Unsuccessful streak in applications. HELP!!!!!!

[Akumar102]

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Hi guys,

So I have a 3.2 overall (3.0 science gpa) and I scored a 19 AA on the DAT (19 Bio, 22 GC, 21 OC, 18 RC, 17 QR and 23 PAT). I major in Biology and minor in Chemistry.

I've applied to UB, Rutgers, Stony Brook, NYU, UPitt, Case Western, Touro, Temple, BU, University of New England, LECOM, VCU, West Virginia, and Columbia (quite the stretch) on October 16th. I've been denied by UB, Rutgers, UPitt, Case Western, West Virginia, and of course, Columbia. I was offered an interview at Stony Brook but my second interview with a faculty member didn't go so well after he brought up my grade in GC (C+) and my QR score. I responded that I took Analytical Chemistry to demonstrate that I wanted to challenge myself. After some thought I think he just wasn't pleased with my grades. I had a 2.14 my first semester, a 2.9 in second, a 3.3 in third, a 3.9 in fourth, 3.54 in fifth, 3.65 in sixth, and a 3.43 in 7th with an in progress for a class I'm still doing research in. I do research in two labs, I was President of Health Professions Club, a founder and Chair of Community Service for Kappa Sigma, Student Ambassador at my school for two years, a Campus Host for seniors who were considering coming to my college, a tutor for Biology and Chemistry where I also teach undergraduates from underserved backgrounds, I TAed an Intro to Ecology lab, Intro to Cell and Molecular, as well as Genetics lab. Currently I'm teaching a PAT class to pre-dental students free of charge this semester. In addition, I have 352 documented hours of shadowing a general dentist. This semester, I'm shadowing a Prosthodontist and a Pediatric dentist.

I'm considering taking my DATs and applying again for the next cycle but I'm not entirely sure as to what to do course-wise. Should I try and work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow? Should I just apply early this coming cycle and not take the DATs again? I'm so lost right now. HELP!!!!

 

[JLT223]

Your GPA is too low, which is a bigger problem than your DAT score (which isn't terrible).

 

[Rambunctious]

Hi guys,

So I have a 3.2 overall (3.0 science gpa) and I scored a 19 AA on the DAT (19 Bio, 22 GC, 21 OC, 18 RC, 17 QR and 23 PAT). I major in Biology and minor in Chemistry.

I've applied to UB, Rutgers, Stony Brook, NYU, UPitt, Case Western, Touro, Temple, BU, University of New England, LECOM, VCU, West Virginia, and Columbia (quite the stretch) on October 16th. I've been denied by UB, Rutgers, UPitt, Case Western, West Virginia, and of course, Columbia. I was offered an interview at Stony Brook but my second interview with a faculty member didn't go so well after he brought up my grade in GC (C+) and my QR score. I responded that I took Analytical Chemistry to demonstrate that I wanted to challenge myself. After some thought I think he just wasn't pleased with my grades. I had a 2.14 my first semester, a 2.9 in second, a 3.3 in third, a 3.9 in fourth, 3.54 in fifth, 3.65 in sixth, and a 3.43 in 7th with an in progress for a class I'm still doing research in. I do research in two labs, I was President of Health Professions Club, a founder and Chair of Community Service for Kappa Sigma, Student Ambassador at my school for two years, a Campus Host for seniors who were considering coming to my college, a tutor for Biology and Chemistry where I also teach undergraduates from underserved backgrounds, I TAed an Intro to Ecology lab, Intro to Cell and Molecular, as well as Genetics lab. Currently I'm teaching a PAT class to pre-dental students free of charge this semester. In addition, I have 352 documented hours of shadowing a general dentist. This semester, I'm shadowing a Prosthodontist and a Pediatric dentist.

I'm considering taking my DATs and applying again for the next cycle but I'm not entirely sure as to what to do course-wise. Should I try and work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow? Should I just apply early this coming cycle and not take the DATs again? I'm so lost right now. HELP!!!!

You need to address your GPA and DAT scores before anything else. Both are on the lower end. Either take more classes, or get a MS to fix your GPA and/or retake the DAT and get above a 21 AA.

 

[pgex2t]

You need to address your GPA and DAT scores before anything else. Both are on the lower end. Either take more classes, or get a MS to fix your GPA and/or retake the DAT and get above a 21 AA.

Bottom line: As an applicant, you're really hurting for stronger numbers/stats. Take more courses or ace the DAT. Sure you have a lot of seemingly great ECs, but schools are probably not convinced you can handle the dental school workload atm.

 

[ElenaDDS]

I have interviewed students for dental school admissions before. I can tell you that those numbers are not convincing. Even if there were a lot of ECs you will have a difficult time. My advice is to continue to do well in coursework in sciences and retake the DAT *if* you are confident of scoring well. If you had the interview they must have liked your application but were unsure of something ... you havent heard back from Stony so wait it out and if rejection then call and ask for them to go over why! You may have had a good answer for low grades and the QR score isnt too bad.

