Non-traditional applicant: How can I go about reapplying?

[ExtraCheesePiazza]

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[TLV-TUS]

Short answer: You applied to a school, the school wants you as well, go for it.
You need to really think if your reason is objectively good enough to decline an offer AND apply again, especially if the reason was known to you before applying to that school... many supp ask you you about previous applications and all that. You need to find a very convincing reason, IF you get interviews again, to why you are going to come thru this time if you failed to do so before... if your reason is legitimate and popped up after your interview at the school that accepted you it will better your chances...
You had 5 interviews, so your stats are good enough to get in, maybe taking the DAT won't matter, but a master's program could show that you are still in "student mode".
Maybe you still have a chance to get into another school this cycle, hard to tell from the info you gave here, but nevertheless, possible...
Goodluck.

 

[nowaysurvey]

Hmm, I'm not sure if you can technically consider yourself as a non-traditional student(?).
Sure, you aren't 22 upon entering dental school, but at the same time, you've pretty much delayed yourself by choice/rejection and alternatively have not come from an entirely different background as any other average pre-dental student (I assumed this, considering you haven't post much about your background). (Someone please correct me on this.)

For the next cycle definitely try to improve your interviewing skills and certainly reconsider your current options. IMO acceptances can sometimes be a crapshoot. Even if you aim to do everything better for the next cycle, there is no guarantee you'll get in. You could very well be on SDN around this time next year asking people for advice again because you wasn't accepted. Also do note that for the next cycle, the AADSAS does asks you whether or not you have applied before and if you have been accepted anywhere.

The courses you have taken does not expire and it certainly does help if you take additional classes (higher/advanced science classes) to remain competitive. Obviously you must do well or it can very well hurt your chances.

I'm sure it varies from school to school, but I was able to get a committee letter despite being out of school for 2 years. It just takes a bit of time reaching out again to the committee and your old professors to update them on your progress during the time you have been out of school, etc. Many dental schools prefer a committee letter over individual letters, so I'd say try to get an updated committee letter first. If that fails, go for individual letters.

What's your entire DAT score breakdown? If you got a 18-19 AA, you may want to take it again depending on your GPA. Right now, I see a 20AA+ as being a competitive score.

Good luck~

 

[ExtraCheesePiazza]

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[ExtraCheesePiazza]

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[DC206R]

What matters is if the school considers your reason legitimate to decline and reapply. I hate to sound all negative and whatnot but it's pretty risky to decline an acceptance and reapply again next year. If it's something like a sudden death in immediate family or you found out you have cancer, that's totally legitimate. I can't seem to think of any other reason why you can't relocate all of a sudden, but obviously I don't know your situation.

 

[nowaysurvey]

Yeah maybe I'm not a non-traditional student, but I don't think the label (traditional vs. non-traditional) I put on myself really matters. I am just confused about how to tackle letters and coursework for the next time around.

Regarding the question about whether I applied before and if I was accepted on the application, I'm not really worried. I really consider the reason I cannot go to school legitimate.

Again, I don't know your exact situation, but I personally would not label myself as a non-traditional student just to get extra pity/sympathy unless you really are one. As I mentioned earlier, just try your best to reach out to your old professors to update your letters. Try for a committee letter again if possible. Taking extra coursework (higher/advanced science) certainly helps, but make sure you do well.

What matters is if the school considers your reason legitimate to decline and reapply. I hate to sound all negative and whatnot but it's pretty risky to decline an acceptance and reapply again next year. If it's something like a sudden death in immediate family or you found out you have cancer, that's totally legitimate. I can't seem to think of any other reason why you can't relocate all of a sudden, but obviously I don't know your situation.

I agree. It is certainly pretty risky to decline an acceptance and reapply again. The OP may very well be around SDN a year or two from now asking for advice again because he/she was rejected. The only thing I can think of for a legitimate reason to pass on this opportunity is if your parents passed and you need time to take care of your siblings (or something along that matter) or if you're seriously/gravely ill going into school. But I nor any one else here for that matter shouldn't poke into your personal business unless you're okay with that. Regardless, I think it's fair to say that if you try to apply again in the next cycle or the year after, it'll certainly be more competitive and you must be ready for that. There are no guarantees you'll be accepted the next time around.

Also, a few schools will let you defer an acceptance if you have a legitimate reason. Definitely see if it's possible for that one school that accepted you.

Regardless, good luck!

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

I applied to a few schools this cycle and got 5 pre-December interviews. I got a few rejection notices and at least 1 acceptance. However, I cannot relocate due to personal matters to the 1 school that gave me an offer, so I will reapply for the 2018 or 2019 cycle.



I believe I am considered a non-traditional student because I am already out of school and by the time I apply, I will have been out of school for at least ~3 years. I want to start preparing now. I, of course, need to improve my interview skills, but can someone please provide some advice for the following?

• I graduated in 2015, and many of my pre-requisite classes, such as General Chemistry, were taken during my 1st year (2011). Will my courses expire by the time I apply? Also, since I will have been out of school for a few years, will I have to take a few additional classes at a college to stay competitive even if my GPA is strong?

