Is this just a crazy year or what?

[Dentista08]

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Wow i just can't believe how competitive this app cycle has been! Is next year going to get ever worse? Last year I was wait listed (prior to the interview) at USC in February, and rejected in April. This year, with the great DAT improvement, a B.S. degree achievement, addition of research experience, new and better LORS, more volunteer work etc ect, NOTHING! I was sure i was gonna get an interview, and thats what usc told me when i went to talk to their advisors!!! So sad... 🙁
Any suggestion what to do for reapplication in May? (except to retake the dat of course) What do they want? Cause when I asked them- they said i was all good to go!!!!

 

[cybermech]

You're right. Stats averages and numbers of students applying have been increasing steadily. It's likely that they will continue to increase next cycle. You need to be prepared for this.

So, there are a few things I would do... Although, your GPAs aren't that bad, they're still not as high as you might like them to be. If you're very patient and motivated, I'd suggest taking a year of post-bac classes at an institution that'll report spring term grades before May 15. If you choose this route, I'd retake the DAT and shoot for a 19+ AA. Looking at your scores, you're very even across the board, which is a good thing. If you keep on studying all subjects, I'm confident that you can score that 19 or even a 20+.

If you apply again this May, I would reschedule a DAT before May 15 and study for it like mad. If you do this option, you will most likely need to score a 20+ to have a serious chance.

Either way, you MUST apply to 20-30 schools, erring on the side of private schools with lower GPA/DAT averages. This is the only way to increase your chances without increasing your stats.

Good luck.

 

[doc toothache]

Wow i just can't believe how competitive this app cycle has been! Is next year going to get ever worse? Last year I was wait listed (prior to the interview) at USC in February, and rejected in April. This year, with the great DAT improvement, a B.S. degree achievement, addition of research experience, new and better LORS, more volunteer work etc ect, NOTHING!

Perhaps the "great DAT improvement" was not enough to offset the low gpa.

 

[PDizzle]

I agree with Cyber.

It looks like a GPA 3.5+ and a DAT 20+ (with no score under 18) is the safe range to shoot for. Nothing else on your app even comes close in importance to getting into that range (LOR's, EC, Rresearch, etc)

 

[chober]

Yea it seems pretty crazy this year, I'm considering retaking the DATs and shooting for 23+ and doing some mission trips this summer. My GPA on the other hand is probably not gonna move by much.

 

[doc toothache]

Yea it seems pretty crazy this year, I'm considering retaking the DATs and shooting for 23+ and doing some mission trips this summer. My GPA on the other hand is probably not gonna move by much.

Since you are already in the top 6% an additional boost is unlikely to sway adcoms. Moreover, there is always the potential of the attempt backfiring.

 

[chocltcake]

You're right. Stats averages and numbers of students applying have been increasing steadily. It's likely that they will continue to increase next cycle. You need to be prepared for this.

So, there are a few things I would do... Although, your GPAs aren't that bad, they're still not as high as you might like them to be. If you're very patient and motivated, I'd suggest taking a year of post-bac classes at an institution that'll report spring term grades before May 15. If you choose this route, I'd retake the DAT and shoot for a 19+ AA. Looking at your scores, you're very even across the board, which is a good thing. If you keep on studying all subjects, I'm confident that you can score that 19 or even a 20+.

If you apply again this May, I would reschedule a DAT before May 15 and study for it like mad. If you do this option, you will most likely need to score a 20+ to have a serious chance.

Either way, you MUST apply to 20-30 schools, erring on the side of private schools with lower GPA/DAT averages. This is the only way to increase your chances without increasing your stats.

Good luck.

Please don't do this!!!! That is an obscene number of schools to apply to! pick the ones you are interested in and have a shot at getting into.

 

[chober]

Please don't do this!!!! That is an obscene number of schools to apply to! pick the ones you are interested in and have a shot at getting into.

It seems like the competition has picked up alot and there doesn't really seem to be "easy" schools like it would have been if we have applied several years ago. Getting interviews seem to be more of a crapshoot especially for those with lower stats, unless there is something exemplary sticking out of their EC.

 

[eternalxdemon]

Wow i just can't believe how competitive this app cycle has been! Is next year going to get ever worse? Last year I was wait listed (prior to the interview) at USC in February, and rejected in April. This year, with the great DAT improvement, a B.S. degree achievement, addition of research experience, new and better LORS, more volunteer work etc ect, NOTHING! I was sure i was gonna get an interview, and thats what usc told me when i went to talk to their advisors!!! So sad... 🙁
Any suggestion what to do for reapplication in May? (except to retake the dat of course) What do they want? Cause when I asked them- they said i was all good to go!!!!

