I have some questions for you guys! (2nd time applying)

[endlesswait]

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Although I am currently in waitlist positions in 2 schools now, I think it is realistic to prepare for the reapplication, since the past cycle (2015-2016) is approaching to the end. I applied in the middle of cycle (10th of August), and it did not go well. There are some questions for you guys.

1. In terms of schools choices, would I have a decent shot if I apply June 1st?? I am willing to apply a lot of schools (like more than 15) in this coming cycle, as I made a mistake to apply only a few schools.
- CA resident (not a citizen), Asian, sGPA: 3.81, oGPA: 3.89, AA:22, TS: 24, PAT: 21 (2nd attempt)
- Decent volunteer hours, a year and half of dental assistant work (total of 1500 hours so far) with other work experiences, NO research experience.. 🙁

2. What activities I can do to improve my application at this point? I graduated last year and I am working as a full-time dental assistant, while doing occasional volunteer works.

3. Would I be able to get interview invites again from schools that I've received invitations in the previous cycle?

4. I have 4 LOR stored in undergrad school's LOR system. 3 letters will be updated with a new date, but 1 letter won't. Would it be bad if I happen to use the same letter with less than a year old when reapplying?

5. Is there some kind of advantage in reapplying?

Dental school has been my goal ever since I came to the States 7 years ago.

I really appreciate your honest comments, advices, and opinions in advance. Thank you!! 😀

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

With those stats, i am very surprised you didnt get enough invites to eventually get you an acceptance.

How many interviews did you have? Pre-dec? Post-dec?
How do you think the interviews went?

Mail out date is slightly late, but not late enough to shut all doors.

I applied in mid August, got 6 interviews. Of those 6, only 2 were pre-dec though.

I applied to same schools with a little bit of change in the list from last year. I received invites from 4 schools that i was invited to last year. One school i interviewed last year didnt offer me an interview.

When you make the list of schools, try to get rid of ones that you dont have chances getting interviews at.

Last year, i applied to bu and tufts hoping they would be okay with my cc prerequisites, NOT! No interviews. No nothing.

For the record, u of michican, case western rejected me without interviews twice in a row. Louisville offered no interview twice in a row. UoP was silent until late in the cycle for both years.

Seems like they go by certain criteria when they pick for students, otherwise it doesnt explain the fact that i got interviews twice in a row at 4 places and other places were all flakes.


Good luck. Pm me if you have more Qs.

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

I wouldnt say there is an advantage in reapplying, unless of course you've achieved something spectacular.

 

[JLT223]

I'm very surprised as well. Is your personal statement and letters of rec in order? You're going to want new letters.

 

[shaken not stirred]

With those stats, i am very surprised you didnt get enough invites to eventually get you an acceptance.

This is mysterious indeed.
OP, are you a permanent resident?

 

[parham3]

School selection and Personal statement might be the issue here.

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

This is mysterious indeed.
OP, are you a permanent resident?

Even with international status, i think those stats are pretty competitive. If he's a green card holder, dont know what could explain it other than possibly bad PS or sabotaging LOR letters.

 

[doc toothache]

Although I am currently in waitlist positions in 2 schools now, I think it is realistic to prepare for the reapplication, since the past cycle (2015-2016) is approaching to the end. I applied in the middle of cycle (10th of August), and it did not go well. There are some questions for you guys.

Shouldn't you be addressing your questions to the schools for which you are waitlist and others

Even with international status, i think those stats are pretty competitive. If he's a green card holder, dont know what could explain it other than possibly bad PS or sabotaging LOR letters.

Once interviewed and waitlisted, those clearly became a non issue.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

Although I am currently in waitlist positions in 2 schools now, I think it is realistic to prepare for the reapplication, since the past cycle (2015-2016) is approaching to the end. I applied in the middle of cycle (10th of August), and it did not go well. There are some questions for you guys.

1. In terms of schools choices, would I have a decent shot if I apply June 1st?? I am willing to apply a lot of schools (like more than 15) in this coming cycle, as I made a mistake to apply only a few schools.
- CA resident (not a citizen), Asian, sGPA: 3.81, oGPA: 3.89, AA:22, TS: 24, PAT: 21 (2nd attempt)
- Decent volunteer hours, a ye!

that is your reason why with 3.81 and 22AA u dont get in anywhere. that stats will get you in a OOS public school that grant in state after one year .

apply again as soon as application opens this year and submit everything ASAP

 

[JLT223]

that is your reason why with 3.81 and 22AA u dont get in anywhere. that stats will get you in a OOS public school that grant in state after one year .

apply again as soon as application opens this year and submit everything ASAP

Several of my future classmates applied as late as October. August is late, but not that late.

