Questions concerning UPenn 7-yr Bio-Dental Program

[PennDreamer]

Hi, I am a high school student who wants to be a dentist. I have been working my butt off to go to UPenn. Application will be out next month and I am getting worried about few things.

First, Will I get different application for accelerated program? For example, I saw different supplemental form for BDP.

Second, IF, once again if, I get into UPenn, Will I have to take DAT during the course of 7yr bio-dental program or am I exempted?

Third, My grades are As/Bs and My SAT, well reading sucks... I am taking SAT October and ACT on Sept. and Oct. in case my score is not where it should be... My Math score in both tests are perfect and science is almost perfect score too. just reading and writing b/c I moved to U.S. 6yrs ago.
Will there be exceptions....?? I know this sounds really ridiculous and stupid, but I want to keep up my hope 🙂

Lastly, I will be doing research with UNC-Chap professor on Stem Cell Engineering/Bone regeneration. Also I will be shadowing and getting internship from this dentist near my house. Will these help on my App???
I can't and couldn't go to bunch of summer programs that could have boosted up my app b/c of my financial situation. I still did my best to keep up with volunteering at hospitals and YMCA.

Thanks a bunch for answering my questions and unloading some of the burdens of worries I am carrying.

Have a wonderful day!

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[DentalChokri]

Hi, I am a high school student who wants to be a dentist. I have been working my butt off to go to UPenn. Application will be out next month and I am getting worried about few things.

First, Will I get different application for accelerated program? For example, I saw different supplemental form for BDP.

Second, IF, once again if, I get into UPenn, Will I have to take DAT during the course of 7yr bio-dental program or am I exempted?

Third, My grades are As/Bs and My SAT, well reading sucks... I am taking SAT October and ACT on Sept. and Oct. in case my score is not where it should be... My Math score in both tests are perfect and science is almost perfect score too. just reading and writing b/c I moved to U.S. 6yrs ago.
Will there be exceptions....?? I know this sounds really ridiculous and stupid, but I want to keep up my hope 🙂

Lastly, I will be doing research with UNC-Chap professor on Stem Cell Engineering/Bone regeneration. Also I will be shadowing and getting internship from this dentist near my house. Will these help on my App???
I can't and couldn't go to bunch of summer programs that could have boosted up my app b/c of my financial situation. I still did my best to keep up with volunteering at hospitals and YMCA.

Thanks a bunch for answering my questions and unloading some of the burdens of worries I am carrying.

Have a wonderful day!

Hey!

I'm currently in the 7 year dental program with Upenn. I'm still an undergrad, but I went through the process about 2 years ago.

As far as I remember, I met all the requirements. My SAT scores and GPA were above the required (not THAT much above). I was also very involved with extracurriculars (president of four organizations by senior year). None of them really had anything to do with science or dentistry. I didn't volunteer at a hospital or anything like that either. I did have a lot of community service though (just not medical related). I shadowed a dentist a little, just to make sure that dentistry was what I wanted to do (Didn't really include that in my app... since it was after I got accepted). I also did research while I was in high school. I never did an expensive summer science program or anything either.


So I applied to my undergrad school. Got in, and then had to fill out a separate application for Upenn Dental. That was was super focused on dentistry in specific (obviously).

And yes you have to take the DAT's. I'm actually taking them next week... EKKKK! & you have to maintain a minimum gpa of 3.5 or 3.6... I forget which one.

I hope that helps, and BEST of LUCK!!!

 

[PennDreamer]

Wow. Finally i meet someone who is actually in Penn's 7yr bio-dental program. Can I add u on Fb??

So, u mean I have to fill out "normal" app first. And if I get accepted, I will be able to fill out Program's application??

About DAT, I get to take it in my sophomore year i guess? cause u said you are in 3rd year right?

Wow... May i ask what your SAT score was?? I'm worried my SAT is lower than their "required"/"minimum" SAT score.

How about Financial aid?? Are there different options for bio-dental program's students??

Thank you so much!!

 

[jon62690]

Hi PennDreamer,

I was accepted into the UPenn/Upenn and Lehigh/UPenn program when I applied in high school. My SAT was 1400, was Salutatorian at the time of application, and had 100's of hours shadowing and working in dental settings.

After applying to Lehigh and UPenn undergrad, they sent me the application for the program, and then UPenn called me for a telephone interview (I don't remember if the interview was necessary, but I do remember that I was not able to fly up to Pennsylvania at the time).

In the end, I ended up at neither of the places simply because they were too expensive. Coming from a middle class background, I was in no place to receive need-based aid, and my academic stats were I guess "normal" for applicants to UPenn and Lehigh, so I didn't receive much merit-based aid either. The 45K pricetag for undergrad, and 90K pricetag for d-school made it an obvious choice for me to not attend. Nonetheless, I was upset that I did not receive much to help me pay for all of this, so I called both the undergrad and d-schools to see what options I have to help pay for all of this, and all I got were references to loans. :/

Sorry I can't answer much in regards to the actual program, but I did want to pass on my experiences of what made me decide to not accept the offer into the program.

 

[PennDreamer]

Hi PennDreamer,

I was accepted into the UPenn/Upenn and Lehigh/UPenn program when I applied in high school. My SAT was 1400, was Salutatorian at the time of application, and had 100's of hours shadowing and working in dental settings.

After applying to Lehigh and UPenn undergrad, they sent me the application for the program, and then UPenn called me for a telephone interview (I don't remember if the interview was necessary, but I do remember that I was not able to fly up to Pennsylvania at the time).

In the end, I ended up at neither of the places simply because they were too expensive. Coming from a middle class background, I was in no place to receive need-based aid, and my academic stats were I guess "normal" for applicants to UPenn and Lehigh, so I didn't receive much merit-based aid either. The 45K pricetag for undergrad, and 90K pricetag for d-school made it an obvious choice for me to not attend. Nonetheless, I was upset that I did not receive much to help me pay for all of this, so I called both the undergrad and d-schools to see what options I have to help pay for all of this, and all I got were references to loans. :/

Sorry I can't answer much in regards to the actual program, but I did want to pass on my experiences of what made me decide to not accept the offer into the program.

Um quick Question... I am sorry i am asking maybe "should've know" question...

What do you mean by Lehigh/Upenn and Upenn/Upenn???

 

[jon62690]

Um quick Question... I am sorry i am asking maybe "should've know" question...

What do you mean by Lehigh/Upenn and Upenn/Upenn???

Lehigh for undergrad for 3 years, UPenn for dental for the next 4. And UPenn for 3 years, and UPenn dental for 4 years. Both 7 year Bio-Dental consortium programs.