reapplying to UNC

[JesseBrad3]

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So I've decided to take the year off and reapply to UNC, which is where I really want to go. Anyone have any thoughts on what I should do during my time off so that I have a good chance at getting in next year? I'm a senior at UNC now, getting a BA in Bio, and have a 3.51 GPA. Got 20 AA and 22 PAT on DAT (but I'm planning on retaking them this summer). I may start working as a dental assistant for a dentist here in Chapel Hill and I'm trying to see if theres a job doing research at the dental school available... or I might take some extra classes and work. What do yall recommend I do to increase my chances of getting into UNC next year?

 

[Aaronpsr]

If you don't mind me asking....what went wrong!?

It looks like you have great stats, and you are an in-state resident too. Did you screw up the interview?

 

[UNCdentalguy]

Definitely contact the school about doing research -- they're always trying to recruit new students to help. Not only would it look great on the application, but it would get you some new contacts in the school who might be able to help you out, like writing a recommendation, when it comes time for you to apply again.

 

[DcS]

Not to mention contacting the dean of admissions to ask where you can improve your application. They will be honest with you.

 

[JesseBrad3]

I think the interview went ok... not great, but not bad. It was my first interview I'd done, and I was a little nervous, so I dont think I opened up as much as I should have. Either way, I know UNC is where I want to go, and I want to do everything I can to get accepted for next year. I'm going to try and talk to Dr. Guckes this week or next week to see what kind of input he has. Hopefully he'll know of some openings about doing some research or who I need to get in touch with.

Also, how much should I improve my DATS by?

 

[UBTom]

Why retake the DATs? Anything above 20/20 is very competitive.

Taking the DATs again after getting a 20/22 would be a waste of time, effort and sanity. 😀

 

[Radioheadblue]

Did you get accepted anywhere else?

I'll tell you whats wrong, UNC stinks. Unless you carry enormous weight, state students usually have to apply 2 to 3 times to get in. Thats why qualified students like JesseBrad and I get screwed. Forget them and go elsewhere. Think of it this way, around 35 grand a year for UNC altogether, say 65 grand elsewhere. That comes up to a 140 grand for UNC and 260 grand for another school. Well thats a 120 grand difference, about a years earnings. So what are you losing?

I've lived in Chapel H3ll for 6 years now and I hate this place with a passion. You may not believe me but I prayed that I wouldn't get accepted to UNC, so my parents wouldn't make me stay here. Thank the Lord. The school isn't worth my time of day.

The faculty and administration act like the school is a godsend to the profession of dentisty. Please. 100% on both boards? I don't think so Dr. Brunson, you better recheck your numbers. Some of the faculty are the biggest aholes around, as many of the dentaltown dentists will tell you. You wanna stay in a boring little town and attend a highly overrated school, go ahead. Whatevers fair.

Wise man say, "I hope they choke on a hairball after kissing my harry a!$."

GO TO HLL carolina, GO STATE!! (any state but this one)

 

[NewNameForGoogleBot]

A little perspective:

on 9/24/03 Radioheadblue posted:

Originally posted by Radioheadblue
I am out of my mind worried that I will not get into any school this year. I am applying to 13 schools with UNC as my top choice. If I finish my app by next week, is it reasonable to think there will still be room in any class?

Thanks...

on 10/20/03:

Originally posted by Radioheadblue
But I guess if you got in Carolina, why would you go anywhere else.

on 2/3/04 (just before the UNC rejection, I guess):

Originally posted by Radioheadblue
I absolutely love Boston. Think New York, but CLEAN! The tuition is pricey but if you love the city you can deal with it one way or another, as I may do. I will have a hard time choosing between schools in Boston and UNC, if I get in(haha huh).

and my favorite on 2/13/03, TODAY!!

Originally posted by Radioheadblue
I bet your friends at BU love when you talk ****e about their school. And don't give us bull about I'm only telling you what they said. If you don't give a hoot about Boston then just tell facts, don't give attitude.

Long live hypocrisy!

Sorry you didn't get accepted, take your own advice and chill with the attitude. Good luck in Boston.

 

[RaiderNation]

If you don't mind me asking...with those stats combined with your dat score, how the freak didn't you get into a dental school? Did you only apply to UNC? If this is the case...I have no sympathy for you.

 

[Radioheadblue]

Nice research Jaap

You might have better research about UNC if you lived in Chapel Hill, graduated from UNC and worked in the dental school,as opposed to living in Utah. I'm giving attitude about things that I know about, not about what I've heard from my friends 3000 miles away(like tinkerbell)

But I guess if you got in Carolina, why would you go anywhere else.

I absolutely love Boston. Think New York, but CLEAN! The tuition is pricey but if you love the city you can deal with it one way or another, as I may do. I WILL HAVE A HARD TIME CHOOSING BETWEEN SCHOOLS IN BOSTON AND UNC, if I get in(haha huh).

