To those of you who got Nova and MWU-AZ interviews

[pk62281]

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Any of you have worse stats than me?
23AA, Bio20, Chem21, Orgo23, TS21, QR26, RC23, PAT26
oGPA 3.31, bcpGPA 3.2, oGPA 3.31 (strong upward trend)
I'm also a nontraditional application.

I'm trying to figure out why I got rejected from Nova so quickly, and why MWU-AZ is putting me on hold.I really need constructive feedback but Nova doesn't pick up the phone, and the person at MWU-AZ did not know why I'm on hold because there were no notes on my application.

I really feel like I should not have been rejected on my stats alone. I really wish I could pick the brain of the adcom who made the decision. I want to start working on any deficiencies in my application now.

 

[Goose340]

Sorry to hear that man. I wish I had your DAT scores. You will get an interview somewhere for sure.
I got an interview at NOVA. My GPA is higher but DAT is lower.
sGPA: 3.7
oGPA: 3.75
AA: 20
sDAT: 21
PAT: 25

When I called them to schedule they said that all interview emails had been sent. I thought that was weird because they are still accepting applications, I think. Are those applications in vain... I don't know.

 

[TalkingTom]

I got interviews at both. My stats:

BCP: 3.3
sGPA: 3.24
oGPA: 3.46

AA:22
TS:23
PA:19

Good luck

 

[NguyenDDS]

I believe you will get interviews soon enough. Don't get your hopes up 🙂
Your DAT is amazing!! 🙂 You have a much higher DAT than mine (18AA/19TS/18PAT with a 15QR and 17BIO). Your BCP is also higher than mine by about .2 points (2.97 & 3.02 +/-). The only numbers that I have higher is my cGPA (3.53 +/-). I received a MWU-AZ interview and was in the first batch. Hope this helps! 🙂

 

[woof44]

got one at MWU. didn't apply to Nova.

oGPA: 3.77
sGPA: 3.55

AA: 20
TS: 19
PAT: 20

I have really good extra cirriculars though, as well as personal statement. good luck

 

[bing12]

Any of you have worse stats than me?
23AA, Bio20, Chem21, Orgo23, TS21, QR26, RC23, PAT26
oGPA 3.31, bcpGPA 3.2, oGPA 3.31 (strong upward trend)
I'm also a nontraditional application.

I'm trying to figure out why I got rejected from Nova so quickly, and why MWU-AZ is putting me on hold.I really need constructive feedback but Nova doesn't pick up the phone, and the person at MWU-AZ did not know why I'm on hold because there were no notes on my application.

I really feel like I should not have been rejected on my stats alone. I really wish I could pick the brain of the adcom who made the decision. I want to start working on any deficiencies in my application now.

whats ur major?

 

[pk62281]

whats ur major?

Engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the country.

 

[dream18]

I have an interview at MWU AZ, still waiting to hear back from Nova.

BCP: 3.11
sGPA:3.32
oGPA: 3.5

AA: 20
TS: 22
PAT: 19

I also have hundreds of dental volunteering and comm service hours and I'm finishing my Masters...not sure if any of those matter but I feel like it helps me some.

Good luck!

 

[pk62281]

I got interviews at both. My stats:

BCP: 3.3
sGPA: 3.24
oGPA: 3.46

AA:22
TS:23
PA:19

Good luck

What do you think is on your application that may have given you an edge over me?

 

[bing12]

Engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the country.

thats why you get rejected from nova. they highly favor bio majors, or someone who took many many upper level bios. If you look at the ADEA guide to Dental schools, you will see nova requires far more bio classes than most schools.

 

[pk62281]

I have an interview at MWU AZ, still waiting to hear back from Nova.

BCP: 3.11
sGPA:3.32
oGPA: 3.5

AA: 20
TS: 22
PAT: 19

I also have hundreds of dental volunteering just 60 hours of shadowing and comm service hours and I'm finishing my Masters...not sure if any of those matter but I feel like it helps me some.

Good luck!

I have no dental volunteering, but I have about a 1000 volunteer hours, but from 7 years ago before I started working full time.

 

[pk62281]

thats why you get rejected from nova. they highly favor bio majors, or someone who took many many upper level bios. If you look at the ADEA guide to Dental schools, you will see nova requires far more bio classes than most schools.

If that's the reason. It's good to know.

 

[Goose340]

dental volunteering is a requirement by most or maybe all schools. How do they know that you know you want to be a dentist? I think that is the main reason.

