It happens to a number of us every year we spend tons of time, money, and energy applying and obsessing over getting into dental school only to be rejected from every school. Its a fact of life that there are more people applying than there are seats, so somebody has to be rejected in this game of musical dental chairs. But for those that experience it the question usually comes up at some point, Why did I get rejected when that loser from my Ochem lab who cant even tie his shoes right managed to get in? Well, heres my experience dealing with this not just once, but three times:
I started my undergrad in the fall of 2004 with the idea that I would apply to dental school, but I wasnt completely sure if thats what I wanted. I took a few science courses and began exploring the profession. It didnt take long before I knew that dentistry was for me. But knowing this didnt make the classes any easier, especially having to work full-time to support my family. My grades werent bad I passed all of my classes but I wasnt getting a lot of As in the prereq classes. Shadowing and volunteer work filled my free time as I tried to round out my application.
In the summer of 2007 I applied and took the DAT for the first time. But I wasnt nearly ready for either. I hadnt put a lot of time into studying for the DAT, reasoning that since I had been taking courses full-time that most of the material would be fresh and thinking that the test couldnt be that difficult. Wrong! I walked out of the testing center with a 17TS/18AA and only a slight hope that I might get a late interview and a possible seat somewhere. I did get a late interview, but it didnt go well. So, that was it a poor DAT score and 13 rejections for my first cycle.
Summer 2008 began my second attempt at both applying and the DAT. I signed up for a DAT prep course and put in more effort, especially in the chemistry areas. We were a bit more careful in selecting schools, eventually choosing 12. I applied early to ensure an early review before the competition from late applicants. The DAT improved, but not by much. Essentially, I scored the same in everything except my chemistry scores each went up 3 points, so I finished with a 19TS/19AA. When I got an early interview I felt like things were going to work out this cycle. Turns out it would be my only interview and I would be put on the waitlist one of those situations where everyone who interviews makes up the waitlist. But I held out hope that I might get in at the last minute. I finished my undergrad in December 2008 and began working a new job the next month.
When summer 2009 started I told my wife that I wouldnt be applying the next cycle. I reasoned that there was still hope since we were on the waitlist at a school and I hadnt really done much to improve my application in the previous months. When the rejection finally happened a few months later I was devastated that I had failed again. I decided to give up on dentistry. I hated my job, but I continued working there and got a second job to help recover the expenses from two years applying. I looked at a number of different careers and even tried to start my own business, but nothing felt right. Nothing filled the void inside from being a failure at my dream career.
I floundered in a state of depression for nearly a year, but I am very fortunate to have a loving and supportive wife. She was very patient and encouraging for me to try again, and, in the summer of 2010 I finally decided to give it another try. And this time I would do it right. I returned to school for a year of postbac work and continued to work full-time in the evenings. I retook some courses along with some other courses I had avoided taking during my undergrad. I filled the rest of my schedule with upper level sciences. It wasnt easy, but I still fit in time for shadowing and volunteering. I didnt see my family much during that year, but I managed to get As in all of courses except one, which was an A-. During that year I also decided to apply to a masters program instead of doing another year of postbac work. At the last minute a friend talked me into applying to a new, local dental school. So, I put together my third application in a matter of 4 days with all new letters of recommendation for the February 1 deadline. You guessed it I didnt get in there either. But I counted the experience as an opportunity to organize my application for the upcoming cycle, which was my original goal. I was accepted into a masters program, however.
The summer of 2011 was a busy one. Not only was I doing research in the masters program, but I was studying for a third attempt at the DAT at least 30 hours a week, working part-time, and applying for a fourth time. We carefully chose 10 schools for this cycle. On June 1 I made sure that my application was complete, submitted, and that my transcripts were put in the mail. I was fortunate to be in the first batch mailed out this time. I studied with a friend who was also reapplying and retaking the DAT. We pooled our study resources and knowledge and I put in everything I had to make sure this last attempt would be the best by far. Considering my past experience, I set a pretty lofty goal of a 25AA. The week of the DAT I began to worry, as I took a full-length practice test each day that week and I scored a 21AA on each test. Based on my past experience I didnt think a 21AA would do that much for my application. Luckily, the real DAT was easier than those practice tests and I scored a 22TS/23AA. I was initially disappointed that I hadnt reached my 25AA goal, but that disappointment soon faded when I realized that I had scored a 23AA! I knew deep down inside that this time I was going to get accepted.
