So this past cycle, I applied and was waitlisted at NYU, no other interviews. I am still on the list, no idea if they will take me or not..
So I'm thinking I should start getting ready to reapply. But my application has NOT changed since last cycle.
Good job at getting waitlisted at NYU! That's an accomplishment!
🙂👍 However, not working on your application this past year is no bueno. Please don't take what I say the wrong way, I mean it in the nicest way and I mean to help you as much as possible. The following is one of my two most important points:
If you reapply, it should be AFTER you address your weaknesses.
Stats were:
GPA: 3.2
sGPA: 2.9
Graduate GPA: 3.7
DAT: 21AA, 20TS
Dental assistant for five years (2000+ hours working)
Good recommendations
No EC's (was kind of busy working and studying<-- 1) this is just an excuse and 2) it doesn't show)
Application mail date October 26th
You most likely know the weakness in your application, but I have highlighted what I have seen as weaknesses just in case you don't.
- Your sGPA is extremely low. Science GPA and BCP GPA are the two most important GPA's on your application. Yes, you have done a master's program, but it was not a science-focused master's program, so those grades won't help you where science coursework is concerned.
- You say you don't have any extracurriculars. You say you were busy "working" and "studying," but let me be frank...your working hours amount to to about 8-13 hrs/week (since (2000 hrs/5 yrs)/52 weeks a year=7.69 hrs per week OR (2000 hrs/5 years)/30 weeks a semester=13.33 hrs per week) which really isn't that much on a weekly basis and your grades don't show the studying part. Additionally, even if you were really busy doing something that helps your application, extracurriculars/community involvement and leadership experience are really important.
- Lastly, your application was mailed out late. I really think that points #1 and #2 are the big ones, though.
Do not think you can compensate for these with activity in another arena. In other words, if your scores are weak, doing research and publishing in a big name journal is not going to help you look better in terms of grades. Address your weaknesses head-on.
Since your grades are weak, you should consider continuing studies courses in universities or one of the special master's programs designed for students in your position.
Additionally, you should get involved in several activities that you can become a leader in ASAP.
I haven't had any changes to anything in my file, mainly because I am currently working as a first year teacher, pulling 65-70 hour weeks. 😱
Why are you currently working so much as a first year teacher? Yes, this is good community involvement, but is your primary goal to get into dental school as soon as possible or to begin your teaching career?
Do you think if I apply VERY early, I'll have a better chance at getting in? Or should I not waste the time/money and improve my application? If so, how?
I repeat:
If you reapply, it should be AFTER you address your weaknesses. Otherwise, you are just going to be wasting money applying with a low chance of getting in. I've given you some suggestions, but you really need to improve your science grades and get involved in EC's. There is plenty of information about whether to take post-bacc classes vs doing an SMP on SDN. Look up old threads on those topics. Getting involved with EC's is pretty self-explanatory.
Or do you think I might still make it into NYU?
I'm getting super anxious now that it's the end of April.
You might still make it into NYU. Indeed, anything is possible. However, I would not count on that and prepare properly before I would apply again.
Those are the red flags... specifically the late application. You need to apply early June this year and apply to 20+ schools. The more dice your roll, the greater shot you have. This is the only way to maximize your potential, especially since its a little too late to correct that GPA for this cycle.
Look at schools that have particularly high DAT averages, often times these schools will be a little more lenient on the GPA side of things; UOP and Columbia come to mind.
I disagree. He needs to fix his application since he was not doing anything in that direction during his application year. OP has far too many red flags to apply again like this (under 3.0 science GPA won't even get him looked at at most dental schools AFAIK...and paired with absolutely no EC'S? I'm not going to ask OP to waste $$ that could be better put to use improving his application for the cycle after.).
The way for him to maximize his potential is to fix his issues as best as he can in the next year and THEN apply again (and quite possibly keep fixing his issues in that application year too just in case he needs to apply a third time).
Lastly, a 21AA and a 20TS is not good enough to get a shot at schools with particularly high DAT averages like UOP and Columbia with his sub-3.0 sGPA and no extracurricular activities. Usually when someone is told that their DAT will compensate for a lower GPA, that person has made a 22+ on the DAT. Even then, getting looked at with a sub-3.0 sGPA is unlikely.
From Columbia's website:
What undergraduate GPA do you require for admission?
There is no minimum GPA requirement, however 3.0 and above is desirable. The average GPA of the 2012-13 enrollees is 3.6.
What is the minimum DAT score of an incoming student at CDM?
We have no minimum or cut-off scores. The mean DAT score of the class entering in 2012 was 23, (the national average is roughly 18); however, the range varies from year to year.
OP's stats are significantly below average for Columbia.
From UOP's website:
Q: Are my Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores competitive?
A: Our incoming class averages are:
Academic average: 21
Perceptual ability: 21
Reading comprehension: 22
Quantitative reasoning: 19
Biology: 21
General chemistry: 22
Organic chemistry: 22
Total science: 22
Competitive scores this year were 21 and higher.
Q: What level of performance is the Admissions Committee looking for in my academic history?
A: Many of our successful applicants completed three or more terms of full-time study at a college within the last three years. Full-time study is defined as four or more courses per term. In each term, three of the four courses should be predental science courses approved for biology majors. Applicants should achieve a B or better in each course; no D, W, F or I grades. Our incoming class grade point averages (GPA) are 3.46 overall and 3.40 science.
OP slides in right around the average with his DAT scores here (at least where AA is concerned...so that's just okay...definitely not good considering the weaknesses on his app), but he is significantly under average with his GPA. I know UOP looks more holistically than other schools, but I wouldn't bet on OP having a great shot here either.
ETA: OP if you really want to apply this cycle (I would say don't waste $), maybe you have a shot at new and unestablished schools like University of New England or the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health. Even then, I don't know how your sub-3.0 science GPA will look. And MSDOH is modeled after ASDOH, which likes to see quite a bit of volunteering if I'm not mistaken.
ETA (again): Looking at threads such as these two might help you get a better idea of what people in your position have done in order to get into dental school successfully:
The Under 3.0 Club part 01 and
The Under 3.0 Club part 02
