Should I apply this cycle? 3.83 GPA, 19AA

[PerioDont]

Hey guys,
I wasn't really planning on applying this cycle but decided to just go ahead and take my DAT. So I took it today, and got a 19 AA, 19TS, 19 PAT, 22RC, 17QR. I have a 3.83 GPA, AZ resident.

The thing is I haven't shadowed a dentist or done any volunteering dental related.

Non-dental related volunteering is 800+hours (tutoring, mentoring, hospital, non-profit)
I could get a LOR from volunteer supervisor, and from a science professor for sure.

These are potential schools I would love to go to:

ASDOH
MWU-AZ
Buffalo
Houston
Dallas

My question is for you guys what should I exactly do for the next couple weeks and how many hours should I do. I can shadow a general dentist, or a specialist, or both. Should I also try to get some hours for dental volunteering? How many would be recommended for that?

Thanks in advance!

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[THS]

Man, you almost have it. But without dental shadowing, not many schools will consider your app. If money isn't an issue, go for it, but I don't think you'll hear back. Unfortunate, because your other stats are good/decent.

If you want to cram in some shadowing, do a general dentist, not a specialist,

 

[whitepapertree]

Hey guys,
I wasn't really planning on applying this cycle but decided to just go ahead and take my DAT. So I took it today, and got a 19 AA, 19TS, 19 PAT, 22RC, 17QR. I have a 3.83 GPA, AZ resident.

The thing is I haven't shadowed a dentist or done any volunteering dental related.

Non-dental related volunteering is 800+hours (tutoring, mentoring, hospital, non-profit)
I could get a LOR from volunteer supervisor, and from a science professor for sure.

These are potential schools I would love to go to:

ASDOH
MWU-AZ
Buffalo
Houston
Dallas

My question is for you guys what should I exactly do for the next couple weeks and how many hours should I do. I can shadow a general dentist, or a specialist, or both. Should I also try to get some hours for dental volunteering? How many would be recommended for that?

Thanks in advance!

You do not need to submit until like Early August at the latest. You can easily do 100 hours of shadowing from now until then.

 

[I want to go to there]

Shadow both general dentists and specialists everyday for the next few weeks and apply(~100 hours, 60 of that at GP. You should look for 2 letters of science prof. No need for dental volunteering. Your chances of getting in Buffalo, Houston, and Dallas aren't high especially with your DAT score. I would pick more schools and perhaps think about retaking the DAT since it will open more options for you due to your high GPA. I think you have a good shot at both Midwestern and ASDOH.

 

[andreadds]

Hey guys,
I wasn't really planning on applying this cycle but decided to just go ahead and take my DAT. So I took it today, and got a 19 AA, 19TS, 19 PAT, 22RC, 17QR. I have a 3.83 GPA, AZ resident.

The thing is I haven't shadowed a dentist or done any volunteering dental related.

Non-dental related volunteering is 800+hours (tutoring, mentoring, hospital, non-profit)
I could get a LOR from volunteer supervisor, and from a science professor for sure.

These are potential schools I would love to go to:

ASDOH
MWU-AZ
Buffalo
Houston
Dallas

My question is for you guys what should I exactly do for the next couple weeks and how many hours should I do. I can shadow a general dentist, or a specialist, or both. Should I also try to get some hours for dental volunteering? How many would be recommended for that?

Thanks in advance!

Shadow! Its not just for your application but to make sure you will enjoy the career

 

[niv3k]

Yeah I agree with iw2gt, shadow both if you can. I shadowed specialists, they seemed to like that. If adcoms asked if you want to be a specialist just say you'd be happy being a general dentist but won't really know until you get further into your education. Definitely shadow as much as you can, very important.

I also didn't have any dental volunteering (volunteered for an ophthalmology clinic actually).

Even if you didn't get in right off the bat (which you could, and that would be awesome), you could get wait listed, or you would be recognized next time you applied.

 

[PerioDont]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll definitely try to get at least 100 hours shadowing in before August.

Do you guys really think dental volunteering is not super important? I've heard varying opinions.

Shadow both general dentists and specialists everyday for the next few weeks and apply(~100 hours, 60 of that at GP. You should look for 2 letters of science prof. No need for dental volunteering. Your chances of getting in Buffalo, Houston, and Dallas aren't high especially with your DAT score. I would pick more schools and perhaps think about retaking the DAT since it will open more options for you due to your high GPA. I think you have a good shot at both Midwestern and ASDOH.

