things to improve for next cycle

[dentalcraze]

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Hello SDN,
I applied in the 4th batch with the following stats:
sGPA - 3.61
oGPA - 3.59
DAT (AA/TS/PAT/any sections below 17) - 20/21/21/none
Shadowing hours - over 150 (general dentistry and oral surgery)
Volunteer hours - 400 hours in hospitals

I interviewed in my state school and got rejection. I got rejected from all other schools I applied to except one but I don't think I will be able to get in this cycle.

I am shadowing at a couple of places and will be volunteering as an extern in a pediatric clinic over the spring break. What else should I do to improve my application for the next cycle?

Thanks!

 

[Slumber]

Everything looks fine to me, so apply broadly and improve your interview skills?

 

[gentlerwave]

Your stats look very competitive. To add on to what @Slumber said, I'd suggest apply early (1st or 2nd batch) and maybe look at your PS again. If you have time, see if you have taken advanced science courses like microbio, biochem, a&p. Having those classes in your transcript would help.

Good luck 🙂

 

[soydentista]

Re write personal statement, get commeette letter and call schools to find out why rejected without interview!!

 

[dentalcraze]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have taken plenty of upper division science courses. I will definitely call the schools to find out the reasons.

 

[dieanotherday]

get new LORs perhaps?

 

[HaverfoodsDDS]

Re-examine which schools you are applying to. If you're using the ADEA book and deciding which schools take a lot of people from your state I don't understand why you wouldn't get accepted with your resume. If you received a lot of interviews (i.e. 3-4+) I'd say you need to work on how you present yourself, but if you weren't offered many interviews there has to be some red-flag that you're over looking because from what you said above you should have no problem getting in. Good luck!

 

[Glimmer1991]

Something is off here.

Your stats aren't the issue. I'd definitely be calling to see what is up. You don't want a repeat next year! Sorry this has happened. 🙁 Things can seem so unpredictable.

 

[dentalcraze]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was told during the interview at my state school that my LOR's were good, so I don't think they were a problem. The only thing I could think of was that after I transferred from a college (was a community college before but changed to a 4 year institution before I started there) to a University, my GPA went down by 0.15. I don't know if that could be such a big issue...

 

[larrylu]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was told during the interview at my state school that my LOR's were good, so I don't think they were a problem. The only thing I could think of was that after I transferred from a college (was a community college before but changed to a 4 year institution before I started there) to a University, my GPA went down by 0.15. I don't know if that could be such a big issue...

Perhaps you took some of the pre-reqs in cc?

 

[dentalcraze]

Perhaps you took some of the pre-reqs in cc?

I did complete my general sciences at the college but it is not a cc.

 

[Glimmer1991]

To which schools did you apply? That might shed some light. If you really want us to help, you have to give as much information as you can... otherwise, we're just shooting in the dark.

 

[MasterDental]

I agree with glimmer. It prolly had to do with the schools you applied to, because your stats are fine. Plus 4th batch is not late. So it must have been the amount or the schools that you applied to. This cycle I will be applying to 21 schools.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dentalcraze]

I only applied to 4 schools: OHSU, UPenn, UW and NYU

 

[dieanotherday]

I only applied to 4 schools: OHSU, UPenn, UW and NYU

did you get rejected from ohsu yet?
because they are still interviewing through April

 

[dentalcraze]

did you get rejected from ohsu yet?
because they are still interviewing through April

No I haven't heard anything from them yet. I got a competitive email from them in December

 

[dieanotherday]

No I haven't heard anything from them yet. I got a competitive email from them in December

if you do need to reapply definitely apply to 10+ schools.

 

[Glimmer1991]

I only applied to 4 schools: OHSU, UPenn, UW and NYU

I think that's your problem. Next year, apply to 10-15.

Even with SUPER high stats, you aren't guaranteed interviews. It happens to folks on here all the time.

 

[HaverfoodsDDS]

I think that's your problem. Next year, apply to 10-15.

Even with SUPER high stats, you aren't guaranteed interviews. It happens to folks on here all the time.

I agree 100%.....Dental admissions is very random and you need to maximize your chances.

 

[dentalcraze]

Do schools know how many other d-schools I have applied to? Would they reject me just because I haven't applied to enough schools?

 

[NMC2010]

No I haven't heard anything from them yet. I got a competitive email from them in December

Why not call and ask them? I remember some people that hadn't heard back from Louisville called to let admissions know they were still interested/asked about what their standing was, then got interviews within days.

The worst they can tell you is you're out of the running. Or you could snag an interview.

 

[dieanotherday]

Do schools know how many other d-schools I have applied to? Would they reject me just because I haven't applied to enough schools?

no they wouldnt reject you cause you didn't apply to enough schools

they rejected you because you werent the most competitive applicant for their applicant pool

thats why you apply to many because you don't know if youre the perfect fit to any school until you try