Saving up Money

[Frank22]

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Hey all,

Now that I've got the DAT finished I am looking to get employed and to start saving up money. Of course, Iwill probably only be able to work part time with a full-time, upper science course load, but does any one have any advice or tips here?

For example, I understand that the application process can cost upwards of $5,000, and I plan on applying to 15 schools. At the moment I only have a few hundred dollars; are there any solutions if I don't have enough by the time interviews roll around?

 

[kobbix]

Student loans are your friend 🙂

 

[Bucks783]

Loans or get a credit card where you have time to pay it off. Chase had one where you had 18months to pay it off with no interest! It was perfect

 

[Frank22]

I didn't know I could get student loans for the application cycle; I will talk to my school's financial aid office about acquiring such a loan next semester.

 

[Typical Average Student]

Out of 15 schools, you'll probably interview at 25%-75% of them. It isn't worth getting student loans to pay for your application cycle. You may apply for the FAP program which alleviates about $470 from your application costs but the rest is pretty much up to you. I was in the same position as you, I quit my job to study for the DAT in the summer and now I just do private tutoring for $30-50/hr, it pays for gas and stuff but if you have enough clientele it should be sufficient for your plane tickets.

I had almost no money after spending almost $1700 for applications so I was pretty tight on my budget. I don't get hotel rooms. I sleep at the airport or try to book late night flights. I sleep in the car if I get a rental car. I try to book with Spirit (don't bring a carry on). You'll be fine!

You should also post your stats and list of schools you're looking to apply to on SDN so we can give you advice on which schools are a good choice so you don't waste your money applying.

 

[kobbix]

Loans or get a credit card where you have time to pay it off. Chase had one where you had 18months to pay it off with no interest! It was perfect

Don't just hit credit cards - or at least do so carefully. Even if you're not paying interest, not paying off a CC can affect your credit score

 

[electrax]

I've worked part time jobs all through undergrad. time management will only be an ever more important skill going forward, and I think I've struck a good balance. If you're looking for a job, just make sure you find one that's flexible (ie. take time off around exams)

 

[Frank22]

Out of 15 schools, you'll probably interview at 25%-75% of them. It isn't worth getting student loans to pay for your application cycle. You may apply for the FAP program which alleviates about $470 from your application costs but the rest is pretty much up to you. I was in the same position as you, I quit my job to study for the DAT in the summer and now I just do private tutoring for $30-50/hr, it pays for gas and stuff but if you have enough clientele it should be sufficient for your plane tickets.

I had almost no money after spending almost $1700 for applications so I was pretty tight on my budget. I don't get hotel rooms. I sleep at the airport or try to book late night flights. I sleep in the car if I get a rental car. I try to book with Spirit (don't bring a carry on). You'll be fine!

You should also post your stats and list of schools you're looking to apply to on SDN so we can give you advice on which schools are a good choice so you don't waste your money applying.

My DAT scores are the following:

PAT: 17
QR: 21
RC: 21
BO: 25
GC: 26
OC: 22
TS: 24
AA: 23

My overall, science, and B.C.P. GPA will be about 3.4 but less than 3.5 when I apply. My first 28 credits my GPA was 2.5 though, and my GPA the last 84 semester credits has been 3.6 or somewhat higher. My first 59 credits were taken at CC, and my last 53 at university. At university I've taken nothing but 13 to 14 credits of science classes each semester (mostly 300 level biology classes plus general chemistry II [4.0], and organic chemistry I [3.333] and II [3.5]). Will have 100 or so hours of shadowing and similar numbers of community service hours when I apply. I am from Michigan but all the schools I'll be applying to will be out of state. So can you say anything about my chances based on this or which schools I should apply to?

EDIT: couldn't I take out student loans and just give back whatever is left after the application cycle?

 

[Typical Average Student]

My DAT scores are the following:

PAT: 17
QR: 21
RC: 21
BO: 25
GC: 26
OC: 22
TS: 24
AA: 23

My overall, science, and B.C.P. GPA will be about 3.4 but less than 3.5 when I apply. My first 28 credits my GPA was 2.5 though, and my GPA the last 84 semester credits has been 3.6 or somewhat higher. My first 59 credits were taken at CC, and my last 53 at university. At university I've taken nothing but 13 to 14 credits of science classes each semester (mostly 300 level biology classes plus general chemistry II [4.0], and organic chemistry I [3.333] and II [3.5]). Will have 100 or so hours of shadowing and similar numbers of community service hours when I apply. I am from Michigan but all the schools I'll be applying to will be out of state. So can you say anything about my chances based on this or which schools I should apply to?

