Please evaluate my situation

[paulee1983]

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Hi all SDNers,

This is a long story and I hope you have the patience to read it through and give me some valuable advices.

I just did my DAT today:

PAT:22
QR:22
RC:17* (I know, it sux)
BIO: 20
G.C:20
O.C:19
T.S:20
A.A:20

*I am not trying to give myself an excuse, but I was doing 23-25 at home in Top score/DAT achiever, and I get used to LCD monitor at home. However, the CRT monitor in the test center kills me, and I almost faint out by just staring at that screen.....I know it is a personal problem though...


Here is some of my background:

Pros:
- 3.91 Sci.GPA and 3.84 Cum. GPA from a Community College
- 20/22 DAT
- 5 Strong recommendation letters, one even from a dentsit graduated from LLU
- 50+ hrs of shadowing hours, and I even have a chance to try filling a broken teeth of a skull using composite 😛
- 50+ hrs of volunteering in dental lab, learnt waxing and some dentures stuff. (I acutally waxed a teeth by myself)
- 60+ hrs of Research assistant at Kern Medical Center on bronchiolitis and Tegretol study
- Transferring to UCLA next quarter (this maybe a Cons.....)

Cons:
- I am a junior and applying W/O a B.S.
- I didn't even take any Orangic Chemistry class yet
- just finished Bio 1 & 2 and G. Chem 1 & 2 and other requirement classes


I applied to UCLA, UCSF, LLU, UOP, and USC in early June.

Here are the questions that I hope you guys can help me:

1. Do I need to fax the DAT result (the one w/ the stamp on it) to the dental schools, or the test center will send it out for me?

2. Do I have any chance to get in UCLA, UCSF, LLU, or USC? (I know UOP is no go for me as I heard that they require 20+ on every part)

3. If I didn't get in this year, should I retake the DAT because of low score in RC?

4. With this DAT score, do you think I have a great chance to get in the 2007 application cycle (For UCLA, UCSF, UOP, USC, and LLU)? (That means applying w/ B.S.)




Please, just show me the reality. I want to know whether I should do the DAT again next year 😱

Thx for you time!!

 

[jimmyd101]

Have you taken (or are you planning to take) the required prerequisites for each school (Ex USC requires some interesting classes (philosophy) if you do not get your degree?) If you fulfill those I would say you have a good shot at schools like USC and possibly LLU. Check those out and if you do well in each class I would say you've still got a great shot...but it's always a whole lot easier to get in with a degree. 😱

 

[jay228]

based on the fact that all of your classes are from a JC at time of application, i honestly don't see how you have a chance...

 

[paulee1983]

Have you taken (or are you planning to take) the required prerequisites for each school (Ex USC requires some interesting classes (philosophy) if you do not get your degree?) If you fulfill those I would say you have a good shot at schools like USC and possibly LLU. Check those out and if you do well in each class I would say you've still got a great shot...but it's always a whole lot easier to get in with a degree. 😱

Yes.
I have completed almost all of the required classes of 5 dental schools (like Eng, Phil, Psy, etc).
The only classes I need are O. Chem 1 & 2 (and Bio Chem maybe), 2 more Biology classes (Microbiology/Physiology/Anatomy)


One thing I don't really understand is what's the difference between an applicant w/ B.S. and the one w/o B.S.? I mean, dental schools should not pick people just because they have one more "certificate". If both applicants have the same potential and ability, I think they should deserve fair chance. Some may say w/ B.S. bascially means he has one more year of classes and demonstrate a better academic performance than the one w/o B.S. But can't you just do it like:

3.3 GPA w/ B.S. = 3.8 GPA w/o B.S.

I think even w/o B.S., one should have the same chance as w/ B.S. if they have similar DAT score, which is a standarized test.

 

[jay228]

adcoms make the rules... not you or i.

most schools specify a number of units that must be taken at a 4 yr university prior to applying.....

furthermore, to be honest, for the schools you listed, your application just isn't strong enough to compete against the myriad other applicants who have a degree or have had all their course works at a university.

I mean, since you've already applied, just go with it, but I wouldn't get my hopes up at all. as for your DAT question, you call the DAT center to have them send the scores to the schools.

If I were in your schools, I would feel much more comfortable applying with a BS, provided your ucla GPA isn't too significantly lower than your CC gpa.

 

[wimmcs]

I agree.

If you take a look at d-students who got in w/o a degree, they are definitely the minority. Who's to say that your 3.8 GPA wouldn't go down taking senior courses? I believe adcoms are looking for well-roundedness and I believe having a degree is one aspect of being well-rounded.
But, there are those who are still getting in w/o degrees, maybe you could be one of those. Good luck either way.

 

[jimmyd101]

Well I did not see the community college the first time I looked at your info. I agree with the others. If that would have been at a University I would still say you're money, but I've heard too many stories of C.C. GPA's dropping drastically upon arrival at a 4 year institution. That makes you a risk to the school. Prove you can do the same stuff at a 4 year school.

I do know people who got in to USC without the degree and just the prereq's just as easily as the rest, but they were at 4 year schools.

