School list help before submitting!

[zhou381OSU]

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Any help is appreciated; about to submit my app real soon!!

Biochemistry major from a large well-known public university
oGPA: 3.3 ; sGPA: 3.3 ....... both not great, I know =(
DAT: 24/AA (22/BIO, 22/OCHEM, 28/CHEM, 26/RC, 22/QR) 24/TS 22/PAT
~100 volunteering work
~200 shadowing experience with general dentists and specialists.
good recommendation letters (3 from science professor/faculty, 1 from GD)
worked part-time both in high school and during college.
currently working as a manager for a restaurant.

Current school list (really need help narrowing down my list):
Ohio State U (in-state b/c of the Forever Buckeye program)
MUSC (in-state b/c of South Carolina residency)
Midwestern AZ
Midwestern IL
USC
UoP
LECOM
Nova
Boston U
Tufts
U of New England (not so sure about this one? )
Detroit Mercy
U of Minnesota
UNLV
Columbia (My parents wanted me to)
Upenn (My parents wanted me to)
NYU
Buffalo
Temple
Pittsburgh

Thank you everyone and GOOD LUCK to everyone applying!!!!!!

 

[clutchfans]

Your parents aren't going to dental school. Apply to schools that you want to go to.

 

[clutchfans]

Othewise, with your DAT score, I think you'll be very competitive to get interviews to all those schools.

 

[threemileisle]

Maybe OP's parents are helping finance his education and/or application fees, in which case they have every right to offer their input.

Besides, it sounds more like OP meant to say, "Wouldn't mind attending, but I don't think I'll get in these schools. Parents are insisting I give it a shot anyway and that's why I've included them...", rather than, "Ivies? Heck no!"

 

[zhou381OSU]

Maybe OP's parents are helping finance his education and/or application fees, in which case they have every right to offer their input.

Besides, it sounds more like OP meant to say, "Wouldn't mind attending, but I don't think I'll get in these schools. Parents are insisting I give it a shot anyway and that's why I've included them...", rather than, "Ivies? Heck no!"

You're right. My parents are helping me with my application and they care a lot about the reputation of the school...... Although I think that all dental schools offer great education ( correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[spazway]

Obviously, apply to your in-state schools.

I'd get rid of one of the Midwesterns. Why UNLV? Honestly, I don't know much about it, but isn't it a public school? Why that school OOS?

I think your question at this point (and for anyone narrowing down their list, because you'll need to have a good answer for an interview) should be "why THIS school?", instead of "why NOT this school?"

What are you looking for in your dental education? Lots of clinical experiences? Excellent teaching? Community? Research? I know sometimes the answer is "whichever school accepts me," but each school has different opportunities. If you're able to prioritize what you want, and if you do your research, you may be able to confidently narrow down your search.

On the other hand, if you truly like all of them and you're just looking to narrow down your list, place them in smaller groups of 3 or 4 by similar admissions statistics or geographic location and see whether you can eliminate kind of redundant ones. For example, choose one or two of Tufts, BU, and UNE. Pick one of Temple or Pitt. Decide between LECOM and Nova.