EDIT: couldn't I take out student loans and just give back whatever is left after the application cycle?

It depends what schools you're interested in, if you provide a list, I can usually tell you which ones aren't out of state friendly or are most competitive than others. Your DAT is solid with the exception of PAT which isn't too low but it is barely hitting the minimum at some schools. Your GPA isn't too bad either. You also have to be aware of schools that accept CC credits for prereqs (assuming you took your english and/or physics there, maybe not). So you have a fair chance of getting in, just pick your schools wisely.

I'm not sure too much about the loan process but I wouldn't imagine you would need more than $2000 for applications/secondaries and maybe $2000 for travel if you're extravagant. I don't recommend taking out loans especially ones with any type of interest.

 

[Frank22]

It depends what schools you're interested in, if you provide a list, I can usually tell you which ones aren't out of state friendly or are most competitive than others. Your DAT is solid with the exception of PAT which isn't too low but it is barely hitting the minimum at some schools. Your GPA isn't too bad either. You also have to be aware of schools that accept CC credits for prereqs (assuming you took your english and/or physics there, maybe not). So you have a fair chance of getting in, just pick your schools wisely.

I'm not sure too much about the loan process but I wouldn't imagine you would need more than $2000 for applications/secondaries and maybe $2000 for travel if you're extravagant. I don't recommend taking out loans especially ones with any type of interest.

Okay. I've also read something about having AADSAS "verify" my GPA and DAT scores. Can you say more about this? I'm concerned because my GPA increases every semester, and I want to apply in June but my last semester doesn't end until May. Will I have to apply later than June if I want my grades for the Winter Semester to be factored into my GPA?

 

[aznriptide859]

Okay. I've also read something about having AADSAS "verify" my GPA and DAT scores. Can you say more about this? I'm concerned because my GPA increases every semester, and I want to apply in June but my last semester doesn't end until May. Will I have to apply later than June if I want my grades for the Winter Semester to be factored into my GPA?

There is a period of time from when you send in your transcripts to when your application package gets sent to the schools. AADSAS needs to make sure your GPA that you reported matches what you sent in via transcripts, and they will convert your grades into whatever their GPA grading scale is. That is what everyone refers to as "verifying their GPA". This can take anywhere from a few weeks to even a month, so be aware that this time period lengthens the closer it gets to application deadlines. This issue is also why everyone likes applying the instant AADSAS/TMDSAS opens in June and May, respectively.

AADSAS opens an "Academic Update" in November, and it lasts until mid-February, where you can send an updated transcript to them and they will send updated grades to schools. This means that although the latest grades you have on your initial application may only be up til Spring or Summer semester, you can still input grades up to December during the Academic Update.

However, be aware some schools don't even bother with looking at the academic update, so your news will vary depending on the school. For instance, I know outright that UT Houston and UT San Antonio don't even bother with looking for academic update (Texas schools like doing everything early as well).

 

[Frank22]

There is a period of time from when you send in your transcripts to when your application package gets sent to the schools. AADSAS needs to make sure your GPA that you reported matches what you sent in via transcripts, and they will convert your grades into whatever their GPA grading scale is. That is what everyone refers to as "verifying their GPA". This can take anywhere from a few weeks to even a month, so be aware that this time period lengthens the closer it gets to application deadlines. This issue is also why everyone likes applying the instant AADSAS/TMDSAS opens in June and May, respectively.

AADSAS opens an "Academic Update" in November, and it lasts until mid-February, where you can send an updated transcript to them and they will send updated grades to schools. This means that although the latest grades you have on your initial application may only be up til Spring or Summer semester, you can still input grades up to December during the Academic Update.

However, be aware some schools don't even bother with looking at the academic update, so your news will vary depending on the school. For instance, I know outright that UT Houston and UT San Antonio don't even bother with looking for academic update (Texas schools like doing everything early as well).

Okay so let's say I send my transcript to be verified in December of 2015, will my grades for that Winter Semester also be on the transcript and factored into my GPA, or do they only include grades for completed semesters? Also, is there any wait period for shadowing hours or the like to show up on my transcript?

