help with school choice

[swolf]

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Hello everyone,
Ok, so I am writing this thread with much anxiety about being ripped up for posting an annoying thread. So be gentle, I will make it as short as possible. I'm a long time reader, first time poster. I admire and appreciate everyone's awsome advise.
I am writing to get advise on which dental schools I should apply to so that (given my stats) I don't overlook an important one, or apply to a pointless one. Yes, I am applying to dental school without my degree. I think I might be looked down upon, but why wait if I COULD get in now!? If I get killed by the DAT and not kill the DAT, like i'm planning....., then I'll get my degree. I want to apply to 8-10 schools.

DAT = August 04, I plan on killing it

School = Community College pre-req. ASU currently
Sci GPA = 3.6
Cumm. GPA = 3.2

Good volunteer experience, no research

Thanks for taking a look! I'm in the process of applying so don't hesitate to respond. Sorry for the spelling mistakes, I don't see a spell check anywhere. 🙂

 

[jes1ca]

Hey swolf,

Don't stress too much. It looks like you have good stats if you get a decent DAT score. Remember that, in general, the people on this board have higher stats than the average applicant.

Are you an Arizona state resident? You almost always have priority with your in-state school and would recommend applying to it. I would also recommond applying to some private schools like Tufts, 👍 Nova 👍 , NYU, BU, Temple, etc.

Jessica

 

[KrebsPsycho]

UNLV also. Not so far away from your hometown.

 

[ecdoesit]

have u considered arizona? since it is ur hood.
they have an awesome program.

would u like to stay in the west coast? or try something new at the west coast?
for west coast, i would apply to Colorado, UNLV, AZ, USC, LLU iff u r religous.
For east coast, i would wait to make suggestion, but definitely Nova and Penn.

Please ,tell us if u want to specialize, gp, and what do u plan to do after graduation?

 

[swolf]

thanks for your replies to my post. It has really helped a lot. To answer the question, i don't care if I go east or west. Preferable west, but I'll go where ever I'm accepted.

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

If you want complete honesty, (or even if you don't) I think you're cum. GPA is kinda weak to apply without a degree, but if you have the money go for it. There is always a chance. Even though I finished my degree in three years, looking back, I wish I had applied a year earlier too. 🙂

 

[PERFECT3435]

sorry Dr. spongebob, but i don't think that his gpa is bad at all.
i think that the OP will have an excellent chance of getting multiple acceptances if he/she gets 19+ across the board on the DAT. his sci gpa is awesome and a cum gpa 3.2 sci 3.6 and 19's all the waya across is good enough.

the only set back may be that he won't have his degree.
if i were the OP, i'd take the DAT ASAP and if i do well, then i'd apply to 5-8 schools that i like. i'd do that without any hesitation.

 

[swolf]

ya, I know my cum. GPA is fairly low. I was aimless for a while in my early college years so my GPA wasn't a priority like it should have been. I'm hoping that the D schools will see that once I made the (right) choice to follow the dental path, my grades skyrocketed. I agree that it will come down to my DAT scores as far as getting interviews and ultimately acceptances.

 

[blumnday99]

decent DAT score

What counts a decent DAT score? I've got almost the same GPA and am in just about the same location and will be applying after I take the DAT in July / August. Just curious. I got my BS in microbiology from UCSB. I was thinking of applying to USC, UOP, and Arizona for sure. I've done two years of volunteer experience and research during the summer.

Mark

 

[PERFECT3435]

i really think that you'll both be OK with your gpa's as long as you score 19's or up on your DATs.

good luck to both

 

[Col Sanders]

Apply Early, Apply Early, Apply Early!!!!!!! I applied without a degree and it was the best thing I could have done but the key will be, to be one of the first applicants to interview, this increases your chances tremendously. I dont regret applying early, however this past year when I went to apply for the MBA program too (UNLV offers a dual degree DMD/MBA), the business school held firm on their prereq of a bachelors to be in the program and I was denied. I never planned on getting an MBA really anyway, I just thought since they offer it I might as well do it. It doesnt change the fact that I will still be a dentist. I was told I can reapply for the MBA after I graduate in 06 with my DMD. I still may do that.