And yes I said those things but I did that before thinking it out clearly. I thought, holy ****, if I stay here it will be cheap, I can get more loans and get married, but I will be MISERABLE.

As you can see as I became more informed about other programs I changed my mind in between October and Febuary. Is that not allowed?

You know its easy to become brainwashed living in this craphole of a town, where everyone worships this school and carolina this and carolina that, #1 school in the nation, whatever

But as I had other interviews I found out UNC isn't the mecca of the dental world as it is percieved in this town. Don't be sorry I didn't get accepted, congratulate me, because I don't have to be in h3ll for another 4 years in an overly competitive environment.

I've paid my dues to this school and can say whatever the heck I want to about it, no hypocrisy whatsoever.

Good Luck with UNC, It is a good school, just not for me. I've been here too long. I was simply pointing out to JesseBrad that it is really not that bad of a deal to be rejected at UNC. Why wait another year to start your career, as many many do here.

 

[NewNameForGoogleBot]

I've lived in Chapel Hill since I was 4 years old, and have been in Utah only for school. I make it back to Chapel Hill 6-7 times a year and have attended two semesters at UNC-CH. I know about a dozen current dental students, all of my high school friends went to Carolina for undergrad, and I know two dental faculty members from associations outside of dentistry. I'd venture to say my knowledge of Chapel Hill, UNC or the dental school is not lacking in any respect.

I absolutely LOVE Chapel Hill and Carolina and am pretty brainwashed as you put it. I don't have a problem with you not liking the school, or Chapel Hill, I just wanted to add some perspective for other readers (that and the fact that I was watching "Lost in Translation" which is the SLOWEST movie I have ever seen!)

On the note of other interviews, Ohio State and VCU both told me to go to Carolina if I got accepted.

With regards to waiting another year to start school, I completely agree. I would have gone somewhere else and started this fall if I hadn't gotten accepted at UNC. However, everyone has a different situation.

Once again: good luck in Boston, I'll agree that happiness is more important than money.

 

[packbacker]

One of the things I gleened from speaking to a contact at UNC is that the admissions committee looks infavorably at candidates who only apply to UNC. I can only guess that apply to only one school doesn't show the dedication necessary to truely pursue the career.
I'm applying this summer to UNC as well as several other schools in the southeast. My preference is to stay here in the triangle area, but if I'm not accepted to UNC I'll go wherever I can...and that's the bottom line.

 

[Radioheadblue]

Sorry Jaap

Maybe I should keep my bitter ranting to myself. I just can't understand why someone would waste a year of there life to get into school here. But there are reasons for everything. Being close to my parents, being the major reason for me staying here. To each there own. Not being a UNC Basketball fan also plays a part in my dislike for this town. I've always been an ABC fan (anybody but Carolina) so its hard for me to live in the pervasive stinch of Carolina blue.

Hope all future UNC students don't come to dislike the town as I have. Maybe I need to get away for awhile to find out how good I had it here, if I did.

 

[DcS]

Honestly, the admissions committee made the correct choice in denying you admissions to UNC judging from the character of your posts. Your obvious bitterness at your rejection is something you seem unable to cope with. Maybe this is a character trait that was sensed during your interviews. I know from my interviews of incoming applicants at UNC, there are some you can sense just aren't that into it. If you didn't get in having worked at the dental school with those stats, then the main reason you didn't get in is because of your personality and interview. I hate to break it to you, but if you are going to rip on UNCs dental school then I will give it to you straight. I know how students are admitted, and what goes on in admissions meetings. If you did indeed work at the school and got those grades, then you must have scored terribly low on your interviews.

With that said, there is a lot of stuff that goes on behind the scenes that is unfair. There are plenty of top-notch applicants who deserve to get into UNC who get denied, while others who are very unqualified and inferior gain admissions. That's all I will say on the topic, feel free to read between the lines.

 

[politicallyRite]

DcS,

was your post directed to the OP or the other guy? i dont see where the OP ripping on UNC dental. if it was to the other guy, he didn't show his stats or say he worked at the school...and who are you to judge people anyway.

Let me just say this...GO DUKE!!!!!
UNC basketball? they're in the bottom 3 of the ACC. Can't wait to see Duke vs. NCSU tomorrow (first and second in the conference!!!)
and let me add this...GO Wolfpack

 

[DcS]

I confused the 2 posters. The OP has very good stats, but I guess there was a reason he didn't gain admission. As far as Radioheadblue, my opinion still stands, with that attitude the school made the correct decision not to admit him. And who am I to make judgement? As a student at UNC and someone who has input on who is accepted at this school, I think it's fair for me to say with an attitude like that I certainly would not endorse his acceptance.

