Non-Traditional Stats

[TucsonDDS]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

What are some competative stats for a non-traditional student? Do the adcoms look at non-traditional students any differently?
My stats

9 years as a registered nurse including 2 on the Navajo Reservation
Undergrad GPA of 3.08
Post grad GPA of 3.7 for chem, ochem and physics 6 years ago
Applied 1 time to med school befor I realized why the hell does anyone want
to be a doctor, basically withdrew my applications during interviews
Good manual dexterity, Ever try to start an IV on a 3 month old in Status
Epilepticus, TIG welding, 10 years as a Bicycle Mechanic
Good LOR, 1 Chief of staff from teaching hospital, 1 head of pediatric bone
marrow transplant program, 1 old nursing prof
Sent in application on July 14
Studying for DATs since June to take in october after KAPLAN course hoping
for 19's. Took a KAPLAN PAT and scored 25 1st time
Some research
Some volunteering with special olympics, coaching
1 wife, 2 kids
30 years old

Applied to Arizona, Louisville, Denver, UOP, Pittsburg, Crieghton, Buffalo, Case, Chapill Hill, UMKC

How does that compare with some other non-traditional students. Some schools that I have talked to like Louisville and Arizona are encouraging. Some are not.

 

[UBTom]

Colorado is very difficult to get into since they only take something like 35 students a year, and they give preference to CO residents.

UNC gives preference to North Carolina residents so it may be difficult for you as well.

UMKC gives preference to Missouri residents and also applicants from adjoining states.

SUNY Buffalo takes about 15 out-of-staters a year.

If I was in your shoes, I'd apply to less state schools and more private schools.

 

[jheidenr]

I think Arizona would be a good choice for you, expecially with your experince on the Reservation, really capitalize on that with them.

Have you looked into the WICHE program? That might increase your chances of getting into a Western states dental school like Colorado. Good luck!

 

[TucsonDDS]

I just sent away my WICHE application so that should help with Colorado and UOP. I am really trying to get into Arizona for my families sake and for their clinical facilities. And yes I did stress my time on the reservation in my essay. Does anybody know how many non-traditional students apply each year and get in?

 

[onetoothleft]

UCSF and U Washington are WICHE schools too.

Colorado gives strong preference to CO students and I think they are not WICHE. . . but I may be wrong.

I think you have a great chance of getting in!

Arizona look slike a great school, and they only have an average of 17's on the DAT. I don't think they have earned accreditation yet though . . . .

 

[TucsonDDS]

I was looking into Oregon and washington but their standards seem to be a little higher than what I have gpa wise and what I reasonably think I will get on the DATs. Colorado is still a wiche school and when I talked to admission counselor she said that wiche applicants are treated the same as in state which is a little more encouraging. Arizona was accredited at the end of 2003 so the first class just finished their first year. It seems to be a pretty nice school. I am going up their tomarrow for another tour, wish I could say interview but I just turned my application in.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I don't think they have earned accreditation yet though . . . .

We are fully accredited.

To the OP: I think your life experience will be a huge benefit in your application to our school!

 

[ItsGavinC]

I am going up their tomarrow for another tour, wish I could say interview but I just turned my application in.

I'll be helping with the Q/A of the tour, so I'll see you tomorrow (if I can get out of the house for a couple of hours!).

 

[jdcinza13]

Hi folks,
I've been reading the SDN for over a year now, but never actually posted. I have gotten to know a lot of the regulars, just never conversed w/ them. I'm a non-traditional student...I've got over 5 yrs work experience in the corporate and retail industries, but decided that dentistry is the way to go.
I submitted my app to:
Arizona
Colorado
Oklahoma
Creighton
Case Western
UOP

I just received AADSAS confirmation and I'm under 1500 and have a 3.5 science and 3.6 cumulative. I haven't taken the DAT yet, but I'm looking to take it in mid-August...
One quick question...if you score lower on AA (16,17)portion of the DAT and really high on PAT, say 22 or so, will adcoms look negatively on this with a decent GPA? or will they look more at the overall score? The reason I ask is I'm pretty good at PAT, but I'm lacking in GCHEM and QR because of the math and the fact that it's been a while since I've taken the GCHEM class.
Also, do they look at work experience as a way to make up for possible lower scores on DAT???
I have a lot of shadowing and community service/volunteer work.
Any input would be appreciated..Thanks.

 

[TucsonDDS]

I'll be helping with the Q/A of the tour, so I'll see you tomorrow (if I can get out of the house for a couple of hours!).

Thats great. I talked to a guy named Phillip who said to ask for him. He seemed like a pretty nice guy and was very flexible with me coming up for a visit. I have the tour at 2:30. So I take it that you like the program? I have been getting more and more excited about dental school the last few months as I have been going through the application process and studying for the dats. I just found this website a week or 2 ago and it has been really fun to read through all of the posts. Unfortunately it is time that I should spend studying instead. Hope to see you there tomarrow.
Aaron