Rejections-The Why Part II

[doc toothache]

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As the season is approaching the end, the question lingers as to why some of the super achievers came out empty handed after their fishing expedition. Statistical evidence for both dental and medical school applicants shows that high gpa and dat or mcat scores are not a guarantee for acceptance. Let us examine some of the factors that might explain the why. It should be understood the possible reasons enumerated applies to all groups not just for the group with impeccable credentials.

1. AMBIVALENCE- This could well be the primary reason why, otherwise very qualified applicants are ignored. Both dental and medical schools have a limited number of seating capacity and cannot afford to select any candidate whom they deem at risk for dropping out because of their uncertainty of the chosen field.
2. ARROGANCE- Having an ego the size of Saturn is sure to clash with egos the size of Jupiter.
3. INCOMPLETE CREDENTIALS/PREREQUISITES BEFORE MATRICULATION- There have been a few posts regarding prerequisites. These suggest that some applicants have not bothered to check the precise requirements that each dental school may have.
4. DISHONESTY- Some of the posts on SDN indicate that there are those who believe that it is best to do whatever it takes to get into dental school, including lying by omission or commission. In the electronic age, it is inconceivable that anyone would contemplate such an action even in their wildest dreams.
5. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS- Nothing shows seriousness/professionalism better than submitting an incomplete application.
6. INTERVIEW BLUNDERS-
a. Showing up late for an interview
b. Showing up in an attire that would be more appropriate for a tailgate party than for an interview for a professional school.
7. SOCIAL INEPTITUDE- Since dentists deal with patients, it is imperative that they have reasonable communication skills to deal with them.

 

[Tikidude19]

Interesting post. Is this data from a survey/questionnaire of admissions faculty or is it just your thoughts?

 

[darknightzzz]

Interesting post. Is this data from a survey/questionnaire of admissions faculty or is it just your thoughts?

what types of admission faculty committee will publish these objective data?

these are the OP's opinions for sure but they stand very solid

 

[Tikidude19]

what types of admission faculty committee will publish these objective data?

these are the OP's opinions for sure but they stand very solid

Well darknightz, for starters, the AAMC publishes similar data every year.

https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf

It may be objective, but it is quantifiable and reproducible. I 100% agree with OPs suggestions, I was just curious if there was a source available so I could read more.

 

[Incis0r]

1. AMBIVALENCE- This could well be the primary reason why, otherwise very qualified applicants are ignored. Both dental and medical schools have a limited number of seating capacity and cannot afford to select any candidate whom they deem at risk for dropping out because of their uncertainty of the chosen field.

.

 

[Hannah Banana]

Why would an applicant spend thousands of dollars on an application cycle/DAT prep/interviews for dental school if they were uncertain about the career? Does this really happen? Why do these kinds of applicants even bother with the process then if they are not sure if they really want to apply for dental school?

You haven't seen those threads by the pre-med/pre-pharm, etc. in this pre-dental forum?

 

[darknightzzz]

Well darknightz, for starters, the AAMC publishes similar data every year.

https://www.aamc.org/download/261106/data/aibvol11_no6.pdf

It may be objective, but it is quantifiable and reproducible. I 100% agree with OPs suggestions, I was just curious if there was a source available so I could read more.

ah i see, i don't know much about medical application. I meant for dental school starter, theres no published info regarding this.

Why would an applicant spend thousands of dollars on an application cycle/DAT prep/interviews for dental school if they were uncertain about the career? Does this really happen? Why do these kinds of applicants even bother with the process then if they are not sure if they really want to apply for dental school?

Actually, this does happen a lot unfortunately. So far I have not seen it with pre-dent forum but medical applicants are sometimes there because they are forced to, or they convince themselves they love medicine probably due to peer-influence, self-expectation, society-expectation, or worst of all, family pressure.

you wont believe many applicants throw away big grands for goals that are not truly theirs. Honestly, I did spend almost 2.5k on medical applicant because of family pressure. I did not attend any interviews I got. My family basically ignored me now. Did I regret this? sometimes yea because I blindly followed the expectation set by other people but if i went in I prob regret more later if I didnt back out.

honestly, given the amount of time spend preparing, one should convince others of their passion/interest in a field. However, only they themselves know they truly like it or not

 

[Incis0r]

You haven't seen those threads by the pre-med/pre-pharm, etc. in this pre-dental forum?

I have, but those people are in a different stage. They are just beginning to explore dentistry. Heck, in many cases, they haven't even taken the DAT or done any shadowing yet. It's normal for them to be uncertain. It's expected.