As far as basketball, it's not the end of the world. We'll be back up top one day. Hard for a program to recover from 3 coaches in about 6 years.

 

[JesseBrad3]

RaiderNation, I applied to Columbia, Maryland, VCU, UNC, and U of Florida. I got accepted to Columbia and waitlisted at Maryland... VCU never heard back from, and I canceled my interview with U of F.

Columbia's a great school, but its expensive and I dont think I would be happy in New York. UNC's my top choice b/c its near family, its a school I go to and love, its a great deal financially, not to mention its one of the top dental schools. Why give up on a place where I know I'd be happiest just b/c I didnt get in the first time?

With that said, the next time I apply, I will apply to other schools again and if I got accepted at one place but not Carolina, I'll go there. As for right now, I'm going to take the year off, get some experience, improve my application, and give it another shot. I just wanted to make sure I took the right direction during my year off.

One more thing politicallyRite, as much as I hate State, I despise Duke! I'll be pulling for State to win (don't think I've ever said that before), but dont get any ideas!!

 

[JesseBrad3]

DcS... I can think of a few things that hurt my chances. I spent more time going out than hitting the books my Freshman and Sophomore year (had about a 3.0 cumulative GPA), but I got my head screwed on straight after that when I realized that wasnt going to cut it for dental school. Since then I've gotten all A's and A-'s except for Animal Behavior (B+). Wish I could go back and give myself a kick in the pants during the first two years, but it was a learning experience.

Also, I didn't open up as much as I could have during my interviews. I was a lil nervous, and probably didnt tell them enough about myself (although my student interviewer was one of the guys I talked to for a while the night before at the reception which was nice). I know that dentistry is right for me, and I think I have what it takes to be a great dentist, but I dont think I conveyed that very well.

The other thing is I dont think I had a lot of experience compared to other applicants. I spent close to 40 hours shadowing a GP and an orthodontist, but lacked any hands-on experience (which is something I want to change). I want to show the admissions committee next year that I'm knowledgable, capable, and above all driven to go into dentistry.

 

[Radioheadblue]

DCS
Hell yeah they made the right choice in not picking me. The toughest question I was asked at the interview was "So how would you like to spend four more years in Chapel Hill?", needless to say I hesitated, and laughed, I did not prepare for that one. It was my first interview and I wasn't exactly sure how to bullsht so great. So I probably did myself one over on that one. But I think I did good overall. I may have been too honest in my interviews. Not thinking, I told a prof in the dental ecology department that I could care less about research ,I was there to be a top clinician. Maybe not the best idea.

As a student at UNC and someone who has input on who is accepted at this school, I think it's fair for me to say with an attitude like that I certainly would not endorse his acceptance.

Sure thing DcS, I made certain to sport my hellacious attitude at the interview. Some friends of mine told me I'd fit right in with current dschool students if I was a supreme ahole. Give it a break guy. This is a forum of opinions and it seemed like a good place to vent. End of story.

As far as the personality goes, same to ya, Have a drink!

 

[JesseBrad3]

So this past Tuesday I met with Dr. Guckes to review my application and he was very helpful. He said my stats looked "fine," but guessed the interview didn't help me which partly was my fault and partly wasn't according to him. He noticed I interviewed with Mr. Luten, who was a nice guy and whom I felt I had a good interview with, and went on to point out he is head of student services and minortiy affairs at the dental school (please correct me if I'm wrong on this). He explained Mr. Luten primarily looks for minority candidates (which I am not) to nominate at the admissions meeting. The other faculty member I interviewed with was Dr. Akuhil (spelling?), who Dr. Guckes explained was more of a scientist/researcher, so I had less common ground with him b/c of my lack of research experience. With that said, I was also a little nervous at the interview and probably didn't impress them as much as I could have.

My question is, what do interviwers look for in candidates during the interview (ie, what categories do they score them on if any, or do certain interviewers look for certain qualities in a candidate such as research experience or race for example)? Also, I've been told I should try and contact members of the admissions committee and introduce myself. Is that inappropriate? And if not, how do I find out who is on the committee, and what is the best way to introduce myself?

 

[DcS]

Originally posted by JesseBrad3
. He explained Mr. Luten primarily looks for minority candidates (which I am not) to nominate at the admissions meeting.

The understatement of the century. This is also the man in charge of handing out scholarship money. I wonder why most of it goes to minorities?! 😡 I can't believe Dr. G would be willing to admit luten only supports minority candidates. I doubt he realized it would end up here.

JB I'll private message you sometime today or tomorrow with some advice. Unfortunately, you got probably the worst 2 interviewers I can think of. I have filled out numerous post-interview criteria forms so I can give you a better idea of the specifics. Keep an eye out for the PM.

 

[JesseBrad3]

Thanks DcS, I really appreciate it.

