How many schools are you applying to?

[DoeAdeer]

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How many schools are you applying to this year?

 

[premac]

12. I'm scared to click the submit button... I've been on the Checklist page for about 20 minutes.

 

[olive6]

14 - overkill? quite possibly. reviewed my app like 5 times for mistakes and it feels great to have it submitted!

 

[jeffity]

Overkill and not enough is dependent on how competitive you are.

For the last 2 cycles, the average number was 10.

 

[Seahawk]

5, possibly 4.

 

[DoeAdeer]

So it's all over the place, I see.

 

[dantemac]

Last year, I applied to 15 and got accepted to 7. My best friend applied to 8 and got accepted to 2. My other best friend applied to 30 and was only accepted to one.

Results may vary!

 

[2PacClone23]

20

 

[DoeAdeer]

Last year, I applied to 15 and got accepted to 7. My best friend applied to 8 and got accepted to 2. My other best friend applied to 30 and was only accepted to one.

Results may vary!

Do you mind sharing your best friends' stats?

 

[NguyenDDS]

🙂

 

[asdfray]

22 maybe bringing it down to 20

 

[dantemac]

My friend with 8 applications and 2 acceptances had around a 3.8 GPA and 20 DAT score. My other friend with 30 applications and 1 acceptance had around a 3.0 GPA and 20 DAT.

 

[DoeAdeer]

My friend with 8 applications and 2 acceptances had around a 3.8 GPA and 20 DAT score. My other friend with 30 applications and 1 acceptance had around a 3.0 GPA and 20 DAT.

Is Pitts one of them?

 

[Tangymoose]

20. Wish it was 19 though :/ Midwestern in Illinois has so many required classes that I don't have.

 

[larrys]

21 schools. i have average/above-average stats.

just too much of a wuss to cut out more schools 😛

 

[Cofo]

28 😳

Lol you would. Im only applying to 14, including the texas 3.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

28 😳

Nguyendds, I remember you. Are you kidding when you say 28? There's no way you should be applying to that many. I don't even think there are 28 that are OOS friendly.

Some of you guys are crazy. Unless you have below average stats, don't apply more then 20. The plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars on top of AADSAS and supplemental fees is going to kill you. Unless you're just rich.

 

[CedarZ4]

Nguyendds, I remember you. Are you kidding when you say 28? There's no way you should be applying to that many. I don't even think there are 28 that are OOS friendly.

I don't have the exact number, but private + OOS friendly schools total of about low 20s - 25 max.

However, in her defense (and I'm tempted to do the same... re-applicant from last cycle as well) just because they aren't OOS friendly doesn't mean you don't have a chance. You could be that 3-4 students that are accepted. Not to mention, you have an advantage (at most schools) as a re-applicant.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

You could be that 3-4 students that are accepted. Not to mention, you have an advantage (at most schools) as a re-applicant.

The 3-4 that would be accepted usually have some connection to the school, have parents who are alumni, or have exceptional applications. Am "average" applicant without anything eye popping isn't going to be one of those people who get in. I'm just saying....

 

[CedarZ4]

The 3-4 that would be accepted usually have some connection to the school, have parents who are alumni, or have exceptional applications. Am "average" applicant without anything eye popping isn't going to be one of those people who get in. I'm just saying....

While this may be true, but that fact that they do accept OOS means there is a possibility, whatever the slim-chance. If you're putting down a few thousands to apply, what's another $75 to reduce the chance of spending another few thousand next year again?

Not to mention, I'll bring up Puerto Rico. Accepts 100% Puerto Rico residents. However, every 4-5 years, they will accept 1 non-Puerto Rico resident. Chances? Very slim. Possible? Yes. For this reason, actually a decent amount of people apply from the US despite that fact that they have accepted 0 from the US in the past few cycles. Just saying. A chance is a chance. Call it stupidity, call it desperation. The fact is, there is a possibility and while it's not very high, it's not zero either. Best bang (chances) for your dollar? No. I'll give you that

 

[NguyenDDS]

 

[finchy86]

applying to 20. I have a low dat and decent GPA. I'll be retaking the DAT in July.

 

[dental555]

Damn I only have average stats and I'm applying to 8, didn't realize some people apply to so many. Isn't applying to 20 schools $1800? I guess if it's give you your best chance it's not a waste of money but man this can be an expensive process.

 

[anthonys]

Applying 21

Low undergrad GPA / High Graduate GPA / Right above average DAT

I am Virginia res. do you think I have shot to UNC, Michigan, Louisville, Buffalo, Kentucky? 😕

 

[Msmouth]

Just 2 schools, 1 is my state school.

Married with kids, husband has a stable job.....can't sell house, etc etc. I'm also taking DAT 8/31. I hope my experience and killer GPA in the past 2 years, gets me in.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Applying 21

Low undergrad GPA / High Graduate GPA / Right above average DAT

I am Virginia res. do you think I have shot to UNC, Michigan, Louisville, Buffalo, Kentucky? 😕

UNC - not likely
Michigan - maybe
Lousiville - maybe
Buffalo - not likely
Kentucky - not likely

Just my opinion.

