Student Athlete and applying in 2017-2018 cycle

[OrthoHopes66]

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I am applying in the 2017-2018 cycle for dental school and I am a bit nervous I won't get in anywhere. I am new to this forum, but I was wondering if there are any other student-athletes out there that are applying/have applied and got in... Do they understand a slightly lower GPA?

Here's what I've got:
GPA: 3.28
Major GPA which is Biology: (3.3)
I had a VERY bad freshman year. Gone up ever since. 3.48 fall 2016, 3.52 spring 2017
DAT AA: 17 PAT:19 TS:17 ( I only studied for a few weeks before this one, am taking it again in a week)
Over 300 hours working as an oral surgery assistant plus 50-70ish more shadowing/volunteering in a free dental clinic with a general dentist

Extracurricular activities are not my issue, as I said I am on a top 10 nationally ranked women's lacrosse team, upcoming captain for the next season. Secretary of the pre-med/pre-dental club, equestrian competitor at a high level, I ride and train with someone on the US Team. Work as a lacrosse coach for a high school club team.

My LORs are very good. I have 2 from dentists I worked with, 2 from professors and 1 from my lacrosse coach. Also one from the pre-dental committee.

I would really just love to hear from someone who is also a student athlete and had a good outcome applying to dental school with slightly lower numbers...It takes an immense amount of time away from studying to play on a NCAA team and travel constantly for games. I don't know anyone else who has ever applied to dental school(other than the dentists I worked for), and I am just hoping someone has some insight into this situation! Thank you so much!

 

[Jueves]

What schools are you applying to?

 

[OrthoHopes66]

Tufts, University of New England, I have a list of about 15 others that have comparable average DAT and GPAs as I do, but open to opinions people might have for someone with my numbers!

 

[OrthoHopes66]

What schools are you applying to?

Tufts, University of New England, I have a list of about 15 others that have comparable average DAT and GPAs as I do, but open to opinions people might have for someone with my numbers!

 

[OrthoHopes66]

What schools are you applying to?

Tufts, University of New England, I have a list of about 15 others that have comparable average DAT and GPAs as I do, but open to opinions people might have for someone with my numbers!

 

[Symphonies]

Don't quote me on this, but I think I read on a different thread a while ago that adcoms don't really care whether or not you were/weren't a student athlete, so using that as leverage isn't the best idea (I many be wrong though)

 

[I-hate-alginate]

GPA and DAT...

 

[joker16z]

I read somewhere that the ADEA AADSAS application will only let you submit a maximum of 4 letters of recommendation but I could be wrong.

 

[OrthoHopes66]

I read somewhere that the ADEA AADSAS application will only let you submit a maximum of 4 letters of recommendation but I could be wrong.

I realize that, I will have to select which ones I choose to submit. Thank you!

 

[OrthoHopes66]

GPA and DAT...

WHat do you mean by that? Is it low?

 

[I-hate-alginate]

WHat do you mean by that? Is it low?

High GPA and DAT open many doors for applicants who got them. And yours are low, especially the DAT. You need to score 22+.

 

[S_Diamond_DDS]

.

 

[shwayne]

Being a student athlete does not compensate for your a GPA.. you need to ace your DAT (22+ in all sections) in order to have a serious shot. If not, I would consider a Masters to bump up your cGPA. Your ECs are consistent/meaningful so keep up the great work.

Good luck!

 

[Jueves]

Tufts, University of New England, I have a list of about 15 others that have comparable average DAT and GPAs as I do, but open to opinions people might have for someone with my numbers!

It seems like you have a good idea on what schools are within reach, which is good. I would honestly get your GPA up to as high as possible and apply at the end of Senior year. I had lower stats by the end of junior year (3.25 s GPA) but I'm closing out with a 3.46 at the end of this year. Definitely retake the DAT, and shoot for 22, but if you get a 21 that's still not the end of the world.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Any leeway you may have had with the GPA due to being a student athlete is pretty much negated by the DAT score. Right now it just looks like you struggled with the sciences because both are low, but doing well (and by well I mean above average to make up for the GPA) on the retake might help you out a bit.

 

[setdoc7]

One of my former residents was on an NCAA track team. She actually went to college on a track scholarship. Her undergrad grades were on par with yours. She went to a dental school in the midwest and then came to my residency for a year. I agree it would be better to have a higher DAT than the one you have now. I do think that anyone reading your app will understand the large commitment you made to be on a school team, and that it goes a long way. After all, it's a lot of extra work to stay on a competitive team and get good grades...... and isn't that what school is about....commitment? Much harder to maintain your life than some of the ridiculous EC's I have seen on apps. NCAA athletes work hard every day, whether it is practice, game day, or conditioning. Don't let a bunch of pre dents or dental students who have never seen any application other than their own get you down....and none of them are in the heads of any adcom. Good luck with the application process.

 

[Blackhawksdental]

I am a former college athlete that just got accepted to dental school this year and I got accepted after my 3rd time applying. I played golf for 4 years at a D-1 college. I had a very similar GPA that you had after graduating college. After I graduated I decided to do an extra year of school at University of Pennsylvania for their Post-Baccalaureate program. Great program and highly recommended for you in order to boost your gpa. But you definitely need to boost those DAT scores. I got a 20 AA and 22 PAT for my DAT on my second attempt. But I still believe the only reason I got in was because I did an extra year of school and did really well that year at UPenn. Also don't worry about taking your DAT early and applying as soon as the applications open up. As long as you get your application out before the middle of July you will be totally fine!! Take the DAT in late June so you have plenty of study time under your belt. And also look into a post-back or a one year masters program next year just in case you don't get accepted anywhere this year. Don't worry if you don't get accepted this year its not the end of the world trust me. There are soo many people that get in their second try. Have any more questions just let me know!

 

[OrthoHopes66]

One of my former residents was on an NCAA track team. She actually went to college on a track scholarship. Her undergrad grades were on par with yours. She went to a dental school in the midwest and then came to my residency for a year. I agree it would be better to have a higher DAT than the one you have now. I do think that anyone reading your app will understand the large commitment you made to be on a school team, and that it goes a long way. After all, it's a lot of extra work to stay on a competitive team and get good grades...... and isn't that what school is about....commitment? Much harder to maintain your life than some of the ridiculous EC's I have seen on apps. NCAA athletes work hard every day, whether it is practice, game day, or conditioning. Don't let a bunch of pre dents or dental students who have never seen any application other than their own get you down....and none of them are in the heads of any adcom. Good luck with the application process.

Thank you so much for those encouraging words. I knew by posting on an open forum I may get some responses I didn't agree with, but I've also gotten a few that agree with what you have said. Thank you!