Needed Stats

[kapnut]

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Just curious, what are the average stats to get into a top dental school (for example harvard or columbia).
I am actualy now thinking about applying to dent. school and am very intrested in columbia.

Also, do you know if it is possible to apply to dent. school with a MCAT score?

 

[DDSdude]

Just curious, what are the average stats to get into a top dental school (for example harvard or columbia).
I am actualy now thinking about applying to dent. school and am very intrested in columbia.

Also, do you know if it is possible to apply to dent. school with a MCAT score?

You are required to take the DAT. Schools will also ask you to explain why you have chosen dental school over medical school. Some look down on applicants who have applied to both or took the MCAT as well. As far as top dental schools go, there really isn't a ranking system anymore. Those two you mentioned are great schools but you can become a great dentist regardless of where you go and your patients don't care or ask where you went to dental school... 🙂

 

[ItsGavinC]

Just curious, what are the average stats to get into a top dental school (for example harvard or columbia).
I am actualy now thinking about applying to dent. school and am very intrested in columbia.

Also, do you know if it is possible to apply to dent. school with a MCAT score?

Your mention of the MCAT makes me think you are approaching this with a med school applicant mindframe, which doesn't fit nicely with the dental school application process.

First, their are no top schools in dentistry because each person values some benefits more than others. There aren't any dental school rankings, and it is widely believed that each school is comparitive to the next in many ways (although not all obviously). Also, unlike medical school where the school you attended will sometimes help you match, school name doesn't play that big of a role in our post-grad match process. And, patients don't care where you went to school. Often when it comes to dental school, the cheapest place where you will be happy is the best bet. That often means turning down Harvard for an in-state school (Harvard is expensive compared to other schools).

Secondly, the MCAT is not at all acceptable for dental school admissions. I find it humerous that pre-med students think their beloved profession is the end-all-be-all when it comes to healthcare.

But having said that, if you did well on the MCAT then you shouldn't struggle at all with the DAT. They are different tests with the MCAT being more difficult.

Good luck!

 

[demonicr]

i hear a lot of people saying D-school look down on students who took the MCAT or have applied to med school. is this formulated from just an opinon on what the adcomm might think, or is this a proven fact. if not, how much do they look down on them. because all the students that i know that have switched from applying to med school to D-school, all have gotten into top dental schools (meaning schools wiht high mitriculating stats). and this is after taking the MCAT. i also know people who couldn't get into med school, and have gotten into D-school the first time they applied.

 

[busupshot83]

i hear a lot of people saying D-school look down on students who took the MCAT or have applied to med school. is this formulated from just an opinon on what the adcomm might think, or is this a proven fact. if not, how much do they look down on them. because all the students that i know that have switched from applying to med school to D-school, all have gotten into top dental schools. and this is after taking the MCAT. i also know people who couldn't get into med school, and have gotten into D-school the first time they applied.

I don't know if it's a *fact*, however, it may come up in the interview. If you want to be a dentist so bad, why would you be applying to medical school? Because for ever unsure applicant, there is a 100% sure applicant waiting for that same spot.

 

[DDSdude]

i hear a lot of people saying D-school look down on students who took the MCAT or have applied to med school. is this formulated from just an opinon on what the adcomm might think, or is this a proven fact. if not, how much do they look down on them. because all the students that i know that have switched from applying to med school to D-school, all have gotten into top dental schools. and this is after taking the MCAT. i also know people who couldn't get into med school, and have gotten into D-school the first time they applied.

I have heard of those applying to both schools getting in as well. I have also heard of those applying to both not getting into dental schools and those that did were asked why they want dental over medical and had to justify why.

Case and point, one of my close friend's brother-in-law took the MCAT and DAT. He score 24 on both sections of the DAT and had a great GPA. He was a well rounded person and interviewed at all the schools he applied to. He had applied a few months to medical school earlier than dental but than changed his mind and wanted to go to dental school. He wasn't accepted to dental school and was medical schoo.

I am not saying this is going to happen to everyone, it is just something to be aware of prior to going through all the processes to apply to dental school.

 

[demonicr]

this is a little off topic, but a dentist told me a story about how his friend applied to med school and was asked, "why do you want to be a doctor?" his response was, "i want to make a lot of money". he was accepted to that school.

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

I think when people look at dental schools as a back-up plan is very insulting to the dental students and the dental community. There are people who truly want to become a dentist because they believe in what a dentist can do. And there some who just want to go to dental school because they cannot get accepted to medical schools. In a way, I am glad that dental schools are getting more competitive nowaday so we can eliminate some people who do not have the sincere interest in dentistry. And for people who could not figure out what to pursue, dental or medical, why don't you volunteer in a dental office or a hospital for an extended period of time to test out your commitment first? Why apply to both fields? If I am an adcom, I would not even consider people who are applying to many fields at once. Their actions show me no comittment what so ever. If you really want to become a medical doctor, and the medical schools do not accept you on the first try, why don't you reapply and reapply? Don't just apply to both dental and medical schools to test out your luck. The seats in the dental and medical schools should be given to people who truly earn it (being good in science is not the only one good reason for you to earn the spot).

