No idea where to apply

[detroittigersfan]

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Hey guys! Long time lurker here, but I just took my DAT and I'm not sure where to go from here! I have a 3.3 cum gpa (not great) but I was wondering if my DAT scores would make up for that. Here they are:

AA: 24
PAT: 23
QR: 19
RC: 24
BIO: 25
GC: 30
OC: 22
TS: 25

I'm on Ohio resident so the only school I know I want to apply to is Ohio State. Where else should I try? I also have decent ECs, but not anything that would blow you away. I have 50 shadowing hours currently. I kind of decided to apply this cycle late in the game, so I'm lacking in those areas. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[7amsho]

nice DAT scores! are you planning on posting a breakdown?

as for which schools to apply to, I would say apply to 10 schools (considering your below average GPA but above average and really good DATs), consider:
-Tufts
-Temple
-Case
-Arizona School
-Louisville
-Marquette
-Mercy

 

[detroittigersfan]

I just posted one in the DAT forum! Is Mercy in detroit?

 

[dent313]

Yes, Mercy is in detroit

 

[packerland]

Obviously Detroit-Mercy if you're a Tigers fan! 😉

 

[clutchfans]

With those scores, you'll be competitive anywhere you apply.

 

[detroittigersfan]

Do I honestly have a shot anywhere? My DAT scores are good, but I'm just worried that my application is weak overall.

 

[7amsho]

if you apply broadly, you should get 3-4 interviews i think.. then it's your personality that would come into play and hopefully will make adcoms want you

 

[Glimmer1991]

What's your sGPA? It is generally regarded as a bit more important than the oGPA.

 

[detroittigersfan]

My sGPA is a 3.2 but I have a really strong upwards trend. My GPA from my last two semesters are a 3.83 and a 3.7 taking almost all upper level science classes.

 

[Glimmer1991]

I think you have a fine chance, especially with that upward trend.

How about you try to cram in another 30 shadowing hours within the next 2 weeks and then e-submit? 50 is a bit low.

By and large, just apply where you want. I'd aim for 10-13 schools, since your GPA may make things a bit less assured.

 

[detroittigersfan]

Here is my tentative list:

Ohio State
University of Michigan
Marquette
Pitt
Louisville
UD Mercy
Maryland

This is all I can afford right now, what do you guys think?

 

[packerland]

Here is my tentative list:

Ohio State
University of Michigan
Marquette
Pitt
Louisville
UD Mercy
Maryland

This is all I can afford right now, what do you guys think?

You need 100 hours shadowing at the time of application for Michigan. So I'd take them off.

 

[dentalstudentprospect2]

hey we have around the same gpa (3.39 ogpa and 3.46 sGPA) and the same DAT's (24/25/23)!! i applied to 12 schools.. lets hope we get some interviews!

 

[detroittigersfan]

hey we have around the same gpa (3.39 ogpa and 3.46 sGPA) and the same DAT's (24/25/23)!! i applied to 12 schools.. lets hope we get some interviews!

best of luck to you! where did you apply? I'm planning on submitting tomorrow or the next day!

 

[dentalstudentprospect2]

im a CA resident so i applied to my state schools: USC, UOP, Western, UCLA, UCSF. for OOS i applied to columbia,tufts, bu, upenn, umich, unlv and upitt. i got quite a few reach schools on my list IMO but i hope to get lucky!

 

[threemileisle]

Here is my tentative list:

Ohio State
University of Michigan
Marquette
Pitt
Louisville
UD Mercy
Maryland

This is all I can afford right now, what do you guys think?

Agree with Glimmer. The limited ECs isn't ideal and the GPA hurts, but it's not terribly low. Your DAT will get you in SOMEWHERE, the question is where. You're not one of those applicants who's in the grey area, wondering whether they should spend thousands going all in this cycle.

You WILL get in somewhere and to assure that happens, you need to expand your school list. You don't want to play Russian roulette and lose. You say you can't afford it, but you've gotta figure out a way to make it happen. It's gonna hurt you a lot more if you have to waste a year. You definitely should be adding 4-6 more schools from the following: USC, NYU, UOP, Case, Midwestern x 2, Nova, Temple, UNLV, LECOM, Roseman, Creighton, MSDOH, Columbia, Penn, Tufts, and BU. The Ivys are reaches, but with your DAT, you never know.

None of your current schools can really be considered a back-up school. If I were you, I would add NYU, LECOM, Roseman, Temple, and two more of your choosing.

 

[detroittigersfan]

I'm running into problems with LORs, I have two science faculty and a dentist but I'm seeing some schools want letters from biology AND chemistry and I only have biology professors. How strict are schools on details like that?

 

[detroittigersfan]

Also, can I apply to some schools now and then apply to more as I get more paychecks through the summer?

 

[dentalstudentprospect2]

Also, can I apply to some schools now and then apply to more as I get more paychecks through the summer?

Do you have a credit card? Or if possible, borrow from parents, relatives, or friends?

 

[Glimmer1991]

Also, can I apply to some schools now and then apply to more as I get more paychecks through the summer?

Yes, you can easily do this. 🙂

 

[threemileisle]

I'm running into problems with LORs, I have two science faculty and a dentist but I'm seeing some schools want letters from biology AND chemistry and I only have biology professors. How strict are schools on details like that?

Very strict, though it varies by school. Most schools, however, won't waver in their requirements, especially on the bio. But for schools that specify bio vs chem, they usually allow chem/biochem/math/physics to satisfy the chem requirement. You should check on that. Also, if you can get your hands on one, most schools allow for a committee letter to substitute for science letters.

 

[detroittigersfan]

Very strict, though it varies by school. Most schools, however, won't waver in their requirements, especially on the bio. But for schools that specify bio vs chem, they usually allow chem/biochem/math/physics to satisfy the chem requirement. You should check on that. Also, if you can get your hands on one, most schools allow for a committee letter to substitute for science letters.

what is this magical committee I keep reading about? I don't think my school offers this

 

[Glimmer1991]

what is this magical committee I keep reading about? I don't think my school offers this

If you've never heard of it, your school probably doesn't have one. Mine didn't. No worries. 🙂