To those who were re-applicants this cycle and got accepted - could you detail any changes you made to your applications? Did you completely re-write your personal statement and get different letters of recommendation? I am preparing myself for the worst since I have interviewed at 4 schools and still have no acceptances. I am already a non-traditional student so time is not to my advantage, but I am losing hope for this cycle by the day.
Reapplicants - any advice?
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All I've done was re-take my DAT. I used the same personal statement, but edited a bit more and added some new information such as working as a dental assistant (this was a "new e/c", I've only done volunteer work. probably this helped also).
I had two interviews last year, both waitlisted (did not get in), this year I landed with 5 interviews, with 1 acceptance so far (my 5th interview is in March).
Are you waitlisted or just haven't heard back from them? I think statistically if you had 4 interviews, you will land with 1 acceptance.. I think I read on this forum that you have about ~25% chance of getting in for each interview.. so just wait for a little bit more and good luck! 🙂
I was officially waitlisted at one on Dec 1. The others I haven't heard back from and I keep seeing people are getting accepted, so I am just preparing for the worst.
I have tried since the summer to get a job working in a dentist office, even as a receptionist, but no luck. I continue my weekly shadowing though but hopefully I can get a full time job if I don't get in anywhere.
I feel like I screwed myself if I don't get in since I went back to school to get pre-reqs and now what. I think timewise I could give it one more cycle but after that what can I do with a history degree and a bunch of pre-med/dental courses. ha
Oh...and congrats on your acceptance! I am always so excited for others too (even though I secretly wish it was me haha).
I have tried since the summer to get a job working in a dentist office, even as a receptionist, but no luck. I continue my weekly shadowing though but hopefully I can get a full time job if I don't get in anywhere.
I feel like I screwed myself if I don't get in since I went back to school to get pre-reqs and now what. I think timewise I could give it one more cycle but after that what can I do with a history degree and a bunch of pre-med/dental courses. ha
Oh...and congrats on your acceptance! I am always so excited for others too (even though I secretly wish it was me haha).
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Yes, I improved in every section except for OC which went down by one point. Other than that, I scored 20+ in all the sections, which helped me a lot I think.
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How did you do on the DAT? any chance you might need to re-take? what are your stats if you don't mind sharing? I feel like you should have a solid stat seeing that you had 4 interviews.. did you try asking to your interviewers after the interview what you might need to improve on? (to the school that you have been waitlisted to)
Did you get feedback from any of the schools on what to do? I think I have a pretty good DAT score but guess it could always get higher - 22/21/22. My undergrad gpa wasn't super great (3.0), but I have a 3.9 science gpa. My interviewers have all said they didn't doubt at all that I would be able to handle the coursework. SO, I don't really know where to improve and guess it must be something lacking in my interviews. I also got my apps in a little late as I didn't take the DAT until August, so maybe I will stand better luck having everything in on June 1 next cycle, if needed.
I guess we were posting at the same time. I did talk to my waitlisted school interviewer and he basically just said the competition was tough this year but he really liked me. He said he couldn't reveal anything discussed in the meetings though. That didn't give me much to work on. I figure if/when I get officially rejected I will push for more info from each school.
I try to stay in contact without being overly annoying with the schools. They always just say no updates.
I try to stay in contact without being overly annoying with the schools. They always just say no updates.
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How many schools did you apply to?
I think you have great stats since the schools care more about sGPA than cGPA (but that is a drastic difference, did you do bad in your history classes?)
I didn't get any feedback, but I've contacted the school that I have been waitlisted to (didn't get much tips though). Although the interviewer assured me that I would have a spot.. which hopefully becomes true.
All I can say for you is to maybe improve your extra-curriculars? do you have enough shadowing/volunteer hours?
I went to a liberal arts school so didn't do as great in all the random requirements but actually had a pretty decent major gpa. I wasn't thinking about my future when I went to school and just sort of had fun. I basically got all Bs which I never thought to be bad at the time. However I didn't foresee myself applying to any sort of medical program!
I do lots of volunteer work and have been going weekly to a dental office for over a year, plus some oral surgery shadowing I had before. Sometimes the time just isn't right I guess.
I do lots of volunteer work and have been going weekly to a dental office for over a year, plus some oral surgery shadowing I had before. Sometimes the time just isn't right I guess.
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I'm sure you'll have a spot in one of the schools that you have interviewed so far. Plus, interviews are still being handed out at the moment (did you apply to those schools? like tufst, nyu, bu, temple).
My scores are average 19/19/20. I also went back and got my Masters and got a 3.9 GPA. My undergrad overall was cgpa:3.2 and sgpa: 3.5. I have lots of shadowing and volunteer. Trying to figure out what to do next. Retake the DAT?