But I decided to pick and choose schools that enroll at least 30% of OOS 🙂 🙂 🙂

Good idea. But you have to factor in regional biases for your choices too.....

 

[dantemac]

Your best chances on that list are Michigan and Lousiville and possibly Buffalo.

 

[scsc7211]

Currently sitting at 8 schools

 

[FutureDrM]

I'm at 16... So far. But I have a terrible GPA from ten years ago that keeps kicking my a**! So I might add a couple more to be safe. I'm a reapplicant and will be taking the DAT again in a week.

 

[GoBlue24]

Applying to 20 + Harvard... so I can put it on my resume if I get an interview. Damn straight.

 

[DoeAdeer]

Is anyone applying to only one school?

 

[sacapuntas]

Is anyone applying to only one school?

I know someone that did last cycle and they got in to that 1 school. The school was impressed that he wanted to go there so badly.

 

[Bereno]

Is anyone applying to only one school?

I have also seem someone only apply to 1 school, however they were rejected because (so I am told) that they were not taking their dental education seriously by only applying to 1 school... 😕

 

[sacapuntas]

I have also seem someone only apply to 1 school, however they were rejected because (so I am told) that they were not taking their dental education seriously by only applying to 1 school... 😕

I have heard the same thing...depends on the school I guess. Very risky, no doubt. But, sometimes life dictates applying to only 1 school.

 

[Seahawk]

I have also seem someone only apply to 1 school, however they were rejected because (so I am told) that they were not taking their dental education seriously by only applying to 1 school... 😕

They tend to stand by some form of the statement of "The bigger picture should be you wanting to be a dentist, not you wanting to go to x"

I have been advised directly by adcoms to apply to more than one.

 

[DoeAdeer]

Some adcoms really do look for reasons to reject applicants, no matter how minute they may be, don't they?

 

[GoBlue24]

They tend to stand by some form of the statement of "The bigger picture should be you wanting to be a dentist, not you wanting to go to x"

I have been advised directly by adcoms to apply to more than one.

It makes sense. To apply to only one even with amazing stats is plain dumb and risky. Your chances might be high but no one is ever guaranteed acceptance to any school so risking that decision and then possibly having to wait an entire year to reapply (meaning more money and an entire year wasted in further advancing your dental career) when it could have easily been prevented just shows you're not taking it seriously. Plus, it's not a good trait to have as a future dentist.

That being said, if you have some sort of major obligation that requires you to apply to only instate schools or schools close by then maybe that's reasonable (to the adcom).

 

[Bereno]

They tend to stand by some form of the statement of "The bigger picture should be you wanting to be a dentist, not you wanting to go to x"

I have been advised directly by adcoms to apply to more than one.

Seemingly. haha

 

[dantemac]

Applying to ONE dental school is risky. Take the shotgun approach and shoot everywhere and hope you hit something.

 

[chippy]

don't just shoot everywhere, hoping you will hit something. if you've gotten this far, you are obviously a fairly intelligent individual. you should be able to gauge (from your GPA, DAT scores, experience, and inherent knowledge of your own social skills and interviewing ability) how likely you are to gain acceptance. if you have a 3.9 GPA and a 21+ on your DAT and can string words together coherently, obviously you do not need to apply to 20 schools, or even 10. you will probably be more than fine with 4 or 5. (coming from personal experience). don't be stupid and throw thousands of dollars at schools that you have no desire to attend, and schools that obviously are not going to accept you.

this process should not be a gamble, but it should also not be a crapshoot. best of luck to you all.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

don't be stupid and throw thousands of dollars at schools that you have no desire to attend, and schools that obviously are not going to accept you.

He speaks the truth 👍

Its funny how later we get threads about "I got into X school but I don't really want to go there. Should I reapply?"

 

[tayloreve]

Applying to 20 + Harvard... so I can put it on my resume if I get an interview. Damn straight.

this made me lol.

I wonder if anyone has ever applied to every single dental school in the US...hmmm

 

[dental555]

I have a 3.49 oGPA and 3.45 sGPA, good extra currics/shadowing/volunteer, and haven't taken my DAT yet but have been scoring in the 19-20 range on my practice tests so far. Assuming I get about that, am I applying to too few schools by only applying to 7? With supplemental fees and everything I feel like you all must be extremely well off to be applying to 20+ schools. I really only financially planned to apply to about 7 but now I'm worried, I'd hate the reason for me not to get in be because I applied to too few schools. Of the 7 I'm applying to one is my instate school and the rest are OOS friendly schools with relatively low stats like Temple, Tufts, NYU. I'm not even sure if I could round up enough money to apply to more schools, but should I try?

 

[dantemac]

I didn't mean shotgun approach like stupidly applying everywhere. Use a tricked out shotgun like Call of Duty. Shoot to where you think you'll hit 😉

Better analogy?

 

[MOUTHLOVER]

most people here in the can seem to only apply to one school, because if you are out of province your chances are extremely small!