 

[aznriptide859]

Okay so let's say I send my transcript to be verified in December of 2015, will my grades for that Winter Semester also be on the transcript and factored into my GPA, or do they only include grades for completed semesters? Also, is there any wait period for shadowing hours or the like to show up on my transcript?

Whichever grades are completed on the transcript is what AADSAS will see. I'm not sure how the Winter semester works at your school, but mine were completed in the middle of January, so I'd imagine that those grades would only be on a submitted transcript if you sent it in after the semester.

Shadowing hours are pretty much self reported (I don't recall any verification on that on my transcript). I'm pretty sure they can get a good idea if you're telling the truth or not based on your dentists' letter of recommendation.

 

[Frank22]

Whichever grades are completed on the transcript is what AADSAS will see. I'm not sure how the Winter semester works at your school, but mine were completed in the middle of January, so I'd imagine that those grades would only be on a submitted transcript if you sent it in after the semester.

Shadowing hours are pretty much self reported (I don't recall any verification on that on my transcript). I'm pretty sure they can get a good idea if you're telling the truth or not based on your dentists' letter of recommendation.

Okay; my Winter Semester ends at the beginning of May. Do you think it would be worth waiting until mid-June to get my stats verified if it means my overall GPA will be raised to a 3.4 from like a 3.37 and my science GPA to a 3.4 or so from like a 3.35?

EDIT: also, is there any wait period on letters of recommendation, or will my application be good to go if I submit them the same day I applied?

 

[aznriptide859]

Okay; my Winter Semester ends at the beginning of May. Do you think it would be worth waiting until mid-June to get my stats verified if it means my overall GPA will be raised to a 3.4 from like a 3.37 and my science GPA to a 3.4 or so from like a 3.35?

EDIT: also, is there any wait period on letters of recommendation, or will my application be good to go if I submit them the same day I applied?

Oh ok, I thought you meant like a Winter mini-semester during December/January.

You can apply right when the applications open, but your package won't be sent to schools until your transcripts are in and everything is verified. So you can click "submit" to send in your application, but AADSAS won't send anything to schools until they received everything first.

I believe there is some processing period for LOR's, but I don't know how long. TMDSAS has a status page where they show dates of the LOR's they've received that they are processing. I'd imagine AADSAS needs time to process them too.

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

/

 

[Frank22]

Oh ok, I thought you meant like a Winter mini-semester during December/January.

You can apply right when the applications open, but your package won't be sent to schools until your transcripts are in and everything is verified. So you can click "submit" to send in your application, but AADSAS won't send anything to schools until they received everything first.

I believe there is some processing period for LOR's, but I don't know how long. TMDSAS has a status page where they show dates of the LOR's they've received that they are processing. I'd imagine AADSAS needs time to process them too.

Thank you; you are honestly the man, I appreciate it. By the way, what do you think my chances will be like of matriculating with a 3.4 science GPA and 23 AA/24 TS/17 PAT ?

Don't apply to as many schools as you think you "need" to. Ask for help narrowing your list if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself. I applied to 13, which was way too many, I would have been better off saving money and applying to maybe 8 or fewer.

Thank you for the advice. I still haven't made a list of schools to apply to, but I intend on doing so in the near future.

 

[aznriptide859]

Thank you; you are honestly the man, I appreciate it. By the way, what do you think my chances will be like of matriculating with a 3.4 science GPA and 23 AA/24 TS/17 PAT ?

I tend to be the person who says that numbers are not everything. Some people on SDN tend to only look at hard number stats then preach it as gospel, essentially staying "once you get these numbers, oh yea you'll get in". I personally feel there are so many other factors in play that would result in an interview invite/acceptance, so numbers never make up the full story.

That SAID, your school and test performance are both good.

 

[kobbix]

I tend to be the person who says that numbers are not everything. Some people on SDN tend to only look at hard number stats then preach it as gospel, essentially staying "once you get these numbers, oh yea you'll get in". I personally feel there are so many other factors in play that would result in an interview invite/acceptance, so numbers never make up the full story.

That SAID, your school and test performance are both good.

YES! There are no guarantees. You want to ratchet up your stats as high as you can, apply broadly, and hope for the best. And the higher your scores, the better the odds you'll get in