Reapplicant Question

[dds_2024]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I submitted my application last year (paid the application fee) but when I received my DAT score, I chose not to complete my application and not send in the secondary questions.
Will I be considered a re-applicant?
Will I have to re-write my whole personal statement completely or can I just revise it?

 

[Aspire2Inspire17]

You submitted your app without knowing your DAT score? If the status page in AADSAS says your materials were delivered to any of the schools, then you are considered a re-applicant.

 

[artist2022]

Will I be considered a re-applicant?

Yes

Will I have to re-write my whole personal statement completely or can I just revise it?

Preferably yes, because schools may have read it already and will most likely have your previous application on file. I guess you wouldn't have to if you only submitted to 1 school and won't be applying to that school again, or if you are and you're okay with potentially being rejected.

Since they'll most likely have last year's application w/ all your ECs, you want to make sure you have new things to add to it.

 

[TheDentalSchoolCoach]

Your best bet is to call AADSAS and ask whether or not you would be considered a reapplicant. There's no harm in being a reapplicant though as you have (I am sure) worked your DAT score and improved in other areas.

 

[dds_2024]

You submitted your app without knowing your DAT score? If the status page in AADSAS says your materials were delivered to any of the schools, then you are considered a re-applicant.

Yes, a lot of people send in their application before they take their DAT (Ex: people will send it in June 4th on the day the application opens and will let the schools know that they are planning on taking their DAT on a specific date)

I think this time around I won't be sending in my application until I see my score though, haha. I am taking my DAT on the 15th of June.

 

[dds_2024]

Yes

Preferably yes, because schools may have read it already and will most likely have your previous application on file. I guess you wouldn't have to if you only submitted to 1 school and won't be applying to that school again, or if you are and you're okay with potentially being rejected.

Since they'll most likely have last year's application w/ all your ECs, you want to make sure you have new things to add to it.

Will I still be able to use my intro and other pieces of my old personal statement? Would it suffice if I just put how I improved this past year in the last two paragraphs or so and keep a chunk of my beginning?

Wow, I guess I definitely should not have applied last year...

 

[dds_2024]

Your best bet is to call AADSAS and ask whether or not you would be considered a reapplicant. There's no harm in being a reapplicant though as you have (I am sure) worked your DAT score and improved in other areas.

I called one of the schools I applied to last year and they said I was considered a reapplicant 🙁 So I'm assuming this applies to all the other schools I applied to...

 

[artist2022]

Will I still be able to use my intro and other pieces of my old personal statement? Would it suffice if I just put how I improved this past year in the last two paragraphs or so and keep a chunk of my beginning?

Wow, I guess I definitely should not have applied last year...

I wouldn't take any chances imo :/

 

[Faefly]

I was in similar condition last year.
I submitted my application before taking the DAT
and then I never took the dat lol.
So, I had to be considered a reapplicant
Never rewrote my Personal statement or anything, I just revised it a bit and used the same of LOR.
Worked for me and I think they never read your PS anyway, but if you are worried then you should somewhat re-write it.

 

[princeafrica]

Will I still be able to use my intro and other pieces of my old personal statement? Would it suffice if I just put how I improved this past year in the last two paragraphs or so and keep a chunk of my beginning?

Wow, I guess I definitely should not have applied last year...

Echoing what @artist2022 said, I wouldn’t take any chances. My advisor who served on admissions committee at a school once said that some admissions people look for reasons to reject your app. Especially if the applicant pool is very competitive.

 

[Bionicjawboy]

I wouldn't rewrite your personal statement. I was a reapplicant and people were suggesting I do the same. Then I met with a director of admissions at a nearby school and even he/she said you dont need to redo it but I should revise and simply update it. The way I felt was that in the last 12 months my ambitions for pursuing dentistry did not change since they stem back to when I was a teenager. If I wrote anything new it definately wouldn't of been as honest as my original and I just didn't feel right doing so. I did however weave in my new experiences into my personal statement which at most added some lines along with some minor revisions as per the director's advice

However, if you do not like your personal statement for whatever reason (rushed to make deadlines or you don't think it accurately describes you) then you can rewrite it if you want to.

Just my opinion but the stressful part in reapplying was not the statement but resending resumes to professors for updated letters of rec and also trying to get new letters from different professors and faculty so i didnt use my old ones

 

[dds_2024]

Echoing what @artist2022 said, I wouldn’t take any chances. My advisor who served on admissions committee at a school once said that some admissions people look for reasons to reject your app. Especially if the applicant pool is very competitive.

Thank you for letting me know. I still have yet to call the schools I applied to last year, but I will definitely keep that in mind!! 🙂

 

[dds_2024]

I wouldn't rewrite your personal statement. I was a reapplicant and people were suggesting I do the same. Then I met with a director of admissions at a nearby school and even he/she said you dont need to redo it but I should revise and simply update it. The way I felt was that in the last 12 months my ambitions for pursuing dentistry did not change since they stem back to when I was a teenager. If I wrote anything new it definately wouldn't of been as honest as my original and I just didn't feel right doing so. I did however weave in my new experiences into my personal statement which at most added some lines along with some minor revisions as per the director's advice

However, if you do not like your personal statement for whatever reason (rushed to make deadlines or you don't think it accurately describes you) then you can rewrite it if you want to.

Just my opinion but the stressful part in reapplying was not the statement but resending resumes to professors for updated letters of rec and also trying to get new letters from different professors and faculty so i didnt use my old ones

Thank you for your insight! Did anyone in your interviews mention your personal statement or made any comments about it?

That's my dilemma--I actually like my personal statement and it took such a long time with multiple colleagues proofreading that I do not think I can recreate in time while I'm studying for the DAT.

Thankfully I used interfolio so I do not have to ask again. But just thinking about asking my professors again would stress me out, haha.

 

[dds_2024]

I was in similar condition last year.
I submitted my application before taking the DAT
and then I never took the dat lol.
So, I had to be considered a reapplicant
Never rewrote my Personal statement or anything, I just revised it a bit and used the same of LOR.
Worked for me and I think they never read your PS anyway, but if you are worried then you should somewhat re-write it.

Did they ask you in your interviews why you never completed your application or why you didn't take your DAT? I'm worried about that haha. I hope they don't count it against us.

 

[TheDentalSchoolCoach]

I called one of the schools I applied to last year and they said I was considered a reapplicant 🙁 So I'm assuming this applies to all the other schools I applied to...

In that case,

I called one of the schools I applied to last year and they said I was considered a reapplicant 🙁 So I'm assuming this applies to all the other schools I applied to...

Ok in that case, here's what I'd do.

A) Write a reapplicant paragraph within your personal statement to showcase the improvements you have made since last time
B) I am assuming your first paragraph is about how you became interested in dentistry. In that case, that should not change. If you want to play with words and language, that's fine. But, fundamentally your personal statement should not change drastically.