Minority? White? Other? Does it really matter?

[pre-dentalguy]

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Okay guys, I'm reading a lot of theads and I don't understand what the big deal is about applying to certain based on your ethnicity. Of course, yes, I'm a minority, but just because your white doesn't mean that you won't get accepted to Howard or Meharry or wherever.

Am I right or am I wrong here? Give me your thoughts!

If I'm missing something here, fill me in!


Pre-dentalguy

 

[aggie-master]

Grades and DAT matter more than anything.

Hit the books and bring your grades up.

 

[OSUDDS]

Grades and DAT matter more than anything.

Hit the books and bring your grades up.

Agreed.

 

[QuackDentist]

Okay guys, I'm reading a lot of theads and I don't understand what the big deal is about applying to certain based on your ethnicity. Of course, yes, I'm a minority, but just because your white doesn't mean that you won't get accepted to Howard or Meharry or wherever.

Am I right or am I wrong here? Give me your thoughts!

If I'm missing something here, fill me in!


Pre-dentalguy

I agree with you. Howard and Meharry are known for having a lot of minority students. But, I heard from someone that Howard is actually very diverse. It's just a very stressful time for everyone so everyone is extra worried. I do hope that I get into both, though. 🙂

 

[djeffreyt]

Okay guys, I'm reading a lot of theads and I don't understand what the big deal is about applying to certain based on your ethnicity. Of course, yes, I'm a minority, but just because your white doesn't mean that you won't get accepted to Howard or Meharry or wherever.

Am I right or am I wrong here? Give me your thoughts!

If I'm missing something here, fill me in!


Pre-dentalguy

Well of course you CAN get accepted to Howard or Meharry or wherever if you have good stats despite your race and ethnicity. All anyone really has said or means is that there is a selective advantage to being a minority at certain schools...an advantage does not necessarily mean a total and unilateral refusal of all students without that advantage. Historically, those two schools have favored taking students from certain ethnic backgrounds. Now even fewer students not of those backgrounds bother to apply to those schools, and the cycle will go on.

 

[SugarNaCl]

I was rejected from Meharry and man, their stats are very far against whites. In an 80-90 person class last year, only 9 caucasians were admitted. When people applying get rejected without any consideration early on in the cycle with higher stats than Meharry's average, it seems to be skewed a LOT. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Many schools only accept 9 blacks for the same number of seats. Not fair, definitely, but ethnicity based acceptances seem to be very well known for certain schools. Im sure you all knew this. Best of luck to everyone 🙂 Chins up!

 

[maksidaa]

if anyone thinks race doesn't matter in the whole dental school application process they're kidding themselves. schools may say they're "equal opportunity" but that means many of them have quotas that they like to fill for each ethnic background and thus ensure a "diverse" student body. when you apply to a school you're not competing against everyone else who applied. you're applying against the other students like you, i.e. out of state vs in state, white vs not white, male vs female, etc.
fair or not it's how things are done.

 

[tissy]

I agree with you 100%!! I don't have the best stats but I have a unique background/volunteer and minority. My point is I've recieved two phone calls and the calls were from recruiters of admissions in underresprented backgrounds asking me about my application fee and LOR's. So I think you're right!

if anyone thinks race doesn't matter in the whole dental school application process they're kidding themselves. schools may say they're "equal opportunity" but that means many of them have quotas that they like to fill for each ethnic background and thus ensure a "diverse" student body. when you apply to a school you're not competing against everyone else who applied. you're applying against the other students like you, i.e. out of state vs in state, white vs not white, male vs female, etc.
fair or not it's how things are done.

 

[pre-dentalguy]

Thanks for input guys. There are some very valid points here. I know that some of you believe it's unfair, while other feel it's just how the game goes. Do some of you feel that minorities have a better chance than someone that is caucasian? Even if the minority has a lower gpa? Provide your input!

Pre-dentalguy

 

[Mackchops]

if anyone thinks race doesn't matter in the whole dental school application process they're kidding themselves. schools may say they're "equal opportunity" but that means many of them have quotas that they like to fill for each ethnic background and thus ensure a "diverse" student body. when you apply to a school you're not competing against everyone else who applied. you're applying against the other students like you, i.e. out of state vs in state, white vs not white, male vs female, etc.
fair or not it's how things are done.

Dental school admissions is geared to creating a "diverse" and "well-rounded" class. The point of this is to create a professional profile in this country that most closely represents the demographics of the country as a whole. Unfortunately, this diversity is not represented to the same degree in the applicant pool. So I can see how it would seem unfair, but I would rather have the profession represented by those who are able to most closely relate with their patients. Otherwise, it would be like a population of OB-GYNs that are exclusively male. Their gender has nothing to do with their ability to practice medicine but there would be a very large disparity in patient-physician points of reference. Dental care should be no different... in my humble opinion, if that even makes any sense...

Mack (is tired)

 

[tissy]

http://www.dentalpipeline.org/home/aboutus/aboutus-program/aboutus-15dentalschools