 

[demonicr]

I think when people look at dental schools as a back-up plan is very insulting to the dental students and the dental community. There are people who truly want to become a dentist because they believe in what a dentist can do. And there some who just want to go to dental school because they cannot get accepted to medical schools. In a way, I am glad that dental schools are getting more competitive nowaday so we can eliminate some people who do not have the sincere interest in dentistry. And for people who could not figure out what to pursue, dental or medical, why don't you volunteer in a dental office or a hospital for an extended period of time to test out your commitment first? Why apply to both fields? If I am an adcom, I would not even consider people who are applying to many fields at once. Their actions show me no comittment what so ever. If you really want to become a medical doctor, and the medical schools do not accept you on the first try, why don't you reapply and reapply? Don't just apply to both dental and medical schools to test out your luck. The seats in the dental and medical schools should be given to people who truly earn it (being good in science is not the only one good reason for you to earn the spot).

what you said is very true and i completely agree with you. but in the real world, not all people can accomplish their ultimate goal, forcing them to fall back on "back up" careers. it is very similar to people who don't get into their number one school, instead of reapplying to try to get into their number one choice, they will attend a different school, which they may dislike.

 

[kapnut]

I think when people look at dental schools as a back-up plan is very insulting to the dental students and the dental community. There are people who truly want to become a dentist because they believe in what a dentist can do. And there some who just want to go to dental school because they cannot get accepted to medical schools. In a way, I am glad that dental schools are getting more competitive nowaday so we can eliminate some people who do not have the sincere interest in dentistry. And for people who could not figure out what to pursue, dental or medical, why don't you volunteer in a dental office or a hospital for an extended period of time to test out your commitment first? Why apply to both fields? If I am an adcom, I would not even consider people who are applying to many fields at once. Their actions show me no comittment what so ever. If you really want to become a medical doctor, and the medical schools do not accept you on the first try, why don't you reapply and reapply? Don't just apply to both dental and medical schools to test out your luck. The seats in the dental and medical schools should be given to people who truly earn it (being good in science is not the only one good reason for you to earn the spot).

i am not look at dentistry as back plan and do have the stats to go to a med school. i actually got over a 30 on my MCAT and thus want to see if I can do with out having the stress and cost of taking yet another test. i am actually thinking about dent. seriously as I have a few family members that are dentist and i would be nice to be in a family practice.

p.s: does anyone know what the stats for columbia are, i like the idea of docs and dents studying their basic sciences together.

 

[busupshot83]

what you said is very true and i completely agree with you. but in the real world, not all people can accomplish their ultimate goal, forcing them to fall back on "back up" careers. it is very similar to people who don't get into their number one school, instead of reapplying to try to get into their number one choice, they will attend a different school, which they may dislike.

True, this IS the real world. And in this real world of ours, just because one pursues dentistry as a "back-up career," doesn't mean he/she will be miserable for the rest of their lives and be horrible dentists. However, there will always be others out there that would die for your "back-up" spot.

 

[kapnut]

i also think it is stupidity to say that adcoms will look down on an individual that takes both a dat and a mcat. This is just another one of those pre-med pre-dent falacies that do not make any sense.

 

[busupshot83]

i also think it is stupidity to say that adcoms will look down on an individual that takes both a dat and a mcat. This is just another one of those pre-med pre-dent falacies that do not make any sense.

Well the statement "adcoms WILL look down..." as a whole is ridiculous: nobody on SDN, but the adcoms themselves, can give insight on how each applicant will be percieved.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Well the statement "adcoms WILL look down..." as a whole is ridiculous: nobody on SDN, but the adcoms themselves, can give insight on how each applicant will be percieved.

So you are saying that there aren't any members of adcoms who post on SDN, or there aren't any student members of adcoms?

Better rethink that.

 

[Biogirl361]

i am not look at dentistry as back plan and do have the stats to go to a med school. i actually got over a 30 on my MCAT and thus want to see if I can do with out having the stress and cost of taking yet another test. i am actually thinking about dent. seriously as I have a few family members that are dentist and i would be nice to be in a family practice.

p.s: does anyone know what the stats for columbia are, i like the idea of docs and dents studying their basic sciences together.

all i have to say about this subject is that you had better make sure you have some excellent and well backed up answers prepared for when the interviewers ask you why you changed your mind. i would also definitly make sure you can say that you have a decent amount of shadowing time in a dental office. I am just trying to prepare you because even if schools don't officially "look down" on previous med school applicants, i can guarantee you will be closely questioned and motives examined upon interviewing for dental.

 

[rocknightmare]

i am practicing 🙂

i applied to med school last year. got wait listed, and now I want dental school because I see the light more clearly!

 

[Dr.Smiley-OR]

i am practicing 🙂

i applied to med school last year. got wait listed, and now I want dental school because I see the light more clearly!

What light?
This is a very good answer that guarantee you a spot in dentla school!!!

 

[busupshot83]

So you are saying that there aren't any members of adcoms who post on SDN, or there aren't any student members of adcoms?

Better rethink that.

Good point. As to my knowledge, however, I don't know any adcoms personally that post on SDN.