(maybe) uncommon question

[member5670]

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Hi, everyone! I have a question regarding the number of applicants accepted into dental school each year. I've searched the internet and a great deal of the dental forums her on SDN and have been unable to find a correct/estimated number or percentage for my particular question. My question is, does anyone know how many dental school applicants (percentage or number) gain acceptance their first time applying? Is it uncommon or less likely for someone to gain acceptance their first time applying? Lastly, is it uncommon or less likely for someone who is graduating with their degree around the age of 21-23 to gain acceptance their first try?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, and sorry for any inconvenience!

 

[NMC2010]

Well accepted # would be to just add up the number of total applicants from each class, but I'm guessing you already figured that out. I have no idea about what % get in on their first attempt. I don't think this would be easy to quantify, because it's more based on the person's stats than their age. Someone that's 22 with a 3.7 and 20 on DAT with good EC's, LoR, PS, interviewing skills is more likely than someone with worse stats that is non-traditional.

I think if you keep your GPA high, do well on the DAT, and all the stuff I mentioned above is good, you will get in somewhere regardless of age. Plenty of first time applicants here on SDN have gotten accepted, and straight out of undergrad. Not sure if that answers your question the way you wanted, but hope it helped!

 

[member5670]

Well accepted # would be to just add up the number of total applicants from each class, but I'm guessing you already figured that out. I have no idea about what % get in on their first attempt. I don't think this would be easy to quantify, because it's more based on the person's stats than their age. Someone that's 22 with a 3.7 and 20 on DAT with good EC's, LoR, PS, interviewing skills is more likely than someone with worse stats that is non-traditional.

I think if you keep your GPA high, do well on the DAT, and all the stuff I mentioned above is good, you will get in somewhere regardless of age. Plenty of first time applicants here on SDN have gotten accepted, and straight out of undergrad. Not sure if that answers your question the way you wanted, but hope it helped!

Thank you! Your answer did give me a bit of clarification.

 

[HaverfoodsDDS]

Age is not really a factor - it's all about what's in your application regardless of age. 21 Years old here, accepted as a first time applicant.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2012-age-and-ds-admission-2006-2011.945567/

 

[UltimateHombre]

Like others have said, age is not too big of a deal. However, there are schools out there that fancy older, non-traditional students. That can be seen in the slight influx of their average class age in the ADEA handbook.

As far as people accepted during their 1st application cycle or not... i don't think that data exists. I did hear from a dental school dean that the average person accepted has applied an average of 1.5 times. However, that could have just been for that school and is purely anecdotal so don't put too much stalk into it.

Lastly, it is really not important to worry about these things. The magic formula to get into dental school is... Solid GPA + Solid DAT + Don't completely suck at interviewing = Dental school acceptance... It has been proven time and time again. Just worry about your academics for now!

 

[member5670]

Thanks, everyone!🙂