No Acceptances -- What should I do next semester?

[equaintly]

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I got waitlisted at 2 schools, and don't have any other interview lined up. I was also yelled at for hours by my parents for not getting in. Needless to say, I'm rather depressed at the moment. 🙁

I'm resigned to the idea that I won't get in this cycle. My low sGPA (~3.2) is probably the weakest point in my application, so I'm thinking of taking some post-baccs (I've already graduated) Biology courses next term to bring it up.

My problem is that one of the schools I'm wailisted at is Pittsburgh -- which doesn't accept AP credits. All of my basic sciences were AP credits. I was ready to take all 6 courses (2 each for Bio, Chem, & Physics + their labs) if I'd gotten in to Pitts. However, if I have to reapply next cycle, getting A's in those classes won't look very impressive.

I'm not sure what I should do now. The best bet would be to take high-level Biology courses. Chances are low that I'll be off the waitlist. But if I got off the waitlist in the spring, and can't go because I didn't have the pre-reqs, I think I'd cry. 🙁

 

[SupDanLOL]

I was yelled at for hours by my parents for not getting in.

Wow. Really?

 

[toothexplore]

Wow. Really?

expected if you're asian...

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

Your parents....have they had to apply to dental school in an environment like today? Even if they ARE dentists, back in their day the stats needed for dental school are nothing like today. Tell them to lay off because you don't need the extra stress.
But seriously I wouldn't get to worked up. Pitt interviewing you with a 3.2sci means you have something else shining on your app. What is it?
Your worst case scenario is a post bacc....but there is still hope! 2 wait lists = you might have a nice surprise in the upcoming months!

keep your head up

 

[hail2pitt]

expected if you're asian...

I was JUST about to post this.

Anyway, to the OP, maybe you can call Pitt and ask if they'll tell you where on the waitlist you are if it's ranked? Also, the waitlist will move... I noticed that, at least of the people on here and predents, many of the people accepted have other acceptances too and may not be choosing Pitt.

 

[equaintly]

expected if you're asian...

🙂 Haha, too true, this.

Your parents....have they had to apply to dental school in an environment like today? Even if they ARE dentists, back in their day the stats needed for dental school are nothing like today. Tell them to lay off because you don't need the extra stress.
But seriously I wouldn't get to worked up. Pitt interviewing you with a 3.2sci means you have something else shining on your app. What is it?
Your worst case scenario is a post bacc....but there is still hope! 2 wait lists = you might have a nice surprise in the upcoming months!

keep your head up

Thank you so much!

I'm pretty upset, but I do think my parents have a point. I wouldn't be where I am right now if I had studied harder during college. My parents were pressuring me to become a doctor then, and I was so against it that I didn't try and do as well in my science courses as I could have. And I also feel guilty like crazy, especially since both my parents and I are immigrants -- and they're working minimal wage jobs to support us. I know why they're so disappointed in me. It's just -- getting yelled at on Dec. 1st is just a tad bit too much right now. 🙂

I do have a 3.57 cGPA and 22AA. But I'm not sure how much they're helping with that sGPA. I think I'll just sign up for the high-level Bio courses to raise my sGPA. And if I get into Pitts before classes start, I'll try to see if I can change to the basic sciences for pre-reqs for Pitts.

 

[SupDanLOL]

expected if you're asian...

I was going to throw that stereotype out there and see if it stuck. It looks like I would have been right in doing so. Shiiiiiiit.

The fact that my parents are both health professionals has made them far MORE accepting of whatever occurs. They know it was hard back in the day...but then they look at what I have to do today, and understand how much tougher it is now.

My dad claims that he didn't know anyone who even studied for the DAT/MCAT. Despite this, he and his friends still got into the top schools.

It's just so very, very different that it's almost mind boggling.

 

[aquafoam]

expected if you're asian...

