Need Feedback Please!!!!

[beee444]

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Hi.
I am kinda depressed that I haven't got any interview this cycle..
I am waiting to hear from USC where I got an interview last year but it seems like they don't like me anymore.

I need some feedbacks from the public before I talk to dental admission so that I can prepare more for next application cycle.

Univ. of Texas at Austin (holding BA degree)
sGPA: 3.2 GPA: 3.4 DAT bio20/gchem23/ochem22/RC16/Math22. PAT24/TS21/AA21. Valunteered at elementary school, 500+ research experience, more than 60+ shadowing experience. AADSAS mailing date was 8/27. I am still thinking to take biochemistry and other science courses to boost my sGPA during this summer. The only weakness of my DAT is RC which I was very suprised that I made 16. =( Is that really holding my back from getting an interview??? Please criticize my stats. Thanks.

 

[bing12]

its the 16 RC, i would retake it if i were you. It is amazing, cause you did very well on every other subject. I believe the BIO is the most important section, followed by the RC ( after doing some research on how many schools value certain sections as Very important, so its obviously not a great selection of data). anything below a 17 on a very important section would be arguably a retake.

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

Hi.
I am kinda depressed that I haven't got any interview this cycle..
I am waiting to hear from USC where I got an interview last year but it seems like they don't like me anymore.

I need some feedbacks from the public before I talk to dental admission so that I can prepare more for next application cycle.

Univ. of Texas at Austin (holding BA degree)
sGPA: 3.2 GPA: 3.4 DAT bio20/gchem23/ochem22/RC16/Math22. TS21/AA21. Valunteered at elementary school, 500+ research experience, more than 60+ shadowing experience. AADSAS mailing date was 8/27. I am still thinking to take biochemistry and other science courses to boost my sGPA during this summer. The only weakness of my DAT is RC which I was very suprised that I made 16. =( Is that really holding my back from getting an interview??? Please criticize my stats. Thanks.

Don't take these things personally. If you get too depressed you can lose focus of your goal... which is getting into dental school. Don't give up.

Also, you said you interviewed last year, meaning this application cycle 2010-2011, or the previous application cylcle 2009-2010? Your science GPA is a bit on the low end so taking more science courses is a must. BTW, you have not taken biochem yet?? That could also be your problem as well. Although not a pre-req, biochem is kinda like organic chem in that it weeds out a lot of students. It is among the "recommended" courses that dental schools like to see taken. My advice is to take that class at a 4 year institution along with those other science courses. Try to make them upper level courses like immumnology, pathology, etc. Getting A's in those types of classes is an indication of what type of dental student you will be.

About your DAT, it is really too bad you did so poorly on RC 🙁. Your other scores are fantistic. If you had that score in QR, I would say don't worry about taking it again. But a 16 in RC kinda indicates that you struggle reading and understanding what you read, which I'm sure it not the case in reality but the problem is that this is all the adcom have to go by. I would say, don't register for the DAT until you talk to a VIP who is part of an admissions committee of the schools of your choice who specifically tell you, your RC is too low.

 

[Kahr]

Hi.
I am kinda depressed that I haven't got any interview this cycle..
I am waiting to hear from USC where I got an interview last year but it seems like they don't like me anymore.

I need some feedbacks from the public before I talk to dental admission so that I can prepare more for next application cycle.

Univ. of Texas at Austin (holding BA degree)
sGPA: 3.2 GPA: 3.4 DAT bio20/gchem23/ochem22/RC16/Math22. TS21/AA21. Valunteered at elementary school, 500+ research experience, more than 60+ shadowing experience. AADSAS mailing date was 8/27. I am still thinking to take biochemistry and other science courses to boost my sGPA during this summer. The only weakness of my DAT is RC which I was very suprised that I made 16. =( Is that really holding my back from getting an interview??? Please criticize my stats. Thanks.

I think your idea of taking biochemistry, etc is a good one. It might be beneficial to identify through both introspection and contacting USC why they interviewed you last cycle, but didn't accept you, and in conjunction why they didn't invite you this cycle (I doubt it's your DAT, otherwise they wouldn't have invited you last cycle), that might tell you a lot about what might be hindering you as an applicant.

You could consider a retake of the DAT, but you'd have to work fairly hard to ensure a score not only better in RC, but maintaining/exceeding that AA 21.

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi.
I am kinda depressed that I haven't got any interview this cycle..
I am waiting to hear from USC where I got an interview last year but it seems like they don't like me anymore.

I need some feedbacks from the public before I talk to dental admission so that I can prepare more for next application cycle.

