More exciting than "Return of the King"

[Aaronpsr]

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Hey everyone!

Just wanted to introduce myself and possibly get some input on a few things.

But first....it goes without saying that the upcoming week will bring very memorable days in our lives...good luck to everyone!

OK, my name is Aaron and I am fairly new here...although I usually frequent the Topica Pre-Dental discussion board (which is proving to be unhelpful). I applied to dental school this previous summer and have interviewed at Iowa and Minnesota. I also have another interview on the 24th at Pitt. When my wife and I were deciding which dental school I should go to we came up with a list of seven, based on location, school district quality ( I have 2 kids), and price. However, as I am reading everyone's posts, I am starting to think maybe we were a little too picky about the dental schools. (some I have seen apply to 20+!)

Anyhow, my question is this...having interviewed at three schools (I did pretty well at them), does this (statistically) favor me to get into at least one? For a complete list of my stats you can go to the stats page, but my GPA is 3.92 (overall) and 3.87 (science). I scored straight 18's on the DAT and my major is Molecular and Cellular Biology at Mansfield University.

I know what you are thinking...here is another jerk with a high GPA crying over whether or not he will get into dental school..

...BUT, there seems to be something wrong with my application. I applied at UNC and UConn and Michigan and SIU (Wait Listed) and they have not invited me for an interview. Is it my DAT scores? I have plenty of shadowing/dental experience...

Well, I would really like to hear from someone about this.

Pleasure to meet all of you. Once again, good luck!

Aaron


P.S. Don't go into dentistry for the money.

 

[aphistis]

I note in your profile you're a resident of Pennsylvania. Ergo, you're not a resident of NC, CT, MI, or IL. There's your answer 😉

 

[mlsripathy]

Hi!!
I only applied to 6 schools, and even though I have a high GPA my DAT grades are not that great (19/20/16). I was invited for interviews at 5 schools, and I am hoping that I have a good chance of being accepted by some of these schools.
I think your stats are great, and I believe that if you do well on your interviews you'll receive great news in December.
Good luck!!

 

[Aaronpsr]

Well, I figured that since I was an out of state applicant, it may have had something to do with it...

But Iowa is one of the most competitive school for out-of-staters and I got an invite there...Ah well, maybe I am just being silly.

Time will tell

Thanks everyone,
Aaron

 

[dudelove]

Hi. First of all you have some great stats! Secondly, don't feel bad that you haven't gotten interviews at the other schools yet. I think that it would help if you were from the respective states of those schools, but that should in no way exclude you. When I applied to dental schools I was admitted to UNC and UConn, Michigan and Iowa, but I didn't get an interview at some private schools for example and I am a resident of MA. My point is that great grades and dat scores don't necessarily mean that you will get an interview everywhere. There are quite a few factors that go into the decission making process as my friend who is the dean of admissions at a local dental school was telling me a few weeks back. Your stats are great and I am sure that you will get into one of the programs that you have interviewed at! Good luck!

 

[speter33]

Dude if you had 3 interviews, you should at least get into 2 out of those schools

 

[aphistis]

Originally posted by Aaronpsr
Well, I figured that since I was an out of state applicant, it may have had something to do with it...

But Iowa is one of the most competitive school for out-of-staters and I got an invite there...Ah well, maybe I am just being silly.

Time will tell

Thanks everyone,
Aaron

Yeah, the problem is that there's a certain element of arbitrary chance to the process at any given school. Maybe you just got lucky at Iowa, and the person reviewing your packet had just finished a great lunchtime quickie with a cute little hygiene student. Conversely, maybe the reviewers at the other four state schools all had lumpy mattresses and woke up in bad moods.

Bottom line, as long as there is a dental school admissions process, there will be unpredictability to go with it. Best of luck getting admitted to a school you'll enjoy 😀

 

[Aaronpsr]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I am sure I am just over-reacting.... but it is nice to hear words of support anyway!

This December 1st thing is driving me crazy! (not to mention it is the day that "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" is released in theatres...hee hee, OK...I'm a bit of a fan. 😛 )

crossing my fingers,

Aaron

 

[shizzleDDS]

Iowa is very competitive for out of staters, but they favor the out of state applicants with stellar GPAs (like yours), rather than DAT scores--this is why you got an interview. I'm sure that you'll be hearing from the other schools also. SIU accepts only a few out of staters, just stay optimistic!

 

[Rezdawg]

Originally posted by aphistis
and the person reviewing your packet had just finished a great lunchtime quickie with a cute little hygiene student.

Thats the kinda luck Im hoping for. Someone from BU or NYU needs to have a wonderful day before they check out my application.

 

[arns51]

Originally posted by Aaronpsr
This December 1st thing is driving me crazy! (not to mention it is the day that "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" is released in theatres...hee hee, OK...I'm a bit of a fan. 😛 )

Umm,,,I was at the theater the other day and could have sworn the poster said it was released Dec 17th??

 

[megabot]

Originally posted by arns51
Umm,,,I was at the theater the other day and could have sworn the poster said it was released Dec 17th??

Yes December 17th. Unless he lives in LA or New York where movies are released about a week early.

 

[Aaronpsr]

Well, the world premeire is in Wellington, New Zealand on Dec 1st. True, I won't see it until the 17th , but I like to keep up on the celebrities and the premeires...

Sorry for the confusion!

Aaron