 

[The Musketeer]

My question is, what do interviwers look for in candidates during the interview (ie, what categories do they score them on if any, or do certain interviewers look for certain qualities in a candidate such as research experience or race for example)? Also, I've been told I should try and contact members of the admissions committee and introduce myself. Is that inappropriate? And if not, how do I find out who is on the committee, and what is the best way to introduce myself?

Hey Jesse, although you might not have alot in common with some of the interviewers, what you and the interviewers DO have is the interest in the UNC dental school. What I mean is that you can do a search on UNC's website to get any news articles that are related to the dental program (what's new in research, change in curriculum, etc.) and you can discuss about these issues during the interview. You can also try to look through what some of the professors have accomplished or what area of dentistry they are into and talk about that. For example, if one of your interviewer is into research then you can talk about what new developments are there in dentistry currently, etc... I know this task will involve a lot of research and time BUT if you really want to go to UNC then you have to do whatever neccessary to get in (as well as to demonstrate this to your interviewers)!

Best of luck next year!👍

 

[DcS]

Originally posted by The Musketeer
Hey Jesse, although you might not have alot in common with some of the interviewers, what you and the interviewers DO have is the interest in the UNC dental school. What I mean is that you can do a search on UNC's website to get any news articles that are related to the dental program (what's new in research, change in curriculum, etc.) and you can discuss about these issues during the interview. You can also try to look through what some of the professors have accomplished or what area of dentistry they are into and talk about that. For example, if one of your interviewer is into research then you can talk about what new developments are there in dentistry currently, etc... I know this task will involve a lot of research and time BUT if you really want to go to UNC then you have to do whatever neccessary to get in (as well as to demonstrate this to your interviewers)!

Best of luck next year!👍

Good advice all around, but one problem is that you don't know your interviewer until the day of the process so it's not possible to research their interests ahead of time...unless you plan on learning the entire faculty's interests.

 

[Sam Spade]

Are women considered minority?

 

[JesseBrad3]

Thats a tricky question, but I'd say they are considered a minority in the sense that there is an unequal number of men than women in dental school, and that they are recruited more heavily now than in past years to achieve an equality/balance in dental school. In terms of what maybe Mr. Luten defines as a minority, I'd venture to say that women do not fall under his definition when he's considering who to nominate or offer scholarship money to (but please anyone correct me if I'm wrong on this).

 

[UNCdentalguy]

When we're talking Mr. Luten minority, we're talking racial/ethnic minority. I don't want to get into an affirmative action debate, but that man definitely plays favorites, and not just in the admissions process. I don't think you'll find a Carolina dental student, regardless of race, who would disagree with me on that statement.

I agree with DcS that you definitely got shafted on your interviewers, which is a shame because it counts so heavily towards the overall admission process. Your stats look great, and barring another tragic interview session, you shouldn't have too much of a problem getting in on a second or third try. There's a very large percentage of my class that didn't get in on the first try, so don't get discouraged!

Oh, and it's nice to see that DcS survived his little field trip Saturday night! Don't worry, we'll get them in the ACC semis!

 

[JesseBrad3]

I can understand how Mr. Luten would be a bad person to interview with, but is Dr. Aukhil that bad too, or was it something I could have overcome? He seemed nice enough, whats his story?

 

[DcS]

Sam I assume you have done the normal pre-reqs to gain instate...you know, license, register to vote in NC, etc. The key, however, is to have worked and PAYED TAXES in NC. If you had the chance to do that, it would really increase your chances. I seem to remember you said you did research?? Was that volunteer or paid?


I grew up in the northeast (New Jersey...insert armpit of America joke), and took a year off before dental school to pretty much relax and gain residency. If you've lived in NC for 12 ms straight and payed some form of NC income tax there is pretty much no way they can refuse you residency. If they were to somehow reject your application, you can actually fight the decision and be heard by a committee who will then decide your status. Hopefully, like I said above, you went ahead and registered your NC license and voting, etc. Mainly they just want to see you plan to live here long-term, even if you don't plan on it hopefully you will appear to have that desire. If you have any other specific questions about the process or unc in general, feel free to shoot me a PM.


As far as Dr. Aukhil goes Jesse, he is a very good professor. He is pretty reserved and would make for a tougher interview IMO. It's important your interviewer really endorse you during the admissions meeting, and I can see maybe his demeaner being detrimental to the applicants chances (if that makes any sense).

 

[JesseBrad3]

That makes sense to me. Maybe I'll be more lucky next time with who I get as my interviewers.

One other question, Dr. Guckes told me he would try and get me an early interview spot when I reapply. Does interviewing early even help all that much, considering the adcom doesn't meet until early December? It seems like it would be better to interview closer to December than in Sept or Oct so you would be fresh in their memory.