Low uGPA, relatively high gGPA and DAT, and good LoR + EC

[ThatoneKorean]

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Hi as the title says I have a low overall uGPA ( 2.86 ) but an above average gGPA ( 3.66, I am assuming it's above average since my Grad director said the average GPA is 3.4-3.5 ) and DAT ( 22 ). Other thing to mention is that I have an upward undergrad trend ( 1.86 in my Freshman year to a 3.52 average during my senior year ).

Letter of recommendation

As for LoR wise, I have 2 from my undergraduate science professors, 1 from a graduate professor that also teaches at the medical school, and 1 from my dentist that I have been shadowing for 2 years back in undergrad. I am pretty sure they are all amazing since I got A's for their courses, I interacted with them a lot after class and during office hours, and they all even offered a " mini-interview " when I asked for a letter.

Extracurricular

- 400~ hours of shadowing ( General dentist = 300~ hours, Specialist = 100~ hours )
- Worked as a medical scribe for 1.5 years and currently project manager at the medical school I am currently doing masters in
- Public relation manager for my undergraduates Pre-dental society
- Worked at a specialist office for 1.5 years during undergraduate where I worked as a receptionist and a " translator " for people that didn't speak English as their primary language.
- ~150 hours of research in grad school ( the grad professor that I got the LoR was also the head researcher as well )
- Other non-medical/dental related EC's ( ex: Eagle scout coordinator, chemistry tutor, etc )

I am planning to apply this coming cycle and want to see if there is anyone or if you know anyone that got in with stats/circumstance similar to mine

 

[sobertiger]

You have a great shot at getting into most private schools and some public schools. Top public schools or Ivy will be tougher.

 

[Dental2293]

You have a great shot at getting into most private schools and some public schools. Top public schools or Ivy will be tougher.

What are some “top public schools” that you’re referring to?

 

[nightowl54]

Top public schools include UConn, UMichigan, and the UCs, among others.

 

[rk1229]

Agreed, good shot at private schools. They seem to love a comeback story

 

[B4SS]

Oh wow. So, I’m essentially your clone. I had a 2.8 uGPA (2.1 first 2 years), 3.77 gGPA, 24AA/24TS/25RC, nothing under 21. I made the mistake of applying to only 8 schools, 5 being on the harder-top tier type schools. I also did not seek guidance on putting my application together. I managed a couple interviews w/ rejection. My advice is to apply to 12-15 schools in June and go over the application with a councilor and other connections (at least that’s my improved plan to get into school). I attribute my not being granted admission to a poorly put together application and not picking the right or enough schools.

Other fun fact... I’ve worked over a year as a medical scribe as well. Haha.

 

[ThatoneKorean]

Oh wow. So, I’m essentially your clone. I had a 2.8 uGPA (2.1 first 2 years), 3.77 gGPA, 24AA/24TS/25RC, nothing under 21. I made the mistake of applying to only 8 schools, 5 being on the harder-top tier type schools. I also did not seek guidance on putting my application together. I managed a couple interviews w/ rejection. My advice is to apply to 12-15 schools in June and go over the application with a councilor and other connections (at least that’s my improved plan to get into school). I attribute my not being granted admission to a poorly put together application and not picking the right or enough schools.

Other fun fact... I’ve worked over a year as a medical scribe as well. Haha.

If I mind asking, where did you apply to and which schools did you get an interview at?

 

[B4SS]

If I mind asking, where did you apply to and which schools did you get an interview at?

UoP, UCLA, UCSF, UPenn, Columbia, Tufts, Case western, Western U. Interview at tufts w/ rejection. Might reapply to UCSF due to personal connections and reasons, but most likely none of the others and apply a handful of easier schools.

 

[ThatoneKorean]

UoP, UCLA, UCSF, UPenn, Columbia, Tufts, Case western, Western U. Interview at tufts w/ rejection. Might reapply to UCSF due to personal connections and reasons, but most likely none of the others and apply a handful of easier schools.

Oh so you only got an interview from Tufts?

 

[Soleus715]

I had 3.0 gpa/sgpa with 23 DAT. I was 3 years out of undergrad. I applied to 21 schools with 1 interview -> 1 waitlist -> 1 acceptance and 20 rejections.

Just to put things into perspective, I am starting D4 year soon at the top of my class having passed every single exam including boards.
I can't even begin to imagine that if I had chosen not to apply to UNE, I might very well be doing something completely unrelated to dentistry.
Yes, I paid a LOT of money to apply... but had I applied to any fewer schools, I would not be where I am today.

Hopefully my story can encourage you a bit, I know it can get quite stressful during application cycles.
Call schools and ask what they would like to see. If you have a good overall application that persuades the admissions staff, just one acceptance is all you need.

 

[ThatoneKorean]

I had 3.0 gpa/sgpa with 23 DAT. I was 3 years out of undergrad. I applied to 21 schools with 1 interview -> 1 waitlist -> 1 acceptance and 20 rejections.

Just to put things into perspective, I am starting D4 year soon at the top of my class having passed every single exam including boards.
I can't even begin to imagine that if I had chosen not to apply to UNE, I might very well be doing something completely unrelated to dentistry.
Yes, I paid a LOT of money to apply... but had I applied to any fewer schools, I would not be where I am today.

Hopefully my story can encourage you a bit, I know it can get quite stressful during application cycles.
Call schools and ask what they would like to see. If you have a good overall application that persuades the admissions staff, just one acceptance is all you need.

I talked with admissions officers from NYU/BU/Columbia and they all said I have good chance of getting in ( especially BU ), but I feel like a lot of people in SDN with close stats as mine have different experiences with people getting only 1~2 or even no interviews at all even though they applied to like 15+ schools. What school did you apply to? Were they mostly public school?