 

[toothexplore]

HAHAHAHAHA ^

OP, I understand your disappointment. I, too am a 1st gen immigrant and got through school doing the least amount of work possible. I regret that I didnt work hard enough especially because my parents had to start from nothing and go back to school knowing 0 English to get where they are. BUT, doesn't mean you won't be successful and when you get to your goals, there will be no more yelling 😉

 

[Parle G]

equaintly, don't freak out just yet. The way I see it is that it's better to be waitlisted than straight up being rejected. Who knows, you will probably hear good news in the second round of acceptances. If you got waitlisted at your top choice, stay on them and make them feel that you really want it! Yesterday was only the first possible day of acceptances..you still have ample time to hear back 👍 keep your head up! You and I are pretty much in the same boat, except I haven't heard anything yet..but it will most likely be a waitlist or rejection.

 

[wizi]

here
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_pfzYD1dXY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[equaintly]

I was JUST about to post this.

Anyway, to the OP, maybe you can call Pitt and ask if they'll tell you where on the waitlist you are if it's ranked? Also, the waitlist will move... I noticed that, at least of the people on here and predents, many of the people accepted have other acceptances too and may not be choosing Pitt.

Thank you!

When I called Pitts yesterday (and subsequently learned that I was not accepted), I was told that they don't have a formal "waitlist," per se, until April-May. Currently, they're just accepting students, and then re-evaluate when these applicants have turned down acceptances come January.

I'm just not feeling very optimistic about being taken off the unofficial waitlist. So I don't want to miss my chance of taking more post-bacc's high-level Biology courses next spring and cheat myself out of yet another cycle. But aaahh, there's still the slim chance of getting off the waitlist.

 

[equaintly]

I was going to throw that stereotype out there and see if it stuck. It looks like I would have been right in doing so. Shiiiiiiit.

The fact that my parents are both health professionals has made them far MORE accepting of whatever occurs. They know it was hard back in the day...but then they look at what I have to do today, and understand how much tougher it is now.

My dad claims that he didn't know anyone who even studied for the DAT/MCAT. Despite this, he and his friends still got into the top schools.

It's just so very, very different that it's almost mind boggling.

YES, THIS.

I love my parents, but they have the tendency of "comparisons." Why did my friend's daughter/son/niece/etc. get in several years ago, but you don't now?

They don't seem to understand that competition gets harder every year. For example, a 22 DAT meant SO MUCH MORE just 3 years or so ago than it does now, when the average at many schools is already 20+.

 

[LaFleur]

...stay on them and make them feel that you really want it!

Send them the best love letters they've ever seen! 😍

 

[wizi]

YES, THIS.

I love my parents, but they have the tendency of "comparisons." Why did my friend's daughter/son/niece/etc. get in several years ago, but you don't now?

They don't seem to understand that competition gets harder every year. For example, a 22 DAT meant SO MUCH MORE just 3 years or so ago than it does now, when the average at many schools is already 20+.

Just a quick question.
Do your parents think that if you become a dentist, you can get all the girls you want? 😀 Mine do. 🙁

 

[LaFleur]

Send them the best love letters they've ever seen! 😍

Perhaps emphasize different aspects of your application/self?

Make sure not to sound desperate!

Sound enthusiastic, motivated, confident in yourself (but not over-confident)!

Sound good?

 

[LaFleur]

I think I'll just sign up for the high-level Bio courses to raise my sGPA. And if I get into Pitts before classes start, I'll try to see if I can change to the basic sciences for pre-reqs for Pitts.

Can you find out whether they'll accept UL science courses with labs in lieu of the basic requirements?

Call them to see where you are on the wait list (assuming it's ranked)!

 

[equaintly]

Just a quick question.
Do your parents think that if you become a dentist, you can get all the girls you want? 😀 Mine do. 🙁

Haha, no, considering I'm a pretty heterosexual girl myself. 😉

But they do think it's crucial that all their children have a stable career. For them, that's the key to happiness. And I understand it's because they just want me to have a better future than they did.