I don't know! I'm thinking that would be the only thing but from what I see of others I would've thought you would get in too. I see people with 17s listed on predents as accepted to some of the schools I applied to and can't see why they would ever get in over someone with higher scores. Frustrating process!
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I applied to 10 schools last year, but didn't get a single interview (i took my DAT in august of that summer, and my LORs got in like sept/oct so that's probably why.
this cycle, I applied earlier with everything in by 7/30, reworked my personal statement (and it was MUCH better this year), had more shadowing experience, AND i managed to pull off 4.0, 3.9 semesters my senior year, which helped A LOT. THANK YOU UPPER TREND!
I got 4 interviews (out of 6 that i applied to), 1 waitlist, 2 acceptances (going to my last interview on Saturday) and yeah interview skills help as well, but it also depends on how difficult your interview is (whether it's the interviewer, the questions, or both) so it is a game of chance somewhat.
this cycle, I applied earlier with everything in by 7/30, reworked my personal statement (and it was MUCH better this year), had more shadowing experience, AND i managed to pull off 4.0, 3.9 semesters my senior year, which helped A LOT. THANK YOU UPPER TREND!
I got 4 interviews (out of 6 that i applied to), 1 waitlist, 2 acceptances (going to my last interview on Saturday) and yeah interview skills help as well, but it also depends on how difficult your interview is (whether it's the interviewer, the questions, or both) so it is a game of chance somewhat.
Hey guys,
I'm thinking about re-applying next cycle as well. This year, my application was sent out kinda late (8/20) and so far, I've had only 1 interview and was waitlisted.
My stats: cGPA: 3.4, sGPA: 3.3
DAT: 22TS/21AA/19PAT
I had hundreds of volunteer hours and ~50hrs of shadowing. Do you guys have any advice on how to make my app look more competitive for the next cycle?
Thanks!!!!
I'm thinking about re-applying next cycle as well. This year, my application was sent out kinda late (8/20) and so far, I've had only 1 interview and was waitlisted.
My stats: cGPA: 3.4, sGPA: 3.3
DAT: 22TS/21AA/19PAT
I had hundreds of volunteer hours and ~50hrs of shadowing. Do you guys have any advice on how to make my app look more competitive for the next cycle?
Thanks!!!!
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Mine was fully sent out on 8/20 as well. I have lower GPA and lower DAT (I have 22 PAT though) than you, but I received my 6th interview today. I honestly think being a RE-APPLICANT really helps (which I am). Don't lose hope for this cycle, but yet I feel like you'll land with many more interviews next year. I'm thinking maybe being a re-app, it shows how determined you are to take on this road? Did you apply to enough schools?
You seem pretty solid on paper... I think you should reapply if you dont get in this year right when the application opens!
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you have great DAT and descent gpa ( similar to my gpa). the only thing I would suggest is bringing your shadowing hours to at least a 100 hours.
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I applied last year, got 0 acceptances. This year I reapplied and I have been accepted to all 4 schools I interviewed at.
What I did
Retook the DAT
Re wrote ALL of my essays.
Researched the hell out of all the schools and the dental profession
did many, many mock interviews
few more hours shadowing.
Thanks, I'm planning on shadowing another dentist soon and getting a new LOR. The previous dentist wrote me a very vague LOR.
Yes, i'll definitely fill out and submit my app early next cycle. Working on my essay now so I will have it ready by June 1st. Thanks 🙂
I guess that being a re-applicant shows that you're really determined in pursuing this career with passion. Congrats on your interview invitations and probably couple acceptances so far 😉. You must have worked hard to improve your application since last cycle👍. Unfortunately, I applied to 10 schools only (some are tough to get in). Will definitely apply for more schools next cycle. Is 15 a reasonable number?
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Smileyyy,
I feel like a big difference would be the DAT itself since I used the same rec. letter, essay (just a small change), and my GPA is still the same since I graduated in March 2009. I applied to total of 13 schools this year and received 6 interviews, 12-15 is a good number I feel like. Last app cycle, I applied to like 22 schools but received only two, so as long as you have around 15 I would say it's good. Especially with your stats, I feel like you should be getting more. Why don't you try contacting the schools? For some of my interviews, I received an invite after calling them for an update (like a week later). I don't know if it'll help, but it's definitely worth a try 🙂
I feel like a big difference would be the DAT itself since I used the same rec. letter, essay (just a small change), and my GPA is still the same since I graduated in March 2009. I applied to total of 13 schools this year and received 6 interviews, 12-15 is a good number I feel like. Last app cycle, I applied to like 22 schools but received only two, so as long as you have around 15 I would say it's good. Especially with your stats, I feel like you should be getting more. Why don't you try contacting the schools? For some of my interviews, I received an invite after calling them for an update (like a week later). I don't know if it'll help, but it's definitely worth a try 🙂
