I was wondering if...

[Doh Boy Fresh]

If i have a chance to get into either Columbia or Penn:

Here are my stats:

AA: 21
PAT:20
GPA:3.61
BCP:3.64

- 100 hours of volunteering
- 100 hours of dental shadowing
- trip to a foreign country specifically for dental experience
- Lots of experience serving and representing underrepresented minorities
- 1 semester of research
- Several Leadership position in clubs including:
1. student govt --> elected rep. of 43,000 students.
2. Volunteer Co-chair
3. academic outreach Co-chair
4. Chancellor's advisory committee Co-chair/Chair
5. Another Committee Chair
6.


Here is the question: should i consider re-taking the DAT? what else can I do to improve my application, besides more research?

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[superfinger45]

,

 

[Doh Boy Fresh]

I"m not asking for an obnoxious reply back, nor am I fishing for compliments. I want constructive criticism. And, mostly, I'm asking if I can allow myself to hope to get into these schools.

 

[rollypolly]

I"m not asking for an obnoxious reply back, nor am I fishing for compliments. I want constructive criticism. And, mostly, I'm asking if I can allow myself to hope to get into these schools.

I think you have hope of getting into either of those schools. Check out predents.com for the stats of people that were accepted to those schools this year. There are several people that have stats similar to yours that were accepted. I definitely wouldn't retake the DAT. You wouldn't want your scores to go down.

 

[UNR.Grad]

If you get your app in by June 1st and have solid letteres of rec, I would say you will get an interview at both. The 25 in GC will catch their attention, but you'll need to do well in the interview.

 

[ummjoey]

your stats look good. do what UNR.Grad said.

here are some others you can do

-start on personal statement.
-make sure to be on top of all your application stuff(ask for transcripts and letters to be sent at a good time so all your stuff make it to AADSAS in a timely manner).
-learn about the application.
-i thought there are a lot of "tricky" things on the application.
-make sure when you get secondaries start them right away.
-but dont rush your application make sure you fill everything out well with no grammar errors.
-dont be lazy.

 

[Frederico Albin]

hahahah is that guy insane? When was a 21 considered a low score?

 

[ummjoey]

^ i think he was being sarcastic............

 

[rose786]

Someone needs to adjust their Sarcasm Radar.

 

[sajjy]

Someone needs to adjust their Sarcasm Radar.

PEEP PEEP PEEP----Sarcadar signal detected!!!!

 

[Doh Boy Fresh]

This might be a stupid question, but do most schools have secondaries? I only ask because there is almost NO mention on any of their websites about secondaries?

 

[blankguy]

This might be a stupid question, but do most schools have secondaries? I only ask because there is almost NO mention on any of their websites about secondaries?

A few do have secondaries. I don't know if it is most since I've only applied to a fraction of the total number of dental schools. If you want to know call up the schools you are interested because those are handled by each school not by AADSAS.

 

[curiosteph]

Penn has a secondary but its not too brutal. Just more detail about yourself!

 

[blankguy]

Arizona has a secondary asking you to write essays. It is a pain to do.
Creighton has a secondary that isn't too bad.

 

[blasterx]

If i have a chance to get into either Columbia or Penn:

Here are my stats:

AA: 21
PAT:20
GPA:3.61
BCP:3.64

- 100 hours of volunteering
- 100 hours of dental shadowing
- trip to a foreign country specifically for dental experience
- Lots of experience serving and representing underrepresented minorities
- 1 semester of research
- Several Leadership position in clubs including:
1. student govt --> elected rep. of 43,000 students.
2. Volunteer Co-chair
3. academic outreach Co-chair
4. Chancellor's advisory committee Co-chair/Chair
5. Another Committee Chair
6.


Here is the question: should i consider re-taking the DAT? what else can I do to improve my application, besides more research?

You and I have nearly an identical applications ( http://www.predents.com/?page=user&user_id=2296 ). That being said, I was interviewed & waitlisted at Penn and still haven't heard anything from Columbia.

 

[Doh Boy Fresh]

SO? do I consider a re-take of my DAT if I am determined to get into those 2 schools?

 

[JMJRDH1]

SO? do I consider a re-take of my DAT if I am determined to get into those 2 schools?

Not simply because you and another appplicant have similar stats.

There are certainly many other applicants with very similar scores, some will get accepted and some will not. It is the total package + excellent interview that makes the final difference. I know it is hard to help ourselves from doing it, but try not to focus solely on your DAT score.

Overall your stats are pretty solid IMO, and you have more to lose than gain by retaking the DAT.

1. Retake and get a higher score:

2. Retake and get the same score: wasted time, money and stress

3. Retake and get a lower score:

Whatever you decide, take heart in the fact that with those stats you should get in somewhere, just maybe not your first or second choice.

Good Luck

 

[Greensalad]

Penn looks for personality and character more than anything, alongside great DAT and GPA.

Columbia looks for high DAT, so if you want in Columbia, 21 or 22 AA will give a 90% chance of an interview, but a 23 AA will guarantee you acceptance 90%.