How many schools should I apply? non-trad applicant

[Qtn2x]

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Hi everyone
I am a non-traditional applicant, have been out of schools for too long. I am currently going back, will be in a post-bacc program next year. I think the general consensus is that if you have average DAT and GPA, you should apply broad, to as many schools as you can afford to increase you chance correct? What about when you have a bit more decent DAT and GPA? Money is the biggest concern for me. I had to pay the tuition for last semester out of pocket, and will be in a post-bacc program that costs 30k to attend. Needless to say, I don't want to drop tons of money in dental school application. My goal is to get into my state school or school that is closed by home (VCU, Howard, Maryland). Should I risk applying to only 3 schools? My gpa is 3.8 (10 years ago). I went back to school last semester, got 4.0 and will be in a post bac and also aiming for 4.0). My DAT is 23/24/19. I have been out of school and have been working full time so I don't have that many shadowing/community service or anything like that. I have had 80 hours of shadowing and will be shadowing some more.

 

[gn4]

why are you doing a postbacc with those high DAT scores and high GPA? Did you not have the pre-reqs in undergrad?

 

[sjv]

I think you should apply to more than 3 but for sure less than 10, I would be very surprised if you were not accepted with those stats.

 

[Qtn2x]

why are you doing a postbacc with those high DAT scores and high GPA? Did you not have the pre-reqs in undergrad?

Hi, I am doing post-bacc because I have been out of school for so long so I need to show recent coursework to prove that I am still academically capable. The dean at VCU told me to get back to school taking graduate courses instead of re-taking a whole bunch of undergraduate classes (I took all the classes recommended for dental schools while I was an undergraduate like biochem, human anatomy n physiology, immunology, embryology, histology and got As in them so he told me I shouldn't retake...). I prefer to retake undergraduate courses instead of having to do post-bacc because it is a much cheaper route, but then since the dean at VCU recommended post-bacc, I had to do post-bacc.

 

[Qtn2x]

I think you should apply to more than 3 but for sure less than 10, I would be very surprised if you were not accepted with those stats.

If I do apply for more than 3, what other schools do you think I should apply? I really just want to go to schools that are closed by to home and am really not interested in any other schools. That's why I haven't done much research on schools.

 

[LaughingGas]

I mean you have amazing stats so you can choose few more schools as a back up, since this process doesn't promise anything.

I would add 3~5 .

 

[Illfavor]

We are pretty similar applicants. I went with 5 school (4 legit 1 backup).

 

[sjv]

If I do apply for more than 3, what other schools do you think I should apply? I really just want to go to schools that are closed by to home and am really not interested in any other schools. That's why I haven't done much research on schools.

UNC, Temple, UPenn?

A little further: Pitt, NYU, Columbia, Stony Brook?

You have great stats but I understand if you don't want to pay next level tuition....

 

[Qtn2x]

We are pretty similar applicants. I went with 5 school (4 legit 1 backup).

You are also a non-traditional applicant? We are similar applicants but have much better stat than me. Between the two of us, they will probably pick you over me. Are you applying to schools in the east coast as well? By the way, which one is your back up school?
Oh, if you don't mind me asking, do you have a lot of rewards, volunteer experiences...? I am a non-traditional so I don't have a lot of those experiences so I am a bit concerned.

 

[Qtn2x]

UNC, Temple, UPenn?

A little further: Pitt, NYU, Columbia, Stony Brook?

You have great stats but I understand if you don't want to pay next level tuition....

true I don't want to have a 300k debt out of dental school. I am a female in her early 30s. I don't have all the time in the world to repay huge amount of debt or have an option of going for the military scholarship. If I were in my 20s, then I wouldn't mind going to more expensive school knowing I have all the time in my 20s to repay my debt.

 

[Qtn2x]

Thanks everyone for your input. Here are the schools I am applying:
VCU, Howard (not my back up school, I actually seriously consider going to Howard since it is so close to home. However, I heard terrible thing about the school though), Maryland, Temple, Pittsburg, UPenn, and Columbia (do I have a shot?)

 

[periopocket]

true I don't want to have a 300k debt out of dental school. I am a female in her early 30s. I don't have all the time in the world to repay huge amount of debt or have an option of going for the military scholarship. If I were in my 20s, then I wouldn't mind going to more expensive school knowing I have all the time in my 20s to repay my debt.

Expect close to 300k even if you get into your state school this day. Unless your from Texas. The other private schools you mentioned will be up to 450k total by the time you get in and out. Gl

 

[Qtn2x]

Expect close to 300k even if you get into your state school this day. Unless your from Texas. The other private schools you mentioned will be up to 450k total by the time you get in and out. Gl

Not quite, if i got accepted into my state school, I will owe 200k only including room and board.