How to improve application for next year?

[Theo]

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I'd like to start this thread to try and get some input from some of you 2nd or 3rd timers who have been accepted on how you improved from your previous failed attempts at getting in. Any and all suggestions would be helpful to me and many other people in here!! Thanks

 

[icechewer]

Retake the DAT needed. It also seems like people with lower GPAs get in by having work experience, especially in a dental office. Anybody else have suggestions?

Good luck. And remember, it's only December!

 

[Nomar]

Volunteer activities always help ie big brothers/sister that sort of thing.

 

[berg1373]

-Retook the DAT
-Job doing research
-Completed my undergraduate degree

 

[Lopyswine]

-worked as a dental assistant
-got a MS
-do amazing on DAT
-volunteer

 

[Hoprod3]

Did really well in my MS program. Shadowed and volunteered in multiple dental offices - General, ortho, perio, oral surgery... Retook DAT. Got involved in research.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

-worked as a dental assistant
-got a MS
-do amazing on DAT
-volunteer

is it possible to find a job in dental clinic without any dental related degree or experience? I have tired doing that...went to multiple clinics near my house, left my resume there, but not a single place called me back. This was about a yr and half ago. Plus no one wants to hire a part time in a dental clinic and I am still finishing up my bachelors. I would love to work as an assistant or even as a receptionist would be fine, but it seems impossible without a degree. I am thinking of doing masters if i dont get accepted anywhere else....and may be research - oh and ofcourse retake DAT!!!!!

 

[CaliGirl15]

I had decent DAT's scores and a good GPA...so I just needed experience. I got a job interning at an office getting to do basic chairside work once a week. I also got a job as a receptionist in another office 5days a week. I asked friends and family and they hooked me up with friends who were dentists. Ask the people you know, you might be surprised at the connections you can make. "It's all about who you know, not what you know" according to many people. Best of luck! The second time around isn't so bad.

 

[Lopyswine]

well I started to shadow a dentist. after coming for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 months, he began to train me. After a few months, he offered me a job. A year later I am a full expanded function assistant doing class I-V restorations....

so just get your foot in the door and don't leave till they hire you.

 

[DrSmiles12]

I am no expert on this subject, but this is my two cents. I believe that a good DAT and GPA will get you in. Once you have that the rest should fall into place easily. Of course you need good extra curics and shadowing etc to show an honest commitment. If your GPA is lower than you DAT seems to need to be a lot higher to compansate, or you can have an average DAT (17,18) and a 4.0. From previous posts and things I have seen it seems to me that d-school like to see that if an applicant didn't get in their 1st year and try again their 2nd time, that the 2nd time they show a significant change on their application. Whether that be a better GPA, DAT, more shadowing, serivce, research etc, I don't know.

Theo tell us more about you DAT breakdown and GPA so these folks that have reapplied and have been sucessful can tell us what they have done and would suggest for you. Best wishes, hang in there!

 

[mooredge]

This is what i did from my previous application which led to my acceptance this year.

1) Retook the DAT

2) Continued working full-time for a bio-tech company and was promoted to a research associate II.

3) A lot of volunteer work in dental clinics

4) Took some random classes at the local community college to raise my cum. GPA that is reported on AADSAS.

If you can't find work in dental clinics i would recommend trying to find any kind of job in a dental office. Any type of dental experience you have is better than none and the more you have, the more the adcoms will recognize your desire to become a dentist.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

well I started to shadow a dentist. after coming for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 4 months, he began to train me. After a few months, he offered me a job. A year later I am a full expanded function assistant doing class I-V restorations....

so just get your foot in the door and don't leave till they hire you.

yea the dentist that i shadowed for like 100 hours offered me job as a receptionist as but since i take 5 heavy sciences i can barely work like 3 days a week....so he found another receptionist 🙁 and i asked him to let me know if any of ur dentist friends need receptionist and he is like every1 wants a full time...not a part time. suckss!!!