 

[equaintly]

HAHAHAHAHA ^

OP, I understand your disappointment. I, too am a 1st gen immigrant and got through school doing the least amount of work possible. I regret that I didnt work hard enough especially because my parents had to start from nothing and go back to school knowing 0 English to get where they are. BUT, doesn't mean you won't be successful and when you get to your goals, there will be no more yelling 😉

🙂 Thank you. This is heartening to read. I feel guilty and upset and disappointed, but I'm hoping to get in next year if this round doesn't work out.

equaintly, don't freak out just yet. The way I see it is that it's better to be waitlisted than straight up being rejected. Who knows, you will probably hear good news in the second round of acceptances. If you got waitlisted at your top choice, stay on them and make them feel that you really want it! Yesterday was only the first possible day of acceptances..you still have ample time to hear back 👍 keep your head up! You and I are pretty much in the same boat, except I haven't heard anything yet..but it will most likely be a waitlist or rejection.

Thanks -- I admit I lost all my optimism yesterday. I'll definitely be contacting Pitts -- but at the same time prepare to reapply. I just really hope that if they do accept me, it's before Jan. 17th. Otherwise, I can't change my courses to the pre-reqs, which would be really rather depressing.

And good luck to you, too!

 

[ginaych]

Thank you!

When I called Pitts yesterday (and subsequently learned that I was not accepted), I was told that they don't have a formal "waitlist," per se, until April-May. Currently, they're just accepting students, and then re-evaluate when these applicants have turned down acceptances come January.

I'm just not feeling very optimistic about being taken off the unofficial waitlist. So I don't want to miss my chance of taking more post-bacc's high-level Biology courses next spring and cheat myself out of yet another cycle. But aaahh, there's still the slim chance of getting off the waitlist.

equaintly, YOU MUST WRITE ROSEMARY AND THE ADCOM TO LET THEM KNOW PITT IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE and why you want to go there. i cannot stress it enough. also, call or email frequently and let rosemary familiarize your name and make her aware of your desire to get pooled out next cycle. Lots of people are not gonna take pitt's offer (I am one of them) and when they reconsider the waitlist whether or not the applicants are interested in attending becomes huge. so do it it'll really help.

 

[bhagan01]

Be happy your father didn't call the schools today asking why they have not accepted me yet (My father thought that was appropriate)...I have an Indian father (self explanatory)...

Anyways, keep your head up, and do not let your parents get to you...you have done your best and hopefully, with time, you will get acceptances...

 

[molar3]

ahhhhhh. this thread is like spot on. ......... for every 1st generation kid whose parents immigrated and now the kid faces pressure (understatement) to get accepted. yepppppppp. and then horrible slaying guilt when they dont. YEPPPPP. spot on. 👍 thats y when you get into ds youll come back with a vengance bc youll have learned what it means to bust your a $ $ to even GET to ds & youll be so paranoid about feeling that guilt again itll just scare u straight. your classmates should watch out when u get there bc i doubt ull play aroundddd..👍
keep silently persevering and youll make it !! sure your parents didnt WANT you to struggle like they did, but shi t....its life. it happens. now its your turn to struggle. youll make it in the end. dont worry. dont let it get you down, just learn and keep moving!!

 

[molar3]

Be happy your father didn't call the schools today asking why they have not accepted me yet (My father thought that was appropriate)...I have an Indian father (self explanatory)...

Anyways, keep your head up, and do not let your parents get to you...you have done your best and hopefully, with time, you will get acceptances...

LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!! omg so normal. u cant even stop them.....

 

[Dusk]

Just a quick question.
Do your parents think that if you become a dentist, you can get all the girls you want? 😀 Mine do. 🙁

oh geez man. my parents are dead set on me finding a girl in dental school and marrying her and starting a practice together. if only everything was that simple..

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

ahhhhhh. this thread is like spot on. ......... for every 1st generation kid whose parents immigrated and now the kid faces pressure (understatement) to get accepted. yepppppppp. and then horrible slaying guilt when they dont.

I've discovered that asian parents are the MASTERS at playing the guilt game. You will never beat them. Ever. 👍

 

[dreamerndoer]

Be happy your father didn't call the schools today asking why they have not accepted me yet (My father thought that was appropriate)...I have an Indian father (self explanatory)...

