Much Needed Advice

[aDentite]

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Hey everyone,

I've met with a couple admissions advisers at one dental school and didn't get any real advice. I plan on talking to a couple more schools but I was wondering if any one on here had any suggestions.

Here is my situation: I am currently on the wait list at Maryland and trying to decide what I should do if I don't get in. If I don't hear anything by June I will definitely be reapplying. My big question is whether or not I should do a Master's program or not. I re-took the DAT (3rd time) in March and now I'm in Central America teaching English as a second language. I think living in a foreign country and learning a new language will definitely stand out to some adcoms but I also know that the numbers game weighs heavy. Am I killing my chances of getting in by staying down here and not doing a Masters?

Here is a summary of my application:

-DAT: AA: 22/ TS: 23/ PAT: 25
-Overall GPA: 3.3
-Science GPA: 3.1
-Post-Bacc GPA: 3.9 ( 8 hrs. )
-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Class of '08
-2 years of research at UNC School of Dentistry
-A few hundred hours of volunteering, a little over a hundred hours of dental related activities, leadership and club involvement
-2nd time applicant to dental school

I'm torn as to what to do. I think I'll regret cutting this experience short, but at the end of the day the most important thing to me is getting into dental school. Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated.

 

[Hopeful20]

Just curious...
Did you apply really late?
I'm surprised that you're waitlisted at a school, rather than holding several acceptance letters.

 

[aDentite]

I applied pretty early but I didn't retake the DAT until March 15th. I think my scores came in too late to get any interviews. I got the impression from an admissions advisor that my DAT scores aren't enough to offset my GPA. This is a big part of the reason why I feel I need to do a masters. Any thoughts?

 

[8 SNAKE]

I applied pretty early but I didn't retake the DAT until March 15th.

What were your DAT scores at the time you applied?

 

[aDentite]

When I applied my stats where: AA:19/TS:19/PAT:19 and my science GPA was 2.94. I took a couple classes in the Fall while I was working and brought the sGPA up to a 3.1 and then retook the DAT in March. I guess my real question is whether or not my new DAT scores offset my GPA enough or do I need to complete a Masters for that?

 

[lgo]

Hey everyone,

I've met with a couple admissions advisers at one dental school and didn't get any real advice. I plan on talking to a couple more schools but I was wondering if any one on here had any suggestions.

Here is my situation: I am currently on the wait list at Maryland and trying to decide what I should do if I don't get in. If I don't hear anything by June I will definitely be reapplying. My big question is whether or not I should do a Master's program or not. I re-took the DAT (3rd time) in March and now I'm in Central America teaching English as a second language. I think living in a foreign country and learning a new language will definitely stand out to some adcoms but I also know that the numbers game weighs heavy. Am I killing my chances of getting in by staying down here and not doing a Masters?

Here is a summary of my application:

-DAT: AA: 22/ TS: 23/ PAT: 25
-Overall GPA: 3.3
-Science GPA: 3.1
-Post-Bacc GPA: 3.9 ( 8 hrs. )
-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Class of '08
-2 years of research at UNC School of Dentistry
-A few hundred hours of volunteering, a little over a hundred hours of dental related activities, leadership and club involvement
-2nd time applicant to dental school

I'm torn as to what to do. I think I'll regret cutting this experience short, but at the end of the day the most important thing to me is getting into dental school. Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated.

When did you interviewed? And where did you do your Post-Bacc? I think you should talk to admissions office in regards to whether you should do a Master's or not if you are trying to get in Maryland. I know a few students at Maryland that followed a plan laid out by the dean and got accepted.

 

[aDentite]

Igo, I interviewed in late Jan and I did my Post-Bacc at UNC. I'm definitely going to contact admissions at Maryland. Thanks for the response.

 

[aDentite]

Anyone else?

 

[aDentite]

...Anyone?

 

[8 SNAKE]

What did Maryland say?