 

[jdoc04]

1. Went back to school to raise gpa and continue an upward trend. adcom's like to see high grades for a long period of time
2. Retook the DAT, aim for consistency across the board, 20's look really good
3. Volunteer work, mission trips (dental related), experience in a dental office
4. Job in research (came up in all my interviews)
5. Get good LOR's (profs that really know you, especially how much you want to become a dentist)
6. Write a GREAT personal essay. Look at as if this is the only chance they will have to get to know you. I started on mine over Christmas break last year.
7. Apply EARLY this may be the most important factor that gets over looked time and time again (MAY)


Good Luck

 

[Theo]

WOW, thanks everyone for your comments. This will be very good for me. I feel like I did a lot to increase my chances from the 1st time to the 2nd time. I am trying to debate if i don't get in this time, I don't know if i have the resources to apply again. I'm out of school, so I can't get anymore student loans and I've used all that I took out to apply these two times.

Dr. Smiles12, I'm at work right now so I don't have my DAT stats in front of me, so i'll post those at a later time. I am really having trouble with trying a third time if this go round isn't fruitful.

Again thanks for all your comments, keep them coming !!!! THANKS

 

[jdoc04]

WOW, thanks everyone for your comments. This will be very good for me. I feel like I did a lot to increase my chances from the 1st time to the 2nd time. I am trying to debate if i don't get in this time, I don't know if i have the resources to apply again. I'm out of school, so I can't get anymore student loans and I've used all that I took out to apply these two times.

Dr. Smiles12, I'm at work right now so I don't have my DAT stats in front of me, so i'll post those at a later time. I am really having trouble with trying a third time if this go round isn't fruitful.

Again thanks for all your comments, keep them coming !!!! THANKS

You can go back to school but you'll have to enroll in a master's program. You have only exhausted your undergraduate allowance for student loans. PM if you want a list of programs I had as a backup plan to not getting accepted.

good luck

 

[blankguy]

Depends on the situation of each individual.
Take more undergrad upper level science courses. (Especially for nonscience majors)
Retake DAT (aim for 20+/20+/20+)
Do more extracurricular activities such as volunteering, shadowing, and working (easiest criteria to remedy)
Enroll is a masters program. Does anybody have a list of such programs?

 

[USCbiograd]

As far as retaking the DAT goes, what do you guys think are scores that warrant this? I am planning on reapplying for next cycle (applied last cycle but was not accepted and wanted time to improve my application) and I am not sure if I am doing enough. I am currently in a master's of biomedical sciences program and have been doing alot of shadowing. I feel that my stats are descent (DAT:20/21/18 and 3.6 undergrad GPA), but do you realistically need a 20+ in every section of the DAT to be competitive? Any suggestions of what else I could do?

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

As far as retaking the DAT goes, what do you guys think are scores that warrant this? I am planning on reapplying for next cycle (applied last cycle but was not accepted and wanted time to improve my application) and I am not sure if I am doing enough. I am currently in a master's of biomedical sciences program and have been doing alot of shadowing. I feel that my stats are descent (DAT:20/21/18 and 3.6 undergrad GPA), but do you realistically need a 20+ in every section of the DAT to be competitive? Any suggestions of what else I could do?

when did you start your masters? fall 2007?

 

[USCbiograd]

when did you start your masters? fall 2007?

fall 2007

 

[SuperC]

What to do.....

Are you getting (have you gotten) interview invites?

Ans = no, then retake DAT, masters, rewrite your essay, RESEARCH!, work, ect .
Ans = yes then...
IMO, if you are getting interviews, the problem MAIN problem is not your stats. I have said this TIME AND TIME AGAIN, there is A LOT more to your application than your grades. No one wants to believe this, but I swear it is true. It is my understanding that at UF (for the most part) once you are invited for an interview, your interview is the determining factor.
1. ADCOMS have interviewed thousands of applicants, they know when someone is a tool.
2. People never want to admit that their interpersonal skill are bad, its a hard thing to do, but the truth is not everyone is a talking dynamo. If you interview skills are bad, practice! GO OUT AND MEET PEOPLE. Make it your goal to speak with someone new everyday. Work on being comfortable talking with NEW people, not just your friends!
3. Read the 20 questions from the guy from NOVA He says specifically, they weight the interview.
4. Join toast masters
5. Take a speech class
6. In your interview, be honest, be real. Its okay to tell the truth, so the truth is not as cool as the kick ass story you made up about how you wanted to become a dentist, but it is YOU and it is YOUR story!

PLEASE remember that you are more than numbers, if you this is your priority, it shows in your interview, your personal statement, and you reek of tool.

