Reapplying as a dental student

[cout]

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Hey guys, a long time lurker – first time poster here. I am a 3rd year undergrad and will be applying to dental school this year. Unfortunately, my GPA and DAT scores are not great and I don't have a good shot at being accepted to my state school which is my first choice because it is both cheaper and only 20 miles from where I live. Now, here's the hypothetical situation that my question is about: assume I get into a dental school on the bottom of my list of ideal schools and decide to enroll. What would happen if I decide to reapply during my first year of dental school? Would this even be possible (I would obviously have to drop out of the current dental school after a semester or so)? Would it be difficult or impossible to get accepted to another dental school as a current D1 student, even if your intention is not to transfer but to start over? Could this pose a problem when trying to get a new student loan for the new school?

Thanks for the input.

 

[518590]

Hey guys, a long time lurker – first time poster here. I am a 3rd year undergrad and will be applying to dental school this year. Unfortunately, my GPA and DAT scores are not great and I don't have a good shot at being accepted to my state school which is my first choice because it is both cheaper and only 20 miles from where I live. Now, here's the hypothetical situation that my question is about: assume I get into a dental school on the bottom of my list of ideal schools and decide to enroll. What would happen if I decide to reapply during my first year of dental school? Would this even be possible (I would obviously have to drop out of the current dental school after a semester or so)? Would it be difficult or impossible to get accepted to another dental school as a current D1 student, even if your intention is not to transfer but to start over? Could this pose a problem when trying to get a new student loan for the new school?

Thanks for the input.

I would say it is a waste of money and effort.
You will have much higher chance if you apply w/ raised gpa by taking more classes or doing something to strengthen your app when you have the time off between undergrad and dental school.

 

[InterproximalDK]

This makes about as much sense as trying to knock your wife up while she is already two months pregnant with your first child.

 

[Glimmer1991]

LOL, interproximal! Well said!

OP, you'd be wasting money and time. Why? If you know your stats need improvement, improve them. Take an extra year. The difference between $400,000 debt and $150,000 debt is astronomical, and I'm guessing you wouldn't even incur living expenses for the school near home.

 

[free99]

LOL, interproximal! Well said!

OP, you'd be wasting money and time. Why? If you know your stats need improvement, improve them. Take an extra year. The difference between $400,000 debt and $150,000 debt is astronomical, and I'm guessing you wouldn't even incur living expenses for the school near home.

The difference in debt, even in that extreme example, is offset by the opportunity cost of not going to dental school one year earlier. In OPs case, having the opportunity to commute from home and save with in-state tuition, it may be worth it to wait one year - OP, do some calculations first to make an informed decision.

 

[Glimmer1991]

I just worry it honestly isn't that extreme of an example. If the OP's stats aren't that stellar, it's likely that he'll be attending a school like NYU where it isn't unusual to incur about $80,000-$100,000 of debt a year. I'm guessing that at his state school, the cost is around $35,000/year and that he won't have any living expenses--unless, that is, he's older and doesn't live with his parents (I'm not sure).

I'm a person who would be willing to apply a second year even if I got in the first time to save huge amounts of money. If my only option cost me about $100,000 yearly, I'd take a year off, improve my stats, and try again. There becomes a point where the debt is too much.

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=655797
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=942453

 

[free99]

I just worry it honestly isn't that extreme of an example. If the OP's stats aren't that stellar, it's likely that he'll be attending a school like NYU where it isn't unusual to incur about $80,000-$100,000 of debt a year. I'm guessing that at his state school, the cost is around $35,000/year and that he won't have any living expenses--unless, that is, he's older and doesn't live with his parents (I'm not sure).

The example may not be all that extreme, but your advice still rides on two big assumptions: 1) OP has the drive and ability to spruce up his/her application over the "gap year" after a lackluster undergrad and DAT performance, and 2) after said sprucing, their app will grant them an acceptance at their state school. While those may be the case, another perhaps equally likely scenario is OP spends a year improving their app, and still only gets into expensive private schools. At that point, OP is out one year of salary and subject to whatever tuition increases and other assorted costs of waiting a year to matriculate while still facing the same astronomical tuition.

 

[Glimmer1991]

The example may not be all that extreme, but your advice still rides on two big assumptions: 1) OP has the drive and ability to spruce up his/her application over the "gap year" after a lackluster undergrad and DAT performance, and 2) after said sprucing, their app will grant them an acceptance at their state school. While those may be the case, another perhaps equally likely scenario is OP spends a year improving their app, and still only gets into expensive private schools. At that point, OP is out one year of salary and subject to whatever tuition increases and other assorted costs of waiting a year to matriculate while still facing the same astronomical tuition.

Good points! What's good advice for some might not be good for others depending on their work ethic and other factors, and since we don't know the OP's stats, it's kind of hard to say. We also don't know what his state school is.

OP, here's the bottom line, though: I think your current plan is strange and not likely to work out.