some advice please!

[greensage]

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Heyy all,

I applied this cycle but unfortunately have not heard anything positive from the schools that I applied to and wanted to know what you guys think I can do better next cycle to maximize my chances. I interviewed at three schools and thought I did really well at two of them but things just don't seem to be working out right now.

I submitted my application on July 21, 2010 and took my DATS on August 19th 2010.

GPA: 3.642
Science GPA: 3.58

DAT:
Bio: 20
Gen Chem: 19
Organic: 19
Reading 17
QR: 16
AA: 18
TS: 20

What is something the schools will look for when it comes to re-applicants?
Apart from applying early, what else can I do to help my situation?
Retake DAT?

Any comments/advice will be grealy appreciated!

 

[healthcaree]

Heyy all,

I applied this cycle but unfortunately have not heard anything positive from the schools that I applied to and wanted to know what you guys think I can do better next cycle to maximize my chances. I interviewed at three schools and thought I did really well at two of them but things just don't seem to be working out right now.

I submitted my application on July 21, 2010 and took my DATS on August 19th 2010.

GPA: 3.642
Science GPA: 3.58

DAT:
Bio: 20
Gen Chem: 19
Organic: 19
Reading 17
QR: 16
AA: 18
TS: 20

What is something the schools will look for when it comes to re-applicants?
Apart from applying early, what else can I do to help my situation?
Retake DAT?

Any comments/advice will be grealy appreciated!

I think AA of 18 is a bit on the low side. Try to aim for 20, and with your GPA I'm sure you won't have a problem getting in next cycle. I have lower GPA than you; I re-took my DAT (20AA/21TS/22PAT, lowest score is 19 in OC, all the other sections are 20+) for 2011 AADSAS cycle (re-applicant) and I landed with 8 interviews and 1 acceptance so far (withdrew one interview, 3 more interviews to come next week; thus 1 acceptance with 4 interviews up to date).

 

[dental8485]

What schools did you applied to and which schools interviewed you? are you put on the waiting list or you just didnt hear anything from the schools you interviewed at?
There is still time, don't lose hope!

 

[bing12]

Heyy all,

I applied this cycle but unfortunately have not heard anything positive from the schools that I applied to and wanted to know what you guys think I can do better next cycle to maximize my chances. I interviewed at three schools and thought I did really well at two of them but things just don't seem to be working out right now.

I submitted my application on July 21, 2010 and took my DATS on August 19th 2010.

GPA: 3.642
Science GPA: 3.58

DAT:
Bio: 20
Gen Chem: 19
Organic: 19
Reading 17
QR: 16
AA: 18
TS: 20

What is something the schools will look for when it comes to re-applicants?
Apart from applying early, what else can I do to help my situation?
Retake DAT?

Any comments/advice will be grealy appreciated!

What is you PAT score? Your gpa is great. What schools did you apply to? I also did poorly on the RC, but i made it up with the other sections. you were unlucky to have ur QR and RC bring your AA down cause you did well in all your other sections. I would suggest retaking it, and to focus on your math because its something you can practice over and over, and try to find a new RC strategy. I understand math is the least important section, but what people fail to understand is that it is 1/5 if your AA, which is extremely important. if you would have received an 18 in the QR(instead of 16) your AA would have been a 19, which is a big difference you know? I do believe RC is one of the most important sections following BIO, so increasing that is a very high priority, I know that i was screened out from some schools with my low RC.

 

[greensage]

thanks a bunch for your supportive input!
i really appreciate every bit of it!

totally forgot my PAT score...my PAT score was a 19!

I should have really focused on math and reading as well...will def prepare better for those when it comes time for retaking my DAT!

I interviewed at both the florida schools and VCU. I am currently wait listed at NOVA and was rejected from UF. Have not heard anything from VCU as of yet.

I applied to Tufts, BU, Maryland, UOP, UCSF, Howard, Detroit, UNC, UIC, and Temple. I took my DAT in August and after getting my scores I quickly realized I was out of the running for schools like UNC, UIC, UOP, and UCSF...but I really thought I would hear something from the other schools!

I definitely need to fix my list of schools and apply to more schools because TUFTS, BU, Maryland, and Temple are very popular for dental applicants.

thank you once again!

 

[iamsyc]

What is you PAT score? Your gpa is great. What schools did you apply to? I also did poorly on the RC, but i made it up with the other sections. you were unlucky to have ur QR and RC bring your AA down cause you did well in all your other sections. I would suggest retaking it, and to focus on your math because its something you can practice over and over, and try to find a new RC strategy. I understand math is the least important section, but what people fail to understand is that it is 1/5 if your AA, which is extremely important. if you would have received an 18 in the QR(instead of 16) your AA would have been a 19, which is a big difference you know? I do believe RC is one of the most important sections following BIO, so increasing that is a very high priority, I know that i was screened out from some schools with my low RC.