If you have a 4.0 and a 30 on the GPA YES, you will get in, but you DON'T have to be Einstein to get into dental school
-C

 

[axum]

also, apply EARLY. I mean real early. Like Submit your stuff the day the aadsas becomes available, or the next day. The earlier schools get a chance to look at your stats, the fewer students they will have to compare you with. So even if your stats don't look so hot, they will still look relatively better. I could be wrong about this, but it worked for me.

 

[Theo]

What to do.....

Are you getting (have you gotten) interview invites?


Ans = yes then...
IMO, if you are getting interviews, the problem MAIN problem is not your stats. I have said this TIME AND TIME AGAIN, there is A LOT more to your application than your grades. No one wants to believe this, but I swear it is true. It is my understanding that at UF (for the most part) once you are invited for an interview, your interview is the determining factor.
1. ADCOMS have interviewed thousands of applicants, they know when someone is a tool.
2. People never want to admit that their interpersonal skill are bad, its a hard thing to do, but the truth is not everyone is a talking dynamo. If you interview skills are bad, practice! GO OUT AND MEET PEOPLE. Make it your goal to speak with someone new everyday. Work on being comfortable talking with NEW people, not just your friends!
3. Read the 20 questions from the guy from NOVA He says specifically, they weight the interview.
4. Join toast masters
5. Take a speech class
6. In your interview, be honest, be real. Its okay to tell the truth, so the truth is not as cool as the kick ass story you made up about how you wanted to become a dentist, but it is YOU and it is YOUR story!

-C

Hey I appreciate your comment. I have received interviews this cycle so I'm really leary in taking the DAT for a 3rd time. My grades are good. So i'm wondering if (although I thought i interviewed well) i could work on my interviewing skills.

I felt very honest in my questions, I felt like I asked pertinent questions. I guess the only thing that I can feel that I could have done better would be to not stumble over words sometimes in my answers.

Thanks for your input.

 

[DrSmiles12]

Hey I appreciate your comment. I have received interviews this cycle so I'm really leary in taking the DAT for a 3rd time. My grades are good. So i'm wondering if (although I thought i interviewed well) i could work on my interviewing skills.

I felt very honest in my questions, I felt like I asked pertinent questions. I guess the only thing that I can feel that I could have done better would be to not stumble over words sometimes in my answers.

Thanks for your input.

So whats your stats?!

 

[Theo]

AA = 17
PAT = 18
Total Science = 17

 

[DrSmiles12]

Science GPA/Cum GPA if you don't mind?

 

[IamJetLi]

Science GPA/Cum GPA if you don't mind?

and also the EC if you dont mind

 

[Theo]

Science GPA/Cum GPA if you don't mind?

3.43 Science
3.45 Cum

 

[Theo]

and also the EC if you dont mind

EC ?

 

[IamJetLi]

3.43 Science
3.45 Cum

extra curricular act.

 

[DrSmiles12]

Theo,
I know you already said that you don't want to retake the DAT, but if you are really serious about getting into school I think that a higher DAT could help you a lot. I am not saying you can't get in with a 17, it seems like people do it all the time.

I think that your GPA seems just fine, its competitive. If you could JUST boost the DAT AA to a 18 or 19 than schools are going to look at you differently when they see an improvment. Thats what I have heard school what on a 2nd, 2rd, or 4th year of reapplication, improvements. When you retake you have really got to study like crazy though, set apart 2-3 months to do it and get ready, maybe 8 hours a day. At least thats what I would do, thats what worked for me. You are obviously going to be different. Maybe you need to study less or maybe more. What do you thinik?

 

[cessna 182]

You have to remeber you are competing against some pretty good people with 19, 20, 21, and 22+ DAT scores. Your GPA is good. How about your Extra currics? Any research? 100 hours of shadowing?! What kind of service, did you volunteer at a cancer hospital and help there a lot or just the least amount of service? Really you need to make yourself stand out. There are over 3000 ppl usually fighting for one spot at a school, did you stick out more than all of them?

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

fall 2007

are you finishing your masters in 1 yr?

 

[USCbiograd]

are you finishing your masters in 1 yr?

