I need some opinions

[docvisionX]

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I frequent these threads and see a lot of valuable information here. Everybody has some very interesting and helpful Q&A.

Well, I know many people ask for others' opinions on their chances of dental admissions, etc., etc. I was hoping I could get some valuable input on my file. I am a microbiology major and currently carry a 3.8 gpa. I have not taken the DAT yet, but have looked at July or August. I have not spent any time in a dental office, except for my own visits, due to time restraints from working. I am knowledgeable about the field, however. I have a volunteer record including Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a youth cancer camp, and others. I have a diverse work background thoughout college. I'll leave it at that.

Any advice on what I should do as far as applying this summer, etc? Your help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[busdriver]

u should ask this in the pre-dental forum...

 

[HBomb]

I frequent these threads and see a lot of valuable information here. Everybody has some very interesting and helpful Q&A.

Well, I know many people ask for others' opinions on their chances of dental admissions, etc., etc. I was hoping I could get some valuable input on my file. I am a microbiology major and currently carry a 3.8 gpa. I have not taken the DAT yet, but have looked at July or August. I have not spent any time in a dental office, except for my own visits, due to time restraints from working. I am knowledgeable about the field, however. I have a volunteer record including Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a youth cancer camp, and others. I have a diverse work background thoughout college. I'll leave it at that.

Any advice on what I should do as far as applying this summer, etc? Your help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Advice on applying this summer? Yes, by all means apply. If you do great on on your DAT with your current GPA, you'll have a shot at any school.

But really, I don't get your question. Do you think your GPA is low? Do you think you don't have enough experience in the field to be qualified to be a dental applicant? Aren't the answers to these questions obvious? What I'm getting at is this: don't you know the answer to your own question? To me, it's fairly obvious.

 

[docvisionX]

Would I be wiser to wait until I had experience in the field? I do have a lot of clinical experience, just not dental. Would schools consider it strange that I waited until just now to shadow? Also, the message I get from these forums is that August is kind've late for the DAT. True?

I know this should be in the predental thread--all apologies.

Thanks for advising.

 

[HBomb]

docvision,

Do NOT wait the extra year. Apply for this cycle. Schools will not particularly think it strange that you're shadowing right now. Sometimes it take an undergrad a long time before he/she decides on a career...and that can be spun as a good thing. August is not too late for the DAT, especially with a 3.8 GPA. But I do suggest getting your AADSAS application in ahead of your DAT score. With adequate DAT scores and your GPA, a lot of dental schools will be knocking on your door...not the other way around.

Good luck always.

 

[hockeydentist]

APPLY< APPPLY, APPPLy,

 

[docvisionX]

Thanks for the advice you guys. It really helps.

Good luck to you all

docvision

 

[HuyetKiem]

Would I be wiser to wait until I had experience in the field? I do have a lot of clinical experience, just not dental. Would schools consider it strange that I waited until just now to shadow? Also, the message I get from these forums is that August is kind've late for the DAT. True?

I know this should be in the predental thread--all apologies.

Thanks for advising.

I didn't have any previous shadowing or volunteering experience at all. None of my interview asked any question about these experiences.

apply now and take DAT in August. It takes a month and half to process your application anyway.

 

[The Musketeer]

Yes, you should apply this year. Having clinical experience is just a small supplementary component of the application part compare to GPA and DAT scores. You have a very competitive GPA and with a good (20+) DAT, you will get in for 2005 year!

About taking the DAT in August - it is okay, because you can always fax in the unofficial DAT scores that you will get immediately after the conclusion of your test to the dental schools so that they will know what you have achieved in the DAT prior to receiving the official scores.

Good

 

[Balki]

I frequent these threads and see a lot of valuable information here. Everybody has some very interesting and helpful Q&A.

Well, I know many people ask for others' opinions on their chances of dental admissions, etc., etc. I was hoping I could get some valuable input on my file. I am a microbiology major and currently carry a 3.8 gpa. I have not taken the DAT yet, but have looked at July or August. I have not spent any time in a dental office, except for my own visits, due to time restraints from working. I am knowledgeable about the field, however. I have a volunteer record including Big Brothers Big Sisters, and a youth cancer camp, and others. I have a diverse work background thoughout college. I'll leave it at that.

Any advice on what I should do as far as applying this summer, etc? Your help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Not to laugh or anything, there was this great thread somewhere, can't find it now, "I Hate predend....." Of the postings was something like "I have predents with 3.6 GPA and worry about getting somewhere" You just need to decide if it's for you or not, you'll get into a school with decent DAT, and microbiology major, will take you very little to study for the DAT. just do some voluntaring at your local office or maybe do what I did, go up to random Dentists and ask if you can watch them work, here in the city it's very easy because there are so many offices. You'll be surprised by the answers you get. Good luck and don't worry too much