i had that last year when i applied...i saw the letter and said screw u i wont give up on my dream to dental school...i mean what the dean should have done is to send u and me a letter to their masters program but yah...that was pretty rude
They made a plug, so what? I got rejected from USC my first time and they showed me the average scores of their accepting class and it was like looking at my own transcript. Would you rather be told you're numbers are not good enough, so peach out. Or be told that there is no mistake that your numbers may serve you better purposes in other health professions? No one is holding a gun in your mouth and telling you to become a podiatrist, it was a suggestion. Who's to say the podiatry school at Western U. won't be famous some day? You can tell people "They offered me a spot there a long time ago, my numbers were pretty good, so it only made sense.
The only reason you're getting defensive is because you go to Western Dental. If you didn't go there and looked at this objectively, then you would see it for what it is.
And Western podiatry school won't be famous one day, especially with low recruiting tactics like this. Stop trying to justify it as something positive.
Rejection is tough, that's the truth. I applied twice, and I know several people in my class who applied two times or more. You're angry, frustrated, it's a stressful, expensive, and time consuming process. That being said, I also know lots of people who applied to dental school, got rejected and ended up doing other things. Similarly, I know people who got in, didn't like it and ended up doing other things.
They made a plug, so what? I got rejected from USC my first time and they showed me the average scores of their accepting class and it was like looking at my own transcript. Would you rather be told you're numbers are not good enough, so peach out. Or be told that there is no mistake that your numbers may serve you better purposes in other health professions? No one is holding a gun in your mouth and telling you to become a podiatrist, it was a suggestion. Who's to say the podiatry school at Western U. won't be famous some day? You can tell people "They offered me a spot there a long time ago, my numbers were pretty good, so it only made sense."
You can piss and moan and talk trash about a university you know nothing about and give people the impression that Western University of Health Sciences is "unprofessional," or you can go your own way, do your own thing, go somewhere that has accepted you, and become an exceptional dentist (or whatever you want to do) who doesn't have a stupid chip on their shoulder.
God bless you and God bless the United States of America.
It's not the rejection that bothered me. Like I posted before, UPenn rejected me as well, yet I didn't feel the same after reading their email. The truth is, Western rejected me and I was fine with that. I wasn't "upset" until I received this second email a few weeks after being rejected suggesting that I apply to their podiatry program.
Wait, but if you got accepted instead of rejected and other people told you about this classless tactic, you would go straight to the dean and have this addressed immediately, right?
We'll get on top of it. 👍 Thanks for the feedback.
For those of us who have been accepted at other institutions and accepted OR rejected at WesternU will find this email a little offensive to say the least. If nothing else, it's unprofessional and reflects poorly on WesternU. We worked hard to matriculate into dental school not podiatry; if we choose to pursue podiatry then we will do so on our own accord.
its really not the dental school's fault.
I bet the higher-ups (people even higher than the dean of the dental school ~ people with zero admission experience) are pushing this agenda on them. They don't underestand how much commitment students take on JUST TO SHOW proof that dentistry is their calling.
I don't use SDN, but after my classmate (DentistSomeday) here informed me of this thread, I felt the urge to chime in. I don't exactly see eye to eye with him (he's not as eloquent as the rest of us), but I do agree with spud daddy. (For the record, I'm a D1 at WesternU and this was NOT the only school I got accepted into)
I wish I could apologize to UBERlowGPA on behalf of my school. That's really crappy of our administration to push the podiatry program. From what I've observed about this university as a whole is that they pride themselves on having a variety of health professional colleges. I don't think the administration meant to offend you, but the school is trying to advertise the other programs (some of which are as new as the dental program). Seems like a low blow, but try not to take it personally. It looks like a stupid, generic ad that they decided to litter you with in case you change your mind.
Congrats on your acceptance to UOP, btw.
On a final, unrelated note, to the few haters out there: please don't trash this school. It makes me not like you.
Many are concerned about this.
I have a question for everyone... and I am trying to stay as unbiased as I can...
What if Western still sent out the same email... but instead.... inviting the applicant to apply to their medical school.... would people still be offended?
If anyone is interested in knowing a little about what this letter was all about, I spoke with some upperclassmen about it and apparently the dean of our college was forced to send out that advertisement by the westernu administration that oversees the dental school and didn't like the idea any better than any of you who received it. He also thought it would appear unprofessional. The college of podiatric medicine has a lot of open spots to fill and all of the colleges were forced to send that same letter. I am sure it will catch the eye of those who are mostly looking into a health profession not necessarily dentistry (which all of you I am sure know a few). Anyway hope this clears up some questions.
It's not the rejection that bothered me. Like I posted before, UPenn rejected me as well, yet I didn't feel the same after reading their email. The truth is, Western rejected me and I was fine with that. I wasn't "upset" until I received this second email a few weeks after being rejected suggesting that I apply to their podiatry program.
Had this been some random school who was recruiting for a podiatry program, I would have probably clicked delete and moved on. However, this was sent from the DEAN of your dental program. It was sent after your school supposedly "considered" my application. That would entail reading my personal statement that described my passion for dentistry, as well as seeing my countless hours of volunteer work and shadowing in the field. THAT is what bothered me, NOT the rejection.
Simply put, I thought it was disrespectful and unprofessional. That's it. That's all.
