Plans for next year

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What are your plans for next year?


  • Total voters
    114
wow ... im glad to see at least im not the only person re-applying
 
I'm sure there are plenty of people in the same boat - I only got in after my 2nd time reapplying. Not a single interview last year, but I received 4 invites this year - just keep improving your application.

GL!
 
So this is your 3rd time? what did you do specifically to improve your app? DAT, personal statement, GPA? I know I need to raise my DAT and ive done more shadowing, and a lot of dental related volunteering. With the amount of credit hours I have completed its tough for my GPA to move in either direction. Im planning to get additional biology, and dental letters of rec. as well as complete my second degree in Bio with a Chem minor. I just hope im on the right track for next cycle because rejection after all of this hard work is hard to deal with.
 
Sorry, I guess I didn't say that correctly - I re-applied only once. I was accepted the 2nd time I applied; however, there are some other SDNers who have had to apply 3 times before getting accepted.

Unfortunately, it was too late to raise my GPA substantially (3.3), but I did re-write the DAT and scored 21/21/21. That was the main improvement - I also improved my personal statement and was accepted into a 12-mos masters in innovation management. I don't know how much of an impact either of those improvements had, but I guess every little bit helps. I've also worked p/t at a dental office for the past 5 years - my knowledge of the business aspect of dentistry was probably a plus.

Just remember that AADSAS only accepts 4 letters of rec, so unless these new letters are better, than there is no point in sending them in. Although, some schools (probably most) prefer more recent letters of rec.
 
I turn all my letters into the predent office and they are used in writing the committee letter. I think the best letters are sent and the mediocre letters are pulled and not submitted to AADSAS. I think having a large pool of letters would increase my chances of having a great committee letter as well as having the best letters sent along to AADSAS
 
lots of votes ... lets keep it going
 
OP, your predents stats looks good....at least the few stats that you provided.

I am a 2nd time applicant. The first time I applied, I submitted my AADSAS app on Oct, which was probably my biggest mistake. In addition, my gpa was borderline, and I'm sure that my letters of rec from my science profs were mediocre since they didn't really know me that well at the time.

The 2nd time I applied, I continued to take a full year of upper level bio classes, and some of these classes were with the same profs. I then applied in June with a new set of strong rec letters (now that the profs know me better). This year, I had four interviews, 3 acceptances, and a 5th interview invite that I will not accept.

You didn't state your DAT scores; therefore, I'm assuming that they are not in the 20's. If so, your 1st priority should be to get your DAT scores into the 20's.

If you feel that your letters of rec may be mediocre, then maybe you should take a few more classes this coming year to get solid letters.

Another option may be to spend a year in a research lab to get some experience that will also create strong rec letters.

Good luckz
 
Thanks Ron ... you nailed it ... my DAT scores are not as high as I would like them to be so my main focus at this point is getting those up and hopefully ill have some more luck this cycle.
 
Keep the voting going
 
Hold strong buddy ... give it at least a few shots before you throw in the towel
 
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