Should I be worried?

[sassykat]

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Hi All,

My AADSAS application was submitted September and wasn't mailed until early October. I applied to 10 schools: UW, UCSF, UoP, UCLA, USC, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, BU, Tufts. I have a 3.28 science gpa, 3.48 overall gpa, 21 AA, 20 TS, 24 PAT. I have 1 1/2 years dental assisting experience and 1 year research experience, with other extracurriculars (tutoring, sports). I'm currently finishing a double degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

So far I've heard back from/waiting for interview invites from UCSF, UCLA, UPenn, NYU, USC, and haven't gotten secondaries from the other schools. Does it really put you at THAT much of a disadvantage to apply late, that if you do not get interviews before Dec1 that you're "screwed?" I wasn't that worried until I got onto SDN and saw the rest of you guys......

 

[adizzle87]

Getting a post-Dec interview isn't bad at all. But because your app wasn't complete until recently, I would expect that you won't hear back until January or so since many schools have already given out pre-Dec interviews. Your app does seem pretty strong though. I wouldn't worry too much but you should know that it will take 2+ months to hear back from most schools.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Hi All,

My AADSAS application was submitted September and wasn't mailed until early October. I applied to 10 schools: UW, UCSF, UoP, UCLA, USC, NYU, Columbia, UPenn, BU, Tufts. I have a 3.28 science gpa, 3.48 overall gpa, 21 AA, 20 TS, 24 PAT. I have 1 1/2 years dental assisting experience and 1 year research experience, with other extracurriculars (tutoring, sports). I'm currently finishing a double degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

So far I've heard back from/waiting for interview invites from UCSF, UCLA, UPenn, NYU, USC, and haven't gotten secondaries from the other schools. Does it really put you at THAT much of a disadvantage to apply late, that if you do not get interviews before Dec1 that you're "screwed?" I wasn't that worried until I got onto SDN and saw the rest of you guys......

For several schools, YES applying late=game over!
For other schools, you are still okay, remember, some admissions decisions are sent out in May. I submitted after you with higher stats and i have yet to hear back. We will probably get most of the replies in February.
Unfortunately from my experience, it seems the late submitters are very intense and have strong stats. I hope schools have saved spots for procrastinators like us 😀
cheers

 

[KitKat09]

Are you from Cali?
and yes, it does put you in that much of disadvantage if you apply this late.
Your stats little too low for Columbia and Penn and applying late for them won't help. There is good chance you will hear somewhere Jan- Feb- March from BU, Tufts and NYU. Unless you are Cali resident USC might be your best hope on that coast.

 

[sassykat]

Hmm that is disappointing to hear. I guess I just wasn't aware of how important it was to get the app out when it opened. It wasn't an option for me because I didn't want to study for the DAT on top of my full load of classes, so I studied for it during the summer and took it late August. It makes me wonder what other people did..take it during the school year, or the year before?

Anyway, I'm a WA resident, but I did get into UCB for undergrad, so hopefully the UCs still like me. It just doesn't make sense to me how schools have deadlines going into January/Feb and send out acceptances til May, but people's attitudes are that if you don't make it by December it's over. What's the point of all the post-Dec interviews then? Well, it's better being optimistic than not, so crossing my fingers...

Thanks for the feedback 😳

 

[FutureDent020]

Hmm that is disappointing to hear. I guess I just wasn't aware of how important it was to get the app out when it opened. It wasn't an option for me because I didn't want to study for the DAT on top of my full load of classes, so I studied for it during the summer and took it late August. It makes me wonder what other people did..take it during the school year, or the year before?

Anyway, I'm a WA resident, but I did get into UCB for undergrad, so hopefully the UCs still like me. It just doesn't make sense to me how schools have deadlines going into January/Feb and send out acceptances til May, but people's attitudes are that if you don't make it by December it's over. What's the point of all the post-Dec interviews then? Well, it's better being optimistic than not, so crossing my fingers...

Thanks for the feedback 😳

You still have a chance for post-dec. What you should have done was submit your application over the summer without your DAT scores. Then the schools would get it in August or so and once they got your DAT scores they could start reviewing it in early October. Sorry for the meaningless advice considering there is nothing you can do now. But I guess future applicants can use it. Good luck

 

[Eddie17]

I know what you mean, it could be really frustrating to just have to sit and wait for months until you hear from these schools. I submitted my app Aug. 15, and it was mailed on Sep. 1, and that is considered late. I once read that 50% of applicants apply by July 31...so that means the other 50% are applying with us. I've only received an interview invite from Columbia, rejected from Loma Linda, and awaiting further status updates. The first thing I do every morning is check my iphone for emails, only to be disappointed AGAIN. But from reading many posts, it's really just a long waiting game. I mean some people applied in June and are just hearing back from schools. So, as for those in our boat, we may not hear till Dec./Jan...just stay optimistic, hopefully everything works out.

