Help with school list? and my chances?

[dck8511]

Hi, everyone hope everyone is having a great holiday season!
I plan to apply next cycle and I would love to hear some advice on schools list and my chances in general.
Here are my stats.
cGPA: 3.42 sGPA: 3.35
DAT: 21
My GPA is not so great but I have an uprising trend. My GPA averaged around 3.1-3.2 the first 2 years and then averaged around 3.6-3.7 the last 2 years.
Major: Neuroscience and Biology
Minor: Philosophy
ECs:
Leadership positions in 2 clubs for 4 semesters
School ambassador/Tour guide for 3 semesters
Working with kids with Autism for 3 semesters (volunteer work)
School Newspaper writer and photographer for 3 semesters
Refugee organization volunteer work for 2 years
Bench Research experience at a Neurophysiology lab for 200+ hours (research assistant)
Volunteer at a local hospital for 100+ hours
Shadowing a dentist ~30 hours
My state of residence is MA. I want to apply to schools in NY and CA. I'm really hoping to go to CA but I heard they don't really accept OOS students.

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[artist2022]

Based on stats alone, I would say it would be tough to get into one of the CA public schools, but you have a shot at the privates here. But, looking at your entire app, you definitely need way more shadowing hours. You have lots of volunteering hours at a hospital, but schools may see this as you having been pre-med but suddenly turned pre-dent. I would get your shadowing hours to be 100+, and probably do some dental-related volunteering, like at a community clinic.

I don't know too much about the NY schools, but definitely add schools like LECOM, Case, etc on your list cause I think your chances are pretty good there. If you're an URM, you can add Meharry and Howard too.

Good luck

 

[dck8511]

I guess I'll try my shot at USC and Western University in Cali haha I dont know any other private dental schools there
And yes, I'll try to up my shadowing hours. Thank you!!! Btw, how does shadowing an oral surgeon look on dental apps?
Also, I'm kind of worried that I won't get in anywhere because when I look up the acceptance statistics for dental schools, lot of them have 4-7% which really discourages me. With stats I have above and solid app, will I get in somewhere, assuming I apply broadly? I live in MA and I plan to apply Tufts, Boston U, and Harvard.
Thanks for all your help!

 

[coldicecream]

yeah definitely get more shadowing hours. The majority should be general dentistry though since that's what dental school is initially preparing you for.
Try applying to Colorado, Louisville, and others schools that are OOS friendly. I think their class is almost 50% OOS.

 

[artist2022]

I guess I'll try my shot at USC and Western University in Cali haha I dont know any other private dental schools there
And yes, I'll try to up my shadowing hours. Thank you!!! Btw, how does shadowing an oral surgeon look on dental apps?
Also, I'm kind of worried that I won't get in anywhere because when I look up the acceptance statistics for dental schools, lot of them have 4-7% which really discourages me. With stats I have above and solid app, will I get in somewhere, assuming I apply broadly? I live in MA and I plan to apply Tufts, Boston U, and Harvard.
Thanks for all your help!

- LLU and UoP are the other two private schools here
- Oral Surgeons are specialists but dental schools usually prefer to see hours from shadowing a GP. So, the majority of your hours should be GP and not the OS.
- It's really competitive to get into schools, and no one can tell you for sure whether or not you'll get in. You can only improve your chances and hope for the best.
- I personally wouldn't apply to Harvard with your stats, but would instead use that application money for another school. I think your chances are slim there, but that's just my opinion.

 

[dck8511]

- LLU and UoP are the other two private schools here
- Oral Surgeons are specialists but dental schools usually prefer to see hours from shadowing a GP. So, the majority of your hours should be GP and not the OS.
- It's really competitive to get into schools, and no one can tell you for sure whether or not you'll get in. You can only improve your chances and hope for the best.
- I personally wouldn't apply to Harvard with your stats, but would instead use that application money for another school. I think your chances are slim there, but that's just my opinion.

Hi, so sorry for getting back to you so late. I had some questions but then I completely forgot about it cuz of traveling for the holidays haha
Is increasing shadowing hours only thing I can do right now to improve my chances of getting in?
Also, I have around 100 hours volunteering at a rehab hospital (visiting patients) from being part of health-related club on campus. Is it okay to put this on the application? Im not sure if this is something to be frowned upon from dental schools' view. It was just talking to the patients, entertaining them, helping them going out for walk and stuff.

 

[DSchoolorBust202X]

Hi, so sorry for getting back to you so late. I had some questions but then I completely forgot about it cuz of traveling for the holidays haha
Is increasing shadowing hours only thing I can do right now to improve my chances of getting in?
Also, I have around 100 hours volunteering at a rehab hospital (visiting patients) from being part of health-related club on campus. Is it okay to put this on the application? Im not sure if this is something to be frowned upon from dental schools' view. It was just talking to the patients, entertaining them, helping them going out for walk and stuff.

That volunteering experience is very important to put down. Though it’s not dental related, all your experiences don’t have to be, and I think it shows that you will be able to comfort patients in practice. It also shows you have people skills and are empathetic, which is invaluable. Definitely put it on your application, and be prepared to talk about it in interviews