Need help with school list!

[wannabe dent]

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I'm a rising senior at NYU. Would like to get some info on how to improve my application before applying in June 2017 and before taking DAT. I realize I can't be chanced fully without the DAT so I will post the minimum score I anticipate.

Major: English and American Literature
Minor: Chemistry

cGPA: 3.906
sGPA: 3.897

DAT: AA 21 (minimum)

Research Experience: Anticipated 200+ hours by time of graduation in genetic research lab. No publications, but will try for one during senior year.

Dentistry/Shadowing Experience: 40 hours general dentistry. Currently shadowing an endodontist and oral surgeon. Will have 120+ shadowing hours by the end of the summer.

Clinical Experience:
- NYU Alternative Breaks: trip to West Virginia to work on building a hospital and assisting nursing home patients (~196 hours)
- Currently applying for position at my town's medical center (outside of New York). If I get it, assume at least 100+ more hours of clinical work

Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Service:
- Project OutReach (~45 hours)
- Residential College Program, special dorm offered through application. Allows students to stay involved in the community through assigned group programs (1.5 years)
- Liberal Studies Student Leader (1 year)
- Move-In Crew (two-day volunteer event, so about 12 hours... worth including?)
- Persian Cultural Society (1 year)
- Housing Works (~25 hours)

Work Experience:
- Author's Assistant (1 year)
- CAS Student Leader (1 year)
- General Chemistry Private Tutor (1 year)
- Private Piano Instructor (4 years)

Awards, Honors, and Scholarships:
- Dean's List
- Will be listing four other scholarships that I have received

Academic Enrichment Programs: None (is this bad?)

The only upper-level science I will have taken by graduation is Biochemistry. I plan to include in my application that I will take Anatomy and Microbiology during my gap year. All semesters except one are 16+ credits. Being an arts major, I have semesters of literature, philosophy, and music courses (following a year of completing pre-reqs for my particular college) where most bio, chem, etc. majors would have science courses. I am unsure if this will hurt my chances but I majored in what I enjoy and have clearly stayed committed to the sciences as well.

School list: College of Charleston, Howard, Stony Brook, Dugoni, UCSF, UCLA, University of Michigan, Boston, Herman Ostrow, UNC, University of Maryland, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, NYU

Thanks everyone.

 

[salreq]

You honestly have great shot with those stats! I would suggest you have around 80-100 shadowing hours in general dentistry. Why isn't NYU on your list?

 

[wannabe dent]

You honestly have great shot with those stats! I would suggest you have around 80-100 shadowing hours in general dentistry. Why isn't NYU on your list?

thanks for the feedback! just curious -- why do you recommend so many hours for general dentistry?

and I am actually considering NYU, but completely forgot to add it! thank you

 

[ILoveChickenNuggets]

Wait, we can add being on the Dean's List in the awards section?

 

[salreq]

thanks for the feedback! just curious -- why do you recommend so many hours for general dentistry?

and I am actually considering NYU, but completely forgot to add it! thank you

I just saw that some schools recommend that. Each school is different so make sure you know the requirements for the schools on your list.

 

[wannabe dent]

Wait, we can add being on the Dean's List in the awards section?

of course!

 

[wannabe dent]

I just saw that some schools recommend that. Each school is different so make sure you know the requirements for the schools on your list.

I always figured that referred to the total number of shadowing hours. I downloaded the 2014 chart covering each school's requirements and in the preceding description it reads: "Observing the entire spectrum of dental procedures - restorative, oral surgery, prosthodontic, endodontic, periodontic, pedodontic, and orthodontic - would be ideal."

 

[wannabe dent]

bump

 

[ncide]

If your DAT scores align with your GPA, you will likely have a few acceptances to choose from. With that in mind, you should leave out schools that will leave you with an exorbitant amount of debt. I recommend you do not consider USC, NYU, and Boston.

 

[ILoveChickenNuggets]

of course!

So how are you putting it in that section then? I think we can only add a max of 5 awards and I already have 4. Are you just putting deans list once and then the first year you got it?

 

[Likkriue]

Just FYI, Harvard, Stony Brook and Columbia would require DAT score of (at least) 23-24. With your stats and with your "brand" school, you can get into most places you'll apply to. So, don't apply to NYU and USC, since they are super expensive.

Nateriver got into Columbia with a 21 AA. Harvards AA average is 23 and stonybrook is 22. This means up to 50% of people have lower than those DAT scores. Stop spreading false information. If a 23-24 dat is the "least" that would be a minimum and their average DATs would be 25, If that's the case then they wouldn't even be able to fill their classes.

 

[wannabe dent]

So how are you putting it in that section then? I think we can only add a max of 5 awards and I already have 4. Are you just putting deans list once and then the first year you got it?

yes, I was going to do that. they'll see the continuation of it on your transcript anyways

Just FYI, Harvard, Stony Brook and Columbia would require DAT score of (at least) 23-24. With your stats and with your "brand" school, you can get into most places you'll apply to. So, don't apply to NYU and USC, since they are super expensive.

thanks for your feedback on NYU and USC! a few other people said the same about high-tuition schools

 

[DC206R]

Nateriver got into Columbia with a 21 AA. Harvards AA average is 23 and stonybrook is 22. This means up to 50% of people have lower than those DAT scores. Stop spreading false information. If a 23-24 dat is the "least" that would be a minimum and their average DATs would be 25, If that's the case then they wouldn't even be able to fill their classes.

Just curious, lets say hypothetically 80% of applicants to Harvard have a 23AA, 10% have 23AA+, 10% <23AA, wouldn't the average still hover around 23? I don't think 50% were less than 23AA. It's probably more like a bell curve where a good majority or applicants are around 23 with small chunks less than 23 and another group above 23.

 

[Likkriue]

Just curious, lets say hypothetically 80% of applicants to Harvard have a 23AA, 10% have 23AA+, 10% <23AA, wouldn't the average still hover around 23? I don't think 50% were less than 23AA. It's probably more like a bell curve where a good majority or applicants are around 23 with small chunks less than 23 and another group above 23.

That could be true, remember I wrote "up to". Harvard prides themselves more on gpa than DAT.