It is a 2 year program, so hopefully I will complete it just before I enter dental school (assuming I am able to get accepted next cycle)

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

It is a 2 year program, so hopefully I will complete it just before I enter dental school (assuming I am able to get accepted next cycle)

oh ok....that is what i was wondering that if it is 2 yr program you wont finish until like spring/summer 09 then why apply now? allright well i guess that looks good on your application - you finishing 2 yrs program in 1 yr program nice!....good luck!

 

[USCbiograd]

oh ok....that is what i was wondering that if it is 2 yr program you wont finish until like spring/summer 09 then why apply now? allright well i guess that looks good on your application - you finishing 2 yrs program in 1 yr program nice!....good luck!

I did not apply this year, but plan to apply for the coming up cycle. (Class of 2013)

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I did not apply this year, but plan to apply for the coming up cycle. (Class of 2013)

ohhhhhhhh! duhh!! i thought u applied this year...anyways tht is what i am planning to do as well if i dont get in this cycle...m planning on applying for master's program to couple of schools in feb/march....and then apply again for class of 2014

 

[Lopyswine]

yea the dentist that i shadowed for like 100 hours offered me job as a receptionist as but since i take 5 heavy sciences i can barely work like 3 days a week....so he found another receptionist 🙁 and i asked him to let me know if any of ur dentist friends need receptionist and he is like every1 wants a full time...not a part time. suckss!!!

no offense, but a being a receptionist does not qualify as dental experience. most receptionists just answer phones and input codes.

while shadowing a dentist, go the lab and ask the assistants to teach you sterilization. Start cleaning rooms. Take out the trash.

DO ANYTHING that will let the dentists know you are serious about wanting to learn.

They will teach you. During my 3+ shadowing, helping, and assisting, I was amazed at how many students come through and just WATCH all day. One girl would even just sit in the hall... Another girl actually passed out from standing with locked knees for too long...

Moral of the story: make your dental experience count. Put this on your ap. Talk about it in your interview. Make sure the adcoms know that YOU KNOW what the profession is and that you want it more than anythign else.

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

no offense, but a being a receptionist does not qualify as dental experience. most receptionists just answer phones and input codes.

while shadowing a dentist, go the lab and ask the assistants to teach you sterilization. Start cleaning rooms. Take out the trash.

DO ANYTHING that will let the dentists know you are serious about wanting to learn.

They will teach you. During my 3+ shadowing, helping, and assisting, I was amazed at how many students come through and just WATCH all day. One girl would even just sit in the hall... Another girl actually passed out from standing with locked knees for too long...

Moral of the story: make your dental experience count. Put this on your ap. Talk about it in your interview. Make sure the adcoms know that YOU KNOW what the profession is and that you want it more than anythign else.

when i shadowed that dentist....i would clean chairs, take x-rays, develop them in that little dark room (lots of fun), call out patients and have them seated in different rooms, hand in tools, give the mouthwash to the patients after the work is done (lol), hold the mirror for the patient etc etc all those small things. He even let me assist him in an implant surgery - that was totally awesome, lasted about 3-4 hours. But he didnt really need to hire a person to do all these small things..because the assistant usually does all these things...but he needed a receptionist so i was like its better than nothing. I thought i will still be experiencing alot of dental work when there are no phone calls or patients waiting outside. oh well!

 

[jigabodo]

when i shadowed that dentist....i would clean chairs, take x-rays, develop them in that little dark room (lots of fun), call out patients and have them seated in different rooms, hand in tools, give the mouthwash to the patients after the work is done (lol), hold the mirror for the patient etc etc all those small things. He even let me assist him in an implant surgery - that was totally awesome, lasted about 3-4 hours. But he didnt really need to hire a person to do all these small things..because the assistant usually does all these things...but he needed a receptionist so i was like its better than nothing. I thought i will still be experiencing alot of dental work when there are no phone calls or patients waiting outside. oh well!

I thought I did a lot when I shadowed (Garbage, sanitizing instrument, setting up and cleaning the rooms afterwards) but you did so much more than me!

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I thought I did a lot when I shadowed (Garbage, sanitizing instrument, setting up and cleaning the rooms afterwards) but you did so much more than me!

yea he was really nice....he let me work as his receptionist for couple of days when the lady who usually works there was sick and i really liked it. That is why i wanted a job there....i think i wil still get to experience a lot of hands on dental stuff even if i become a receptionist there because he knows that I am really into dentistry so he lets me do all those things.