• Before I left school, my professors submitted letters to the committee and the committee wrote me a letter. By the time I apply, my letter will obviously be old and I will ask my professors to resubmit them. However, is it okay if the professors were for classes I took a long time ago as long as it’s dated recently? Also, can I forego the committee letter since I am no longer part of the school?

• Should I retake the DAT? Although I got a few interviews, I want to definitively secure my spot the next time apply. My reading score and PAT score are 18. Although these were good enough to land me some interviews this time, I’m thinking about retaking the exam just to improve my chances and possibly get more interviews.

I really can't attend, and the situation is indeed legitimate. I'm not going traveling, taking time to do a side project, starting a family, etc. I've been dreaming about school and would love to start. I just can't right now. Additionally, I found out that I cannot attend after all of my interviews.

Yeah maybe I'm not a non-traditional student, but I don't think the label (traditional vs. non-traditional) I put on myself really matters. I am just confused about how to tackle letters and coursework for the next time around.

Regarding the question about whether I applied before and if I was accepted on the application, I'm not really worried. I really consider the reason I cannot go to school legitimate.

Contact the school for a one year deferment. It they decline, consider it a bridge burned. Unfortunately, reapplying may be a waste of your time and money for this specific school. No guarantee cycle to cycle. People one year get interviews to certain schools and the following year rejected despite strengthening every aspect of their app. Getting into dental school is about one of the toughest things you can do academically.

5 years after graduation you may need some upper level courses to freshen yourself. You may be able to avoid this by teaching or tutoring, but you still need to demonstrate you can think like a student and be one again--so maybe take a course or two.

DAT scores keep rising thanks to well-established test prep companies. I can't predict the future if scores will rise because eventually it will have to hit a threshold and the DAT exam makers will change it up and it'll go back down again. Or it may even be a completely new scoring system. This may not happen by the time you retake in a couple years as they usually announce it years ahead of time.

Can you get the committee letter in your interfolio? Try that.

 

[Toothout]

As @DMDDDSHopeful said, ask for the deferment instead of just withdrawing your spot.

 

[TLV-TUS]

Contact the school for a one year deferment. It they decline, consider it a bridge burned. Unfortunately, reapplying may be a waste of your time and money for this specific school. No guarantee cycle to cycle. People one year get interviews to certain schools and the following year rejected despite strengthening every aspect of their app. Getting into dental school is about one of the toughest things you can do academically.

5 years after graduation you may need some upper level courses to freshen yourself. You may be able to avoid this by teaching or tutoring, but you still need to demonstrate you can think like a student and be one again--so maybe take a course or two.

DAT scores keep rising thanks to well-established test prep companies. I can't predict the future if scores will rise because eventually it will have to hit a threshold and the DAT exam makers will change it up and it'll go back down again. Or it may even be a completely new scoring system. This may not happen by the time you retake in a couple years as they usually announce it years ahead of time.

Can you get the committee letter in your interfolio? Try that.

I think it can also help him understand how legitimate his reason is in the eyes of the school....If the school does offer deferrals on special circumstances and won't accept his reason it is red flag for himself about what OP think is a legitimate reason.
Add to your DAT considerations that DAT scores do expire over time, so you might don't have a choice but retaking it...

I do not wish to invade your privacy or insult you in anyway by delegitimizing your personal reason, I do hope that whatever your problem is, it will be resolved for the better.
Best of luck and happy holidays.

 

[ExtraCheesePiazza]

Update here: After speaking with the school and explaining my situation, I was granted a deferral.

 

[Toothout]

Update here: After speaking with the school and explaining my situation, I was granted a deferral.

So they are letting you be part of their 2022 class? Take it man! Don't waste more money reapplying.

 

[ExtraCheesePiazza]

So they are letting you be part of their 2022 class? Take it man! Don't waste more money reapplying.

They are willing to let me enter 2018 or 2019. I hope to be able to enter 2018 to start asap but depending on the circumstances, I can't say. Stuff happens and the school is extremely understanding. I feel very lucky right now.

There are some "catches" to this but I don't think I'll have any issues. The school that I did get into is a top choice of mine which is great too. Still, to be 100% secure that this works out smoothly and just in case I this issue lingers on, I will be submitting my app to a few places just to be safe.

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

Update here: After speaking with the school and explaining my situation, I was granted a deferral.

They are willing to let me enter 2018 or 2019. I hope to be able to enter 2018 to start asap but depending on the circumstances, I can't say. Stuff happens and the school is extremely understanding. I feel very lucky right now.

There are some "catches" to this but I don't think I'll have any issues. The school that I did get into is a top choice of mine which is great too. Still, to be 100% secure that this works out smoothly and just in case I this issue lingers on, I will be submitting my app to a few places just to be safe.

I'm really happy this worked out for you! It's so awesome that the school was extremely understanding and willing to reserve a spot for you for the incoming 2018 or 2019 year. It looks like that was probably your best Christmas and New Year's gift, huh?

Anyway, congrats on everything and hope your situation gets better!