 

[pinetree305]

Although I am currently in waitlist positions in 2 schools now, I think it is realistic to prepare for the reapplication, since the past cycle (2015-2016) is approaching to the end. I applied in the middle of cycle (10th of August), and it did not go well. There are some questions for you guys.

1. In terms of schools choices, would I have a decent shot if I apply June 1st?? I am willing to apply a lot of schools (like more than 15) in this coming cycle, as I made a mistake to apply only a few schools.
- CA resident (not a citizen), Asian, sGPA: 3.81, oGPA: 3.89, AA:22, TS: 24, PAT: 21 (2nd attempt)
- Decent volunteer hours, a year and half of dental assistant work (total of 1500 hours so far) with other work experiences, NO research experience.. 🙁

2. What activities I can do to improve my application at this point? I graduated last year and I am working as a full-time dental assistant, while doing occasional volunteer works.

3. Would I be able to get interview invites again from schools that I've received invitations in the previous cycle?

4. I have 4 LOR stored in undergrad school's LOR system. 3 letters will be updated with a new date, but 1 letter won't. Would it be bad if I happen to use the same letter with less than a year old when reapplying?

5. Is there some kind of advantage in reapplying?

Dental school has been my goal ever since I came to the States 7 years ago.

I really appreciate your honest comments, advices, and opinions in advance. Thank you!! 😀

If you came to US only 7 years ago, I am going to assume English isnt your best subject. I recommend you to:

1. Practice your interviewing skills. Learn how to better phrase your answers. This is important b/c you dont want your interviewer to negatively interpret your responses.

2. Have more people read your essays. This is important because you need to know what is a good essay for admission people.

3. Try to find other volunteer opportunities if possible.

Your grades and other stuff isnt your problem, the problem is likely your communication skills.

 

[doc toothache]

that is your reason why with 3.81 and 22AA u dont get in anywhere. that stats will get you in a OOS public school that grant in state after one year .

With those stats, you can apply after Christmas and still get in.

 

[Rainy Day Tales]

I have similar stats and applied in October. it turned out that I got only five interviews out of 20 schools. So I guess you should have more people proof read your personal statement and manage to apply earlier next time.

Also, is English your second language ? I think that might be another factor. English is not my first language and I got nervous and awkward when I talked under pressure. Maybe you should work on that and improve the interview skills!

Anyway, good luck to you OP! Try to reach out to the schools that you got waitlisted at and maybe they will surprise you ! 😉

 

[endlesswait]

Thank you so much for your replies guys. I didn't expect that many responses when I was writing the thread. 🙂

English is my 3rd language, I am a permanent resident, or green card holder, and I am waitlisted at UCSF and USC.

I contacted with USC already and they gave me a typical answer "please be quiet and just wait out", and UCSF strictly goes with waitlist numbers in order so there is not much I can do either.

USC was pre-dec interview, and I'm guessing it didn't go well as much as I expected.

For UCSF I was at very last interview day (1st of February) and given that not-to-bad original waitlist number, I don't think the interview went that poorly.

Tufts and BU will be also schools that I should avoid, as I took all of pre-req courses at community college.

I think I'm gonna try to write BETTER personal statement for this cycle, and apply ASAP.

Again, thank you so much for your responses guys!! 😀

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

With those stats, you can apply after Christmas and still get in.

what is it then? run of the mill interview?

Once interviewed and waitlisted, those clearly became a non issue.

so you are saying once you get the interview, everyone's on level playing field? I would think if something got overlooked and was noticed afterwards when they were reviewing, it could still become a red flag. But, what do I know, I am just a pre-dent.

 

[doc toothache]

what is it then? run of the mill interview?
so you are saying once you get the interview, everyone's on level playing field? I would think if something got overlooked and was noticed afterwards when they were reviewing, it could still become a red flag. But, what do I know, I am just a pre-dent.

An interview invite does not change the metrics of the applicant. There can certainly be times when applicants will slip through the initial screening sieve, but it is unlikely they plumb forgot to read the ps/lors.

 

[1passbbsSHAVE]

An interview invite does not change the metrics of the applicant. There can certainly be times when applicants will slip through the initial screening sieve, but it is unlikely they plumb forgot to read the ps/lors.

in OP's case, it looks like everything looks good, except that he might have had difficulty in expressing his thoughts because English is not his first language.
But even before that, number of invites he got surprises me still. His stats are good and as long as the PS and LOR weren't terrible, he should have landed a lot of interviews, which doesn't look like it happened here.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

Thank you so much for your replies guys. I didn't expect that many responses when I was writing the thread. 🙂

English is my 3rd language, I am a permanent resident, or green card holder, and I am waitlisted at UCSF and USC.