Apply earlier. 🙂 don't submit in july... shoot for june... preferably the first day.... 🙂

 

[somethinpositiv]

Yea it seems pretty crazy this year, I'm considering retaking the DATs and shooting for 23+ and doing some mission trips this summer. My GPA on the other hand is probably not gonna move by much.

You'd be better off spending that time doing a SMP and getting 3.8+.

 

[206127]

Please don't do this!!!! That is an obscene number of schools to apply to! pick the ones you are interested in and have a shot at getting into.

No it's not, I applied to 34 schools. I was interviewed by schools who I didn't think would really give me a shot. Marquette, Columbia, Loma Linda, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and UNLV. As a matter of fact I added Columbia, Marquette, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh a few weeks after submitting my AADSAS because a friend told me "hey you never know, and what's 4 more schools". Obviously I was interested in these schools but I didn't think I had a shot at getting into them. Glad my friend didn't give me your advice.

 

[IdahoDoc]

No it's not, I applied to 34 schools. I was interviewed by schools who I didn't think would really give me a shot. Marquette, Columbia, Loma Linda, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and UNLV. As a matter of fact I added Columbia, Marquette, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh a few weeks after submitting my AADSAS because a friend told me "hey you never know, and what's 4 more schools". Obviously I was interested in these schools but I didn't think I had a shot at getting into them. Glad my friend didn't give me your advice.

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

 

[doc toothache]

It seems like the competition has picked up alot and there doesn't really seem to be "easy" schools like it would have been if we have applied several years ago. Getting interviews seem to be more of a crapshoot especially for those with lower stats, unless there is something exemplary sticking out of their EC.

Makes for a good story to tell grandchildren about-how difficult it was to get into ds in the old days, kind of like the story our grandparents tell about walking for miles in the snow to get to school.

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

Unless, of course, the minority is Asian in which case they need to perform better.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=563953

 

[206127]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=563953

 

[chocltcake]

No it's not, I applied to 34 schools. I was interviewed by schools who I didn't think would really give me a shot. Marquette, Columbia, Loma Linda, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, and UNLV. As a matter of fact I added Columbia, Marquette, Ohio State, and Pittsburgh a few weeks after submitting my AADSAS because a friend told me "hey you never know, and what's 4 more schools". Obviously I was interested in these schools but I didn't think I had a shot at getting into them. Glad my friend didn't give me your advice.

That's all it really is, a piece of advice. Applying to dental school is expensive, and based on my experience that many schools seems like a lot! Maybe for some people it's worth it (I'm glad it worked out for you!), but its not something I would have done or would recommend to someone else.

 

[PrincessDDS]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

Sooooo, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, but obviously since he applied to 34 schools and only got into two as a minority (no offense to futuredentist, still a great achievement) the other schools still must have been comparing him to the other "non minorities" and decided not to grant him admission for whatever reason. So the statement about not being required to perform as well if you're a minority kinda falls by the waist-side. Plenty of minorities perform VERY well and get into the top schools of their choice.

 

[supraman]

you spoke to soon princess lol

 

[shoombol tallah]

"Unless, of course, the minority is Asian in which case they need to perform better."



I'd like to add persians to that too 🙂

 

[Dentista08]

you spoke to soon princess lol

Hehe yes, you had faith in both of us all along, thank you for that! I hope our wish can come true this year!
Thank you everyone for your feedback and advice. I just got an interview from Tufts, which I'm ecstatic about!

 

[DrReo]

Dentista, did you call Tufts at all?

 

[Dentista08]

Dentista, did you call Tufts at all?

Did i call them before i got the email or after? I just got the email today at 4pm my time, which is 7pm their time, so I will call bright & early tomorrow to set up a day. I emailed them before telling them how much i was interested & also called when i was in boston January 3-8th, however they told me I could not visit or anything without an invite.

 

[DrEagleMike]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

Dude, IdahoDoc...What are you talking about? You totally pulled that "3 points on AA" out of your butt!!! I'm not going to lie, it makes you sound like an idiot/bigot. Every applicant is required to meet specific requirements and is compared to everyone else! Anyone who gets accepted is qualified.
It sounded like you said that with some resentment...have you not been accepted anywhere?

 

[DrEagleMike]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

Okay, I got it. I just checked your predents which clarifies some, unless you haven't updated your profile. It appears that you haven't been accepted anywhere or even interviewed anywhere. Your sci gpa is below average. Your Bio, reading, and math DAT scores are low. You have an AA of 18, which is below average. Were you wishing you were a minority so that you could've been accepted somewhere? I'm confident that a minority with those same stats would be in your same position right now...hoping to get in somewhere.

regardless, I'm very curious of what your original comment was for. seriously. Exactly, what exactly are you exactly trying to say exactly?