 

[sassykat]

No worries, what's done is done, but it can probably help others. One of my LORs was taking extra long, and I waited until that was sent in until I even submitted my AADSAS. Now I know that the application can be submitted without DAT scores/LORs!! I mean, I have vague memories of coming across this info, but when you're going through the whole process it kind of slips your mind, and my thought was that my app wouldn't be reviewed until everything was in anyway so it didn't make a difference. I hope it wasn't a "fatal" mistake. I guess just looking for a little encouragement, but on SDN it's a mixed bag lol! Thanks guys

 

[lazybummy]

Take a look at my predent info... it pretty much takes school 1 month - 2 months to get back to me in terms of interview... and i applied pretty darn early. So hang in there. Be patient. No need to freak out!

 

[lphiewok]

No worries, what's done is done, but it can probably help others. One of my LORs was taking extra long, and I waited until that was sent in until I even submitted my AADSAS. Now I know that the application can be submitted without DAT scores/LORs!! I mean, I have vague memories of coming across this info, but when you're going through the whole process it kind of slips your mind, and my thought was that my app wouldn't be reviewed until everything was in anyway so it didn't make a difference. I hope it wasn't a "fatal" mistake. I guess just looking for a little encouragement, but on SDN it's a mixed bag lol! Thanks guys

you have good DAT score and slightly low GPA but it's from Berkeley which should help ADCOM to see the difficulty of your courseload.
i think you should be getting some interviews although like others have already posted, probably post-december since most of november interviews were already filled by last month already
I believe you have good chance of getting in with post-december interviews (if you read here, there are lots of students who get in applying late and with post-december interviews, and since SDN represents only tiny portion of actual applciant pool, i would believe that there is fair amount of ppl getting in post-dec.)

only thing i would like to advise you is try to find some other schools. although there are no safety dental schools, schools you have applied to are either very competitive (UCSF, UoP, UPenn, Columbia) or has LOTS of applicants (BU, Tufts, NYU - they all have highest numbers of applicants in nation which will make it harder for you to stand out).
i think you should have fair shot at UW since you're Washington resident, but UW is also very tough one to get into.
all the schools you have applied to are 'big name' schools, try to find some other private schools that you can apply to

 

[DentalQT]

Yes, the time you apply REALLY does matter but if they want you, they want you. Your stats are just stats, how are you recommendations? your essay? My application didn't go in until November and I still schools to pick from. I interviewed in February and March when most classes were full, but the class always changes. When I intereviewed at my school they told me the class was overfilled by ten ppl but I still got in becauseso many ppl changed where they were going to school.

At this point what's done is done so there's no use in crying over spilled milk. You have ALL of dental school to stress. Enjoy life before the hell of dental school starts. Good luck!

 

[DentalQT]

BTW FutureDent020 I love your pic. Hangover. Awesome movie...

 

[sassykat]

I agree. Stats are just stats, and I hope they read more into my app to learn about me, because I think that's the interesting stuff. I have at least 3 strong letters from people who have known me pretty closely for 1-2 years in different settings (a dentist who hired me as his first dental assistant when he started, research prof where i was the first UG to represent him in a poster presentation, and liberal arts teacher). I think my statement and secondary essays are well written and thought out. I'm just hoping these schools can get over my gpa initially and see what else I have to offer. Thanks for your input! Staying optimistic 🙂

 

[sassykat]

I agree. Stats are just stats, and I hope they read more into my app to learn about me, because I think that's the interesting stuff. I have at least 3 strong letters from people who have known me pretty closely for 1-2 years in different settings (a dentist who hired me as his first dental assistant when he started, research prof where i was the first UG to represent him in a poster presentation, and liberal arts teacher). I think my statement and secondary essays are well written and thought out. I'm just hoping these schools can get over my gpa initially and see what else I have to offer. Thanks for your input! Staying optimistic 🙂

 

[sassykat]

I agree. Stats are just stats, and I hope they read more into my app to learn about me, because I think that's the interesting stuff. I have at least 3 strong letters from people who have known me pretty closely for 1-2 years in different settings (a dentist who hired me as his first dental assistant when he started, research prof where i was the first UG to represent him in a poster presentation, and liberal arts teacher). I think my statement and secondary essays are well written and thought out. I'm just hoping these schools can get over my gpa initially and see what else I have to offer. Thanks for your input! 🙂

 

[sassykat]

I agree. Stats are just stats, and I hope they read more into my app to learn about me, because I think that's the interesting stuff. I have at least 3 strong letters from people who have known me pretty closely for 1-2 years in different settings (a dentist who hired me as his first dental assistant when he started, research prof where i was the first UG to represent him in a poster presentation, and liberal arts teacher). I think my statement and secondary essays are well written and thought out. I'm just hoping these schools can get over my gpa initially and see what else I have to offer. Thanks for your input! 🙂