Anyways, keep your head up, and do not let your parents get to you...you have done your best and hopefully, with time, you will get acceptances...

what is this, 3rd grade where parents call and check their child's grade in school?

 

[equaintly]

Can you find out whether they'll accept UL science courses with labs in lieu of the basic requirements?

Call them to see where you are on the wait list (assuming it's ranked)!

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely ask them that, though I'm not holding out much hopes.

equaintly, YOU MUST WRITE ROSEMARY AND THE ADCOM TO LET THEM KNOW PITT IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE and why you want to go there. i cannot stress it enough. also, call or email frequently and let rosemary familiarize your name and make her aware of your desire to get pooled out next cycle. Lots of people are not gonna take pitt's offer (I am one of them) and when they reconsider the waitlist whether or not the applicants are interested in attending becomes huge. so do it it'll really help.

Thank you! I'll definitely do that. I'll write to Rosemary, but would it be presumptuous of me to write to the ADCOM as well? I don't want to come off too pushy (although I feel desperate enough for that).

Do you happen to know when the next acceptance cycle is? If it's after January, I really don't have much hope of being able to change my classes from upper-level Bio to pre-reqs. Thanks!

 

[equaintly]

Be happy your father didn't call the schools today asking why they have not accepted me yet (My father thought that was appropriate)...I have an Indian father (self explanatory)...

Anyways, keep your head up, and do not let your parents get to you...you have done your best and hopefully, with time, you will get acceptances...

If my parents had been able to speak English, I'm sure my dad would've tried to do that. I'm just lucky I managed to deflect him from forcing ME to do that.

ahhhhhh. this thread is like spot on. ......... for every 1st generation kid whose parents immigrated and now the kid faces pressure (understatement) to get accepted. yepppppppp. and then horrible slaying guilt when they dont. YEPPPPP. spot on. 👍 thats y when you get into ds youll come back with a vengance bc youll have learned what it means to bust your a $ $ to even GET to ds & youll be so paranoid about feeling that guilt again itll just scare u straight. your classmates should watch out when u get there bc i doubt ull play aroundddd..👍
keep silently persevering and youll make it !! sure your parents didnt WANT you to struggle like they did, but shi t....its life. it happens. now its your turn to struggle. youll make it in the end. dont worry. dont let it get you down, just learn and keep moving!!

Being waitlisted has definitely given me a new sort of determination layered by guilt. I'm studying to re-take the DAT -- though I'm not sure if I can get higher than my previous score. And yeah -- I'm sure I'll appreciate DS so much more after this experience.

Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Being waitlisted has definitely given me a new sort of determination layered by guilt. I'm studying to re-take the DAT -- though I'm not sure if I can get higher than my previous score. And yeah -- I'm sure I'll appreciate DS so much more after this experience.

Thank you for the encouragement! 🙂

22 on the AA and you're retaking? That's pretty crazy IMO. Unless your other sections were under 18. Do you really think you can do THAT much better? I think it would be more beneficial to look at classes+volunteering+assisting for another year then retake the DAT. Unless the school tells you straight up that it was the DAT score.

Maybe apply to more "safe" schools next year if that's an option?

Also, I think the majority of your pre-reqs coming from AP credit also doesn't look good to the schools. It was great that you did so well on the AP classes. But college courses and especially labs are different. I would take a mix of pre-reqs and upper levels biology classes if I was you.


And don't give up hope for this cycle. I know people who got into Pitt and are turning it down for sure. I do like the fact that you're planning ahead though, major props for that.

 

[JustwantDDS]

THIs is the story of my life. immigrant parents just EXPECTING u to get in. imagine being a reapp. UM yea kill me now.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

THIs is the story of my life. immigrant parents just EXPECTING u to get in. imagine being a reapp. UM yea kill me now.

ALOT of us have been there. You'll survive and make it, don't worry 👍

 

[equaintly]

22 on the AA and you're retaking? That's pretty crazy IMO. Unless your other sections were under 18. Do you really think you can do THAT much better? I think it would be more beneficial to look at classes+volunteering+assisting for another year then retake the DAT. Unless the school tells you straight up that it was the DAT score.

