I need some major guidance. PLEASE

[SMB6]

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I’m trying really hard to hold it together. I admit, I Bombed my DAT test. I know I can do better and will take them again once my 90 day period is up in this month. My problem is I’m getting rejection letters from the schools, before I even had the chance to take the DAT. I did email all the schools I applied to informing them I would be retaking the DATs, and I put it on the AADSAS app.


I have emailed the schools that I have received these letters from.
What do I do now?
Is it over for me getting into dental school for this fall?
What are some alternatives if I don’t get in this coming year?
I know NOVA has a Masters program that offers to transfer you to their dental program after a year. Calling it the “ 5 year program” Are there any other schools that do that?

I have no one to ask these questions to. Hopefully someone can help me take a deep breath and figure out what I need to do, and how I can get to my goal. I cant be the only one ever to be in this boat.

The up side I am not going to give up.

Someone PLEASE help me.

SMB

 

[dentaldude8]

I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you don't have any interviews at this point in time and your DAT is really weak you're probably not going to get in this cycle. If you have a decent GPA 3.4 or better (cum and sci) I wouldn't do a masters program. Just really do well on the DAT, shoot for a 20AA, 20TS, 18PAT and you should be good if you apply really early. However, if you do have a bad GPA you'll def want to do a masters program but make sure you knock out the DAT first. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the DAT is the most important aspect of your app. At least thats been my experieces at interviews this year. Good luck!

 

[chrisvocker]

The important thing is to not give up. An unrelenting determination will be your best asset. I would advise you to concentrate being a strong applicant during the next cycle. Make sure you have a nice DAT, doing more shadowing....basically do everything to make yourself a better applicant and re-apply. Good luck to you!

 

[dentaldude8]

If you do want to do a one year masters there are lots of options designed for students that want to improve their app to med/dental school: Tulane, Indiana, Tufts, Boston, Nova, Mississippi something, John's Hopkins, Dartmouth, Drexel, and many that I'm forgeting. Check out the post back forums if you want more info.

 

[toroisgood]

If you do want to do a one year masters there are lots of options designed for students that want to improve their app to med/dental school: Tulane, Indiana, Tufts, Boston, Nova, Mississippi something, John's Hopkins, Dartmouth, Drexel, and many that I'm forgeting. Check out the post back forums if you want more info.

Georgetown is another. This doesn't hurt and taking the DAT seriously doesn't hurt either. And there's nothing wrong with waiting another year to enter dental school.

 

[ThePreDentLife]

Marquette University has a program for who "dont make dental school criteria" seats in which you study for one extra year, and then go into Dental school...I'm sure your app is competitive..but you may want to look into it...its called the "extended pre-dental program"

 

[SMB6]

I really appreciate all the responses. Thank you so much. It is good to know there is a plan B. I am graduating in a couple weeks, and I don’t want to waste a year. I’m so glad we have this forum!!!

 

[CaliGirl15]

I agree with everyone. Also as a reapplicant, I can say I feel the year off was actually good for me not a waste of a year at all! If you go the reapplication route there are many threads on how you can improve your application and tips from many reapplicants like myself. I think they are really helpful, just do a search and you'll find plenty of information! Best of luck.

 

[harjay]

Marquette University has a program for who "dont make dental school criteria" seats in which you study for one extra year, and then go into Dental school...I'm sure your app is competitive..but you may want to look into it...its called the "extended pre-dental program"

I know NOVA has a Masters program that offers to transfer you to their dental program after a year. Calling it the “ 5 year program” Are there any other schools that do that?

Nova's 5-year program is still very competitive (about 25 applicants per spot). Getting into a regular post-bacc program (like a Masters in Biomedical sciences for example) are less competitive and are more on your amount of experience and amount of UpperDiv bio classes.

 

[jigabodo]

Marquette University has a program for who "dont make dental school criteria" seats in which you study for one extra year, and then go into Dental school...I'm sure your app is competitive..but you may want to look into it...its called the "extended pre-dental program"

I heard VCU has a similar program as well, but you have to be selected by the adcomm.

 

[Selso2109]

Were they rejecting you before you took the first dat that you did poorly on? Or before you have done the retake DAT?

 

[SMB6]

They are rejecting me before I can retake the dats for the second time. I thought I still had time since the deadline for the school I have applied to wasn't up yet.

 

[uesider]

You should call the schools you've gotten rejections from and make sure they know you were planning on retaking the DAT. They will probably tell you to re-apply for next year instead, but you may as well call and make sure they know what your plans were.

I'm in the same boat regarding the awful DAT, yet my GPA is high so I haven't heard back from most schools yet. I am definitely not going to be the first or last person to tell you that waiting one year is NOT the end of the world. Trust me. I graduated in 2004 and am just applying now, and it looks like I'm going to have to re-take the DAT and re-apply for 2009. Luckily I have a job that wants to keep me as long as I want to stay, but in the scheme of things, a year is NOT a long time at all! You'll probably be thankful in the end for your year off of school. Spend the year studying HARD for the DAT and try to get a job in a dental clinic, and your app will be amazing for 2009! good luck!