What is a reasonable number of dental schools to apply to?
How do schools receive your DAT scores?
How do schools receive your DAT scores?
How many schools should you apply to?
- Thread starter Kef318
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depends on your stats. But with a 3.5 and 19-20 AA, 8-10 schools should be enough.
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Depends on your numbers. If you want to be safe and are average to above average, I'd say 10 (within your reach) schools is good.
10 applied > 5 Interviews > 4 Acceptances & 1 withdraw before action.
I spent over $5K for this cycle. Luckily I paid >90% of that with fellowship money. If you're strapped for cash, it's best if you take out more loan money from your Junior year to fund the application fees/plane tickets/hotel.
10 applied > 5 Interviews > 4 Acceptances & 1 withdraw before action.
I spent over $5K for this cycle. Luckily I paid >90% of that with fellowship money. If you're strapped for cash, it's best if you take out more loan money from your Junior year to fund the application fees/plane tickets/hotel.
Thanks for all the replies. I'm not finishing my 2nd year and haven't even taken the DAT yet. I'm just trying to get some ideas.
How do schools get your DAT scores? Do you send them to all schools, or just those that you intend on applying to.
How do schools get your DAT scores? Do you send them to all schools, or just those that you intend on applying to.
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Just the ones you paid for in AADSAS fees.
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When you register for the DAT, you can choose which schools to send them too. It's free, so you might as well check them all. Adding a school after the fact will cost money.
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I did select all the schools on the list when I took my exam, but I don't know why anyone wouldn't do that. Are there any ramifications from doing so?
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I think it depends on what schools you are aiming for. If they are all reach schools, you should probably apply to more but I'm planning on applying to roughly 14 schools with 3 safety schools just in case i blow the interview.
Think about it...a grand more can be the deciding factor on whether or not you waste a WHOLE year.
Think about it...a grand more can be the deciding factor on whether or not you waste a WHOLE year.
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You better have a pretty damn good application to think any school is a safety school.
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It depends on you as a WHOLE - Not just your stats (of course higher stats help but isn't a determiner).
Since you're still young and working up to the DAT I would say get as involved in your pre-dental club as possible. This will help you meet people in the same field, help you with volunteering hours, will put you into contact with dentists, and possibly get you leadership positions. Next, make sure you are shadowing a dentist REGULARLY - at least a couple hours a week (UF asks interviewees how to perform a certain procedure - how else would you know unless you have seen it a thousand times). Not only will shadowing help you see what it is like to be a dentist, you can interact with patients and other employees, gain a good friendship with the dentist who will probably write you letters of recommendation, and learn how to balance life with work and school.
I know this is a lot but I think students out there think getting into dental school is all about stats when it is NOT. A lot of schools want to see that you are a kind, caring person who really wants to help the community.
With that being said - I applied to 2 schools (2/3 instate schools) - and I got into 1. I didn't have a stellar DAT due to personal issues but they looked past that due to all my extracurriculars.
Don't feel like you have to apply to 10 or more schools just to get in. Look at their requirements, look at the location, look at the percentage of out of state, look at the clinics they use, look at the passing of the boards. Compare yourself with each school and see which school you fit in best with. I always heard put 1 easy school in your list that you know you can get into and 1 reach school - with all the others being in between.
On average the pre-dental student applies to 10 schools - BUT why waste that money if you feel like you would fit right in with 2 or 4 or 8....Don't waste your money ---- Just my 0.02
😀
Since you're still young and working up to the DAT I would say get as involved in your pre-dental club as possible. This will help you meet people in the same field, help you with volunteering hours, will put you into contact with dentists, and possibly get you leadership positions. Next, make sure you are shadowing a dentist REGULARLY - at least a couple hours a week (UF asks interviewees how to perform a certain procedure - how else would you know unless you have seen it a thousand times). Not only will shadowing help you see what it is like to be a dentist, you can interact with patients and other employees, gain a good friendship with the dentist who will probably write you letters of recommendation, and learn how to balance life with work and school.
I know this is a lot but I think students out there think getting into dental school is all about stats when it is NOT. A lot of schools want to see that you are a kind, caring person who really wants to help the community.
With that being said - I applied to 2 schools (2/3 instate schools) - and I got into 1. I didn't have a stellar DAT due to personal issues but they looked past that due to all my extracurriculars.
Don't feel like you have to apply to 10 or more schools just to get in. Look at their requirements, look at the location, look at the percentage of out of state, look at the clinics they use, look at the passing of the boards. Compare yourself with each school and see which school you fit in best with. I always heard put 1 easy school in your list that you know you can get into and 1 reach school - with all the others being in between.
On average the pre-dental student applies to 10 schools - BUT why waste that money if you feel like you would fit right in with 2 or 4 or 8....Don't waste your money ---- Just my 0.02
😀
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I agree! I applied to three schools and was accepted to my top choice. I didnt have the best Gpa or Dat scores, but I was involved in several extracurricular activities. I would also suggest buying the Adea 2013 Guide to Dental Schools. It is well worth the investment and can save you several hundred dollars.
HAHA! It always kills me when people mention their safety schools. I know a person with a 3.9 and a 22+ in every section that had four "safety schools." He is waitlisted at one of his non-safety schools and has not heard from any of the other 10 schools. Applied in July.
As far as I'm concerned, all schools are "reach schools"
I applied to 13, got 6 interview offers (turned down 1), and got accepted at 3 schools/ 2 wait lists
I had a 20AA/19TS 3.7 gpa
My boyfriend also applied to 13 and he had a 3.5gpa 23AA/25TS haha
So just because you have really good stats doesn't mean you should try to cover all your bases. Because applying to more schools this cycle is still cheaper than reapplying
I had a 20AA/19TS 3.7 gpa
My boyfriend also applied to 13 and he had a 3.5gpa 23AA/25TS haha
So just because you have really good stats doesn't mean you should try to cover all your bases. Because applying to more schools this cycle is still cheaper than reapplying
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Haha, I was wondering when you were going to chime in. I did 21.
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20 🙂
