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Hey everyone applying to UCLA's Dentistry program. My cousin, who is applying to UCLA this year along with the rest of you, wanted me to post this info on SDN since I recently graduated from UCLA's dental school this past summer and I am often in the Student Affairs office taking care of some personal business. Hopefully, those applicants applying to UCLA will find these tips useful while applying, interviewing, or choosing which programs to attend.
- UCLA is one of those schools that sends LOTS of its students to specialty programs every year. For as long as I can remember, at least 50% or more will specialize, either immediately upon graduating from dental school or after doing a GPR or AEGD residency. I think that one of the reasons for this is because at UCLA, research positions are more readily available than at most other programs. If there is one thing that UCLA has a lot of...it's research. A lot of specialty programs, especially ortho and endo, like applicants who have done research.
- To get into UCLA, you're stats don't have to be awesome but they do have to be good. If memory serves me correct, the average undergraduate GPA for my class (class of 2008) was around 3.7. I think it was the same for the class of 2009. It will get a little more competitive every year as the economy goes down the toilet. I've noticed that as the economy gets bad, the number of applicants to all health professions goes up, and therefore, admissions gets more competitive. This applies to all dental schools in general. Don't get discouraged if your GPA is a little lower than 3.7 because that's just the average. UCLA will take a good number of people with GPAs higher than 3.7 and a good number below that. Several of my classmates had GPAs around 3.5 and 3.4.
- UCLA likes DAT scores above 20 across the board, especially the PAT. But that doesn't mean they won't take people with 19s in some areas. You can make up for slightly lower DAT scores if you have an outstanding GPA and vice versa. If you have a deficiency in one area, don't be surprised if they ask you about it during the interview. Don't freak out...the fact that you're even at an interview with a chance to explain any deficiencies is really a blessing in disguise.
- If my memory serves me, UCLA generally picks around 180 applicants to interview for a class of 88. Don't worry if you haven't heard from UCLA yet. It's still very early in the game. UCLA starts interviewing later than most schools, usually around mid-November all the way until end of February/ early March. Actually, almost all of the California dental schools are like that. It's not uncommon for UCLA to still be selecting applicants to fill spots well into January. I know lots of people not only from my class but classes following mine who interviewed in January and still got in. I even know someone who interviewed in February and got in. But your best chance is to interview as early as possible because once UCLA selects those 88, everyone else interviewed will be for the waitlist. So how do you know if you are interviewing for an open spot or the waitlist? Just email or call them and ask. It's that simple. But be nice and polite cuz they get flooded with so many calls that it can get annoying. My advice is to email them first. If there is no response, then call them in the morning when they are not tired from a long days work. Admissions people are human too!!! Another note,
- Practice interviewing with friends, family, or complete strangers. Really know why you want to be a dentist because interviewers will ask you questions that will require you to convey that information either directly or indirectly in several ways. It will be initimidating because you will usually have 2 interviewers at the same time. I know you have all heard this before but seriously...BE YOURSELF during the interview. I've seen people crash and burn because they tried to be someone that they thought the interviewers wanted them to be. Believe me...it wasn't pretty.
- Last and certainly not least, like every applicant, every dental school has strengths and weaknesses. Schools are just trying to choose applicants that they think will fit in well with their program. Don't fret if you don't get accepted into a particular school. It doesn't mean that you were not a good dental school applicant. It just means that you and that particular school were not a good match. In this crappy economy, I think just getting accepted into a dental school is already a victory for you. Dental school is really what you make of it regardless of the school you attend.
I hope these tips help you out. Good luck to all of you. Peace.
- UCLA is one of those schools that sends LOTS of its students to specialty programs every year. For as long as I can remember, at least 50% or more will specialize, either immediately upon graduating from dental school or after doing a GPR or AEGD residency. I think that one of the reasons for this is because at UCLA, research positions are more readily available than at most other programs. If there is one thing that UCLA has a lot of...it's research. A lot of specialty programs, especially ortho and endo, like applicants who have done research.
- To get into UCLA, you're stats don't have to be awesome but they do have to be good. If memory serves me correct, the average undergraduate GPA for my class (class of 2008) was around 3.7. I think it was the same for the class of 2009. It will get a little more competitive every year as the economy goes down the toilet. I've noticed that as the economy gets bad, the number of applicants to all health professions goes up, and therefore, admissions gets more competitive. This applies to all dental schools in general. Don't get discouraged if your GPA is a little lower than 3.7 because that's just the average. UCLA will take a good number of people with GPAs higher than 3.7 and a good number below that. Several of my classmates had GPAs around 3.5 and 3.4.
- UCLA likes DAT scores above 20 across the board, especially the PAT. But that doesn't mean they won't take people with 19s in some areas. You can make up for slightly lower DAT scores if you have an outstanding GPA and vice versa. If you have a deficiency in one area, don't be surprised if they ask you about it during the interview. Don't freak out...the fact that you're even at an interview with a chance to explain any deficiencies is really a blessing in disguise.
- If my memory serves me, UCLA generally picks around 180 applicants to interview for a class of 88. Don't worry if you haven't heard from UCLA yet. It's still very early in the game. UCLA starts interviewing later than most schools, usually around mid-November all the way until end of February/ early March. Actually, almost all of the California dental schools are like that. It's not uncommon for UCLA to still be selecting applicants to fill spots well into January. I know lots of people not only from my class but classes following mine who interviewed in January and still got in. I even know someone who interviewed in February and got in. But your best chance is to interview as early as possible because once UCLA selects those 88, everyone else interviewed will be for the waitlist. So how do you know if you are interviewing for an open spot or the waitlist? Just email or call them and ask. It's that simple. But be nice and polite cuz they get flooded with so many calls that it can get annoying. My advice is to email them first. If there is no response, then call them in the morning when they are not tired from a long days work. Admissions people are human too!!! Another note,
- Practice interviewing with friends, family, or complete strangers. Really know why you want to be a dentist because interviewers will ask you questions that will require you to convey that information either directly or indirectly in several ways. It will be initimidating because you will usually have 2 interviewers at the same time. I know you have all heard this before but seriously...BE YOURSELF during the interview. I've seen people crash and burn because they tried to be someone that they thought the interviewers wanted them to be. Believe me...it wasn't pretty.
- Last and certainly not least, like every applicant, every dental school has strengths and weaknesses. Schools are just trying to choose applicants that they think will fit in well with their program. Don't fret if you don't get accepted into a particular school. It doesn't mean that you were not a good dental school applicant. It just means that you and that particular school were not a good match. In this crappy economy, I think just getting accepted into a dental school is already a victory for you. Dental school is really what you make of it regardless of the school you attend.
I hope these tips help you out. Good luck to all of you. Peace.
