Personal statement tailored for one school?

[ItsaGreatDay]

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I will specifically be applying to MD, no where else (I know, probably foolish, but it's there or nowhere with my family situation as a non-trad).

Thus, is it a good idea to specifically state that in my personal statement (I already do mention the school in the statement, as I went there for my bachelors in dental hygiene 10yrs ago), so they know I'm 100% committed to going there, or would that simply make me look naive that I'm putting all my eggs in one basket?

Along those same lines, would it look better if I put another school on my application list, even if I have no intention of going there?

thanks for giving your opinion!

 

[OrphanageCaretaker]

1) I would highly recommend applying to more than 1 school. I'd say apply to roughly 6-8 schools. Foolish imo if you apply to one school and don't get in and have to wait another cycle to re-apply
2) Don't make your PS tailored to one school because again you should apply to a handful of schools of which some you are competitive for and some that are safety net schools
3) "Do not make the statement specific to a particular dental school, as ADEA AADSAS will provide the statement to all dental schools designated in the application." from the adea.org website

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Write a general statement even if you are applying to one school

 

[predental21250]

I would definitely apply to more than one school. Only 1 in 3 instate students will get into MD

 

[acesofseven]

Lemme know how this goes.

 

[drcrentistdds]

if MD is seriously the only school you would go to then dont apply to any other schools, that would be a waste of money. Just be mentally prepared to apply again if you aren't accepted. A personal statement should be more about yourself, not about the school, so I don't know that it would really help to make it tailored to one school unless you can make it fit really well into your statement. Good luck!

 

[ItsaGreatDay]

I feel pretty sick over this, MD is the only school within a driveable distance (Howard isn't an option b/c they don't accept cc credits for prereqs, and quite a few of mine are), the next closest dental schools are 2.5hrs away... we own a house, have 2 kids in school and a toddler, my husband's work is here, our family is here (ie, a lot of help with the kids), so we can't just up and move. I didn't realize when I first started this journey how competitive it is, and how low my chances of acceptance might be. *sigh* I'll figure it out... and I'll post down the road to let ppl know what happens, even if it's a rejection, if only to serve as a warning to other naive pre-dents! lol. this is painful... but if i don't laugh i'll cry. thanks for the good wishes!

 

[predental21250]

There are hygienists who have done what you've done. I know there's at least one currently a D3 or D4 at MD who went through what you did. Go ahead and apply for only MD if that's really your only option, but just know by limiting your applications you will lower your chances as well. Don't stress. If it works out, awesome, if not, then maybe it's a blessing in disguise!

Everyone's chances are low, but doesn't mean that people, including you, can't succeed 🙂

 

[TLV-TUS]

In my opinion you could have a decent chance in MD because they love diversity and put a great emphasis on it, and with your story so far, it sounds like an added value for the diversity of the school. that being said, I would suggest you finding ways to broaden your school possibilities, maybe commuting to a farther school but staying there part of the week or some other way that you could make it work. I have a couple of kids and we have a LOT of help from family here so at one point we were considering me moving by myself for the first year since it's the hardest transition year in my opinion. BUT I'm not the MAMA....

 

[DOC YANKEM]

I almost tailored my personal statement for NYU. Thank the Lord! My pre-health advisor told me to make it generalized because in the end your goal is to become the best dentist you can be, not going to xyz dental school.

 

[Polkadotfan]

I almost tailored my personal statement for NYU. Thank the Lord! My pre-health advisor told me to make it generalized because in the end your goal is to become the best dentist you can be, not going to xyz dental school.

This. I actually heard it from an Adcom they want to see you apply to more schools because then it's not about going to THAT school but becoming a dentist.

However as a nontrad with a kid I'd say apply to one if you really can't see yourself moving. Like other said just be prepared to reapply if possible! Don't tailor the PS to the school though, make sure it's about why you want to become a dentist.
Good luck!! You got this 🙂🙂

 

[ItsaGreatDay]

thanks, y'all!