Just Curious

[awallace]

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I have been reading the pre-dental forum on SDN for a while now and have greatly benefited from the knowledgeable individuals who post here.

I graduated from Gonzaga in 1997 with a B.S. in Biology (GPA 3.0 L). During my sophomore year I married and had my first child. I then took one year off from school and returned to Gonzaga the following summer. I was in ROTC at the time, and still had two years left to complete the program. I graduated from Gonzaga, received an active Army commission and then went to my Officer Basic Course. Until I started my family, I had planned to go to dental school after I completed my degree. But with a new husband and baby, I went into the active Army instead. I have been in the Army ever since.

I have had a successful military career and am currently a captain in command of a company in Germany. I am 29 and now have three children, with one on the way. My husband will finish school this semester. So the time is right for a career change on my part.

I am currently applying to several dental schools (Creighton and Colorado are my top choices), and plan to take the DAT in October. I will have to fly back to the states to take it. I guess I am wondering more than anything is, because of my college grades and because I have been out of school so long, what my chances for even a glance from a dental school would be.

 

[Yah-E]

Creighton may be a bit more forgiven on your undergraduate GPA, but unfortunately Colorado will be a bit more challenging for you with your particular GPA.

From what I understand, Colorado Dental has one of the smallest dental class (around 35-40 students) in the U.S. and since it's a state school, its preference is towards in-state residents. The stats are very high and competitive.

Your main focus to do well on the DAT (aim for 20/20s). Apply to more dental schools by adding more private schools to your list. One perk that you do have is that you should receive a U.S. Arm Forces scholarship for a "full ride" with no problems since you've been in the services all that time.

Best of luck and study hard!

 

[awallace]

I am not really interested in furthering my career within the Armed Forces.

I will look into more private, and less state schools.

Thanks for your reply.
AW

 

[Brand]

Good luck awallace!! Just one peice of advice. Don't apply to Colorado. Not that it isn't a good school, its great. But, like Yah-E said it is a state school notorious for only taking in-staters.

There are plenty of great schools out there.

 

[awallace]

Will the WICHE program help me out in that arena ? I guess I failed to mention that I am a Montana resident and have applied to the WICHE program.

I am making fair progress preparing for the DAT and am looking forward to taking it in early OCT.

It is absolutely amazing how some subjects will hang in the back of your head (even after 6 years), and with little review so much is recovered.

It should be an interesting experience if nothing else.........

 

[UBTom]

Looks like that's a good thing to do, yep...

I was looking at WICHE's PSEP program and they got a list of dental schools that participate:

http://wiche.edu/SEP/PSEP/dent.htm

Those schools are supposed to give priority to WICHE applicants, so it's a good indication to which schools you might want to apply to.

Best of luck!

 

[mathnerd]

Awallace,

Never give up & don't believe everything you hear. I finished school in '99 and I have heard a different tune from everybody. Too old, GPA was too low, GPA isn't as important, outdated grades, yada yada yada. What is important -I have found- is having a solid DAT and good letters. Definitely shadow a dentist and get a letter from him/her. I think that since you are such an unusual applicant as far as your personal life goes, some schools would really like to have you in their studentbody. On the other hand, some schools seem to be interested solely in GPAs, extracurricular activities etc. & may consider you a person that may not be able to finish the curriculum if you have 4 children to care for. I'd suggest applying to schools that accept a fair number of out of state people. It is important to note that schools that do accept many o.o.s. people have higher GPAs. It is a weird situation. I'm in the same boat & anticipate getting into mainly private schools, but I have applied to a wide variety of state & private ones. I was turned down from Iowa flat out, & I have very good DAT scores. Do your homework, get your letters together as soon as you can & never, never, never give up. Best wishes.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Great to have you here on the forums. I second most of the sentiments already given.

I'd lean more towards private schools, and less toward public. Public schools can be a brutal battleground for those with shabby (or even not shabby!) GPAs.

You might have some luck at Creighton, but there are certainly many other schools around that you could apply to.

The WICHE program is around to benefit students such as yourself, and it should be a good friend to you as you pursue acceptances.

Good luck!

(#1700 -- YAAAAAAY! )

 

[rsweeney]

I have lost one battle against WICHE thus far😡

 

[awallace]

rsweeney,

You lost me on that comment.........

 

[rsweeney]

Sorry about that---I was responding to ItsGavinC's comment about WICHE. I did not notice WICHE was not explained. WICHE is selective for applicants who live on the west side of the western interstate, and I am on the east side. I made the mistake of applying to CO, before I read Gavin's post of the futility of doing such a thing or learning about WICHE. This week, I received a rejection letter form CO, because of the WICHE/out- of-state deal. Sorry🙁

-Richard