School Qualifications

[dentist2499]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi! I am planning on applying to dental schools this summer, but I don't know if I am competitive. My GPA as of right now is 3.74 and my DAT is 20 (broken down, all scores are 20-21). I am the president of a dental club and have done volunteering with a clinic, churches, etc. I have shadowed my dentist, but I don't have a big work experience. Also, I am only in two organizations in my school, though I have a role in both. I'm also in the honors concentration. Would this make me a good candidate for schools such as:
Rutgers, Columbia, Temple, uPenn, Nova southeastern, Boston, UCLA, and VCU? I'm also a PA resident as well.
All comments appreciated.
Thank you 🙂

 

[artist2022]

Personally I think Columbia, Penn and UCLA are reaches for you, due to your DAT.

I would add Pitt as well since you're a resident? I'd probably add like 5-6 more schools, schools you'd see yourself attending and that are within your DAT range.

You may get better help editing your post to follow this format: ► How to Format your WAMC Thread ◄, because currently we know nothing about the number of hours you've spent towards anything.

 

[dentist2499]

Hi! Thanks for responding. I am an undergraduate in New Jersey right now with a major in biology and a minor in psychology. I am Caucasian, but immigrated from Europe when I was younger. I have roughly 100 hours of shadowing and roughly 100 hours in volunteering. In my freshman-sophomore year, I was a research assistant for one of my professors for a year where I created a poster and presented to gradate students and scientists. Also, I was in uPenn's summer program for a week. I put uPenn down because I'm in love with that school and I have had a lot of communication with them due to my club position as well as I know someone that got accepted there with a DAT score of 19.
Would the new information I added make me a stronger candidate?

 

[axiumgod]

Nothing wrong with having reach schools, especially if they already know you. But make sure you also apply to enough schools with average stats that are similar to yours-- I'd add LECOM, Maryland, Pitt, and maybe a few more private schools.

 

[dentist2499]

Nothing wrong with having reach schools, especially if they already know you. But make sure you also apply to enough schools with average stats that are similar to yours-- I'd add LECOM, Maryland, Pitt, and maybe a few more private schools.

Yes! I just mentioned a few of the schools that were more of a reach since I was curious if I could have a chance of getting in. This is my full list:

Temple

uPenn

Pitt

Rutgers

UCSF

UCLA

Columbia

Western

Nova Southeastern

Umaryland

Boston

Stony Brooke

VCU

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'd continue to network with schools where you want to attend. You could consider adding a few more privates like LECOM, UDM, and Case. Your metrics should place you as a solid prospect (Ivies definitely a reach given relatively low metrics). Check for OOS acceptance rates at some of the schools you listed just in case.

 

[LeagueofLigTies]

I had your same stats- 3.75 ogpa, 20 dat. Accepted at NYU, turned down touro, waitlisted at SB

 

[salmongrid]

I personally think UCLA is a high reach, due to your DAT score and their preference for in-state students. I'd suggest maybe adding Tufts and UOP to your list instead.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi! Thanks for responding. I am an undergraduate in New Jersey right now with a major in biology and a minor in psychology. I am Caucasian, but immigrated from Europe when I was younger. I have roughly 100 hours of shadowing and roughly 100 hours in volunteering. In my freshman-sophomore year, I was a research assistant for one of my professors for a year where I created a poster and presented to gradate students and scientists. Also, I was in uPenn's summer program for a week. I put uPenn down because I'm in love with that school and I have had a lot of communication with them due to my club position as well as I know someone that got accepted there with a DAT score of 19.
Would the new information I added make me a stronger candidate?

Well, if you went to Penn for a summer program... was it with the dental school or the medical school? If you still have good networking with the faculty you worked with there, it definitely wouldn't hurt putting it down. Many of us who are in admissions like predental club connections with org leaders.

 

[dentist2499]

Well, if you went to Penn for a summer program... was it with the dental school or the medical school? If you still have good networking with the faculty you worked with there, it definitely wouldn't hurt putting it down. Many of us who are in admissions like predental club connections with org leaders.

It was with the dental school!

 

[predent2024]

Great stats! I think you’re school list is good. Some may be a little bit of a reach but that’s okay! I would definitely add LECOM and Case Western to your list.