I contacted with USC already and they gave me a typical answer "please be quiet and just wait out", and UCSF strictly goes with waitlist numbers in order so there is not much I can do either.

USC was pre-dec interview, and I'm guessing it didn't go well as much as I expected.

For UCSF I was at very last interview day (1st of February) and given that not-to-bad original waitlist number, I don't think the interview went that poorly.

Tufts and BU will be also schools that I should avoid, as I took all of pre-req courses at community college.

I think I'm gonna try to write BETTER personal statement for this cycle, and apply ASAP.

Again, thank you so much for your responses guys!! 😀

OP, i sincerely hope you wont join USC even if you get accepted this year. the debt is not worth it and it is crazy.

U$C is a school that can make you a dentist in a ultra deep hole of debt. the waiting list is moving super fast over there because people keep dropping their acceptances left and right.

fyi, i have 3.9 GPA with 21AA applied in June, got 7 interviews predec, 1 interview right after dec 1st out of 17 schools I applied to. end up getting in 1 and 2 off the list (including USC but turned it down and another private expensive school)

 

[IHavePotential]

Thank you so much for your replies guys. I didn't expect that many responses when I was writing the thread. 🙂

English is my 3rd language, I am a permanent resident, or green card holder, and I am waitlisted at UCSF and USC.

I contacted with USC already and they gave me a typical answer "please be quiet and just wait out", and UCSF strictly goes with waitlist numbers in order so there is not much I can do either.

USC was pre-dec interview, and I'm guessing it didn't go well as much as I expected.

For UCSF I was at very last interview day (1st of February) and given that not-to-bad original waitlist number, I don't think the interview went that poorly.

Tufts and BU will be also schools that I should avoid, as I took all of pre-req courses at community college.

I think I'm gonna try to write BETTER personal statement for this cycle, and apply ASAP.

Again, thank you so much for your responses guys!! 😀

I am willing to bet that you didn't get in because of your pre-requisites taken at community college. Damn i'm in the same situation as you, but even so I don't even have a gpa as great as yours! If you don't get in, try doing a masters program and reapply.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

I am willing to bet that you didn't get in because of your pre-requisites taken at community college. Damn i'm in the same situation as you, but even so I don't even have a gpa as great as yours! If you don't get in, try doing a masters program and reapply.

before you give someone else an advice, make sure that is a good advice in the beginning. the OP ABSOLUTELY IN NOWHERE ON EARTH needs a masters. May be with your GPA you do for yourself.

OP, if you actually took prereq at CC, then it is really bad news for you that you have to

1. either retake all of the prereqs at 4 year university.
2. take the harder/upper div that followed the prereqs (in this cases, harder than prereq so there is no option 2 really)

It feels sad and ironic at the same time to see people who bank on Postbach/masters/SMP as their one way ticket to dental schools. and 2-3 years later, they are 40-50k in a hole for masters + SMP and yet still waiting ducks in the application pool.

 

[IHavePotential]

before you give someone else an advice, make sure that is a good advice in the beginning. the OP ABSOLUTELY IN NOWHERE ON EARTH needs a masters. May be with your GPA you do for yourself.

OP, if you actually took prereq at CC, then it is really bad news for you that you have to

1. either retake all of the prereqs at 4 year university.
2. take the harder/upper div that followed the prereqs (in this cases, harder than prereq so there is no option 2 really)

It feels sad and ironic at the same time to see people who bank on Postbach/masters/SMP as their one way ticket to dental schools. and 2-3 years later, they are 40-50k in a hole for masters + SMP and yet still waiting ducks in the application pool.

Do you believe having a tough undergrad major like biochem where all the upper division courses are advanced sciences will make schools overlook the cc aspect of your application?

Yeah OP I don't think i'm qualified to give you advice, but from what I have heard.... a Masters although not at all required, would help you stand out in the application pool.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

Do you believe having a tough undergrad major like biochem where all the upper division courses are advanced sciences will make schools overlook the cc aspect of your application?

Yeah OP I don't think i'm qualified to give you advice, but from what I have heard.... a Masters although not at all required, would help you stand out in the application pool.

major does not matter but the classes you take matter. Biochem major requires you take tough biochem classes and if you do well, then yes.

for your question, yes if you do well on upper div bio classes (cell bio, immuno, micro, anatomy) they will overlook CC prereq for bio only. u still need to make up the other prereqs (ochem, gchem, physics)

 

[IHavePotential]

OP... how many schools did you apply to, did you apply to OSS friendly schools?