I know TX is a long shot. What other schools do you think are suitable?
As for the DAT, since I took it today, 90 days from now would be in September. Wouldnt that be late to take it?

Shadow! Its not just for your application but to make sure you will enjoy the career

Definitely I was with a dentist in a different country and that got me interested in dentistry!

 

[I want to go to there]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll definitely try to get at least 100 hours shadowing in before August.

Do you guys really think dental volunteering is not super important? I've heard varying opinions.




I know TX is a long shot. What other schools do you think are suitable?
As for the DAT, since I took it today, 90 days from now would be in September. Wouldnt that be late to take it?



Definitely I was with a dentist in a different country and that got me interested in dentistry!

Not too late. What's the most you are willing to spend during 4 years of dental school?

 

[strep mutans]

I know TX is a long shot.

Apply to Baylor if you wish, but don't waste your money applying to Houston.

Last year, 462 OOS applied to Houston, 1 was interviewed, and 0 were accepted. Just sayin...

 

[jsptr986]

cramming in shadowing hours this late in the game will not look good. i would not apply to tx.

 

[ajj70]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll definitely try to get at least 100 hours shadowing in before August.

Do you guys really think dental volunteering is not super important? I've heard varying opinions.




I know TX is a long shot. What other schools do you think are suitable?
As for the DAT, since I took it today, 90 days from now would be in September. Wouldnt that be late to take it?



Definitely I was with a dentist in a different country and that got me interested in dentistry!

Volunteering is important, it doesn't have to specifically be in the dental field and really it's better not to have all of your EC's/Volunteering dental related. In your situation since you have not done any shadowing, it would have been helpful. I don't know that you need to retake the DAT. That poster seems to think that no one with a DAT less than 23 gets into dental school. Your DAT is right at the average and you GPA is well above average to compliment the DAT. I don't know what your schedule is, but if you can get in 100 in the next 3 weeks and then get your app in, that would give you the best odds for this cycle.

Just some numbers, Harvard has an average GPA of 3.87, UCLA is 2nd with a 3.71, everyone else is lower than that. These schools have a DAT of 19.9 or less:

Nevada 19.9
Case 19.9
Midwest 19.8
Louisiana 19.8
Boston 19.8
Tufts 19.8
Marquette 19.8
Ohio 19.7
Oregon 19.7
Colorado 19.6
Georgia 19.4
UT Hou 19.4
Indiana 19.3
Louisville 19.3
Tenn 19.3
LECOM 19.1
S. Illinois 19.1
Creighton 19.1
Arizona 19.0
Western 19.0
Kentucky 19.0
Missouri 19.0
Misso KC 19.0
Miss 18.7
Midw Il 18.6
New England 18.2
E Carolina 18.2
Howard 17.9
W Va 17.7
Puerto R 17.0
Meharry 17.0

With your GPA, you would be a strong candidate for these schools as well:

Pitt 20.7
Baylor 20.7
Maryland 20.6
Mercy 20.4
N Carolina 20.4
Wash 20.4
Florida 20.3
Minnesota 20.3
Michigan 20.1
Nebraska 20.1
SUNY Buf 20.1
Virginia 20.1
USC 20.0
Loma L 20.0
NOVA 20.0
Illinois 20.0
Iowa 20.0
Rutgers 20.0
Oklahoma 20.0
Temple 20.0
S Carolina 20.0
UT-SA 20.0

Not all of these schools are OOS friendly, etc. It's just a copy/paste from Doc's chart and just to give you an example of where you sit with your stats. You just need to get your LOR's ready and get your shadow hours in ASAP.

 

[Faux]

You'll get in somewhere, thats for sure. But not without shadowing hours and a dentist LOR. Get +50 hours ASAP, preferably 100.

 

[cacajuate]

You won't get in OOS to Texas with that DAT.

 

[TheEpicFruitCake]

It looks like you're coming over from pre-med last second. I would go shadow/volunteer at a dental clinic to actually see if you want this. Not just for the pre-requisites

 

[PerioDont]

Apply to Baylor if you wish, but don't waste your money applying to Houston.

Last year, 462 OOS applied to Houston, 1 was interviewed, and 0 were accepted. Just sayin...

Wow yeah maybe I'll stick with just baylor then.

Alright guys appreciate the thoughts, I'll get at least a 100 hours in before August and expand the school list as well! I'll keep you guys updated