Third Year Applicant: best method to improve app?

[tkorech]

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Hello!

For this years application cycle, I've been granted interviews at UIC (Oct) and U of Minn (Feb) but sadly haven't heard anything yet, and although I still have high hopes, the next application cycle is only a month away, and I want to start thinking now about what I can possibly do to improve my application.

Here's the quick n' dirty lowdown on me. (I decided to switch from chemistry to predental before my senior year of college.)

Graduated Knox College 2011: Major in Chemistry, Minors in Biology/French, GPA=3.47, SGPA=3.35
Spent two summers and two semesters doing organic and analytical chemistry research.
DAT March 2011: AA=19, TS=18, PA=19
DAT July 2012: AA=20, TS=20, PA=18
Took Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology at a local community college.
Working full time as a chemist for the past two years.
I have a large number of volunteer and extracurricular activities listed, including sports, Circle K, a sorority, orchestra, and several others.
150 shadowing hours
"Recommended" bio classes missing: cell biology, genetics, immunology.

I mostly think my main problem is I'm pretty "average" in most categories as far as students that are accepted, I don't believe I have any glaring holes in my application (although if you see them please point them out!!!). What I don't have is anything in particular to make me stand out.

So my question is...what next? I have one more year to prepare, but need to tell them on my application in June how I'm going to spend that year. Options I've thought of include taking the bio classes I'm missing (difficult as my community college does not offer them, but there's always online classes and I'm close to Northern Illinois Univeristy and Chicago and could likely find them), applying for a biomedical masters instead and applying for dental school next year (would that just be a waste of time and money???), or perhaps applying for jobs as a dental assistant or secretary (I tried when I first graduated and had absolutely no luck, everyone wants an experianced assistant, should I just keep trying? Any advice how to land one of these positions?). Or does anyone have any other completely different ideas?

Thanks all!

 

[dental711]

You seem to have good stats though your DAT (in my opinion) is a bit low. I was in your boat this past cycle and before I applied, I contacted all the schools I wanted to apply to and asked for the admission staff (whether it was a dean, a rep, etc) to look at my app and tell me honestly what areas I need to work on. I also stated my interest in their school which I think helped me form a relationship with them. With their advice, I got more interviews than I have in past cycles and am finally attending dschool this fall. Also, many schools do not accept community college courses and don't look too highly on online courses

 

[Member902507]

Hello!

For this years application cycle, I've been granted interviews at UIC (Oct) and U of Minn (Feb) but sadly haven't heard anything yet, and although I still have high hopes, the next application cycle is only a month away, and I want to start thinking now about what I can possibly do to improve my application.

Here's the quick n' dirty lowdown on me. (I decided to switch from chemistry to predental before my senior year of college.)

Graduated Knox College 2011: Major in Chemistry, Minors in Biology/French, GPA=3.47, SGPA=3.35
Spent two summers and two semesters doing organic and analytical chemistry research.
DAT March 2011: AA=19, TS=18, PA=19
DAT July 2012: AA=20, TS=20, PA=18
Took Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology at a local community college.
Working full time as a chemist for the past two years.
I have a large number of volunteer and extracurricular activities listed, including sports, Circle K, a sorority, orchestra, and several others.
150 shadowing hours
"Recommended" bio classes missing: cell biology, genetics, immunology.

I mostly think my main problem is I'm pretty "average" in most categories as far as students that are accepted, I don't believe I have any glaring holes in my application (although if you see them please point them out!!!). What I don't have is anything in particular to make me stand out.

So my question is...what next? I have one more year to prepare, but need to tell them on my application in June how I'm going to spend that year. Options I've thought of include taking the bio classes I'm missing (difficult as my community college does not offer them, but there's always online classes and I'm close to Northern Illinois Univeristy and Chicago and could likely find them), applying for a biomedical masters instead and applying for dental school next year (would that just be a waste of time and money???), or perhaps applying for jobs as a dental assistant or secretary (I tried when I first graduated and had absolutely no luck, everyone wants an experianced assistant, should I just keep trying? Any advice how to land one of these positions?). Or does anyone have any other completely different ideas?

Thanks all!

Hey!

Look into the Biomedical Masters Program at Midwestern Elk Grove! Hopefully that's close to you? I think it will give you an edge saying that you're doing that program, and I think the Midwesterns pull from their SMP for their dental schools! Good luck!!

 

[Upperbyte]

You didn't post the rest of the scores. Maybe that is what is sticking out. RC is seen as important, as it is found to correlate with high NBDE scores.

 

[tkorech]

dental711: Thank you, I've been trying to ask schools the exact same thing as well, so far there have been few responses, but I shall stick it out! I did check before I applied to see if my schools would accept community college credits. I would've prefered to take them during my undergrad, but unfortunately because I only had a year to finish my major and take as many biology classes as possible to prepare for dental school, I didn't quite get every single one in, and community college was the best method to continue my education.

902507: I'm actually quite close to the Elk Grove campus, and was considering a master's program, biomedical definitely seems like an option.

Upperbyte: I knew the rest of my post was pretty long, here are the rest of my scores, the 2011 first, 2012 second: RC was acutally one of my strongest points!

QR: 20, 17
RC: 20, 22
Bio: 17, 18
GC: 19, 20
OC: 19, 25

The only places I feel I need to work on were biology the first time (which I managed to bump up to an 18, which is generally in the "acceptable for admission range" and my quantitative reasoning score the second time, which was still in the 76% and seemed to be one of the least important scores in comparison, so I haven't worried to much about it. Should I consider retaking the DAT again?

Thank you everyone for the responsponses!

 

[KittySquared]

I definitely wouldn't retake if I were you. Your DATs are right around or slightly above matriculated students in most places. The wise thing to do is to reevaluate your list of schools. If I were you, I wouldn't apply to less than 15 schools and no later than mid June should you apply. You also want to make sure you've put in at least 8 or 9 private schools. Both UIC and Minnesota are state schools. It is risky to apply to exclusively state schools.

 

[joshwake]

Your academics are decent, although they don't help you to stand out much, but the are definetly good enough to get in.

If I was in your shoes I would do something unique to stand out. You can focus on some service, research, or maybe a job. I did some grant writing for a local sealant program and I also trained my dog to be a therapy animal and visited hospitals. I had a lower DAT and GPA and I had 4 interviews and 2 acceptances this cycle (and the other two wait listed). I also have almost 4 years working in a virology lab.

If nonthing like that interests you I would look at a 1 year biomedical science masters or an online MPH or possibly MBA.

 

[tkorech]

Kitty Squared-I will definitely consider applying to more schools, especially private ones. I was told once that applying to 10+ schools looks desperate and may make dental schools think less of you, but every person who's mentioned this has said the opposite, so I think I'm going to definitely apply more broadly this time around!

Josh-I think you got to the root of the problem...my scores/activities are "good enough" to get in, but nothing's making me stand out. I've been trying to decide what the best way to do that is, and those are some good ideas! As far as a masters...I'm highly considering it, because I think that would be the best thing to make me a strong applicant...but that's another 1-2 years of school, which is a huge time, and even moreso, monetary commitment, so if I can find a volutneer/career/research opprotunity to make me stand out as an applicant, but also still work full time and have an income, that would be ideal. Thanks!