I feel like I didn't prepare enough for it the first time because I was hasty in trying to get my application in. I didn't watch all of Chad's videos, didn't do the problems in DAT Destroyer, only did maybe 3-4 PAT practice tests (thus getting the lowest score in this section, 19), did NO practice for Critical Reading (thinking it'd be easy -- I ended up getting only 21 🙁), etc.

I definitely don't think the DAT was a weakness in my application, but having a higher score might help me with my re-app and even out my abysmal sGPA? I don't know. I definitely won't re-take unless I feel completely ready on the day of, though! 🙂

Maybe apply to more "safe" schools next year if that's an option?

Also, I think the majority of your pre-reqs coming from AP credit also doesn't look good to the schools. It was great that you did so well on the AP classes. But college courses and especially labs are different. I would take a mix of pre-reqs and upper levels biology classes if I was you.


And don't give up hope for this cycle. I know people who got into Pitt and are turning it down for sure. I do like the fact that you're planning ahead though, major props for that.

I did apply to all the "safe" schools -- but unfortunately didn't get interviews from them. (Pitts was actually a long shot, and I was so surprised to get an invite there.) I'll definitely reapply to all those schools next year, though.

That's what I'm worried about, too, re: APing out of pre-reqs. But wouldn't the schools that ACCEPT AP credits look down on the fact that I re-take my pre-reqs? I'm just afraid they'd think: "Oh, she's just try to buff up her sGPA by taking those easy classes." (Though Physics definitely wouldn't be easy for me.)

But thank you so much for the advice, though! You've definitely given me so much food for thoughts (I'll definitely be volunteering & shadowing more next semester). 🙂

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I did apply to all the "safe" schools -- but unfortunately didn't get interviews from them. (Pitts was actually a long shot, and I was so surprised to get an invite there.) I'll definitely reapply to all those schools next year, though.

That's what I'm worried about, too, re: APing out of pre-reqs. But wouldn't the schools that ACCEPT AP credits look down on the fact that I re-take my pre-reqs? I'm just afraid they'd think: "Oh, she's just try to buff up her sGPA by taking those easy classes." (Though Physics definitely wouldn't be easy for me.)

By "safe" schools, I hope you know I meant mostly new schools lol. They're usually last on people's list to go and many people turn them down so your chances are pretty decent.

I thought the same thing about the AP credits. But I called up a school and asked. They told me they would prefer me to take the class and actually have it on my transcript. The AP credit just means you passed a single final test. Every school is variable about what score they take for credit anyway. So you might only need a 3 at one school for credit but another wants a 5. It's all wishy-washy. This is just one school I called though. If you want to be sure, you can call up the schools and ask them directly.

 

[equaintly]

By "safe" schools, I hope you know I meant mostly new schools lol. They're usually last on people's list to go and many people turn them down so your chances are pretty decent.

I thought the same thing about the AP credits. But I called up a school and asked. They told me they would prefer me to take the class and actually have it on my transcript. The AP credit just means you passed a single final test. Every school is variable about what score they take for credit anyway. So you might only need a 3 at one school for credit but another wants a 5. It's all wishy-washy. This is just one school I called though. If you want to be sure, you can call up the schools and ask them directly.

Oh! I didn't apply to a few of the newer schools, because I don't have the right pre-reqs (i.e. Anatomy & Physiology, Microbio, etc.) -- but I did apply to all schools that have large class sizes. I'll definitely apply to all of the newer schools next year, though. 🙂

That's very true about AP credits. I'll definitely call up all of the schools that I'm interested in to ask about that. Thank you! 🙂

 

[bhagan01]

what is this, 3rd grade where parents call and check their child's grade in school?

Hey now, he did it behind my back...you have no idea how embarrassed I am that he would even consider this, let alone do it. I mean all I can do is laugh about it now because I cannot change what he did.......I just hope I get an acceptance somewhere so I can brush this all off my shoulders...