Re-applying This Summer - any tips/suggestion?

[jasminetea7]

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I applied in 2008 and I'm planning on reapplying this year.

My GPA is around 3.3 (both science and cumulative) and I plan to retake DAT before I apply this year.

I haven't taken any additional classes since I graduated (which was in December, 2008) and neither have I shadowed a dentist since. (I did internship for a dentist my Junior year in college, though.)

My biggest concern is actually getting letters of recommendation for the new application. I just found out that AADSAS doesn't hold my old letters....
So I guess that means that I'll have to start all over again.

How many letters should I get this time? (I got 3 in the past.)

I can't get any letters from a professor because I didn't attend post-undergrad school after graduation as I mentioned above. Would it look bad if I didn't include a letter from a professor?

I do plan to take some classes at a CC this summer so that's my only hope for getting a letter from a professor but I'm worried that it'd delay my application processing since I'll probably be able to get the letter at the end of summer.

Any other good sources you'd recommend for getting letters?

I'd really appreciate your comment!

 

[dentalWorks]

Ur best best is to just go back to ur old professors and talk to them. Most professors like to help students out when it comes to LORs so u might be okay.

As for taking CC courses as post-bacc, u "might" have problems with this as some schools don't like to see CC credits

 

[KateRP]

You need to have a letter from a professor. All schools probably require at least one, and some require 2 from professors (preferably science). I know because I was in a similar situation to you this year (graduated in 2007). I originally submitted with 2 dentist letters and one professor, who I had known well in college. 3 of the schools I applied to said that my application wouldn't be considered complete until I had a second letter from a professor! There were really no other professors who I thought would remember me! I just wrote an email to about 4 different professors whose classes I got A's in and explained that I had been out of school for three years and needed recommendations, I also attched a resume and some information about myself. Out of the 4, one wrote me back and happily wrote me a recommendation.

I would recommend doing something similar to this! And start asking early in case you don't hear back from anyone. Also make sure your other letters (dentists or employers) are people who know you well and can write a more personal letter. Good luck!

 

[teethmagnet]

u sent your letters into AADSAS correct? don't you have another copy of the letters??or your pre helath advisor has a copy??

if not email the teachers, maybe they have it on file. . .

the more recc letters the better
and any teacher who you THINK will remember you. . ask them
i got about 11 recc letters so get as many as possible!!

 

[researchlove]

Is it okay to re-submit the rec. letters that you have used for the previous cycle? I thought some schools did ask for new/updated letters..

 

[Blue Panther]

Dental schools will be more concerned about what you did to improve your past application than recycling old LORs. For most schools, LOR from science professors is a requirement not a recommendation.

 

[jasminetea7]

You need to have a letter from a professor. All schools probably require at least one, and some require 2 from professors (preferably science). I know because I was in a similar situation to you this year (graduated in 2007). I originally submitted with 2 dentist letters and one professor, who I had known well in college. 3 of the schools I applied to said that my application wouldn't be considered complete until I had a second letter from a professor! There were really no other professors who I thought would remember me! I just wrote an email to about 4 different professors whose classes I got A's in and explained that I had been out of school for three years and needed recommendations, I also attched a resume and some information about myself. Out of the 4, one wrote me back and happily wrote me a recommendation.

I would recommend doing something similar to this! And start asking early in case you don't hear back from anyone. Also make sure your other letters (dentists or employers) are people who know you well and can write a more personal letter. Good luck!

Wow, I didn't know that 2 letters were required by some schools.
Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
I traced back my record and looked for the professors that gave me A's but it turns out two of them are not even teaching at my school anymore.
😵

 

[jasminetea7]

Dental schools will be more concerned about what you did to improve your past application than recycling old LORs. For most schools, LOR from science professors is a requirement not a recommendation.

Okay, so I'd need AT LEAST 2 letters from science professors.
GREAT!
'Cause I'm not even a science major. (psychology major)
And in the past I had submitted a letter from a psychology professor....

 

[PaulieGualtieri]

DAT scores?