One thing that I have discovered this cycle is that there really are no provisions in dental school admissions for very non-traditional applicants like you and I. Even though I work full-time, go to school half-time, and have two kids to raise, plus the many other responsibilities that I have at home, dental school adcoms do not seem to view this as a positive. It actually is looked at as a negative because I am not taking 6 or 7 classes a semester. They are evaluating me as a traditional applicant. You are treated just like any other traditional candidate that applies, and you are evaluated on the same traditional standards as everyone else. I have an average DAT with a good GPA and about 20 years experience in a meaningful, responsible position in the health care field with tons of patient contact. I applied to 17 schools, and I received 1 interview where I was waitlisted. I think that the best way to get noticed is to really get a great score on the DAT (over 20). I was even told by an adcom to try a one year masters program to show that I can handle the work. I have many life experiences like yourself, and I have had many struggles in my 44 years. My feelings are that school work and getting through a rigorous dental program is really not as a great challenge for me as it is portrayed by adcoms. I am mature, I have a good work ethic, I do not have a learning disability, so the material is really not a problem. I know what I want, I just need the vehicle to get there. Don't get me wrong, dental school is tough, but I know myself very well, and I know that I can do it. My past employment has afforded me the opportunity to learn about disease, diagnosis, compassionate care, health care delivery systems and the problems associated with them. School work is school work.... I say pile it on. So, my focus this next cycle will be to improve my DAT score, call every school that I am interested and talk to an admissions counselor to determine how a non-trad can get noticed. Good luck to you.