The next week I began faxing my DAT scores to the schools. The very next day I got my first interview invite and I knew that this was the year for me! But by the time I interviewed in late September I hadnt heard anything from other schools and I began to doubt. I had done this before, the early interview followed by months of silence only to be rejected by everyone. But in early October it finally happened a second interview! On December 1 I waited eagerly for an acceptance from one of the two schools, but it never came. I was kind of sad that I would never know the thrill of an acceptance on December 1, but I was still hopeful. Then the rejections began coming in and I wasnt getting any more interviews. By the end of January I had received four rejections to go along with my two interviews. The only thing I could do was hope for more interviews, but I knew my chances were slim.
But it happened! I received an interview in February and another in late March. After the interviews were complete I expected to have to wait well into the summer for a possible acceptance. The day after I returned from my March interview I got the unexpected an acceptance call! It was unreal and I was so happy that all of the work we had put into my application had finally paid off. I received my acceptance packet, filled it all out, and put my deposit in the mail. That was last Wednesday. I was satisfied and completely content. On Thursday I was accepted to two more schools, one of the two being my top choice! Luckily, I was able to cancel the check I put in the mail the day before. And here I am now, with three acceptances from four interviews this cycle and preparing to move across the country to start dental school. I finally belong in dentistry!
For those of you applying now and those of you who dont get in your first time applying: learn from my mistakes. Put in the work early and often. Guard your GPA closely and make the DAT count the first time you take it. If you dont get in your first time then dont just reapply because thats what everyone wants you to do. Make sure that you have actually improved your application. Otherwise you are wasting time and money. If you really want to be a part of dentistry, then the effort it takes to get into dental school will be well worth it. I hope nobody else has to endure what I did to get to dental school, but it will surely happen if you dont understand what it takes and arent willing to give it your best. In hindsight I can see that I wasnt ready for dental school the first two times I applied and I am glad that I was not accepted, but at the time I couldnt see it.
If at first you dont succeed, try, try again ..and again, and again, and again if necessary!
I started my undergrad in the fall of 2004 with the idea that I would apply to dental school, but I wasnt completely sure if thats what I wanted. I took a few science courses and began exploring the profession. It didnt take long before I knew that dentistry was for me. But knowing this didnt make the classes any easier, especially having to work full-time to support my family. My grades werent bad I passed all of my classes but I wasnt getting a lot of As in the prereq classes. Shadowing and volunteer work filled my free time as I tried to round out my application.
In the summer of 2007 I applied and took the DAT for the first time. But I wasnt nearly ready for either. I hadnt put a lot of time into studying for the DAT, reasoning that since I had been taking courses full-time that most of the material would be fresh and thinking that the test couldnt be that difficult. Wrong! I walked out of the testing center with a 17TS/18AA and only a slight hope that I might get a late interview and a possible seat somewhere. I did get a late interview, but it didnt go well. So, that was it a poor DAT score and 13 rejections for my first cycle.
Summer 2008 began my second attempt at both applying and the DAT. I signed up for a DAT prep course and put in more effort, especially in the chemistry areas. We were a bit more careful in selecting schools, eventually choosing 12. I applied early to ensure an early review before the competition from late applicants. The DAT improved, but not by much. Essentially, I scored the same in everything except my chemistry scores each went up 3 points, so I finished with a 19TS/19AA. When I got an early interview I felt like things were going to work out this cycle. Turns out it would be my only interview and I would be put on the waitlist one of those situations where everyone who interviews makes up the waitlist. But I held out hope that I might get in at the last minute. I finished my undergrad in December 2008 and began working a new job the next month.
When summer 2009 started I told my wife that I wouldnt be applying the next cycle. I reasoned that there was still hope since we were on the waitlist at a school and I hadnt really done much to improve my application in the previous months. When the rejection finally happened a few months later I was devastated that I had failed again. I decided to give up on dentistry. I hated my job, but I continued working there and got a second job to help recover the expenses from two years applying. I looked at a number of different careers and even tried to start my own business, but nothing felt right. Nothing filled the void inside from being a failure at my dream career.