 

[pk62281]

dental volunteering is a requirement by most or maybe all schools. How do they know that you know you want to be a dentist? I think that is the main reason.

I shadowed 60 hours, but no dental volunteer work.

 

[Goose340]

my bad sorry man I misread that.

 

[pk62281]

I believe you will get interviews soon enough. Don't get your hopes up 🙂
Your DAT is amazing!! 🙂 You have a much higher DAT than mine (18AA/19TS/18PAT with a 15QR and 17BIO). Your BCP is also higher than mine by about .2 points (2.97 & 3.02 +/-). The only numbers that I have higher is my cGPA (3.53 +/-). I received a MWU-AZ interview and was in the first batch. Hope this helps! 🙂

Congrats man. But this confuses and worries me. What do you think might have given you an edge over me?

 

[bing12]

If that's the reason. It's good to know.

Most likely it is the reason.

Hal Lippman, DDS, is the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine in sunny Davie, Florida.


As an Assistant Dean of Admissions, what do you feel is most important in predicting success in dental school?
A big part of predicting future success is past academic history, [and the] depth and breadth of biological science background. We like to see plenty of upper level science classes; this makes transition to the first and second year of dental school a smooth, successful one.
What types of students are you looking for?
Students must be self-motivated, mature, well-balanced students of excellent character, with an extensive biological [sciences] background. We don’t want to have to spoon feed any students. It’s not only the student with the 4.0 [GPA], you have to be a well-rounded applicant.



http://www.studentdoctor.net/2007/08/dental-school-admissions-an-interview-with-hal-lippman-dds/

 

[iralex801]

I got an interview at NOVA but I haven't heard from MWU. My GPA (3.4) and DAT (21) are lower than yours. However, I think bing12 is right about NOVA likes applicants who take a lot of upper level bios. I have completed physiology, cell biology, parasitology, histology, microbiology, genetics, biochem, and immunology by the end of Junior year (which is more than most people I think). Therefore, if you haven't taken a lot of upper level bios that could be the reason you didn't get an interview at NOVA.

 

[BizzyV]

In the same position, applied to MWU but no invite yet. If I say so myself my ECs are pretty crazy, I was non stop through all of college with clubs and leadership positions. Mailing date was 7/18 though, of that makes a difference.

 

[pk62281]

Most likely it is the reason.

Hal Lippman, DDS, is the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine in sunny Davie, Florida.


As an Assistant Dean of Admissions, what do you feel is most important in predicting success in dental school?
A big part of predicting future success is past academic history, [and the] depth and breadth of biological science background. We like to see plenty of upper level science classes; this makes transition to the first and second year of dental school a smooth, successful one.
What types of students are you looking for?
Students must be self-motivated, mature, well-balanced students of excellent character, with an extensive biological [sciences] background. We don’t want to have to spoon feed any students. It’s not only the student with the 4.0 [GPA], you have to be a well-rounded applicant.



http://www.studentdoctor.net/2007/08/dental-school-admissions-an-interview-with-hal-lippman-dds/

Thanks man. I wasted 125 bucks, but oh well. I should've done more research. IMO it's disadvantageous to shut off applicants like me, but it's their school and their rules.

 

[pk62281]

In the same position, applied to MWU but no invite yet. If I say so myself my ECs are pretty crazy, I was non stop through all of college with clubs and leadership positions. Mailing date was 7/18 though, of that makes a difference.

What's your race?

 

[drhygiene]

just call MWU and ask them. I called them yday and they told me over the phone that i was rejected and it was cuz of my gpa. but now that i am seeing people here with BCP's higher than mine I'm starting to get pissed. they told me my BCP was too low(3.0) but i see ppl here who had lower or comparable to me.

but ya just call and ask.

 

[OCDFlosser]

Engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the country.

I agree with the guy above. I met him once, and he admitted that that's the most important factor in his decision: "The depth and breadth of their biology education..." -Lipmann

Nonetheless, it could have been something else, or even a mistake. Your DAT is solid. Keep calling.

P.S. I got an interview. Stats below.

 

[OCDFlosser]

Oh...it might be important to note that I'm a FL resident, and got a 23 in Bio section....and that I have a LOE from a NOVA professor...and met Hal Lipmann.

Uh..

 

[NguyenDDS]

Congrats man. But this confuses and worries me. What do you think might have given you an edge over me?

