I have too many questions

[ASAP Dentist]

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Overall GPA 3.7
Science (w/oBCP) 3.7
BCP 3.7

GPA and SGPA (without 5 grades from over ten years ago): 3.9

Dat
All are 20 or above
PAT 24
RC 20
TS 22
AA 22


100 hours shadowing at 1 dentist
120 volunteering
Worked throughout undergrad
Non-traditional

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So I am broke like most college students. I thought it would be a good idea to apply to schools that I would actually want to go to because I can only apply to 11 schools. I am a longtime lurker and have used SDN to search school reviews,curriculum, etc. to get an idea of what I would look for in a program. I ended up with this list of schools.

Question #1- Does this list seem realistic?

UCLA
UCSF
UOP
Western
NOVA
UofFlorida
Harvard (I know this isnt realistic but someone that believes in me is paying for this one)
UNLV
Columbia
UPenn

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Question #2- I can choose one more and I am struggling to pick it?

I was thinking Midwestern because it would be cheap travel to for the interview, since money is a HUGE factor when it comes to traveling to interviews. But the cost is crazy high which is why I also dont want to apply to USC(and its pbl). What school would you choose if you were on the westcoast (Not Cali)?

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I come on here and feel like crap because people are already receiving interviews and I will only have my application e-submitted this weekend (I just finished DAT).

Question #3- I believe that my committee letter will be sent around October, at best. Is this way too late? Since everything will be completed so late, will I be denied just because I am so late or will I be fghting over a handful of seats at these schools.

Question #4- Would you bypass the committee if you already have 2 science LOR and 1 Dentist?
I prefer not to, but I feel like October is so late. Is it?

Question #5- Should I not whine about the comittee and just fill out all my secondarys while I wait?
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Question #6- What schools, in the above list, give interviews without the committee letter completed?
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I know I ask too many question but these have been on my mind so much lately I had to ask. SDN is an amazing source of information and I would like to say thanks for everything this community has helped me succeed!!!

 

[ASAP Dentist]

It never crossed my mind to look at OHSU. I thought it would be school that only accepted in state students, but after looking doctoothache stats they are OOS friendly. Thank you so much for that suggestion. From a brief search, OHSU has the qualities I would for in school.

ASDOH came to our school and recommended students to have 300+ hours of volunteering so I would rather not apply to them with only 120.

Great suggestions. Thank You!

 

[sjv]

UFlorida is not OOS friendly. Western is also very pricey, you might as well apply to USC haha.

http://www.westernu.edu/financial-budgets-dentistry

Send secondaries ASAP.

 

[ASAP Dentist]

It is weird to apply to UoF but I am from florida and lived there for half my life, and hope to practice there one day so I figured I would give it a shot.

Western is pricey but I have family in corona and lived in chino hills from 3rd to 9th grade which is so close to chino. So it is more of the location and I hear the facility, faculty, and atmosphere is so nice there. That is extremely important to me.

Youre too funny... the ASAP line...but would you have anything to add in regards to the committee letter or are not familiar enough with that situation?

 

[sjv]

Haha, I'm in the exact same situation for UF, family lives there still. I emailed them about it and they said there is nothing they can do about it except give in-state tuition if somehow admitted despite CA residency but OOS chances not looking good.

Sounds good for Western.

Yeah, I agree with the above poster, if you can get all of your letters before the committee letter, that is more favorable timeline wise. Also, any chance you can get a 4th letter since you mentioned 2 Science + 1 Dentist? Some schools have specific LOE requirements, may want to look into those as well.

Can't comment on what schools will give interviews without letters but some may take a look without and the only way to get them to look at it is to pay/submit secondaries.

 

[jeffity]

I wouldn't exactly call OHSU a true OOS friendly school. You probably don't need to add one more. But if you are, go with something where you'd have a better chance of interviewing. And consider COA when comparing cost. MWU isn't that much more outrageous than a couple on your list and interview odds aren't too shabby.

 

[ASAP Dentist]

sjv
I noticed that they do want specific letters at some schools...good looking out.

jeffity
"You probably don't need to add one more."
Thats what I want to hear!!!
But what do you mean that it is not really OOS friendly? Would you at least consider the school west coast OOS friendly?

 

[free99]

Don't forget that some of that perceived OOS friendliness at OHSU is comprised of WICHE applicants. OHSU's admittance priorities are as follows:

1. Oregon residents
2. WICHE students (www.wiche.edu)
3. All others

I'm not sure if you've mentioned your residency, but if you're anywhere on the west coast, I think that falls into the WICHE territory. Apply on!

One more thing- I think Nova offers interviews to some sans letters. They've had a quick turnaround this cycle, so I think that's money well-spent there.

 

[ASAP Dentist]

I thought that was what jeffity was saying. Thanks for clearing that up.

Does anyone have any experience of applying without committee when their school had one?

 

[free99]

I thought that was what jeffity was saying. Thanks for clearing that up.

Does anyone have any experience of applying without committee when their school had one?

Yep, that's what I did this cycle. My committee has some crazy requirements to go through them that were a little over the top, so I opted out. the prehealth advisor still bundled my letters, but didn't write a composite. It doesn't seem to have held me back at all, I applied 2nd batch and have 2 interviews so far (lecom and Michigan).

 

[jeffity]

Residency priority for selection at OHSU is:

OR > AK, AZ, HI, MT, NM, ND, WY > other states > Canada & international

WICHE is western, but only applies to western states where there isn't a state school.

 

[free99]

Good correction ^