Help please. What should I do?

[uclaDDS101]

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Hi, I'm pretty new to this forum, so I kind of just wanted to get on par with all this predent stuff. Basically, I'm a second year at UCLA, and I'm trying to figure out what extracurriculars I should do next year (before I apply) so that I can be a competitive applicant. You can go to my PreDents profile to see my current stats and ec's I've been involved in as of now. Essentially, I have the option to undertake one of the following endeavors:

• Research (I don't have this yet. But it is time-consuming)
• Mobile Clinic (They serve homeless people aroung LA. It's kind of premed-ish, and again it's time-consuming.)
• Child Health Mentor (They work at schools and community centers to talk to families about healthy living and safe choices. Again, a little time-consuming)
• Health and Fitness Program Coordinator (I would coordinate a program that sends undergrads to different elementary schools to teach fitness & nutrition classes. Maybe the most time-consuming)

Due to time-contraints, I can only undertake one of these options, while keeping all of my current activities. If anyone could provide me with some feedback or even nudge me in a certain direction, that would be really appreciated...

 

[y0ssarian]

WOW. That is a ridiculous amount of extracurriculars on your predent profile. Take the time you would spend on one of those things you listed, and spend it studying for the DATs instead. Since you've done so much stuff already, a crappy score would do much more to hinder your chances than not doing any of those other things you listed.

 

[Vicviper]

Wow, I've never seen that much EC on a Predents profile. I'm not even sure you'd be able to fit that many in AADSAS! Well, that's definitely not a bad position to be in.

I'd suggest doing research of those you listed. It seems that you've got plenty of volunteer helping those who need help on your EC's, and I felt that having research really made me stand out in combination with my DAT scores.

But yeah, y0ss had a good point, so be sure to be able to dedicate plenty of time to your DAT prep. From your GPA and your ECs, as long as you get at least 18-19 across the board you're golden.

Update: After looking again at your profile and being further blown away, I thought you said you were a Biomed Research minor, so do you or do you not have research, as above, you said you didn't. If you don't, DEFINITELY research.Also, be prepared to answer the question "Wow, you really have a ton of stuff listed under EC, since there were so many, how could you have spent time dedicated to all of them?" Kinda harsh, but you can probably expect that at an interview, so be ready.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Update: After looking again at your profile and being further blown away, I thought you said you were a Biomed Research minor, so do you or do you not have research, as above, you said you didn't. If you don't, DEFINITELY research.Also, be prepared to answer the question "Wow, you really have a ton of stuff listed under EC, since there were so many, how could you have spent time dedicated to all of them?" Kinda harsh, but you can probably expect that at an interview, so be ready.

Good Point

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

do research if you are not doing it already. For sure.

 

[uclaDDS101]

Wow, I've never seen that much EC on a Predents profile. I'm not even sure you'd be able to fit that many in AADSAS! Well, that's definitely not a bad position to be in.

I'd suggest doing research of those you listed. It seems that you've got plenty of volunteer helping those who need help on your EC's, and I felt that having research really made me stand out in combination with my DAT scores.

But yeah, y0ss had a good point, so be sure to be able to dedicate plenty of time to your DAT prep. From your GPA and your ECs, as long as you get at least 18-19 across the board you're golden.

Update: After looking again at your profile and being further blown away, I thought you said you were a Biomed Research minor, so do you or do you not have research, as above, you said you didn't. If you don't, DEFINITELY research.Also, be prepared to answer the question "Wow, you really have a ton of stuff listed under EC, since there were so many, how could you have spent time dedicated to all of them?" Kinda harsh, but you can probably expect that at an interview, so be ready.

Yeah, I currently have an application submitted for that minor. And that's actually the reason why I am asking this question (I want to know what to do if I can't get that minor.) But as of now, I have no research experience. However, do you guys think it will be worthwhile to pick up research so late in the game, considering that I'll only have 3 quarters of experience when I apply?

And to answer that potential interview question, someone can just take a look at my iPhone calendar. Every day is packed from about 6:30am to 8pm. It tells me where I have to be and when. So I make sure that I'm always fully dedicated to the things I do. It is really hard keeping up with everything, but luckily some things do not require a week by week effort. I only go on international trips twice a year. And I only work in OS in Orange,CA for one 10-hour day a month. So everything usually falls into place. (It just takes a lot of LA driving.)

 

[uclaDDS101]

Thanks for all of the feedback. I'll definitely try to get a research position within the next quarter or so.

From your GPA and your ECs, as long as you get at least 18-19 across the board you're golden.

Is this really the minimum I should be shooting for? If not, what DAT score do you guys think would suffice to complement my GPA and ECs??

