Maximizing my chances

[AndrewNJ]

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Hey folks.
As some background, I graduated from PENN 10 years ago with a bad GPA (2.5ish), spent 8 years in the military and have been taking post-bacc courses, working towards a second degree in Biomedical Engineering while I apply to Dental Schools. I took the DAT on 10/6 and did well enough that I decided to try and slip an application in even though its at the end of the cycle.

I was a bit surprised how my GPA calcs come out:

Undergraduate - BCP 3.48, Science 3.13, Non-Science 2.59, Total 2.77
(Thought this would be lower)

Graduate - BCP 3.50, Science 3.65, Non-Science 4.00, Total 3.69
(Thought this would be higher since my Rutgers GPA is 3.8 and will be higher after this semester)

Cumulative - BCP 3.49, Science 3.29, Non-Science 2.63, Total 2.90

All undergrad was at PENN, and all post-bacc/grad was at Rutgers, New Brunswick.

My DAT was PAT 20, QR 21, RC 24, Bio 22, GC 24, OC 23, TS 24, AA 23

I have about 100 hours shadowing, and 80 hours of community service (not counting the 8 years in the military)

I designated the following schools:

1) BU
2) Case
3) Columbia
4) NYU
5) Stony Brook
6) Temple
7) Tufts
8) Buffalo
9) UCONN
10) UMD
11) UMDNJ
12) Pitt
13) UPENN

I submitted my application on 10/25 and they just finished my GPA calcs so it should get mailed out within the week, and not a moment too soon since 3 of my schools have a 12/1 deadline. I am also a NJ resident since that will have some bearing on the state schools.

My question was whether or not there is anything I can be doing, starting now or from the mailing date to increase my chances. Does contacting the admissions departments and scheduling tours/meetings/etc... do any good? Basically, Im fishing for ideas for things I *could* be doing that I just don't know about. I recognize my chances are a lot lower this late in the cycle and I want to mitigate that to the extent that I can.

Or do I just wait and hope for the best?

 

[Maygyver]

I think the only thing that would really have helped your chances would have been applying when the cycle first opened or at least semi-early. Since you applied so late, you will get post-dec interviews, if there are spots. With that said, it might help slightly if you pick a few schools and ask if you could take a tour. This is only an advantage if you get to know some of the admissions people. It might not help you for this cycle if all of their seats are filled by the time they get a chance to review your application, but it might help for next year, if they see it as dedication.

 

[wantVCUdental]

I think you have done everything you can and you are a terrific candidate! I would be very surprised if you don't get in this cycle. You have shown you can handle tough course work and have great experiences. I am willing to put up $50 to bet that you will get accepted this cycle (given that you aren't socially ******ed).

Good luck

 

[AndrewNJ]

I think the major drawbacks for me are, in order:
1) Late application
2) Low non-science GPA because I screwed around too much at PENN
3) No research and maybe not enough "community service".

I'll take your advice and contact the admissions offices for some tours at my top choice schools, UMDNJ, Temple, and UCONN.

With how late it is, it would be impossible for pre-dec interviews, but I'm hoping for at least 1 post-dec interview. I would absolutely love to cut a year off my wait to get in.

Thanks for the advice guys. I appreciate it.

And no, I'm not socially ******ed 🙂. I am not overly extroverted, but after my time in the navy, I have no fear of public speaking or meeting/working with new people.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hey folks.
As some background, I graduated from PENN 10 years ago with a bad GPA (2.5ish), spent 8 years in the military and have been taking post-bacc courses, working towards a second degree in Biomedical Engineering while I apply to Dental Schools. I took the DAT on 10/6 and did well enough that I decided to try and slip an application in even though its at the end of the cycle.

I was a bit surprised how my GPA calcs come out:

Undergraduate - BCP 3.48, Science 3.13, Non-Science 2.59, Total 2.77
(Thought this would be lower)

Graduate - BCP 3.50, Science 3.65, Non-Science 4.00, Total 3.69
(Thought this would be higher since my Rutgers GPA is 3.8 and will be higher after this semester)

Cumulative - BCP 3.49, Science 3.29, Non-Science 2.63, Total 2.90

All undergrad was at PENN, and all post-bacc/grad was at Rutgers, New Brunswick.

My DAT was PAT 20, QR 21, RC 24, Bio 22, GC 24, OC 23, TS 24, AA 23

I have about 100 hours shadowing, and 80 hours of community service (not counting the 8 years in the military)

I designated the following schools:

1) BU
2) Case
3) Columbia
4) NYU
5) Stony Brook
6) Temple
7) Tufts
8) Buffalo
9) UCONN
10) UMD
11) UMDNJ
12) Pitt
13) UPENN

I submitted my application on 10/25 and they just finished my GPA calcs so it should get mailed out within the week, and not a moment too soon since 3 of my schools have a 12/1 deadline. I am also a NJ resident since that will have some bearing on the state schools.

My question was whether or not there is anything I can be doing, starting now or from the mailing date to increase my chances. Does contacting the admissions departments and scheduling tours/meetings/etc... do any good? Basically, Im fishing for ideas for things I *could* be doing that I just don't know about. I recognize my chances are a lot lower this late in the cycle and I want to mitigate that to the extent that I can.

Or do I just wait and hope for the best?

I would also include detroit mercy and michigan into your school's list. Those 2 schools REALLY look at the overall application and not just individual GPAs. As matter of fact, Detroit Mercy First looks at DAT (which you rocked) and then at your BCP GPA ESPECIALLY the one from most recent course work (which you seemed to have rocked your masters).

Other than that... there is really nothing you can do.

 

[AndrewNJ]

The funny thing is that I haven't actually had any graduate work. My advisor at the Rutgers Health Professions Office said that anything after your undergraduate degree is Post-bacc, so when I filled out my coursework, everything at Penn was ugrad and everything at Rutgers was post-bacc. During the GPA calcs/verification, AADSAS changed several of my Rutgers semesters from post-bacc to graduate and left the early ones at post-bacc. What I am doing now is a second undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering because thats my backup plan in case D School doesn't work out.

Regardless, I appreciate the advice and the kind words in this thread. AADSAS just updated my app to show a mailing date of next tuesday, so it looks like I'll meet all my deadlines on time, if just barely. Guess, its time to stroke those supplemental fee checks to mail out next week. 😉

I'll call to setup some tours at UMDNJ, UCONN, and Temple.