Questions for those with 2+ app cycle experience

[Zhopik]

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This is my second cycle, and again not a single interview. I'm going to be taking the DAT for the 3rd and final time on 10/30/07. If it's decent i'll use it to apply again next year, but what happens after that? What changes in your application on the 3rd or 4th time around to make them want to take you?

I'm so frustrated because I have so much damn experience and the dentist that I work for who has 25+ years experience says that I am going to be an amazing dentist (as do all the other dentists I have worked/volunteered/shadowed/etc with), but no freaking school will even let me get my foot in the door to give me a chance at an interview. Apparently my stats suck, and thats it. done.

My latest DAT 7/24/07: 18AA/19TS/17PAT
My UC Davis GPA: 3.33 overall, 2.98 sci
Double Major: 1)Neurobiology, Physiology, Behavior and 2) Russian

I informed them that I'm enrolled in a post-bacc through UC Berkeley and trying to get my science GPA up, and that I'm re-taking the DAT yet again, and they don't even waitfor grades or scores. I'm collecting rejections as we speak.

So what do I do to re-apply next cycle for my 3rd time around? My DAT chances are almost used up/will be used up in a couple weeks, and i quite honestly don't see it drastically improving as the last time around I lived and breathed it for 2 months before, got all the "good" materials (Destroyer, Achiever, Topscore, Kaplan), and still came out with low scores. Now I'm in school almost full time, and work about 25 hrs/week, and don't have any new materials to work with.

Should I just give up? and if not, how do I improve my app for next year to get my foot in the door, and at least get an interview?

 

[golfer]

This is my first time but my brother's third. He took the DAT this last time and did significantly better. So far he has 7 interviews 19/21/21 (16s on RC and QR). He still received interviews in the previous years with his past stats (3.5 gpa business major 17-18s). He bought the destroyer for his final time and did a lot better as you can see. I think you should def. apply for next year as you are already pretty late for this year. Here are some things to keep in mind when applying
1.Apply early (May)
2. raise GPA
3. Study for 2 months at least (full-time no work or anything during these two months) It seems you are determined so definately study like a mad-man/woman and taking out loans to support yourself isn't that big a deal if it allows you to score higher on the DAT. Use all resources, change your study habits as it appears now it doesn't seem to be working
Finally you might have something in your app. that is a huge no-no to dental schools so have somebody look over it.
That's what I would say hope it helps
Good luck

 

[jackbauer!]

I recommend:

(1) 20+ on DAT, and
(2) 1 year MS program

I know, easier said than done, but you wanted to go to dental school, right?

jb!🙂

 

[QuackDentist]

This is my first time but my brother's third. He took the DAT this last time and did significantly better. So far he has 7 interviews 19/21/21 (16s on RC and QR). He still received interviews in the previous years with his past stats (3.5 gpa business major 17-18s). He bought the destroyer for his final time and did a lot better as you can see. I think you should def. apply for next year as you are already pretty late for this year. Here are some things to keep in mind when applying
1.Apply early (May)
2. raise GPA
3. Study for 2 months at least (full-time no work or anything during these two months) It seems you are determined so definately study like a mad-man/woman and taking out loans to support yourself isn't that big a deal if it allows you to score higher on the DAT. Use all resources, change your study habits as it appears now it doesn't seem to be working
Finally you might have something in your app. that is a huge no-no to dental schools so have somebody look over it.
That's what I would say hope it helps
Good luck

How many interviews did your brother have the other times he didn't get in?

 

[golfer]

I think he had 2-3 his first year he applied (sophmore). 2-3 (junior) second time.
If I remember right he interviewed at Colorado, ASDOH, UNLV, USC (I think), waitlisted at Marquette, and met with Dr. Ayers at Creighton.