 

[darknightzzz]

I have, but those people are in a different stage. They are just beginning to explore dentistry. Heck, in many cases, they haven't even taken the DAT or done any shadowing yet. It's normal for them to be uncertain. It's expected.

A person who is applying to dental school, on the other hand, has taken the DAT, shadowed a dentist, and written a personal statement about why s/he wants to go to dental school (and since they got an interview, it must have been a pretty good one). Why would these applicants be uncertain?



KUDOS for sticking up for your conscience. I was the same way, except I switched from pre-med to pre-dent at the start of college. But I still invested a LOT of time in high school as a pre-med...shadowed ENTs, cardiologists, OBGYN, surgeons, volunteered for 400+ hours at a local hospital, etc.. My parents were shocked when I switched after having shadowed those MD/DOs and several dentists.

lol well shocked parents need to take some med then 🙂.

yea looking back at the hours spent is a waste of time. Had I decided earlier and got my mind straight, those hours can be better spent for higher quality 😉

 

[Incis0r]

lol well shocked parents need to take some med then 🙂.

yea looking back at the hours spent is a waste of time. Had I decided earlier and got my mind straight, those hours can be better spent for higher quality 😉

You know, I have a new policy for life; You're never going to be able to live a "perfect" life, so why not take risks, jump into everything, and live freely to make it as enjoyable as possible?

Not 100% related to what you said about the hours being spent for higher quality, but it does relate in the sense that....yes, we're going to make mistakes, but it's not worth beating ourselves up over it.

 

[dds2b219]

Thinking about "why" I got rejected from some schools and accepted to others really boggles my mind.

 

[Hannah Banana]

Thinking about "why" I got rejected from some schools and accepted to others really boggles my mind.

Because humans, unlike machines, can be subjective.

 

[ajj70]

Thinking about "why" I got rejected from some schools and accepted to others really boggles my mind.

It's pretty easy actually, each school is looking for something different. It's not all about stats. There was something on your application that they didn't like, not that it was a bad thing, just something that wasn't what they wanted. Maybe they have had other students from your area that all dropped out and they won't take someone from your area any more (not likely but just an example). It's no reflection on you, just a decision they made. Schools like MSDOH that want high volunteer hours, not a reflection on you but just something they didn't see on your application. The hard part is we don't always know what that thing on your resume is that they didn't like.

 

[doc toothache]

Why would an applicant spend thousands of dollars on an application cycle/DAT prep/interviews for dental school if they were uncertain about the career? Does this really happen? Why do these kinds of applicants even bother with the process then if they are not sure if they really want to apply for dental school?

They may or may not be convinced that dentistry is for them, but for some, the limited exposure is not sufficient. The realization of what dentistry is all about may come as late the 4th year. Although the attrition rate is low for dental school, about 1/2 of the withdrawals are for non academic reasons. The cost of applying to a professional schools is negligible and it is not a deterrent for applying to more than one professional school. Many a bride/groom bailed out at the altar or shortly after the honeymoon was over.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/transfers-withdrawls-us-ds.943764/

Thinking about "why" I got rejected from some schools and accepted to others really boggles my mind.

As it has already been suggested, there is no mystery for such a scenario. It is simply a lack of "fit" with what the schools are looking for and may have nothing to do with metrics. Ds want to have a diversity of students based on sex, race, major, socio/economic background, age, and experience outside of the academic environment, and will go to great lengths to achieve their mission. That may be precisely why an applicant may have been rejected by all schools except one.

 

[midman19]

Its an interesting and frustrating process to apply to schools and try and figure out why some of them accepted you and others didn't. I'm just glad its over. it really doesn't matter why they didn't accept you in the end cause all you need is 1 acceptance to become a dentist...

 

[joiedevivre86]

Why would an applicant spend thousands of dollars on an application cycle/DAT prep/interviews for dental school if they were uncertain about the career? Does this really happen? Why do these kinds of applicants even bother with the process then if they are not sure if they really want to apply for dental school?

I bet this happens a lot in interviews (and actually one of my interviewers flat out told me that many applicants seem unsure in interviews). Either people are so nervous/shy they can't convey their interest well or they are genuinely unsure and don't hide it.

 

[jcrizz]

I have seen social ineptitude a few times. Going to multiple interviews and you talk to an interviewee and the only subject he can reasonably talk about is his/her GPA, schooling, or the dental school application. Being a well rounded individual who can converse on things outside of academia is just as important as a cherished 4.0. MWU-IL did a MMI interview and none of their questions were based on your application or profile. It benefits you to be able to think on your toes and show you can relate to human beings not just books. Social aptitude can make or break the interview once you land it.

 

[tooth knockn]

Bump