UCSF and UCLA Question

[Tyrangiel]

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I did a quick forum search and didn't find the material I was looking for (maybe because my question doesn't have an answer) so here goes my question...

The short version of this post is here: Is there anything that I can do to specifically increase my chances of gaining acceptance into either UCSF or UCLA? The long version follows:



I have the opportunity to attend public school in the state of California for free and want to devote everything I can to gain acceptance to one of the two public dental schools. I am a non-traditional applicant with a Liberal Arts degree from a small but good school that I graduated from with a 3.30 cum GPA and 3.75 sci GPA. I am starting my postbac work at Harvard Extension school with Chem 1 and 2 this summer and will continue on to do the Biology , Organic Chemistry and Physics requirements over the next year. I will take the DAT in the middle of June 2011 and have my app in by the end of June. Granted the majority of my application will rest on my GPA and DAT scores, I am wondering what extra curricular opportunities to pursue over the next year to fill out my application.

I have completed 350 hours of paid research, 300 hours of volunteering at a community dental clinic, 150 hours shadowing general dentists, am a registered dental assistant in Texas, spent 3 years as a laboratory assistant while an undergraduate including head lab assistant my senior year and spent 4 years in Student Council and held officer positions each year including Chairman my senior year.

To sum it up I know my GPA isn't stellar, and that a lot of my application rests on my ability to get good grades in my postbac work and an excellent score on the DAT, but If anyone is familiar with the kind of student that UCLA and/or UCSF desire I would appreciate your advice on how to fill any gaps in my application.

Thank you for your time!

T

 

[476515678234896]

I did a quick forum search and didn't find the material I was looking for (maybe because my question doesn't have an answer) so here goes my question...

The short version of this post is here: Is there anything that I can do to specifically increase my chances of gaining acceptance into either UCSF or UCLA? The long version follows:



I have the opportunity to attend public school in the state of California for free and want to devote everything I can to gain acceptance to one of the two public dental schools. I am a non-traditional applicant with a Liberal Arts degree from a small but good school that I graduated from with a 3.30 cum GPA and 3.75 sci GPA. I am starting my postbac work at Harvard Extension school with Chem 1 and 2 this summer and will continue on to do the Biology , Organic Chemistry and Physics requirements over the next year. I will take the DAT in the middle of June 2011 and have my app in by the end of June. Granted the majority of my application will rest on my GPA and DAT scores, I am wondering what extra curricular opportunities to pursue over the next year to fill out my application.

I have completed 350 hours of paid research, 300 hours of volunteering at a community dental clinic, 150 hours shadowing general dentists, am a registered dental assistant in Texas, spent 3 years as a laboratory assistant while an undergraduate including head lab assistant my senior year and spent 4 years in Student Council and held officer positions each year including Chairman my senior year.

To sum it up I know my GPA isn't stellar, and that a lot of my application rests on my ability to get good grades in my postbac work and an excellent score on the DAT, but If anyone is familiar with the kind of student that UCLA and/or UCSF desire I would appreciate your advice on how to fill any gaps in my application.

Thank you for your time!

T

your EC's are fantastic and you seem to be on the right track. Your oGPA is low for both UCSF and UCLA and your sGPA doesn't really mean anything without any of the actual prerequisites. The only advice is what you already know, do well on gchem, orgo, bio, physics, and the DAT. With good grades in those, good LOR's, and the fantastic EC's that you already have...you would stand a decent shot at getting in, but gotta get that GPA up.

Best of luck!

 

[sketo43]

Hi there, I did my postbac at Harvard Extension and will be starting dental school at UCLA in the fall. I wish I could tell you what UCLA (or UCSF) is looking for, but honestly I don't know. Focus on doing well in your classes, and then on the DAT. Your ECs look very good, but if you're looking for something else to do, you could do some community service that is not dental related, and you could pick up a hobby that involves manual dexterity (building model cars, jewelery making, etc.). Neither of these needs to be a huge time commitment. I think you have good research experience, but if you are looking for more, Boston has lots of hospitals and 3 dental schools.

Harvard Extension is a great program, and there are very few predents there. They say that everyone who has gotten a 3.5 at Harvard Extension and applied to dental school has gotten in somewhere. However, the classes are tough and a lot of people withdraw. If you have any questions about Harvard Extension, send me a PM. Prepare to dedicate your summer to chemistry.