List of Schools Conundrum!

[doc1986]

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I know people are tired of the "what schools" threads but before I dish out thousands of dollars I would like some opinions =). I have been browsing SDN and the ADA Book for a while learning about different dental schools. With that said, I am ready to e-submit but will not take my DAT until July 8th. So this puts me in a difficult situation since I don't have all of my stats in to properly gauge what schools to apply to. I am unsure if I should apply to good schools now (assuming I do well on the DAT) and add more safety schools later (if I don't do so well). Is this a normal strategy or should I just apply to many now to increase my chances?

Stats:
GPAo: 3.8
GPAs: 3.6
Florida resident
150 hours dental shadowing and a bunch of community service
Lots of hours of undergrad research

Possible schools:
UF (state school so no brainer)
Nova (even though in Florida, not sure if worth the money)
UPenn
Columbia
Harvard
ASDOH (have some family in AZ)
Midwestern (same as above and new)
UCLA (love California but not sure chances if out of state)
USC (too expensive?)
Western (new and California)
NYU (expensive, but big class increases chances and in NYC)
BU
Tufts
Temple
Louisville (adding more seats I hear and not state biased)
Maryland (lots of history)
Michigan (?)
Case (? lots of people seem to apply here)
VCU (? lots of people seems to apply here also)

Should I trim this list and add some later (can you do this) or just go with it? Also, any additions you would make?

Thanks!

 

[doc1986]

Bump! Any advice??

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

I'm a FL resident too. I would take off those expensive private schools and just leave one or two (Nova..for one). I mean, if you got in..would you seriously go to that school? I asked myself that question and the answer was no. So I narrowed my choices down to a few good schools that I would really like to go to. Your GPA is go to go..how are your DAT scores?

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

......

 

[doc1986]

I'm a FL resident too. I would take off those expensive private schools and just leave one or two (Nova..for one). I mean, if you got in..would you seriously go to that school? I asked myself that question and the answer was no. So I narrowed my choices down to a few good schools that I would really like to go to. Your GPA is go to go..how are your DAT scores?

I don't take the DAT until July 8th. That was one of the tricky parts about deciding where to apply since I am e-submitting in the next couple days. That's why I am not sure if I should apply to less schools now and add more schools later if need be when I get my scores. I don't know if this is common, allowed, or even a good idea.

And yea, Nova is just too expensive and I don't know if I would go there or not also even though I am from Florida.

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

I don't take the DAT until July 8th. That was one of the tricky parts about deciding where to apply since I am e-submitting in the next couple days. That's why I am not sure if I should apply to less schools now and add more schools later if need be when I get my scores. I don't know if this is common, allowed, or even a good idea.

And yea, Nova is just too expensive and I don't know if I would go there or not also even though I am from Florida.

NYU, TUFTS and USC are all more expensive because of the area that they are in + tuition. I took every expensive school (except NOVA) off my list because I wouldn't want to pay that much. On top of that, I think it would suck really bad to get in to just NYU and then deny them because you don't want to pay that much. Just look at every school on your list and say to yourself, would I pay that money? Would I live there? Don't put any school on your list that you would never really want to go to.

 

[doc1986]

NYU, TUFTS and USC are all more expensive because of the area that they are in + tuition. I took every expensive school (except NOVA) off my list because I wouldn't want to pay that much. On top of that, I think it would suck really bad to get in to just NYU and then deny them because you don't want to pay that much. Just look at every school on your list and say to yourself, would I pay that money? Would I live there? Don't put any school on your list that you would never really want to go to.

Thanks for the advice. Anyone else have any input? Come on guys! I am about to submit!

 

[UofT9919]

Stupid question but what uni. is VCU? virgina commonwealth?

 

[dds4yrs]

Thanks for the advice. Anyone else have any input? Come on guys! I am about to submit!

I think it is really hard for people to give you advice when you haven't taken your DAT. Why don't you narrow the list down with some schools you feel confident about no matter what(the more average and where you would really enjoy going), then have a couple for if you do really well on the DAT(maybe some of the more expensive ones you are interested in), then if you don't do so hot add some schools that were at the bottom of your list(maybe the lower stat schools). You can always add more schools and it usually doesn't take that long once you have e-submitted the first time for the newly added schools to get your stuff.

 

[doc1986]

Well, what if you only got into NYU or USC, or a similarly expensive private school? You wouldn't go if that was the only school you got into? You would change your profession, perhaps do dental hygiene instead, because you only got into NYU or USC and were scared of the debt load, and didn't think you would be a successful enough dentist to pay off your loans? Really? You would give up dental school because you only got into an expensive one? That's ridiculous.