[editx2] I'M A-DUMB. Lol

Either way, yes, QR is significant.

But I think it is also based on a lot of other factors too. It's not totally a numbers game. But yeah, 18 for AA is a touch too low.

I had 18 in both QR and RC, but my 21 in PAT errrr TS helped bring my AA to a 20. Thank GOODNESS! Lol

Your GPA is great though, so I don't know. I don't wanna tell you to focus JUST on ECs, LORs, personal statement for next year so you don't have to re-take the DAT because DAT is one of the most important factors, but I don't want to be like "re-take the DAT" because it's not easy and like I said, you can stand out in other ways.

 

[bing12]

I think the schools you applied to are reasonable, you were deff on the fence for some of the schools, I believe if you can get a 19 or above on the AA, then you will be good. APPLY TO NYU, i see you did not have that on your list, always apply to NYU.haha. How did your interviews go? any possible bad answers you can have possibly had?

 

[bing12]

Isn't AA only composed of QR, RC, and PAT? So it's technically 1/3 of your AA.

But I think it is also based on a lot of other factors too. It's not totally a numbers game. But yeah, 18 for AA is a touch too low.

I had 18 in both QR and RC, but my 21 in PAT helped bring my AA to a 20. Thank GOODNESS! Lol

WHAT? haha..i am 99% sure its everything except your PAT that is averaged into the AA.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Isn't AA only composed of QR, RC, and PAT? So it's technically 1/3 of your AA.

But I think it is also based on a lot of other factors too. It's not totally a numbers game. But yeah, 18 for AA is a touch too low.

I had 18 in both QR and RC, but my 21 in PAT helped bring my AA to a 20. Thank GOODNESS! Lol

Your GPA is great though, so I don't know. I don't wanna tell you to focus JUST on ECs, LORs, personal statement for next year so you don't have to re-take the DAT because DAT is one of the most important factors, but I don't want to be like "re-take the DAT" because it's not easy and like I said, you can stand out in other ways.

Please be advised, getting drunk during the middle of the day is highly discouraged.... By all schools, including community colleges 😛

 

[iamsyc]

Lol I clearly don't know what I'm talking about. Forget everything I said 😛

I took DAT like a year and a half ago so I don't know, apparently I forgot everything. hahah

 

[greensage]

the AA includes everything except the PAT

I should have applied to NYU as well...so many should haves =/
hopefully NOVA works out for me otherwise will definitely strengthen my application and reapply next cycle...

my interview at NOVA went really well...I was very comfortable and did answer the questions really well...don't really remember being stumped at that one...but at VCU my interviewer asked me if I could remember a time when I was frustrated with my hands...that was a question I hadn't really thought about before so was a little taken aback because i wanted to give a good answer but gave an okay response for that question..other than that I felt I was very strong throughout my interviews!!

 

[bing12]

the AA includes everything except the PAT

I should have applied to NYU as well...so many should haves =/
hopefully NOVA works out for me otherwise will definitely strengthen my application and reapply next cycle...

my interview at NOVA went really well...I was very comfortable and did answered the questions really well...don't really remember being stumped at that one...but at VCU my interviewer asked me if I could remember a time when I was frustrated with my hands...that was a question I hadn't really thought about before so was a little taken aback because i wanted to give a good answer but gave an okay response for that question..other than that I felt I was very strong throughout my interviews!!

WOW, kinda tough.haha, i know i wouldnt really have a good answer to that question...well atleast a good appropriate answer....jk jk.ha. i said this to another person on SDN, I KNOW ITS REALLY LATE, but i would call up NYU and ask them if its too late to apply, see what the deal is. i have heard of several students applying in january and getting in to expensive private schools. so i think its worth a shot IMO ( to call and see if its still worth it).

 

[dentalWorks]

Heyy all,

I applied this cycle but unfortunately have not heard anything positive from the schools that I applied to and wanted to know what you guys think I can do better next cycle to maximize my chances. I interviewed at three schools and thought I did really well at two of them but things just don't seem to be working out right now.

I submitted my application on July 21, 2010 and took my DATS on August 19th 2010.

GPA: 3.642
Science GPA: 3.58

DAT:
Bio: 20
Gen Chem: 19
Organic: 19
Reading 17
QR: 16
AA: 18
TS: 20

What is something the schools will look for when it comes to re-applicants?
Apart from applying early, what else can I do to help my situation?
Retake DAT?

Any comments/advice will be grealy appreciated!

I high-lighted your main problem. taking the DAT in mid August meant ur official DAT scores didn't reach addsas till mid September.... This means your application was finally complete mid September (which is a bit late IMO).

How many schools did you apply to? The schools that rejected you, honestly, give them a call and see what they say. I believe your DAT is fine (because you have strong GPAs), but who knows.

The schools that rejected should be able to give you a much better advice than most of us here can.