I floundered in a state of depression for nearly a year, but I am very fortunate to have a loving and supportive wife. She was very patient and encouraging for me to try again, and, in the summer of 2010 I finally decided to give it another try. And this time I would do it right. I returned to school for a year of postbac work and continued to work full-time in the evenings. I retook some courses along with some other courses I had avoided taking during my undergrad. I filled the rest of my schedule with upper level sciences. It wasnt easy, but I still fit in time for shadowing and volunteering. I didnt see my family much during that year, but I managed to get As in all of courses except one, which was an A-. During that year I also decided to apply to a masters program instead of doing another year of postbac work. At the last minute a friend talked me into applying to a new, local dental school. So, I put together my third application in a matter of 4 days with all new letters of recommendation for the February 1 deadline. You guessed it I didnt get in there either. But I counted the experience as an opportunity to organize my application for the upcoming cycle, which was my original goal. I was accepted into a masters program, however.
The summer of 2011 was a busy one. Not only was I doing research in the masters program, but I was studying for a third attempt at the DAT at least 30 hours a week, working part-time, and applying for a fourth time. We carefully chose 10 schools for this cycle. On June 1 I made sure that my application was complete, submitted, and that my transcripts were put in the mail. I was fortunate to be in the first batch mailed out this time. I studied with a friend who was also reapplying and retaking the DAT. We pooled our study resources and knowledge and I put in everything I had to make sure this last attempt would be the best by far. Considering my past experience, I set a pretty lofty goal of a 25AA. The week of the DAT I began to worry, as I took a full-length practice test each day that week and I scored a 21AA on each test. Based on my past experience I didnt think a 21AA would do that much for my application. Luckily, the real DAT was easier than those practice tests and I scored a 22TS/23AA. I was initially disappointed that I hadnt reached my 25AA goal, but that disappointment soon faded when I realized that I had scored a 23AA! I knew deep down inside that this time I was going to get accepted.
The next week I began faxing my DAT scores to the schools. The very next day I got my first interview invite and I knew that this was the year for me! But by the time I interviewed in late September I hadnt heard anything from other schools and I began to doubt. I had done this before, the early interview followed by months of silence only to be rejected by everyone. But in early October it finally happened a second interview! On December 1 I waited eagerly for an acceptance from one of the two schools, but it never came. I was kind of sad that I would never know the thrill of an acceptance on December 1, but I was still hopeful. Then the rejections began coming in and I wasnt getting any more interviews. By the end of January I had received four rejections to go along with my two interviews. The only thing I could do was hope for more interviews, but I knew my chances were slim.
But it happened! I received an interview in February and another in late March. After the interviews were complete I expected to have to wait well into the summer for a possible acceptance. The day after I returned from my March interview I got the unexpected an acceptance call! It was unreal and I was so happy that all of the work we had put into my application had finally paid off. I received my acceptance packet, filled it all out, and put my deposit in the mail. That was last Wednesday. I was satisfied and completely content. On Thursday I was accepted to two more schools, one of the two being my top choice! Luckily, I was able to cancel the check I put in the mail the day before. And here I am now, with three acceptances from four interviews this cycle and preparing to move across the country to start dental school. I finally belong in dentistry!
For those of you applying now and those of you who dont get in your first time applying: learn from my mistakes. Put in the work early and often. Guard your GPA closely and make the DAT count the first time you take it. If you dont get in your first time then dont just reapply because thats what everyone wants you to do. Make sure that you have actually improved your application. Otherwise you are wasting time and money. If you really want to be a part of dentistry, then the effort it takes to get into dental school will be well worth it. I hope nobody else has to endure what I did to get to dental school, but it will surely happen if you dont understand what it takes and arent willing to give it your best. In hindsight I can see that I wasnt ready for dental school the first two times I applied and I am glad that I was not accepted, but at the time I couldnt see it.
If at first you dont succeed, try, try again ..and again, and again, and again if necessary!