 

[NyCzPeter]

Okay, I got it. I just checked your predents which clarifies some, unless you haven't updated your profile. It appears that you haven't been accepted anywhere or even interviewed anywhere. Your sci gpa is below average. Your Bio, reading, and math DAT scores are low. You have an AA of 18, which is below average. Were you wishing you were a minority so that you could've been accepted somewhere? I'm confident that a minority with those same stats would be in your same position right now...hoping to get in somewhere.

regardless, I'm very curious of what your original comment was for. seriously. Exactly, what exactly are you exactly trying to say exactly?

Hes saying there is such a thing as affirmative action, hence the existence of the term. Look it up, "The term affirmative action refers to policies that take gender, race, or ethnicity into account in an attempt to promote equal opportunity." "In 2003 a Supreme Court decision concerning affirmative action in universities allowed educational institutions to consider race as a factor in admitting students."

Therefore it is something that exists, and it may or may not be used by each particular school which appears to be at their discretion. There are countless court cases and debates involving affirmative action. So please stop pretending it doesn't exist.

I understand that minorities may feel that affirmative action somehow taints their achievement, and I think that is one of the biggest problems to affirmative action. However, simply ignoring the issue and pretending it doesn't exist will not solve anything.

 

[ads]

Does anyone know if there is a site that gives the breakdown of the national averages in each section of the DAT? Thanks...

 

[doc toothache]

Does anyone know if there is a site that gives the breakdown of the national averages in each section of the DAT? Thanks...

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=597800

 

[DrEagleMike]

Hes saying there is such a thing as affirmative action, hence the existence of the term. Look it up, "The term affirmative action refers to policies that take gender, race, or ethnicity into account in an attempt to promote equal opportunity." "In 2003 a Supreme Court decision concerning affirmative action in universities allowed educational institutions to consider race as a factor in admitting students."

Therefore it is something that exists, and it may or may not be used by each particular school which appears to be at their discretion. There are countless court cases and debates involving affirmative action. So please stop pretending it doesn't exist.

I understand that minorities may feel that affirmative action somehow taints their achievement, and I think that is one of the biggest problems to affirmative action. However, simply ignoring the issue and pretending it doesn't exist will not solve anything.

I'm aware of affirmative action. That only prevents discrimination, right? As far as I understand. That doesn't mean that unqualified minorities are being admitted...right? I don't ignore the issue. I just dislike hearing statements that minorities are admitted with lower stats, which I don't believe is the case.

 

[klutzy1987]

I'm aware of affirmative action. That only prevents discrimination, right? As far as I understand. That doesn't mean that unqualified minorities are being admitted...right? I don't ignore the issue. I just dislike hearing statements that minorities are admitted with lower stats, which I don't believe is the case.

Get a grip, we all know that Affirmative action is in actuality reverse dizscimination, but its legal. Minorities get accepted with the same or lower stats than non-minorities. The sole reason for this is because they are a minority. Look at Howard and Meharry, both are minority colleges and look at their admission standards, requirement 1 is that you are a minority and requirement 2 is that you have subpar stats. I understand why he may be bitter and I sympathize with him but that is life. It may be discrimination but is legal.

 

[gogobruin]

the ecom is getting worse...i think more and more ppl will apply for school next year! Good luck on ur application!

 

[grillzdds]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

Dont blame IdahoDoc........hes from Idaho...he doesnt know any better.

 

[dent2009]

Haha.

Dont blame IdahoDoc........hes from Idaho...he doesnt know any better.

 

[Dental Mom]

There is a big difference (about 3 points on the AA of your DAT) when you apply as a minority. Lets face it for whatever reason you aren't required to perform as well if your a minority.

I'm a latina, and 1/2 black. I'm not counting on my nationality to help me to get in. I'm killing my self to get high grades and what not. I asked one adcom at my #1 choice school about this minority thing, and she said that if 2 candidates have the same qualifications, they will take the minority candidate, BUT then she added not 2 applicants are the same.....😕

I don't think they accept minorities if they don't think that you can handle their program or pass the boards....

 

[Ranelar]

Tufts has someone whose working title is actually "Minority Recruiter". So obviously they're interested in picking minority applicants, and possibly even favoring them.

 

[dent2009]

Temple has one of those minority recruiters as well. I wouldn't be surprised if more schools had them.

Tufts has someone whose working title is actually "Minority Recruiter". So obviously they're interested in picking minority applicants, and possibly even favoring them.