. What's the range of scores that is safe for UCLA and UCSF?
Also, is one year of shadowing a dentist enough dental work? Should I try to do a dental internship or find some other dental opportunity?

Also, my mom's a dentist and has her own office. I've actually helped her out a lot in the office throughout the years. Should I write this or is it bad to write anything related to parents?

THANKS GUYS!

How did you JUST want to go dental?

 

[ultimateballer07]

That's fine, there's a section where you can include jobs held. Not really. I think 23 is like 95+ percentile, it will be hard, but not impossible. Aim high, do your best, and see where you land.

23 is 98-99th percentile. 22 is 95th percentile. @Lilly5555 i would say hit 21 and you're safe. I have a friend with a 3.9 and 21 and he got into Harvard.

 

[3rdgenDDS]

Probably because of her parents. Either way, thanks to Forbes every 3.9/4.0 undergrad who was pre-med their whole life is probably taking the DAT because now they "see the light."

Over/under 10% more applicants in this year's admissions cycle. I say over.

 

[darknightzzz]

Probably because of her parents. Either way, thanks to Forbes every 3.9/4.0 undergrad who was pre-med their whole life is probably taking the DAT because now they "see the light."

Over/under 10% more applicants in this year's admissions cycle. I say over.

may you please quote the source of your 10% more applicant this cycle?

I think it is up to everyone to decide whatever they want to do. They work hard to get 3.9 they can make a decision. It is not like they have 3.2 GPA and switch from premed to predent

 

[3rdgenDDS]

Ok, if anything it was a jab at Forbes - (and not the Op or anyone who works this so hard to get this far) - for putting up skewed numbers about how Dentistry is the "Number one profession" in their recent article.

And I derived my 10% from looking at expected increase in dental applicants plus the number of pre meds who will quickly realize that they won't want to go to school for 8+ years just to be a another salaried employee of a hospital

 

[dentistry4lifee]

Haha yeah I busted my butt off the last 3 years for the 3.9. Studied A LOT.

@andreadds well it wasn't a JUST thing. I've always thought about dentistry in the back of my mind (because I was exposed to it a lot by my mom). But for immature and wrong reasons, I went forward with pre-med for 3 years until the moment I signed up for an MCAT course and realized that I'm deciding what I want to do for the rest of my life. Family really matters to me, and I really want to be there for my kids as they grow up (probably because I was always sad as a kid that my parents couldn't attend school events or even drop/pick me up from school). So yeah, a big part of me is choosing dentistry over medical school for the "life". BUT that doesn't mean I don't like the work! I'll still be feeling the satisfaction of helping people in need and will be able to form relationships with my patients. I'll be able to hopefully do some missionary work in the future and set up free dental clinics around the world, if I have the means to. The only thing I'm worried about is the physical demanding aspect of it - sitting in a chair for many hours and crunched over. But hey, every job has its cons.
I'm still very sensitive about my switch so I would appreciate it if ya'll don't be quick to judge and discourage me 🙂 But I also appreciate constructive criticism, because it'll force me to think deeper about this!

I really hope I can get a good DAT score. I'm not even sure what materials to study from. Do most people take courses or self study?

Also, do you guys think it's better to volunteer at that free clinic I was talking about or try to get really involved in the pre-dental society club at school? There won't be enough time for me to get leadership position in that club unfortunately. If you guys have any other suggestions on extracurricular activities, please do share 🙂

 

[I want to go to there]

Haha yeah I busted my butt off the last 3 years for the 3.9. Studied A LOT.

@andreadds well it wasn't a JUST thing. I've always thought about dentistry in the back of my mind (because I was exposed to it a lot by my mom). But for immature and wrong reasons, I went forward with pre-med for 3 years until the moment I signed up for an MCAT course and realized that I'm deciding what I want to do for the rest of my life. Family really matters to me, and I really want to be there for my kids as they grow up (probably because I was always sad as a kid that my parents couldn't attend school events or even drop/pick me up from school). So yeah, a big part of me is choosing dentistry over medical school for the "life". BUT that doesn't mean I don't like the work! I'll still be feeling the satisfaction of helping people in need and will be able to form relationships with my patients. I'll be able to hopefully do some missionary work in the future and set up free dental clinics around the world, if I have the means to. The only thing I'm worried about is the physical demanding aspect of it - sitting in a chair for many hours and crunched over. But hey, every job has its cons.
I'm still very sensitive about my switch so I would appreciate it if ya'll don't be quick to judge and discourage me 🙂 But I also appreciate constructive criticism, because it'll force me to think deeper about this!

I really hope I can get a good DAT score. I'm not even sure what materials to study from. Do most people take courses or self study?

Also, do you guys think it's better to volunteer at that free clinic I was talking about or try to get really involved in the pre-dental society club at school? There won't be enough time for me to get leadership position in that club unfortunately. If you guys have any other suggestions on extracurricular activities, please do share 🙂

Leadership position doesn't need to be at a dental club. Any leadership position looks good and schools often ask you about leadership experience during interviews. I held leadership position at a large organization and I talked about my experience in most of my interviews(they bring it up or I brought it up) to a positive result. Ask your mom if she can find you a dental assistant job at other dental clinics and if she can't, work as a dental assistant at her clinic part time. Getting more EC/dental experience will help your app more than volunteering.

 

[dentistry4lifee]

Thanks @I want to go to there ! I'll try to see if I can get a dental assistant job. But don't I need some qualifications or license for that?

Also, is it true that dental schools count A+ into the gpa? And do psychology classes count as science or nonscience gpa? Sorry for the flood of questions, it's all new to me haha

 

[I want to go to there]

Thanks @I want to go to there ! I'll try to see if I can get a dental assistant job. But don't I need some qualifications or license for that?

Also, is it true that dental schools count A+ into the gpa? And do psychology classes count as science or nonscience gpa? Sorry for the flood of questions, it's all new to me haha

I don't think so, it might vary between states. Yes, 4.33 is max for schools with +/- system. 95% sure that it's science.

 

[strep mutans]

I don't think so, it might vary between states. Yes, 4.33 is max for schools with +/- system. 95% sure that it's science.

Psychology courses are Non Science, with the exception of Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, and Biopsychology, which can be listed as Biology courses.