I need some help figuring out where to apply

[agb2782]

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Hi all, and thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

I've browsed the school rankings for some time now, but outside of the Midwestern schools, I'm not sure where to apply come a few weeks. Here are my stats:

Male/Caucasian/IL resident/First-time applicant
3.85 cGPA, 3.82 sGPA from a Missouri state school
Biology major, minors in public administration and political science
I have not yet taken the DAT (July), but am preparing diligently and I'm expecting 20-21 AA and TS based on practice tests (aiming for better, though!).

ECs: Member of few campus organizations (2 honor societies, one global health club), executive positions in one. President of a large social fraternity.
Volunteering: probably around 100 hours between hospital volunteering and elementary school tutoring
Shadowing: Probably will have around 75 hours by June 1st. I also think my letters of recommendation will pretty decent.

Right now, I plan on applying to these schools:

UIC
SIU
Michigan
Iowa
Colorado
UConn
Creighton

However, I am a complete loss for others. Thanks again for any insight you can offer! I am a complete beginner at all of this stuff. I'm really excited about dental school, but I want to make sure I'm applying to schools I have a realistic chance of being accepted into, and not accidentally applying to schools that are very OOS-unfriendly. 🙂

 

[Osity]

Here is a list of schools that I would suggest applying to that are OOS friendly or Private:

Creighton
OHSU
Nova
Oklahoma
Indiana
Marquette
Louisville
UNLV
Midwestern-AZ
USC
USN (UT)
Western (CA)

Your list looks good, and if you get a 20+ on the DAT, you will get interviews to the majority of schools you apply to. Then it's up to you to nail the interview.

 

[mightyrat]

how about private schools? tufts, NYU, USC, BU? based on how competitive your DAT will be then go for those in addition to the ones you have lined up currently

hope that helps 🙂

 

[agb2782]

As a follow-up question, would I have a chance at UPenn/Columbia/Harvard if I excel on the DAT? I am considering applying to those in July after the test, contingent upon my scores.

 

[Doc Smile]

However, I am a complete loss for others. Thanks again for any insight you can offer! I am a complete beginner at all of this stuff. I'm really excited about dental school, but I want to make sure I'm applying to schools I have a realistic chance of being accepted into, and not accidentally applying to schools that are very OOS-unfriendly. 🙂

Have you thought of Indiana University School of Dentistry. We are a pretty awesome school: New sim lab with top-o-the-line equipment, new 1st and 2nd bench lab, new dean that is getting rid of PBL, etc etc. Since you are from Illinois, it is just a stone's throw away. Plus we don't have extremely high stats and except a lot of OOS. Check it out brah

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi all, and thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

I've browsed the school rankings for some time now, but outside of the Midwestern schools, I'm not sure where to apply come a few weeks. Here are my stats:

Male/Caucasian/IL resident/First-time applicant
3.85 cGPA, 3.82 sGPA from a Missouri state school
Biology major, minors in public administration and political science
I have not yet taken the DAT (July), but am preparing diligently and I'm expecting 20-21 AA and TS based on practice tests (aiming for better, though!).

ECs: Member of few campus organizations (2 honor societies, one global health club), executive positions in one. President of a large social fraternity.
Volunteering: probably around 100 hours between hospital volunteering and elementary school tutoring
Shadowing: Probably will have around 75 hours by June 1st. I also think my letters of recommendation will pretty decent.

Right now, I plan on applying to these schools:

UIC
SIU
Michigan
Iowa
Colorado
UConn
Creighton

However, I am a complete loss for others. Thanks again for any insight you can offer! I am a complete beginner at all of this stuff. I'm really excited about dental school, but I want to make sure I'm applying to schools I have a realistic chance of being accepted into, and not accidentally applying to schools that are very OOS-unfriendly. 🙂

If you can seriously swing that DAT... then you probably wouldn't need more schools.

But if you want more schools... here
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8260135&postcount=1

 

[prsndwg]

If you can seriously swing that DAT... then you probably wouldn't need more schools.

But if you want more schools... here
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8260135&postcount=1

👍

also purchase 2011 ADEA Official Guide to Dental School

 

[agb2782]

Just bringing this topic back up so that someone might be able to answer the Ivy question. I have looked at the numbers, but it seems that each school has intangibles they value more than others (i.e, ASDOH and community service) that I can't learn from a spreadsheet.

Thanks

 

[Maygyver]

Just bringing this topic back up so that someone might be able to answer the Ivy question. I have looked at the numbers, but it seems that each school has intangibles they value more than others (i.e, ASDOH and community service) that I can't learn from a spreadsheet.

Thanks

We can't really answer your question with half of your information missing. Take the DAT and then we can lend you some advice. Your GPA is fine. Finish the rest of your application strong and you have a good chance. Columbia likes strong DAT scores. Harvard only has 35 seats so you need to be a really good all around candidate with strong ECs to get in. Penn says they look more so at "general people" than numbers. Good luck, but at this point it's just guessing. Just worry about your DAT. It's too late to really add anything else to your application.