Gap year/application advice?

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predent446

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Hello! I am looking to apply next cycle and want some input on how I can improve my application in the next year. I am suuuper anxious and already taking a gap year, and I really want to only take one. Here are my current stats:
Date of submission: June or July 2025 (hopefully)
Overall GPA: 3.7
Science GPA: 3.65
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.64
DAT score:
AA: 24
TS: 23
Bio: 30
GC: 20
OC: 25
PAT: 20
RC: 25
QR: 22
State of Residence: Idaho, no dental school
Major: Biology
Minor: Buisness
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: currently 60 with 3 different general dentists, planning to get over 100 by the time I apply
Volunteering Experience: Currently 70 hours
- actively volunteering 3 hours a week at a hospital and will continue to throughout the school year
- once annual dental clinic volunteer
Employment:
- full time restaurant employee summer 2023
- TA 10 hours a week for two semesters
Research: none :/
Other Extracurriculars:
- vice president of women in stem club
- pre-dental club
- biology honors society, mentor
- vice president of large sorority
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools?
- No, don’t know how to get involved, any advice greatly appreciated!
Relevant Honors or Awards: Deans list 4 semesters
LOR type and strength: N/A
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
- upward trend of GPA, 4.00 last year taking rigorous science courses

Schools I’m interested in, in no particular order:
  1. penn
  2. Pitt
  3. LECOM
  4. temple
  5. Columbia
  6. nyu
  7. Rutgers
  8. stony brook
  9. Maryland u
  10. Tufts
Please let me know what I could improve or if there are any red flags/glaring gaps in my current stats, or if any of the above schools are super out of my reach (I figure the ivys are a stretch). I’d also love input on what I should focus on during my gap year :)
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predent446 said:
Hello! I am looking to apply next cycle and want some input on how I can improve my application in the next year. I am suuuper anxious and already taking a gap year, and I really want to only take one. Here are my current stats:
Date of submission: June or July 2025 (hopefully)
Overall GPA: 3.7
Science GPA: 3.65
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.64
DAT score:
AA: 24
TS: 23
Bio: 30
GC: 20
OC: 25
PAT: 20
RC: 25
QR: 22
State of Residence: Idaho, no dental school
Major: Biology
Minor: Buisness
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: currently 60 with 3 different general dentists, planning to get over 100 by the time I apply
Volunteering Experience: Currently 70 hours
- actively volunteering 3 hours a week at a hospital and will continue to throughout the school year
- once annual dental clinic volunteer
Employment:
- full time restaurant employee summer 2023
- TA 10 hours a week for two semesters
Research: none :/
Other Extracurriculars:
- vice president of women in stem club
- pre-dental club
- biology honors society, mentor
- vice president of large sorority
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools?
- No, don’t know how to get involved, any advice greatly appreciated!
Relevant Honors or Awards: Deans list 4 semesters
LOR type and strength: N/A
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
- upward trend of GPA, 4.00 last year taking rigorous science courses

Schools I’m interested in, in no particular order:
  1. penn
  2. Pitt
  3. LECOM
  4. temple
  5. Columbia
  6. nyu
  7. Rutgers
  8. stony brook
  9. Maryland u
  10. Tufts
Please let me know what I could improve or if there are any red flags/glaring gaps in my current stats, or if any of the above schools are super out of my reach (I figure the ivys are a stretch). I’d also love input on what I should focus on during my gap year :)
Click to expand...
why are you super anxious? your app looks great...
 
Sharing your state of residence helps. I'm intrigued why you listed your schools as mostly out along the East Coast rather than pick West Coast area schools.

I believe Idaho residents still benefit from WWAMI (for medical school), so your "in-state" would be UWashington (again, probably for medical school, but it's worth asking their dental school or seeing the DSE entry). I think Creighton could consider Idaho applicants as if they were "in state"; see Overview . Network to confirm if it applies to you.
 
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Mr.Smile12 said:
Sharing your state of residence helps. I'm intrigued why you listed your schools as mostly out along the East Coast rather than pick West Coast area schools.

I believe Idaho residents still benefit from WWAMI (for medical school), so your "in-state" would be UWashington (again, probably for medical school, but it's worth asking their dental school or seeing the DSE entry). I think Creighton could consider Idaho applicants as if they were "in state"; see Overview . Network to confirm if it applies to you.
Click to expand...
i'd prefer to know at least what state you attended undergraduate in

and i concur with msmiles about the geographical intrigue...
 
predent446 said:
Maybe a bit of imposter syndrome lol… dat score is really new so that’s still sinking in a bit too. Thank you for the response :)
Click to expand...
you need to chill
it's gonna be a long struggle for you if you don't

your gpa is above the matriculant average (3.55) and your DAT is well above the matriculant average (20.5- and your scores are in the mid-90s percentile!)

trust the process...
 
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