People should always have some private schools on thier list, and if you get into a cheaper school, great, perhaps go there. But if you only got into an expensive private school, just suck it up and go there, rather than changing your career and your profession, right? Thousands of people get rejected every year and don't get into any school. If you can get into one school, be grateful for it, and stop crying and complaining, because you're going to be a great dentist and you're going to be financially successful and handle that scary debt.. Again, this is not directed to the OP or to Dr. Walnuts, but just speaking in general.

I understand what you are saying but I want to emphasize that I did not say that I would not go to a school just because it was expensive (or change my career option). I know that you said it was not directed at the OP, but I just wanted to clarify my motives.

I was just wondering what people have done or would do in a similar situation where they have to apply before their DATs are in. Adding schools later might not be advantageous because it would be late. Not sure. Just trying to get some feedback.

 

[dds4yrs]

If you get your scores on July 8th and add those schools that day you are going to be fine! It really won't be "late." Especially if you end up getting awesome scores! I had friends apply end of November and they both go in 2 years ago! If you rock the DAT adding the other schools the first or 2nd week of July is not going to matter. You will still get a interview before Dec. 1 and hopefully have a Dec. 1 decision.

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

I understand what you are saying but I want to emphasize that I did not say that I would not go to a school just because it was expensive (or change my career option). I know that you said it was not directed at the OP, but I just wanted to clarify my motives.

I was just wondering what people have done or would do in a similar situation where they have to apply before their DATs are in. Adding schools later might not be advantageous because it would be late. Not sure. Just trying to get some feedback.

This person is just an angry SDNer..no need to reply. They just take what you say and twist twist twist. Obviously, I want to change my professional goals and I hate every private school. Even though Nova is on my list. No more arguing online..it's really really really pointless and a waste of energy.

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

Well, what if you only got into NYU or USC, or a similarly expensive private school? You wouldn't go if that was the only school you got into? You would change your profession, perhaps do dental hygiene instead, because you only got into NYU or USC and were scared of the debt load, and didn't think you would be a successful enough dentist to pay off your loans? Really? You would give up dental school because you only got into an expensive one? That's ridiculous.

People should always have some private schools on thier list, and if you get into a cheaper school, great, perhaps go there. But if you only got into an expensive private school, just suck it up and go there, rather than changing your career and your profession, right? Thousands of people get rejected every year and don't get into any school. If you can get into one school, be grateful for it, and stop crying and complaining, because you're going to be a great dentist and you're going to be financially successful and handle that scary debt.. Again, this is not directed to the OP or to Dr. Walnuts, but just speaking in general.

Of course it's directed at us silly. lol..if you are going to call someone out (online at that) have the courtesy to say it to my screen name. haha No hard feelings positive

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

Walnuts, if you're gonna give bad suggestions, expect someone to explain to the OP why your suggestions are ill-advised. Though in your opinion, your suggestion is helpful, in my opinion, it was counterproductive. (and some people will think that my opinion is nonsense, that's fine, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.)

It's best to have both opinions out there, so the OP can see both sides of the story and judge for themselves, right? Your suggestion is to not apply to private schools except for 1 or 2 because you wouldn't go to the other ones. You wouldn't go if it was your only acceptance? So I had to call out your ridiculousness. I tried to hedge it and say that I was speaking in generalities, but fine, I directed it at you Walnuts.

Right. I guess it comes down to that I just don't like your choice of words. It's kind of rude and although you have good points, they are masked by these rude comments. Whatever..it's just an online forum. I just don't like to be talked down to like that. No one appreciates an angry reply. I never get the urge to come online and tell people that they are giving awful advice or literally modify their response. No harsh feelings, we are just two totally different people with different viewpoints. Not a big deal.

 

[doc1986]

Sorry to break up the fighting but what do you guys think about my list. I have narrowed it down some:

UF, Nova, UPenn, Columbia, Harvard, NYU, BU, Tufts, UCLA, Louisville, Arizona

 

[DrReo]

Sorry to break up the fighting but what do you guys think about my list. I have narrowed it down some:

UF, Nova, UPenn, Columbia, Harvard, NYU, BU, Tufts, UCLA, Louisville, Arizona

Better ace the DAT for Harvard, UPenn or Columbia. Take one or two of those out for a cheaper school. For example, Buffalo...