 

[syn_apse]

if i were you, i would be less worried about your RC score and lack of a degree and more worried about the fact that you already went over the community college credit limit for almost all of the schools you applied to 🙁

the good news is that your numbers are strong and you appear to be a well-rounded applicant! the bad news is that applicants with slightly weaker numbers -- but who have a diploma from a tradition 4-year university -- are going to be accepted before you.

be optimistic though! if you don't get in this year, consider transfering to a state school, kicking butt to prove your GPA is legit and not a community college fluke and getting your diploma before you reapply!

good luck!

 

[grmaster1]

Most dental schools require a minimum of 90 credit hours, and all the prereq's completed by the matriculation date.

If you have or will have that, then you can apply...

There may be a limit on a total number of hours taken at the community college--call the schools to find that out...

Your DAT scores are above average except RC, which is average--why retake it?

 

[paulee1983]

Thx for the inputs!

I just read my score report and found a notes at bottom of it:

"This Report of Scores is for your personal use only. A report of scores will be sent to the dental schools that you requested on your application."

So that's mean they will send out for me, right? Or should I contact individual schools to check it out?


By the way, I also checked the dental stats website:
LLU 3.42/3.32 18.48/18.28 (Overall GPA/Sci. GPA AA/PAT)
UCLA 3.59/3.65 22/19
UCSF 3.49/3.43 20.78/18.9
UOP 3.27/3.17 20.6/20
USC 3.47/3.25 19.7/18.7

If I apply next year w/ my B.S. and current DAT result (20/22), would I have a better chance to get in anyone of them assuming that my GPA is around 3.5/3.5?

I really want to get in UCLA.....but then I guess I have to retake the DAT.....which will be a pain.....

 

[jay228]

I just read my score report and found a notes at bottom of it:

"This Report of Scores is for your personal use only. A report of scores will be sent to the dental schools that you requested on your application."

So that's mean they will send out for me, right? Or should I contact individual schools to check it out?

1) How can those directions be possibly any clearer?

2) I just answered this very question.

3) Judging by this alone.... I'm going to file you under "incompetent" in my book.

By the way, I also checked the dental stats website:
LLU 3.42/3.32 18.48/18.28 (Overall GPA/Sci. GPA AA/PAT)
UCLA 3.59/3.65 22/19
UCSF 3.49/3.43 20.78/18.9
UOP 3.27/3.17 20.6/20
USC 3.47/3.25 19.7/18.7

If I apply next year w/ my B.S. and current DAT result (20/22), would I have a better chance to get in anyone of them assuming that my GPA is around 3.5/3.5?

I really want to get in UCLA.....but then I guess I have to retake the DAT.....which will be a pain.....

those are average stats, higher than average stats puts you at an advantage, but don't celebrate yet cause all it takes is a ill-meshed interview to get that nebulous "wait listed don't call us we'll call you" letter.

 

[etan4]

Thx for the inputs!

I just read my score report and found a notes at bottom of it:

"This Report of Scores is for your personal use only. A report of scores will be sent to the dental schools that you requested on your application."

So that's mean they will send out for me, right? Or should I contact individual schools to check it out?


By the way, I also checked the dental stats website:
LLU 3.42/3.32 18.48/18.28 (Overall GPA/Sci. GPA AA/PAT)
UCLA 3.59/3.65 22/19
UCSF 3.49/3.43 20.78/18.9
UOP 3.27/3.17 20.6/20
USC 3.47/3.25 19.7/18.7

If I apply next year w/ my B.S. and current DAT result (20/22), would I have a better chance to get in anyone of them assuming that my GPA is around 3.5/3.5?
I really want to get in UCLA.....but then I guess I have to retake the DAT.....which will be a pain.....

Even if you were admitted and are starting at a 4 year university this fall, it is highly unlikely to get a bachelor's by the time you apply next year.

 

[paulee1983]

I mean next round of application cycle (2007) 😛

 

[TeethVader]

Well I did not see the community college the first time I looked at your info. I agree with the others. If that would have been at a University I would still say you're money, but I've heard too many stories of C.C. GPA's dropping drastically upon arrival at a 4 year institution. That makes you a risk to the school. Prove you can do the same stuff at a 4 year school.

I do know people who got in to USC without the degree and just the prereq's just as easily as the rest, but they were at 4 year schools.

This statement is rather strange considering the fact that in the stats sheet says that 100% of 2003, and 2004 classes possesed a Bachelor's Degree.

 

[TeethVader]

Well I did not see the community college the first time I looked at your info. I agree with the others. If that would have been at a University I would still say you're money, but I've heard too many stories of C.C. GPA's dropping drastically upon arrival at a 4 year institution. That makes you a risk to the school. Prove you can do the same stuff at a 4 year school.

I do know people who got in to USC without the degree and just the prereq's just as easily as the rest, but they were at 4 year schools.

This statement is rather strange considering the fact that USC's stats sheet says that 100% of 2003, and 2004 classes possesed a Bachelor's Degree.

 

[Sprgrover]

.... I'm going to file you under "incompetent" in my book...

Play nice.