Post-Bacc or Masters option

[deleted922378]

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I've applied to dental school this cycle and have received 3 wait-lists so I need to plan out my plan B in case I don't get accepted,

I have a 3.76 GPA, 3.67 SGPA, 250+ hours of shadowing, and only about 40 or so hours of volunteer. I also did two semesters of being a microbiology lab assistant and assistant TA. I have my school's committee letter that can be sent again the upcoming cycle.

My DAT scores are:
PAT 21
QR 24
RC 21
BIO 20
GC 26
OC 21
TS 21
AA 22


Would you guys recommend that I do a post-bacc program designed dental students or a SMP? I applied to the Temple Post-bacc but feel like a post-bacc is unnecessary because my GPA is good enough. I felt like I fell behind because of my lack of community service and volunteering. I'm a Texas resident and I believe the Texas schools require re-applicants to have continual coursework in their gap year so I don't know if I should just take classes at my old university or apply to a post-bacc specifically for prospective dental students.

 

[macsak]

I've applied to dental school this cycle and have received 3 wait-lists so I need to plan out my plan B in case I don't get accepted,

I have a 3.76 GPA, 3.67 SGPA, 250+ hours of shadowing, and only about 40 or so hours of volunteer. I also did two semesters of being a microbiology lab assistant and assistant TA. I have my school's committee letter that can be sent again the upcoming cycle.

My DAT scores are:
PAT 21
QR 24
RC 21
BIO 20
GC 26
OC 21
TS 21
AA 22


Would you guys recommend that I do a post-bacc program designed dental students or a SMP? I applied to the Temple Post-bacc but feel like a post-bacc is unnecessary because my GPA is good enough. I felt like I fell behind because of my lack of community service and volunteering. I'm a Texas resident and I believe the Texas schools require re-applicants to have continual coursework in their gap year so I don't know if I should just take classes at my old university or apply to a post-bacc specifically for prospective dental students.

what schools did you apply to and where are you waitlisted?

 

[deleted922378]

what schools did you apply to and where are you waitlisted?

3 Texas schools
UNLV
Buffalo
UNE
Pitts
Temple
LECOM
Louisville

Waitlisted at UT Houston, UNLV, and Louisville

 

[Lab_lover]

Don’t waste the money on either because your gpa and dat are fine. I would recommend volunteering and working somewhere in your gap year. But definitely check about that re-applicant rule for Texas schools. That might determine if you have to.

 

[macsak]

3 Texas schools
UNLV
Buffalo
UNE
Pitts
Temple
LECOM
Louisville

Waitlisted at UT Houston, UNLV, and Louisville

ok, thanks
my recommendation (note: I have no knowledge of texas schools) would be to take classes and make sure to maintain your GPA in an informal postbacc at a school you can go to cheaply
and work on increasing your volunteer/community service hours
i'd also recommend contacting as many of the schools you applied to and asking for tips on improving your application
if you don't get off the wait lists, make sure to go over your PS and the rest of your app and apply early
be sure to apply broadly and wisely

I hope you get off a waitlist somewhere, but you are doing the right thing by trying to figure out your game plan for next cycle
good luck to you

aloha

steve

 

[DreamingOfDentistry]

you would be wasting time and money doing a post bac. Work on personal statement- shadowing hours, mock interviews, if the schools do pre dental days or days throughout the year for prospective students, look into those sorts of events to get your face recognized at schools you're seriously interested in. Work on everything else but your grades! Theyre awesome.

 

[taroplush]

SMP would be a total waste of your money (and blood, sweat, and tears). I feel like people on SDN throw SMPs around like a sack of potatoes and assume everyone that attempts an SMP will come out successful. For lack of a better description, it’s hard as hell.

Anyway, with your stats, just volunteer more and try to get feedback on other parts of your application. Your academic stats aren't the issue. Your volunteer hours are kind of on the low end.

 

[deleted922378]

Don’t waste the money on either because your gpa and dat are fine. I would recommend volunteering and working somewhere in your gap year. But definitely check about that re-applicant rule for Texas schools. That might determine if you have to.

SMP would be a total waste of your money (and blood, sweat, and tears). I feel like people on SDN throw SMPs around like a sack of potatoes and assume everyone that attempts an SMP will come out successful. For lack of a better description, it’s hard as hell.

Anyway, with your stats, just volunteer more and try to get feedback on other parts of your application. Your academic stats aren't the issue. Your volunteer hours are kind of on the low end.

you would be wasting time and money doing a post bac. Work on personal statement- shadowing hours, mock interviews, if the schools do pre dental days or days throughout the year for prospective students, look into those sorts of events to get your face recognized at schools you're seriously interested in. Work on everything else but your grades! Theyre awesome.

Thank you for the feedback! I was leaning towards a masters or SMP being a waste of money since my grades and DAT score aren't bad. What do you guys think about post-bacc to have continuous coursework for the schools that want it? Will take 2 classes in that are recommended but not required like human physiology and immunology while volunteering, and working a part-time job show that I'm committed?

 

[macsak]

Thank you for the feedback! I was leaning towards a masters or SMP being a waste of money since my grades and DAT score aren't bad. What do you guys think about post-bacc to have continuous coursework for the schools that want it? Will take 2 classes in that are recommended but not required like human physiology and immunology while volunteering, and working a part-time job show that I'm committed?

if that's what texas schools want, you should do it

 

[Yesnoyes]

I would apply to more safety schools, I believe your DAT and GPA are fine. Do some homeless outreach and dental shadowing to buff up your resume and try again!

 

[deleted922378]

I would apply to more safety schools, I believe your DAT and GPA are fine. Do some homeless outreach and dental shadowing to buff up your resume and try again!

One thing I did regret was not applying to safety schools like NYU, or Tufts, or NOVA. I went for the cheaper schools and ones that gave instate tuition after a year. Thank you for your feedback!

 

[OrphanageCaretaker]

Increase your volunteering and shadowing hours. No masters, no post-bacc, no DAT retake. Your stats are fantastic, just apply broadly and have about 300-400 shadowing and maybe 300 volunteering hours to be solid and well-rounded. Apply to 15 schools to be very safe (private OOS ones especially.)