Should I apply to more schools?

[elumo]

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Hi I just want an honest opinion. I feel I might not be applying to enough schools.
My residence is in California.

My stats:
GPA: 3.481
sciGPA: 3.32

DAT/PAT

Academic Average 21
PAT 21
Quantitative Reasoning 19
Reading Comprehension 21
Biology 21
Gen Chem 23
Ochem 23
Total Sci 22


List of Schools:
1. UCLA
2. UCSF
3. UoP
4. USC
5. Western University
6. Boston University
7. NYU
8. Buffalo
9. Temple
10. Penn
11. Pittsburgh
12. Virginia Commonwealth

 

[jntm46]

If you could add a few more schools, it wouldn't hurt.

 

[Pandoo]

you've got good DAT scores, GPA is average, i dont see a problem with this many, but more can't hurt

 

[321931]

Hi I just want an honest opinion. I feel I might not be applying to enough schools.
My residence is in California.

My stats:
GPA: 3.481
sciGPA: 3.32

DAT/PAT

Academic Average 21
PAT 21
Quantitative Reasoning 19
Reading Comprehension 21
Biology 21
Gen Chem 23
Ochem 23
Total Sci 22


List of Schools:
1. UCLA
2. UCSF
3. UoP
4. USC
5. Western University
6. Boston University
7. NYU
8. Buffalo
9. Temple
10. Penn
11. Pittsburgh
12. Virginia Commonwealth

I would add a few more "safer" schools. As it is, you are technically applying to 8-9 schools due to some 3-4 schools being purely reach schools.

 

[Osity]

If you want to stay in the west, I'd definitely suggest UNLV and Midwestern-AZ. You would have an excellent chance at both those schools with your numbers.

 

[elumo]

you've got good DAT scores, GPA is average, i dont see a problem with this many, but more can't hurt

If you could add a few more schools, it wouldn't hurt.

I was considering one more school, Maryland, but I was told I don't meet the inorganic chemistry requirement when I called the Admissions Office. Apparently I am missing 1 unit after converting quarter system units (my school uses the quarter system). However, I did take 3 quarters of inorganic chem, which is equivalent to a year, so I don't know if I should still choose to apply anyways.

Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[jntm46]

I don't understand how you are missing 1 unit from Inorganic Chem? Did you not take the labs? If you did take them, then I don't see what the problem is...

Adding Maryland to the list would be good, since they are considered OOS friendly.

 

[elumo]

I don't understand how you are missing 1 unit from Inorganic Chem? Did you not take the labs? If you did take them, then I don't see what the problem is...

Adding Maryland to the list would be good, since they are considered OOS friendly.

Our chem series did include lab. But the points for that series adds up to 11 quarter units because the lab class was only 3 quarter units while the two lectures courses were 4 units each. I tried to explain that there is no way to gain a random point of chemistry and that 3 quarters is equivalent to a year of chemistry, but they said there were no exceptions.

 

[jntm46]

That stinks...I also took my Inorganic chem at a quarter system school and Lectures are 3 units and labs are 1 unit each...

Well, there are other schools who will overlook this 1 unit (or be more lenient). so pick another one!

 

[elumo]

If you want to stay in the west, I'd definitely suggest UNLV and Midwestern-AZ. You would have an excellent chance at both those schools with your numbers.

Based on the pre-requisite courses requirement, I don't think I can apply to Midwestern-AZ. It was definitely under consideration for awhile.

UNLV I would still need to fulfill the letter of rec requirement, but this may be very possible in the coming weeks, so I think I'll definitely be considering this school.

 

[Sunspear]

I think Maryland might also require a letter of rec from a Chemistry professor. Do you have one? I called and they said they might ask an applicant for one, in which case, I better start emailing my Chem prof...

 

[Pennywisdom]

If you want to stay in the west, I'd definitely suggest UNLV and Midwestern-AZ. You would have an excellent chance at both those schools with your numbers.

Agreed. UNLV and Mid-AZ should be next in line for your list. And unless you have a good reason for VCU (i.e.: you have a family member in VA, etc) remove it off the list and consider adding Tufts. Otherwise list looks good.

EDIT: Okay, so you can't add Mid-AZ. Add UNLV and Tufts.

 

[Maygyver]

I think this is good. Where else would you apply? Your GPA is kind of low, so I would doubt you would get into OOS public schools.

 

[elumo]

Agreed. UNLV and Mid-AZ should be next in line for your list. And unless you have a good reason for VCU (i.e.: you have a family member in VA, etc) remove it off the list and consider adding Tufts. Otherwise list looks good.

EDIT: Okay, so you can't add Mid-AZ. Add UNLV and Tufts.

It's the LOE requirements that vary from school to school that I also can't apply to Tufts either, that was also up there as well, but the letters I've gotten are from biology professors only. It sounds like a poor excuse, but I'm trying to apply to as many schools as I can with what I have and what curriculum I already have. I didn't decide to for sure be predental until well near the end of junior year, which is why my pre-reqs are a bit lacking. 🙁

So my chances seem rather low then?

 

[HillsNayyr]

I would personally app to some more oos friendly schools such as the previously mentioned mwu-az and others. The extra hundred or so to add another school is much cheaper than a year off and re apping next year.

 

[Pennywisdom]

It's the LOE requirements that vary from school to school that I also can't apply to Tufts either, that was also up there as well, but the letters I've gotten are from biology professors only. It sounds like a poor excuse, but I'm trying to apply to as many schools as I can with what I have and what curriculum I already have. I didn't decide to for sure be predental until well near the end of junior year, which is why my pre-reqs are a bit lacking. 🙁

So my chances seem rather low then?

You DAT is strong and your GPA is decent. So I'd say you have a fairly good chance. I only suggested a few schools because I thought you wanted to keep your list to ~12 schools. Like the aforementioned post, I suggest that you expand your list to about 15 schools (just to be safe because the competition will only get worse every year).

In that case, I would also include Case Western, Nova, Louisville, and perhaps ASDOH.

 

[elumo]

You DAT is strong and your GPA is decent. So I'd say you have a fairly good chance. I only suggested a few schools because I thought you wanted to keep your list to ~12 schools. Like the aforementioned post, I suggest that you expand your list to about 15 schools (just to be safe because the competition will only get worse every year).

In that case, I would also include Case Western, Nova, Louisville, and perhaps ASDOH.

If I have clocked 250+ hours of volunteering at a hospital, is that considered enough volunteering to consider applying to ASDOH?

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi I just want an honest opinion. I feel I might not be applying to enough schools.
My residence is in California.

My stats:
GPA: 3.481
sciGPA: 3.32

DAT/PAT

Academic Average 21
PAT 21
Quantitative Reasoning 19
Reading Comprehension 21
Biology 21
Gen Chem 23
Ochem 23
Total Sci 22


List of Schools:
1. UCLA
2. UCSF
3. UoP
4. USC
5. Western University
6. Boston University
7. NYU
8. Buffalo
9. Temple
10. Penn
11. Pittsburgh
12. Virginia Commonwealth

Decent sGPA, excellent TS score.... I don't see anything wrong with your application. I HIGHLY doubt all 12 schools will reject those kinda numbers. But if you wanna feel a little better, add 3 more to make it 15 and call it even (errm ~ odd)