New Person on the site, please help!

[daviddav]

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Alright, a friend of mine just told me about this site and I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of my chances of getting into a dental school. I am currently a junior but am graduating as of Fall 2008, my current GPA is 3.71 and I already have 3 letters of Recommendation from science professors, one from a non-science professor, two dentists, and a personal one just in case I need it. I am planning on taking the DAT in late June. My only problem is, that I have never shadowed in a Dental office. I have spoken with a couple of dentists about the field, but that is about it. I plan to get some last minute shadowing in during the summer but that will about do it for me as for my experience. Any help in evaluating my chances? Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

 

[Regmata]

Barring your DAT performance, you should be fine

 

[dantheman2007]

Alright, a friend of mine just told me about this site and I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of my chances of getting into a dental school. I am currently a junior but am graduating as of Fall 2008, my current GPA is 3.71 and I already have 3 letters of Recommendation from science professors, one from a non-science professor, two dentists, and a personal one just in case I need it. I am planning on taking the DAT in late June. My only problem is, that I have never shadowed in a Dental office. I have spoken with a couple of dentists about the field, but that is about it. I plan to get some last minute shadowing in during the summer but that will about do it for me as for my experience. Any help in evaluating my chances? Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.

we cant say much without DAT scores; but if ur DAT score reflects ur GPA then ur golden. Is the 3.71 your Cum. GPA or Science?
best to you,
dan

 

[daviddav]

3.71 is my Cum, I would have to go in and calculate my science. My school's system only calculates our "major" GPA, but i have other science classes not listed under that.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Shadowing is important so get ~100 hrs of it. If you don't have all of that completed by the time you submit your application, just submit your total with hours you plan to finish included. As for your chances, like everyone else said it depends on your DAT scores. I think the DAT is even more important than one's GPA. Submit your application as soon as the cycle opens and then update it when you get your DAT results. You should try to take the DAT by July, unless that doesn't give you enough study time. I think with your GPA you could get AA as low as 18 and still have a decent chance of acceptance to some schools. Get a 20 or up and they'll be fighting over who gets you.

 

[ummjoey]

the application doesnt come out until may 15th. from now until may 15th you can do plenty of time for shadowing and maybe even dental assisting. dont know why you want to wait until summer..............

you have 2 LORs from dentists but you never done any shadowing or assisting? i find that a little odd.........

i dont know if you need 100 hours of shadowing. shadowing is pretty boring. you probably only need like 20 hours of shadowing. but i would try to do more dental assisting or helping out at a dental office. dont just stand there. stand there for like 20 hours and assist for as much as you can. you dont only have to assist the dentist you can assist the assistance or the front office workers. you can start out with cleaning and sterilizing then move up.

i agree with the others
-submit application early
-do well on DAT

just my 2 cents

 

[UCSF2012]

Most schools require at least 2 letters of recommendation from professors. Some require 3. Do your homework to see how many the schools you're applying to require.

You have how many months before the application cycle starts to shadow? Get it in before so you have no future regrets.

 

[blankguy]

Start shadowing/volunteering ASAP. Schools like Tufts do require a letter from a dentist that you spent 30 hours shadowing/volunteering.