Thank all of you for your advice. WEll, my DAT is 17/16/16. I experienced a death in the family and things started to get chaotic when my grandmom got sick and needed surgery. ANd my family has below average income with no health insurance
. And no, we don't have welfare or medicaid/medicare. I didn't want to tell much about my situation on my first post because it would sound lke I am making excuses or explaining too much. Since some of you asked so there's the answer. I just didn't say my DAT score because well, it's low enough to get me rejected, so I thought it ddidn't matter how low it is. I know the obvious thing to do next cycle is to apply early and retake DAT. I actually applied early this cycle, like submitted my AADSAS in May. But then that was when my family member started getting cancer and then passed away in August. Anyway, my biggest question is wether or not to get in a post bac program? or Should I just simply continue to do the full time dental assistant. Since some of you mentioned that I need to have some changes in my application, however, I would be applying again this cycle, I don't want to wait. Therefore, I do not want to commit to a one or two year program and THen apply just to show them I have made some changes, u know what I mean. Do you think these changes from the previous cycle are enough to get me a spot next cycle:
+ better DAT score
+ apply early by having DAT score early
+ apply to more schools
+ working as a full-time dental assistant
+ 2 papers got published (since last year, they were pending)
+ POST BAC????
How about letter of recommendations? I keep in touch with those professors that wrote me the letters for this cycle. What do I tell them to update? Or should I find different peopel to submit brand new letters? Please help. WHoever are reapplicant like me, also please share your experience and how did you reapply? WHat processes did you go through? Please, I am desperate! I really want to be a dentist.
By the way, this is my stat for 06 cycle:
+ Undergraduate GPA 3.8
+ submit AADSAS early in May but late DAT
+ Low DAT 17/16/16
+ research assistant at NIH
+ shadow dentist and volunteered in undergraduate
+research experience undergraduate