I'm not sure since I don't know your background or other parts of your application. But if this helps, I have a lot of dental experiences (shadowing and volunteer), ECs, and a LOR from a dentist that I knew for yearssss. Otherwise, that's the only thing I can think of?? Umm... and people say I have a killer personal statement.

 

[indigenoustw]

Got an interview from MWU-az.

22AA 24TS 20PAT (but 17RC). BCP 3.73, Science: 3.72, cGPA 3.83.

I'm kinda surprised that I haven't gotten an interview from NOVA because my friends with similar stats and app timeline had gotten one. I say "surprised" because I got one at MWU-az but not NOVA....and I think my situation has to do with the microbio requirement for both schools. I could substitute this requirement with some other classes I've taken for MWU-az but for NOVA, since they rarely respond to emails and kinda hard to reach, I don't know if that's causing a delay in making a decision about my app.


OP, just keep your head up, it's still early in the cycle. You never know what happens until the end. Good luck!

 

[phildmd]

I got an interview at NOVA. Did not apply to Midwestern-AZ.

Stats: sGPA 3.59, Non Science: 3.12, BCP: 3.28, oGPA: 3.50
TS: 19, AA: 19, PAT:21

I also interviewed there last year and got waitlisted.....maybe ill get an acceptance call for this year 🙄

 

[dream18]

I shadowed 60 hours, but no dental volunteer work.

In the ADEA guide to dental schools book it says that 100 hours of job shadowing is "required or recommended" (it doesn't explicitly say which one) for MWU-AZ. So maybe they tended to go for people with more dental shadowing/volunteer hours??

 

[T for Teeth]

Got an interview at NOVA, my stats are AA 19 TS 20 PAT 18 sGPA 3.54 cGPA 3.54. Bio major. Have been working in a dental office for the past 6 years. Did not apply to MWU-AZ. Good luck OP, with your stats you will get interviews. 🙂

 

[UCF FINatic]

I got an interview from Midwestern University. Most of your stats are more impressive than mine:
TS: 19 AA: 19 PAT: 22
Overall GPA:3.55
Science GPA: 3.31
Business Major

I only had 5 job shadowing hours when I submitted my application (up to 21 now), but I have a lot of volunteering hours and work experience. I have been working part-time since I was 14 years old for the same company. I also had a pretty solid personal statement, I worked on it for about a month lol.

Good luck! With those amazing stats you are sure to get in somewhere!

 

[pk62281]

I got an interview from Midwestern University. Most of your stats are more impressive than mine:
TS: 19 AA: 19 PAT: 22
Overall GPA:3.55
Science GPA: 3.31
Business Major

I only had 5 job shadowing hours when I submitted my application (up to 21 now), but I have a lot of volunteering hours and work experience. I have been working part-time since I was 14 years old for the same company. I also had a pretty solid personal statement, I worked on it for about a month lol.

Good luck! With those amazing stats you are sure to get in somewhere!

wow, 5 hours of shadowing? I have impressive work experience. I work for a large auto company designing components, and even spent some time in Japan doing design work. I would like to think my PS was pretty good too. I worked on it for over a month. This makes no sense

 

[UCF FINatic]

wow, 5 hours of shadowing? I have impressive work experience. I work for a large auto company designing components, and even spent some time in Japan doing design work. I would like to think my PS was pretty good too. I worked on it for over a month. This makes no sense

How was your Midwestern secondary? Did you tailor it to their school?

I really wish I knew what to tell you, but I can assure you that you will be fine with your stats.

 

[MAdental]

As i mentioned in some other thread they (MWU AZ) put me on hold too. My cGPA and sGPA are 3.4 and my DAT is 19 AA 19 TS. My major is Biochemistry and i have taken heavy loads of chem and bio courses...i have taken like 17 Bio courses + 8 chem courses and the rest are options. i have also dedicated about 7 hours a week to volunteering for the last 1.5 years....add to that working for 14 hours a week and yet somehow ALL that doesnt look competitive? did i mention i have been speaking english (literally learned it from scratch) for 4 years now !! I dont get it... i kinda sorta feel like i am a good applicant , and so are you ! the only difference between you and me is : i am younger than you and i am applying as a Canadian!

I hope Nova doesnt reject me though ! i can deal with being on hold for now

 

[BizzyV]

What's your race?

Latino/Hispanic. But judging from the deafening silence from schools so far I'm wondering how much that is worth.

 

[TalkingTom]

What do you think is on your application that may have given you an edge over me?

