In dire need of some motivation...

[PreDent1201]

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So I'm sure we've all been there, but I'm just at that point where I'm feeling a little down about my stats and chances of getting into Dental School. My desire to become a practicing Dentist is more than you can imagine...but for some reason, I'm starting to lose hope 🙁 I was looking at some other threads, and read about this one kid who didn't get accepted anywhere so far...even though they had an outstanding 3.7 GPA and great DATs :-/ Is it just me, or should I be worried here? I just wanna know if any of you have certain tips on how you motivate yourselves to keep going, no matter how grueling the process may be. Or even better-- to those who've already been accepted-- how did you keep yourself driven and what made you reallyy want and then get that spot? I know it'll be a bumpy ride, but I don't want to give up now, not in my junior year of college. Any helpful tips/advice??

 

[ChewyGordita]

The most important thing is to not get discouraged, especially only being a Junior in college. I just got in this year... after my 5th try. If you want it bad enough you can take the necessary steps to gain admittance into some school somewhere. It might not be your first choice, but you will ultimately get in. I never gave up. Each year I did something that made me a better candidate than the year before. I put myself in a hole my first two years of undergrad with a 2.9 GPA and I paid for it ever since.

You are the only person who can stand in your way. If this is what you really want then kick your a$s into gear and do what you need to do to set yourself apart from the rest of the field. I would say good luck, but you don't need it. Work hard and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[dentalWorks]

So I'm sure we've all been there, but I'm just at that point where I'm feeling a little down about my stats and chances of getting into Dental School. My desire to become a practicing Dentist is more than you can imagine...but for some reason, I'm starting to lose hope 🙁 I was looking at some other threads, and read about this one kid who didn't get accepted anywhere so far...even though they had an outstanding 3.7 GPA and great DATs :-/ Is it just me, or should I be worried here? I just wanna know if any of you have certain tips on how you motivate yourselves to keep going, no matter how grueling the process may be. Or even better-- to those who've already been accepted-- how did you keep yourself driven and what made you reallyy want and then get that spot? I know it'll be a bumpy ride, but I don't want to give up now, not in my junior year of college. Any helpful tips/advice??

I know who ur talking about... That dude was international, the standard for international students is different than ours.

Loosing hope / feeling discouraged / and maybe a little depressed are all normal and healthy signs of a pre-dent..... It means u actually care... I am certain that 99% of pre-dents go through what your going through right now and most of us who worry/care the most, are the ones who try the hardest and eventually succeed.

There are things that are out side of your control, example how appealing you look to adcoms (Im not talking about DAT / GPA, Im talking about your whole application in general ~ including your physical looks)

But there also things you can control, and if you do them right, they'll increase your chances... examples: applying early, applying to a good number of schools in accordance with your stats, working hard and earning high grades.... Once you have these things in order, you really can't beat ur self up anymore, u've done ur best.

Maybe this will cheer you up.... I had a 3.3 GPA, the 5 interviews I had, 4 of them were acceptances and 1 high-hold.

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Nicely said DentalWorks! The only thing you can do is try your absolute best! Don't give up hope and stay positive!

 

[molar3]

wait...what do you mean they care about our physical looks?! You mean during interviews?

 

[jirotrom]

The most important thing is to not get discouraged, especially only being a Junior in college. I just got in this year... after my 5th try. If you want it bad enough you can take the necessary steps to gain admittance into some school somewhere. It might not be your first choice, but you will ultimately get in. I never gave up. Each year I did something that made me a better candidate than the year before. I put myself in a hole my first two years of undergrad with a 2.9 GPA and I paid for it ever since.

You are the only person who can stand in your way. If this is what you really want then kick your a$s into gear and do what you need to do to set yourself apart from the rest of the field. I would say good luck, but you don't need it. Work hard and the rest will take care of itself.

👍👍👍👍

5th try... good on you for keepin your dream alive, i hope there are many students like you to surround myself with when i start.

 

[Rubber Dam Man]

5th try as well... 3 interviews : 3 acceptances

If you're passionate about something, don't let anything bring you down. There isn't anything that can't be accomplished with hard work and dedication... it all comes down to how bad you want it. Hang in there!

 

[MechZZ]

Yeah, we see 3.7's and good DAT not get in.

At the same time we see 3.4's and average DAT get in. There's more too it than just your numbers. =]

 

[dentalpath]

Definitely more to this game than just DAT score and GPA. The admissions people want to see how well rounded you are. Some applicants may have the numbers but nothing else. You absolutely need to have the volunteer hours, shadowing hours and any research experience in your application to look appealing. Out of 5000 applicants that apply, only a few hundred get interviewed. The first cut off is your numbers and then its how well you write your PS and how well you come across as a PERSON. You can do this!! Keep your head up and focus on the Goal!!

 

[DrRoyal Pains]

Molar3, they mean how attractive a person is, how well groomed they are, and how nicely dressed they are. It can go a long way.

 

[PreDent1201]

The most important thing is to not get discouraged, especially only being a Junior in college. I just got in this year... after my 5th try. If you want it bad enough you can take the necessary steps to gain admittance into some school somewhere. It might not be your first choice, but you will ultimately get in. I never gave up. Each year I did something that made me a better candidate than the year before. I put myself in a hole my first two years of undergrad with a 2.9 GPA and I paid for it ever since.

You are the only person who can stand in your way. If this is what you really want then kick your a$s into gear and do what you need to do to set yourself apart from the rest of the field. I would say good luck, but you don't need it. Work hard and the rest will take care of itself.

Ahhh, that's amazing. Bravo for your continuous efforts-- this is what I mean. I really hope all of the hard work pays off. And thank you for your advice-- you're so right about that. I think I've been my own worst enemy so far, considering I'm the only one freaking out about my grades lol. And I've got the shadowing and everything else down...just the academic part was scaring me. Just hope I conquer that interview!

 

[PreDent1201]

Wow, thanks for all your input guys! So glad there are others out there trying just as hard as I am. And Dental Works, you're right...maybe it's a good thing I'm a little worried? lol. I just don't wanna mess this up. Getting into Dental School would be like...the biggest highlight of my life, to be honest lol. And for all of you who tried more than once to get in-- I have the utmost respect for you. Can't imagine how stressful that must have been for you. But now, I'm sure it's paying off 🙂 Thanks again, everyone-- this really helped!! Good luck to you all in the future 🙂

 

[1992Corolla]

FIVE tries, that is insane! Congratulations, you must be pumped.

You just have to keep the 'fire in the belly' alive. If you really, really want it, you can get it.

 

[now2010]

Wow!!

 

[ChewyGordita]

Thanks for the congrats everyone. I worked really hard over the past five years to finally get where I am now. The best advice I could give, after GPA and DAT of course, is surround yourself with the field of dentistry. Work in a dental lab, as an assistant, shadow the different specialties, read dental magazines, join different dental forums, etc.

If you don't get in this year, keep pushing. Make yourself a better dental candidate and a better human being in that extra year. Volunteer, learn a second language, join a gym, do research, etc.

Yea I could have been done with school already, potentially making bank, relaxing on a beach somewhere, surrounded by Hawaiian Tropic girls... but if I had to do it all over I wouldn't change a thing.

Bottom line: If you want it bad enough, regardless of how long it takes, it will happen.