And also... it's not like they "offered me a spot" in that program. They didn't read through my files and think "hmm, I think podiatry is a better fit for this student" as you suggested. They simply used their dental admissions email list to promote another program. Whether you go there or not, If you can't see anything wrong with that, I would look again.
I'm not bitter. I got into another school. No biggie. I just thought I'd share this on here to see if anyone else felt that same and to maybe make you and your school aware of how this email is being taken.
Kind of like how I covered for my gf's victoria secret purchase on my CC and now I get a catalog every month...
Ir's a different situation. You personally gave your card information to victoria's secret and they're assuming you're interested in more VS items.
He specifically gave his information to the Western dental school, not the entire Western University of Health Sciences. Thus, he should not be receiving information about other programs because clearly he's not interested in them.
Your example is flawed. It is like saying if the purchase was a bra, by your logic, VS would only send you a catalogue with the specific type of bra you ordered because that is what you are interested in. But that is arguing semantics. There is no harm in offering information about different programs. It is not personal and although unprofessional, not malicious. The concern has been brought up the reason explained. NOW GET OVER IT!
Wait, should i be sad i didn't even get an email from them suggesting the podiatry program?! i'm offended.
Wait, should i be sad i didn't even get an email from them suggesting the podiatry program?! i'm offended.
First, that's pretty funny. Nice input.
Second, I was rejected from Western, sent information about the podiatry program, and was not offended. Just as I was not offended when I was not signed in to this site and saw an ad on the pre-dental page of SDN for a medical school. I was also not bothered seeing the ad about the old guy who is ripped and apparently thought I could benefit from a free healthy aging kit even though I'm in my 20's. I'm guessing most other people applying to dental school are around this age and aren't worried about aging. But, they are all seeing this ad.
My point is that people should not take this so seriously. I tend to agree with the post that says its aim is to provide the people who have not been accepted to dental school, even after a few cycles, another option they may not have considered. Maybe it was offensive to some people here, but maybe there are others out there who decided to pursue this option and it was very helpful. I don't know. This whole situation kind of reminds me of reading things about interviewing that say an interviewer may ask questions to try to get under your skin, just to see how you handle yourself under pressure. If an interviewer asked, "Why dentistry instead of podiatry?" you would not cuss them out, you would politely say that this is the direction your life experiences have pointed you. Application time is a very stressful time, don't let it get to you. Just roll with the punches, look at the bigger picture, do what you can to make yourself a stronger applicant if you haven't been accepted yet, and reapply to schools that have not left a negative impression on you.
Lastly, I do agree that it is difficult to get a read on the school with all the talk of the dean doesn't want send it out, but the even higher-ups are pushing him to. So, the decision maker here may be a little disconnected, but again, don't let it get to you. If you saw the pod thing and said "podiatry isn't for me," then just stay positive and do everything you can do be a great dentist who happened to graduate from somewhere else.
Good luck to all.
My point is that people should not take this so seriously.
I got the same letter. I talked to a student at Western dental who said I was lucky that I was rejected because the school is too corrupt especially after the previous dean stepped down his position. Apparrently, they dismiss first year students left and right for no apparent reasons or warning them a head of time, or giving them a second chance. She said the reputation of dental school is getting really bad amongst other colleges at western.
Nice, right before people apply you bump this thread. You really want to go to western huh.
😀👍 It's sad what tactics people will resort to when they don't work hard enough to achieve their goals by legitimate means.
I got the same letter. I talked to a student at Western dental who said I was lucky that I was rejected because the school is too corrupt especially after the previous dean stepped down his position. Apparrently, they dismiss first year students left and right for no apparent reasons or warning them a head of time, or giving them a second chance. She said the reputation of dental school is getting really bad amongst other colleges at western.
+1peanutb123 said:It's sad what tactics people will resort to when they don't work hard enough to achieve their goals by legitimate means.
This is getting blown way out of proportion. We attend a lot of dental conferences with colleagues and I can tell you no one cares what is said on SDN. Pre-dental students care and that is why I am saying that people that have have actually attended an interview here know that the flyer is not representative of the school. I appreciate the OP's feelings because I don't like the flyer either. But at the same time I think it is comical that people who haven't even applied to or seen Western or are even dental students are "weighing in" and acting like they know everything. Getting rejected sucks but it is a part of life. While I don't agree with the flyer, you gotta relax.
If anyone is interested in knowing a little about what this letter was all about, I spoke with some upperclassmen about it and apparently the dean of our college was forced to send out that advertisement by the westernu administration that oversees the dental school and didn't like the idea any better than any of you who received it. He also thought it would appear unprofessional. The college of podiatric medicine has a lot of open spots to fill and all of the colleges were forced to send that same letter. I am sure it will catch the eye of those who are mostly looking into a health profession not necessarily dentistry (which all of you I am sure know a few). Anyway hope this clears up some questions.
That is exactly what I think. They get paid very well , and its relatively easy to gain admissions to their schools. Avg DAT is about an 18, MCAT is about a 22-23. BUT I think the admission standards will increase soon.
actually. when i interviewed there, avg dat was 20 for 2010's class. no dschool avg's a 18. and its not relatively easy to gain admission to any dental OR D.O school. you should know that if you're going through this cycle
i am speaking about podiatry school..what are you speaking about?
Explain please.And little to no autonomy.