Plenty of Upper Division science classes (incl biochem, physiology etc), lots of hours shadowing many different specialties, volunteering at a dental clinic, extensive extracurriculars...

its hard to say what would be better than you exactly. the truth of it is that it is most likely luck of the draw and we are both just as qualified. clearly i cant comment on your personal statement or your supplemental applications or anything like that, but maybe they made a difference

 

[dentalWorks]

Any of you have worse stats than me?
23AA, Bio20, Chem21, Orgo23, TS21, QR26, RC23, PAT26
oGPA 3.31, bcpGPA 3.2, oGPA 3.31 (strong upward trend)
I'm also a nontraditional application.

I'm trying to figure out why I got rejected from Nova so quickly, and why MWU-AZ is putting me on hold.I really need constructive feedback but Nova doesn't pick up the phone, and the person at MWU-AZ did not know why I'm on hold because there were no notes on my application.

I really feel like I should not have been rejected on my stats alone. I really wish I could pick the brain of the adcom who made the decision. I want to start working on any deficiencies in my application now.

thats strange... your have stronger DAT than me, but a little weaker GPA. I was one of the first people to get interview invites last year (mid August). I am nontrad as well. Very weird.

Same with Midwest AZ, I was invited around September period.

I swear sometimes, this pre-dent process feels like a lottery

 

[dentalWorks]

Most likely it is the reason.

Hal Lippman, DDS, is the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Nova Southeastern University School of Dental Medicine in sunny Davie, Florida.


As an Assistant Dean of Admissions, what do you feel is most important in predicting success in dental school?
A big part of predicting future success is past academic history, [and the] depth and breadth of biological science background. We like to see plenty of upper level science classes; this makes transition to the first and second year of dental school a smooth, successful one.
What types of students are you looking for?
Students must be self-motivated, mature, well-balanced students of excellent character, with an extensive biological [sciences] background. We don’t want to have to spoon feed any students. It’s not only the student with the 4.0 [GPA], you have to be a well-rounded applicant.



http://www.studentdoctor.net/2007/08/dental-school-admissions-an-interview-with-hal-lippman-dds/

Good find bing 👍
It actually makes perfect sense.

 

[A6project]

SAD news to both OP and I .

I have been waiting for the status update for MWU-AZ for a month, and nothing was updated. So I finally called and asked. Apparently my status is "hold for interviews". I spoke further with with a counselor, she told me MWU sent all the PRE_DECEMBER invites already.

🙁 🙁 🙁 I wonder if it was almost worth to get okay DAT score and took it 2-3 weeks early.

cuz i submitted my application on 6/3 yet, i wasn't ready to take DAT till 7/11 (score was sent 3 weeks later).

I have been hearing people getting invites since mid-June so I definitely missed the bus.

Midwestern is one of my top choices. 🙁 🙁 Def upsetting.

PS I have higer GPA, DAT score than last yr incomings. and hundreds of hours of volunteering, work experince, research, preceptroship

 

[kaDa]

nova and mwu-az interview: oGPA 3.42, sGPA 3.39. My ugrad major was biochem and I have a Masters in cell bio, so def. a lot of upper lvl bio under my belt. My AA/TS/PA is 23/22/22. 200 hrs shadowing, lots more hours in ECs/work, research, killed my PS.

SAD news to both OP and I .

I have been waiting for the status update for MWU-AZ for a month, and nothing was updated. So I finally called and asked. Apparently my status is "hold for interviews". I spoke further with with a counselor, she told me MWU sent all the PRE_DECEMBER invites already.

🙁 🙁 🙁 I wonder if it was almost worth to get okay DAT score and took it 2-3 weeks early.

cuz i submitted my application on 6/3 yet, i wasn't ready to take DAT till 7/11 (score was sent 3 weeks later).

I have been hearing people getting invites since mid-June so I definitely missed the bus.

Midwestern is one of my top choices. 🙁 🙁 Def upsetting.

PS I have higer GPA, DAT score than last yr incomings. and hundreds of hours of volunteering, work experince, research, preceptroship

The last time I applied, my materials weren't in until Sept (I had a late July DAT too). I had a oGPA 3.29 with AA/TS/PA 19/20/18, so nothing standout number-wise. Got 0 interviews. Not to freak you out, but that was my experience...best of luck .

 

[jeffity]

SAD news to both OP and I .

I have been waiting for the status update for MWU-AZ for a month, and nothing was updated. So I finally called and asked. Apparently my status is "hold for interviews". I spoke further with with a counselor, she told me MWU sent all the PRE_DECEMBER invites already.

