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[wvupredent]

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I'll try my best to keep this from being a "what are my chances?" thread that you all hate.

I'm currently trying to decide whether to take the DAT this summer and apply next cycle. I'm applying to WVU as an in-state student. I think my sGPA is going to be a little lower than I expected (20 hours of science is not "smart" for your GPA, but i'm learning tons. i hope the adcoms see this instead of just numbers )....I'm expecting around 3.1 after this semester, and I will be taking organic chem 1 and 2 over the summer during two 6-week sessions. If I apply, I'm going to submit my application in early June, then take the DAT in mid-August after completing most of organic.

I want to make the decision on whether to apply pretty soon (in the next few weeks) because my plan is to prepare for biology and general chemistry this semester, then just focus mainly on organic over the summer.

Now....to my real question. I am in the situation where I can graduate a year early next spring. I know people say that to be accepted after 3 years, you usually need higher stats. Well, if I apply between my 2nd and 3rd year but will have a B.S. (in Animal Science, pre-vet/pre-med), will they view me as a regular "senior" applicant since I'll technically have 89 hours at the end of the summer?

I haven't shadowed yet, but I've already spoken to my orthodontist and he said he and his colleagues (three-dentist practice) would be glad to let me shadow and write a recommendation letter. I know I need to get some general dentistry exposure, too. But if I get decent shadowing experience, a sGPA over 3.0 (cum ~3.35), and decent DAT scores, do you think I'll be grouped in the "young" or "early" applicants, or will my B.S. be enough despite having only two "real" years before submitting my application?

I've really been faced with a lot of financial stress since my parents are going through a divorce, so getting in a year early and being that much further ahead would help a lot. If money and time weren't an issue, I'd love to stay in undergrad, but sometimes life pushes us on and getting in next cycle would take a year's expenses off of my back. Dentistry school expenses are just going to be piled into loans...no other way, but i know it will pay off.

one last question: what is sufficient volunteer/community service for a good application?

Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[MrTeeth]

I'll try my best to keep this from being a "what are my chances?" thread that you all hate.

I'm currently trying to decide whether to take the DAT this summer and apply next cycle. I'm applying to WVU as an in-state student. I think my sGPA is going to be a little lower than I expected (20 hours of science is not "smart" for your GPA, but i'm learning tons. i hope the adcoms see this instead of just numbers )....I'm expecting around 3.1 after this semester, and I will be taking organic chem 1 and 2 over the summer during two 6-week sessions. If I apply, I'm going to submit my application in early June, then take the DAT in mid-August after completing most of organic.

I want to make the decision on whether to apply pretty soon (in the next few weeks) because my plan is to prepare for biology and general chemistry this semester, then just focus mainly on organic over the summer.

Now....to my real question. I am in the situation where I can graduate a year early next spring. I know people say that to be accepted after 3 years, you usually need higher stats. Well, if I apply between my 2nd and 3rd year but will have a B.S. (in Animal Science, pre-vet/pre-med), will they view me as a regular "senior" applicant since I'll technically have 89 hours at the end of the summer?

I haven't shadowed yet, but I've already spoken to my orthodontist and he said he and his colleagues (three-dentist practice) would be glad to let me shadow and write a recommendation letter. I know I need to get some general dentistry exposure, too. But if I get decent shadowing experience, a sGPA over 3.0 (cum ~3.35), and decent DAT scores, do you think I'll be grouped in the "young" or "early" applicants, or will my B.S. be enough despite having only two "real" years before submitting my application?

I've really been faced with a lot of financial stress since my parents are going through a divorce, so getting in a year early and being that much further ahead would help a lot. If money and time weren't an issue, I'd love to stay in undergrad, but sometimes life pushes us on and getting in next cycle would take a year's expenses off of my back. Dentistry school expenses are just going to be piled into loans...no other way, but i know it will pay off.

one last question: what is sufficient volunteer/community service for a good application?

Thanks a lot for your help.

Sounds like you're trying to get a lot done in 3 years. I'm not going to lie, your GPA is on the lower side, so you have to shoot for strong DAT scores. The letter of recommendation from the dentist is something that you need to have, you might want to have at least two science prof's letters and one non-science prof. As far as experience in dentistry, what I've noticed from my four interviews this year that they want someone that is determined, focused, and interested in the dental career. Read up on ASDA journals, and try to stay up to date on what's going on in dentistry. Also, find a volunteer opportunity or any other opportunity related with dentistry that will make you stand out. Try contacting your state's DOH and talk to them about dental volunteer opportunities, or go to an elementary school and speak with the principal about organizing a dental education day where you could teach kids how to brush and floss. Things like that will make you stand out from the crowd, and will push you forward even with lower stats. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.

 

[MrTeeth]

Sorry I got kind of carried away and forgot to answer your main question. As long as you get you BS by the time you graduate I think that you'll still fall in the same category as everyone else that finishes in four years. It might also depend on the schools. You could always call the schools that you are interested in applying to and ask them. I've learned that a lot of schools would actually take the time to talk to you, except Tufts, unless you get directly through to the director or associate dean. I think that students who try to apply to dental school without getting their bachelor's but just the prerequisites fall into the highly competitive region where they need to have higher stats, so I think you should be fine. Call the schools though just to be sure.

 

[wvupredent]

thanks for your reply! i know my sGPA is on the low side, and I'm NOT beginning to try to look for sympathy points, but my GPA really took a hit my first year when the main trouble with my parents started. I honestly don't feel my GPA reflects my academic level. It's kind of hard to get a solid sGPA when you start out with a C in Bio1 and a B- in honor gen chem. Now, I'm in mainly 300- and 400-level science classes and getting As and Bs, but just struggling to pull my GPA up.

But that's why I plan to prepare well for the DAT and let that show any abilities I have beyond my sGPA level. I just happen to have an orthodontist appointment tomorrow, so I'll have a convenient way to schedule some shadowing experience. I may talk to my orthodontist about some dental opportunities locally, too. He teaches orthodontics at the dental school, and he attended dental school and did his orthdontics work there, as well. He's offered a tour and a round of meeting everyone at the school before. I might need that soon.

Thanks again!

 

[reapply2007]

I suggest you take a look at the school website for in-state applicant statistics. I just did. For WVU, it sounds like a good state to be a resident of when you apply.

 

[joshua_grooms02]

Hey I just got into WVU in december and will be going there this august. Just wanted to first let you know that while your dentist letter will probably look good, it isn't required. WVU actually requires 3 letters 1 from biology, 1 from chemistry and 1 from physics professors. You really do need to shoot for a good DAT score but don't get depressed..i'll be honest i had a 3.3 and a 3.18 sci gpa with a AA of only a 16 and im out of state with strong ties..i got in...its very important to do well in the interview and I don't know if it helped but before my interview like early in the application cycle i scheduled an appointment with the dean of admissions just to ask question and to let them put a face with the name. Good luck and if you need to know anything else about applying to WVU you can PM me.