My school list?

[squigloo]

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Sorry to make one of these, but I would appreciate any advice on what to add/drop from my list of schools. I hate doing this without a DAT score (I'm not taking it until 7/14), but on the practice tests I've taken I'm getting 19-20 for most sections, so let's assume that's my score.

Stats:

- DE Resident
- 3.9 oGPA, 3.89 sGPA, 3.88 BCP
- Committee Letter made from 3 Biology professors
- 50 hours shadowing (30 general dentist, 20 OMFS)
- ~80 service hours
- PS appears to be good, going off of what others say
- ??? DAT
- 1 year of developmental bio research (publication in review)
- 3 months of periodontitis research
- Founder and President of our schools Pre-Dental Club
- Head of community service on my special interest house (2 years)
- Deans list every quarter
- Active in honors program
- Active in concert band, flute lessons, intramural tennis, pre-medical student association

Is any of that information not worth putting on the aadsas? One thing worth mentioning is that I am graduating in 3 years... I've taken and done well in classes like gross, A&P, endocrinology, and developmental bio, so I'm hoping it won't hurt me too much.

My school list:

Temple (reserves ~9 seats for DE residents)
UConn
Buffalo
Boston U
Maryland
NJ
OSU
VCU
Columbia (worth a shot? )
Pittsburgh


Any recommendations for my school list, or anything I can do very soon to improve my application? VCU requires a LoR from a dentist when you send individual letters, and I wasn't sure if a committee letter would be able to replace that.

I appreciate any help!

 

[jeffity]

You're right, DAT will determine a lot. Otherwise, that's a solid application! Some peers will dismiss dean's list as an award (not really any other place to put it if you do include it). Do whatever. It's a trivial thing. If you have other awards, fantastic.

 

[tommyinVA]

You're right, DAT will determine a lot. Otherwise, that's a solid application! Some peers will dismiss dean's list as an award (not really any other place to put it if you do include it). Do whatever. It's a trivial thing. If you have other awards, fantastic.

Add it. It speaks of your "academic excellence," no matter how trivial it is. Either way, it doesn't hurt and could certainly help. (I had a dean of admissions tell me after my 1st cycle that I should have put it on mine.)

 

[KittySquared]

For Buffalo, try to get some more shadowing hours in there and buy long underwear. May need to wear it under your interview pants. For Columbia, don't get anything less than a 21 across the board. For Temple, carry a piece or at least pepper spray. That area is really bad. For OSU - become in-state resident or otherwise it's almost impossible. More impossible than ivies.

 

[squigloo]

Is OSU really that unfriendly towards OOS? I was under the impression that they weren't that bad. Any idea what DAT I should need to get an interview there? As far as buffalo goes, I'm in Rochester during the Winter, so I've got plenty of long underwear already! I could probably only get 10 more hours before I submit my application... Do you think that would significantly harm my shot at an interview there?

 

[MrKrebsCycle]

nice stats. like you said the DAT thing is the only thing preventing this from being a complete application, but say if you aim for a 25 and get somewhere near that, Columbia looks for good for you.

One thing I'll say is try to get more volunteer hours, obviously grades/DAT should be first priority but considering dentistry is a patient-interaction type career, you'll want to raise more hours. The good thing is that you have ample time to log in a good number of hours.

I am guessing you dont want to apply to schools on the west coast?

 

[squigloo]

nice stats. like you said the DAT thing is the only thing preventing this from being a complete application, but say if you aim for a 25 and get somewhere near that, Columbia looks for good for you.

One thing I'll say is try to get more volunteer hours, obviously grades/DAT should be first priority but considering dentistry is a patient-interaction type career, you'll want to raise more hours. The good thing is that you have ample time to log in a good number of hours.

I am guessing you dont want to apply to schools on the west coast?

Yeah, I'm trying to stay at least reasonably close to home. You seem to be applying to all of the schools I immediately skipped over due to location . I'm probably closer to 100+ hours, if that makes a slight difference. I never recorded anything, so I'm trying to cut the number a bit short.

 

[KittySquared]

Yeah OSU really is that bad with OOS applicants. I can think of at least 5 state schools you have a much better shot at in getting in. Ohio state is VERY exclusive. Buffalo is hard to say. They prefer in-state applicants and its not easy to get in as OOS either. They also like mature applicants. They interview 8% of OOS applicants and accept half of them. If you're a NY resident, you're in a much better position and they basically will accept you if you interview as a NY resident. Acceptance is 90% for in state interviewees if I remember correctly. If you can squeeze in at least 10 hrs, it might be better? Again, hard to say without DAT scores.

 

[squigloo]

Yeah OSU really is that bad with OOS applicants. I can think of at least 5 state schools you have a much better shot at in getting in. Ohio state is VERY exclusive. Buffalo is hard to say. They prefer in-state applicants and its not easy to get in as OOS either. They also like mature applicants. They interview 8% of OOS applicants and accept half of them. If you're a NY resident, you're in a much better position and they basically will accept you if you interview as a NY resident. Acceptance is 90% for in state interviewees if I remember correctly. If you can squeeze in at least 10 hrs, it might be better? Again, hard to say without DAT scores.

Would you suggest dropping it for a school like michigan?

 

[KittySquared]

Or NYU for safety. UNE has a strong preference for New Englanders. You should throw in some "safety" schools just in case you bomb the DAT. Louisville is a great school. Pretty competitive for OOS applicants but still a better shot than OSU.

 

[tommyinVA]

Or NYU for safety. UNE has a strong preference for New Englanders. You should throw in some "safety" schools just in case you bomb the DAT. Louisville is a great school. Pretty competitive for OOS applicants but still a better shot than OSU.

Just something to keep in mind: NYU is incredibly cost-prohibitive for most applicants. If you're applying there as a "safety," then you might as well add in Tufts. But just realize that if you attend either one, you'll most likely easily come out with a debt load north of $400k.

If you're super against that (which some people on here are), then I wouldn't apply. I'm partial to UMich, but that's mostly because it's where I'm headed. If you want to stay within 400 miles, why don't you apply to Louisville or Tenn?

 

[squigloo]

Just something to keep in mind: NYU is incredibly cost-prohibitive for most applicants. If you're applying there as a "safety," then you might as well add in Tufts. But just realize that if you attend either one, you'll most likely easily come out with a debt load north of $400k.

If you're super against that (which some people on here are), then I wouldn't apply. I'm partial to UMich, but that's mostly because it's where I'm headed. If you want to stay within 400 miles, why don't you apply to Louisville or Tenn?

Yeah, I'm trying to avoid schools in the price range of tufts, usc, nyu, etc. Tennessee OOS almost reaches that point. I was considering adding Louisville, just to keep my options open... I might just replace columbia with that. Who needs ivies anyways?

 

[KittySquared]

Who needs ivies anyways?

Some go for the right reasons, some go to compensate for a small weenis.

 

[Baba Yaga]

I think Louisville is a great school! It's definitely going onto my list. If you think you might like to go there, you should definitely apply.

I am currently not planning on applying to any schools I don't want to attend. If I bomb the DAT 🙂scared: I hope not! ), I will probably add more schools, but until then I'll go with my current plan.