Univ. of Texas at Austin (holding BA degree)
sGPA: 3.2 GPA: 3.4 DAT bio20/gchem23/ochem22/RC16/Math22. TS21/AA21. Valunteered at elementary school, 500+ research experience, more than 60+ shadowing experience. AADSAS mailing date was 8/27. I am still thinking to take biochemistry and other science courses to boost my sGPA during this summer. The only weakness of my DAT is RC which I was very suprised that I made 16. =( Is that really holding my back from getting an interview??? Please criticize my stats. Thanks.

how many schools did you apply to?

 

[beee444]

Don't take these things personally. If you get too depressed you can lose focus of your goal... which is getting into dental school. Don't give up.

Also, you said you interviewed last year, meaning this application cycle 2010-2011, or the previous application cylcle 2009-2010? Your science GPA is a bit on the low end so taking more science courses is a must. BTW, you have not taken biochem yet?? That could also be your problem as well. Although not a pre-req, biochem is kinda like organic chem in that it weeds out a lot of students. It is among the "recommended" courses that dental schools like to see taken. My advice is to take that class at a 4 year institution along with those other science courses. Try to make them upper level courses like immumnology, pathology, etc. Getting A's in those types of classes is an indication of what type of dental student you will be.

About your DAT, it is really too bad you did so poorly on RC 🙁. Your other scores are fantistic. If you had that score in QR, I would say don't worry about taking it again. But a 16 in RC kinda indicates that you struggle reading and understanding what you read, which I'm sure it not the case in reality but the problem is that this is all the adcom have to go by. I would say, don't register for the DAT until you talk to a VIP who is part of an admissions committee of the schools of your choice who specifically tell you, your RC is too low.

Thank you for your advice. I think several things are really kind of hinderimg me to get into dental school. First, I had dentist's letter last cycle which I got into interview but this time I got my research professor's letter. I think they want dentist's letter rather than my professor's letter. I don't know why I always have 16 on RC. It is true that I am struggling on reading passages but I don't think I can't read English. I am actually an international student and hate reading my own language too. That's why I decide to do science major and it is really holding my back. =(
I think rather than taking DAT again, I would rather take more science courses and Ace them. I will def ask dental admission where I applied to and follow their advice. Thanks!

 

[beee444]

how many schools did you apply to?

I applied about 10.

 

[dentalWorks]

Thank you for your advice. I think several things are really kind of hinderimg me to get into dental school. First, I had dentist's letter last cycle which I got into interview but this time I got my research professor's letter. I think they want dentist's letter rather than my professor's letter. I don't know why I always have 16 on RC. It is true that I am struggling on reading passages but I don't think I can't read English. I am actually an international student and hate reading my own language too. That's why I decide to do science major and it is really holding my back. =(
I think rather than taking DAT again, I would rather take more science courses and Ace them. I will def ask dental admission where I applied to and follow their advice. Thanks!

I applied about 10.

If your scared about the retake (becuase you might get another low RC) then ur next options boosting that sGPA AND applying to more schools than 10. I'd aim at 20 schools.

 

[beee444]

If your scared about the retake (becuase you might get another low RC) then ur next options boosting that sGPA AND applying to more schools than 10. I'd aim at 20 schools.

Thank you for your advice. Do you think I should apply this 2011 cycle as well? or I should be focusing on GPA and apply next year? I don't even know what should I do for now. 🙁

 

[Nateftw]

your DAT is fine, you do not need to retake. I think your only issue was your late submit date. Just apply early during this coming cycle, try to raise your sGPA up a little bit between then, and try to add some ECs that way you can talk about things that you have changed...But for the most part, you should have gotten in somewhere this cycle. How as your PAT?

and just so you know, I got a 16 in RC...it didn't hinder my application.

 

[beee444]

your DAT is fine, you do not need to retake. I think your only issue was your late submit date. Just apply early during this coming cycle, try to raise your sGPA up a little bit between then, and try to add some ECs that way you can talk about things that you have changed...But for the most part, you should have gotten in somewhere this cycle. How as your PAT?

and just so you know, I got a 16 in RC...it didn't hinder my application.

oh wow.... that's good!
I made 24 on PAT.... I don't think dental school even consider PAT... do they? I am really stressed now but I feel like I should take courses during the summer. If I take courses during the summer, then I would apply on Aug. and it will be late then🙁.

 

[dentalWorks]

Thank you for your advice. Do you think I should apply this 2011 cycle as well? or I should be focusing on GPA and apply next year? I don't even know what should I do for now. 🙁

thats your decision to make. If you decide to wait the year, won't your DAT expire by then?

 

[Nateftw]

oh wow.... that's good!
I made 24 on PAT.... I don't think dental school even consider PAT... do they? I am really stressed now but I feel like I should take courses during the summer. If I take courses during the summer, then I would apply on Aug. and it will be late then🙁.

Yeah, apply in June instead. What schools did you apply to?

*EDIT* and now that i think about it..I submitted in July, and didnt have my DAT in until September. So there must be something else wrong with your app, August isn't that late at all. How are your letters? I would say to just try and up your GPA