🙁 🙁 🙁 I wonder if it was almost worth to get okay DAT score and took it 2-3 weeks early.

cuz i submitted my application on 6/3 yet, i wasn't ready to take DAT till 7/11 (score was sent 3 weeks later).

I have been hearing people getting invites since mid-June so I definitely missed the bus.

Midwestern is one of my top choices. 🙁 🙁 Def upsetting.

PS I have higer GPA, DAT score than last yr incomings. and hundreds of hours of volunteering, work experince, research, preceptroship

Must have just missed it or something. My friend took the DAT almost 2 weeks later than you with scores sent 2 weeks after and got an interview 2 days later. But there were still Oct Dates available. So if they're full up to December now, November went really fast.

 

[pk62281]

thats strange... your have stronger DAT than me, but a little weaker GPA. I was one of the first people to get interview invites last year (mid August). I am nontrad as well. Very weird.

Same with Midwest AZ, I was invited around September period.

I swear sometimes, this pre-dent process feels like a lottery

Whoa, you applied early but got an interview invite in Sept?

 

[Pandoo]

i got an interview the day after i submitted my supp at midwestern AZ

Overall - 3.80
Science- 3.67

AA- 19
TS-18
PAT- 21

 

[dentalWorks]

Whoa, you applied early but got an interview invite in Sept?

yeh... most of my interview invites were between September & October period... Nova was the only one that happened in August

 

[pk62281]

yeh... most of my interview invites were between September & October period... Nova was the only one that happened in August

I wonder if me also applying to MWU-IL and growing up in Chicago has anything to do with it.

 

[evanyou]

Calm down, man. I guess every schools has diffierent eyes on applicants.
I have 26AA 30TS 3.45cGPA 3.69sGPA, hundreds hours of shadowing, working at free health clinic, have few certificates relates dental procedures, and extensive work experiences, but didn't get an interview invite form MWU-AZ. However, I am sure some schools will find our potential to success and I am waiting for them.

 

[reely989]

I wonder if me also applying to MWU-IL and growing up in Chicago has anything to do with it.

As everyone has said, I wouldn't worry. It is pretty random sometimes. I got a NOVA interview, stats are 20PAT/21TS/20AA, 3.96 oGPA/ 3.93 sGPA. But, I got rejected from Indiana, so who knows. Chances are there was just one thing in your application they didn't like or show preference to. It is really tough to tell. They are hard to reach on the phone. I usually have to wait about 10 minutes, but if you get them just ask. Don't sound arrogant or anything, but just say something like "If I were to apply again next year, how could I become more competitive?", or something along those lines.

 

[pk62281]

.

 

[PrlpeRing]

Any of you have worse stats than me?
23AA, Bio20, Chem21, Orgo23, TS21, QR26, RC23, PAT26
oGPA 3.31, bcpGPA 3.2, oGPA 3.31 (strong upward trend)
I'm also a nontraditional application.

I'm trying to figure out why I got rejected from Nova so quickly, and why MWU-AZ is putting me on hold.I really need constructive feedback but Nova doesn't pick up the phone, and the person at MWU-AZ did not know why I'm on hold because there were no notes on my application.

I really feel like I should not have been rejected on my stats alone. I really wish I could pick the brain of the adcom who made the decision. I want to start working on any deficiencies in my application now.

I wold also agree that being involved hand on in the dental field is super important for many schools, I have lower stats than you and I didnt think nova would interview me but they sent me an invite, I was also in the first batch. I have been super involved in dentistry in the last year and have tons of volunteering and shadowing from before that with all types of field in medicine. I spoke to the dean of admissions at nova before applying because I was worried about my stats and he said that involvement is really important because they want you to be sure you know this is what you want, they understand not everyone will be able to get a job in a dental office but shadowing and volunteering is just as good.
Hope this helps!

 

[dieseldent]

thats why you get rejected from nova. they highly favor bio majors, or someone who took many many upper level bios. If you look at the ADEA guide to Dental schools, you will see nova requires far more bio classes than most schools.

My application supports this theory. I received a letter of rejection from Nova last week. 3.4 overall GPA, 3.7 Science GPA, 21 Total Sci, 22 AA, 23 PAT, but I have taken very few biology courses, let alone upper level Bio. I have only taken General Bio I and II - this upcoming year I have Biochem, Anatomy, and Head/Neck Anatomy.