 

[Andre3k]

Yeah, I currently have an application submitted for that minor. And that's actually the reason why I am asking this question (I want to know what to do if I can't get that minor.) But as of now, I have no research experience. However, do you guys think it will be worthwhile to pick up research so late in the game, considering that I'll only have 3 quarters of experience when I apply?

And to answer that potential interview question, someone can just take a look at my iPhone calendar. Every day is packed from about 6:30am to 8pm. It tells me where I have to be and when. So I make sure that I'm always fully dedicated to the things I do. It is really hard keeping up with everything, but luckily some things do not require a week by week effort. I only go on international trips twice a year. And I only work in OS in Orange,CA for one 10-hour day a month. So everything usually falls into place. (It just takes a lot of LA driving.)

Wow man I really wouldnt worry as much as you are. Since you have such a high GPA you can expect some where in the 20s on the DAT. Pretty sure you will be accepted everywhere if you kill the DAT.

Good GPA, Good ECs, Good Everything. Yes I think 3 quarters of research will be good enough.
Maybe you should take a break from some of that stuff dude you dont have to be superman to get into dental school.

You need somewhere in the 20s on the DAT since your GPA is so high. 19 is the average of those accepted.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Is this really the minimum I should be shooting for? If not, what DAT score do you guys think would suffice to complement my GPA and ECs??

Nope... you should be aiming for the best possible score... You have great GPA and extra curriculars, and if you score 18+ in your DAT it will cement your application and will seal the deal for ya in some schools.

Now, the reason I said you should aim for the best is because so far you have a "dream" application, and your DATs should not be lower than that. You have the chance of applying/getting accepted to all of the Ivey league schools. Not saying that you can't apply to them with a 17< DATs, but you will have a greater chance of getting interviews with higher DATs because theyll see that you are solid all around.

Just my opinion
Good Luck

 

[Vicviper]

From your GPA and your ECs, as long as you get at least 18-19 across the board you're golden.

What I meant by that was that as long as you don't get any bad DAT scores, and for the more competitive schools, 18-19 is the minimum for good, I wouldn't expect you not attending dental school after your first app cycle.

Also, I only had 2 quarters of research when I applied (Anteater here), but by the third quarter I had an abstract accepted for publishing, and all of my interviews really liked that I had copies of my updated stuff to give them, so it's not like after you apply you can't show them anything else. Now in my 5th quarter I'll be coauthoring another paper with my PI, so it really depends on how much you want to get into it, and also a lot on your PI.

 

[zorie]

Yeah, I currently have an application submitted for that minor. And that's actually the reason why I am asking this question (I want to know what to do if I can't get that minor.) But as of now, I have no research experience. However, do you guys think it will be worthwhile to pick up research so late in the game, considering that I'll only have 3 quarters of experience when I apply?

And to answer that potential interview question, someone can just take a look at my iPhone calendar. Every day is packed from about 6:30am to 8pm. It tells me where I have to be and when. So I make sure that I'm always fully dedicated to the things I do. It is really hard keeping up with everything, but luckily some things do not require a week by week effort. I only go on international trips twice a year. And I only work in OS in Orange,CA for one 10-hour day a month. So everything usually falls into place. (It just takes a lot of LA driving.)

Yes. It only takes a few weeks to get used to research and your project, and three quarters is plenty to draw some kinds of conclusions about your work. You don't have to make ground-breaking scientifically significant discoveries during research, just have put in some time and effort, and it's definitely a different environment and way of thinking when you're working in the lab. Since you've done so much volunteer type of work I think it's the best route. Just my two cents.

 

[uclaDDS101]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'll definitely keep on the lookout for research opportunities starting now (especially in the dental school).

However, I just found out tonight that I might be appointed Prez or VP for my pre-dent club for next year. So this would probably knock a huge chunk out of my schedule. If it turns out that I just won't have time to do meaningful and dedicated research, I hope that d-schools won't grill me to hard for not having the research accolades that they expect. Hopefully, they'll see that I'm really dedicated to some things, even though one is not research...

Anyways, thanks again for all the input.

 

[Frederico Albin]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'll definitely keep on the lookout for research opportunities starting now (especially in the dental school).

However, I just found out tonight that I might be appointed Prez or VP for my pre-dent club for next year. So this would probably knock a huge chunk out of my schedule. If it turns out that I just won't have time to do meaningful and dedicated research, I hope that d-schools won't grill me to hard for not having the research accolades that they expect. Hopefully, they'll see that I'm really dedicated to some things, even though one is not research...

Anyways, thanks again for all the input.

I wouldn't street too much about this research topic. Just focus on your DAT and youre golden.