Questions Specific to my situation....

[Atticus]

Hey everyone,
I just have a few quick questions about how my stats compare...

1. I graduated with a BS in microbiology with a 3.7 GPA (Straight A's for the last 5 semesters)- Does my GPA really do anything for me or does it essentially just keep me "treading water" in terms of applicants?

2. I was recently published for my research on a certain fungus in a scientific journal- Do dental adcoms care about this?

3. I currently work full time in healthcare (roughly 50hrs/wk). How much shadowing should I accumulate prior to my application submission next year? I literally work 8-6 M-F so I am worried that I simply won't be able to get enough hours in (because none of the dentists in my community works on Saturdays or Sundays).

4.With good EC's, my GPA, a good amount of research (with said publications), what is roughly the minimum that I will need to get on the DAT to get interviewed?

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[eternalxdemon]

20's to keep it consistent with ur gpa.

 

[DiNoZeRo2o9]

Since you are also from Idaho, you can get interviews with 17's I bet, but that is risky. 20's will literally guarantee you multiple acceptances. 18's and 19's I bet would get you at least one acceptance with your GPA, research, and good LoR

P.S. Minimum dental experience for many schools is 40 hours.

 

[Plopper]

Hey everyone,
I just have a few quick questions about how my stats compare...

1. I graduated with a BS in microbiology with a 3.7 GPA (Straight A's for the last 5 semesters)- Does my GPA really do anything for me or does it essentially just keep me "treading water" in terms of applicants?

2. I was recently published for my research on a certain fungus in a scientific journal- Do dental adcoms care about this?

3. I currently work full time in healthcare (roughly 50hrs/wk). How much shadowing should I accumulate prior to my application submission next year? I literally work 8-6 M-F so I am worried that I simply won't be able to get enough hours in (because none of the dentists in my community works on Saturdays or Sundays).

4.With good EC's, my GPA, a good amount of research (with said publications), what is roughly the minimum that I will need to get on the DAT to get interviewed?

Thanks for your help everyone!

1) GPA is better than the DAT, shows a histroy not a 4hr exam, it's a major plus, so long as you perform well on DAT

2) research-absolutely, if it was a major part of your college experience, and you published make sure you talk about it in your personal statement, list it in your achievements, and talk about it in your interviews...again a major plus

3) what do you do in healthcare? is it dental related? i would say have around 50 hours of shadowing would be excellent, both a general and a specialist if you can

4) the minimum with good EC's and a 3.7 would probably be an 18, that'll get you maybe 1-2 interviews, now aim for a 20 or above and you'll be getting interviews left and right, and will 99% be admitted somewhere

 

[Atticus]

1) GPA is better than the DAT, shows a histroy not a 4hr exam, it's a major plus, so long as you perform well on DAT

2) research-absolutely, if it was a major part of your college experience, and you published make sure you talk about it in your personal statement, list it in your achievements, and talk about it in your interviews...again a major plus

3) what do you do in healthcare? is it dental related? i would say have around 50 hours of shadowing would be excellent, both a general and a specialist if you can

4) the minimum with good EC's and a 3.7 would probably be an 18, that'll get you maybe 1-2 interviews, now aim for a 20 or above and you'll be getting interviews left and right, and will 99% be admitted somewhere

Thanks for the advice so far everyone... It has been really helpful!
No, the work that I do isn't dental related. I work as a Cancer Navigator for an underrepresented minority group in a health clinic-- which essentially means that I help navigate newly diagnosed individuals through the healthcare system and assist them in accessing any of the resources they need to get treatment and ultimately get better.

The only thing that is really unfortunate about my application is that when I was in college, I got letters of recommendations from some really influential people who knew I would be an asset to health care (i.e. the vice president of student affairs of our university, the organometallic chemist that I took several chemistry classes from, and I got a 5/5 recommendation on my pre-health committee interview). I had them write the LOR's when I thought I wanted to go to medical school. To make a long story short, I decided to withdraw my applications a month into the cycle (which was a complete waste of money) and I completely changed directions and decided to pursue dentistry. Any ideas on what I should do in terms of rec's, now?

 

[Atticus]

Oh, one more question: no dental schools start in January, do they?

 

[DiNoZeRo2o9]

Oh, one more question: no dental schools start in January, do they?

No, earliest starts in July (UoP) and the latest is September