Strength of application

[winchetkidJR]

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I am writing this becuase I applied to 31 d schools this year. got them in late august, so they arrived very early sept to the d schools. I have a low gpa of sGPA 3.13, and overall 3.03, but last 2 years have had a 3.8 doing post bacc work. my Dat was 19 PAT 21 TS 20 AA. I wasn't granted one interview, and probably will not be. I know my gpa is low but I see people with 3.4 gpa's and 18AA Dats that get plenty of interviews, and acceptances. I have good LORs and shadowing, so its almost like a crap shoot in certain sense. any input as to what people think I would appreciate. Im taking more classes still to try and riase my gpa more.

 

[eldirty]

Getting your GPA up will help ... im surprised that you didnt get a single interview. I would go and sit down with a dean and have him/her go through your application to get an admissions officers perspective. I dont know what to tell you ... my first year of applying I knew my DAT wasnt good enough and that was why I wasnt getting any love.

 

[PreDent2009]

Do you have any DAT sections under a 15? The only other thing I can think of is there might be something in your personal statement or EC's, etc., that has somehow turned off the schools. Even with a sub-par GPA, your DAT's are very good and I can't fathom how you didn't get one interview. I would understand if you only applied to 5 schools and didn't hear back, but with the amount of schools you applied to, I'm shocked that not one school has contacted you.

 

[winchetkidJR]

my dats were,
RC 18
OC 25
Bio 21
GC 20
QR 18
Pat 19
TS 21

 

[Albuterol]

Are u an international applicant? Maybe your LORs were not as good as you thought they were or your personal statement wasn't written well. Best to see if u can find out why you were rejected from those schools. good luck!

 

[doc3232]

Those with a 3.03 gpa WILL have trouble. You should try to stand out with amazing ECs or I higher DAT (I know you don't want to retake).

 

[Vicviper]

I'd say your stats still put you on the lower end of still being competitive, so it might not be your numbers. Call as many schools as you can and ask about how to improve your file, they may just give you some good tips.

How was your personal statement? I'm sure that a really great or really poor personal statement could make a big difference.

Don't worry, keep up the good work and you'll get in sooner or later!

 

[illusionD]

your DAT scores are great. Your gpa is a little on the low side, though. But I think it's also because you applied kinda late. People have been telling me to apply as early as possible, esp if you don't have high gpa or scores.

You should call up the schools and ask for feedback. Try to raise your gpa a little or do some outstanding ECs. And apply the first dad aadsas is available.

 

[rollredroll]

where did you do undergrad? how is your personal statement?

 

[playa2652]

I am writing this becuase I applied to 31 d schools this year. got them in late august, so they arrived very early sept to the d schools. I have a low gpa of sGPA 3.13, and overall 3.03, but last 2 years have had a 3.8 doing post bacc work. my Dat was 19 PAT 21 TS 20 AA. I wasn't granted one interview, and probably will not be. I know my gpa is low but I see people with 3.4 gpa's and 18AA Dats that get plenty of interviews, and acceptances. I have good LORs and shadowing, so its almost like a crap shoot in certain sense. any input as to what people think I would appreciate. Im taking more classes still to try and riase my gpa more.

I think you need to increase your GPA, both science and overall. Your DAT scores are good, but not stellar (neither were my scores). Your post-bacc work is definitely a plus, but I think you should be focusing more on EC's (like research, leadership in clubs, community service, dental experience (research, shadowing, educating children on maintaining good oral hygiene). I seriously think that your personal statement was a problem because if you applied to that many schools, you should have gotten one interview. However, I applied to 18 schools, got interview invites to 9, went to 6, accepted to 3, and waitlisted at 3. All I can say is that some schools will assume you will get into your state school, that's why some might not even look at you.

 

[achilles2]

with a low GPA you need outstanding DAT scores

I advise you study like a madman and retake

gl

 

[winchetkidJR]

a retake i would only do if i could score a 22, my dat was a 20.4, so essentially i was one point away from a 21. if they thought a 21 was sufficient these schools would have probably interviewed me, but they cant realistically expect a 22, that is probably top 4%. with everyone that applies about 4000 enroll each year, maybe a little more and you have to figure that most kids that use sdn tend to score higher( i am not sure why but it is true). maybe a 20 is low for sdn, but in the grand scheme of things i think my AA was top 13% my TS was top 8%. so a retake wouldn't do me much better percentile wise. no way i could score a 23, or even a 22, my reading skills aren't that great. most i could go up to is a 21, and a 21 compared to my score is almost an academic difference so i dont think my dat could be holding me back that much. if i had a 19.6 which is alos a 20 i would understand what you mean by retaking it, but i am confused as to how a retake could help that much.

 

[doc toothache]

I am writing this becuase I applied to 31 d schools this year. got them in late august, so they arrived very early sept to the d schools. I have a low gpa of sGPA 3.13, and overall 3.03, but last 2 years have had a 3.8 doing post bacc work. my Dat was 19 PAT 21 TS 20 AA. I wasn't granted one interview, and probably will not be. I know my gpa is low but I see people with 3.4 gpa's and 18AA Dats that get plenty of interviews, and acceptances. I have good LORs and shadowing, so its almost like a crap shoot in certain sense. any input as to what people think I would appreciate. Im taking more classes still to try and riase my gpa more.

Maybe it is time to update your post bac with a real degree.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602095

 

[chund]

apply ALOT earlier.. Some schools begin interviewing in Sep and maybe earlier.. That means that they were interviewing by the time they had your completed application with fees, transcripts, lors, etc. Apply in May. All you need is one interview, and if its bc you applied early then so-be-it. If you have alot going for you, and you can convey that and you'll get in.