Hi guys,

So I have a 3.2 overall (3.0 science gpa) and I scored a 19 AA on the DAT (19 Bio, 22 GC, 21 OC, 18 RC, 17 QR and 23 PAT). I major in Biology and minor in Chemistry.

I've applied to UB, Rutgers, Stony Brook, NYU, UPitt, Case Western, Touro, Temple, BU, University of New England, LECOM, VCU, West Virginia, and Columbia (quite the stretch) on October 16th. I've been denied by UB, Rutgers, UPitt, Case Western, West Virginia, and of course, Columbia. I was offered an interview at Stony Brook but my second interview with a faculty member didn't go so well after he brought up my grade in GC (C+) and my QR score. I responded that I took Analytical Chemistry to demonstrate that I wanted to challenge myself. After some thought I think he just wasn't pleased with my grades. I had a 2.14 my first semester, a 2.9 in second, a 3.3 in third, a 3.9 in fourth, 3.54 in fifth, 3.65 in sixth, and a 3.43 in 7th with an in progress for a class I'm still doing research in. I do research in two labs, I was President of Health Professions Club, a founder and Chair of Community Service for Kappa Sigma, Student Ambassador at my school for two years, a Campus Host for seniors who were considering coming to my college, a tutor for Biology and Chemistry where I also teach undergraduates from underserved backgrounds, I TAed an Intro to Ecology lab, Intro to Cell and Molecular, as well as Genetics lab. Currently I'm teaching a PAT class to pre-dental students free of charge this semester. In addition, I have 352 documented hours of shadowing a general dentist. This semester, I'm shadowing a Prosthodontist and a Pediatric dentist.

I'm considering taking my DATs and applying again for the next cycle but I'm not entirely sure as to what to do course-wise. Should I try and work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow? Should I just apply early this coming cycle and not take the DATs again? I'm so lost right now. HELP!!!!

 

[schmoob]

Don't give up. Your scores are A BIT low, but not terrible. Take a few upper level sciences and you'll get it next cycle! My DAT was similar to yours, but I retook it and got offered interviews. Your sciences are good, but schools place a big emphasis on RC, which was my saving grace.
It's not over, you'll get there. Good luck!

 

[Akumar102]

Don't give up. Your scores are A BIT low, but not terrible. Take a few upper level sciences and you'll get it next cycle! My DAT was similar to yours, but I retook it and got offered interviews. Your sciences are good, but schools place a big emphasis on RC, which was my saving grace.
It's not over, you'll get there. Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[Akumar102]

Don't give up. Your scores are A BIT low, but not terrible. Take a few upper level sciences and you'll get it next cycle! My DAT was similar to yours, but I retook it and got offered interviews. Your sciences are good, but schools place a big emphasis on RC, which was my saving grace.
It's not over, you'll get there. Good luck!

Thank you for your thought. It's much appreciated!

 

[doc toothache]

So I have a 3.2 overall (3.0 science gpa) and I scored a 19 AA on the DAT (19 Bio, 22 GC, 21 OC, 18 RC, 17 QR and 23 PAT). I major in Biology and minor in Chemistry.
I've applied to UB, Rutgers, Stony Brook, NYU, UPitt, Case Western, Touro, Temple, BU, University of New England, LECOM, VCU, West Virginia, and Columbia (quite the stretch) on October 16th. I've been denied by UB, Rutgers, UPitt, Case Western, West Virginia, and of course, Columbia. I was offered an interview at Stony Brook but my second interview with a faculty member didn't go so well after he brought up my grade in GC (C+) and my QR score. I responded that I took Analytical Chemistry to demonstrate Should I try and work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow?

You were given a clear indication of what you are lacking. How is "work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow" make you a more appealing candidate?

I have interviewed students for dental school admissions before. I can tell you that those numbers are not convincing. Even if there were a lot of ECs you will have a difficult time. My advice is to continue to do well in coursework in sciences and retake the DAT *if* you are confident of scoring well. If you had the interview they must have liked your application but were unsure of something ... you havent heard back from Stony so wait it out and if rejection then call and ask for them to go over why! You may have had a good answer for low grades and the QR score isnt too bad.

When you were active as an interviewer, did you actually discuss with applicants the why of the rejection?

 

[LuckBloodandSweat]

That upwards trend after freshman year is insane though. That 2.14 is still coming back to haunt you which is ouch 🙁. Definitely boost your grades and retake the DAT.

 

[sweetpeeas]

Great upward trend! Your ECs look pretty solid, so I think you should focus on your interviewing skills and academics. During your interviews, focus on turning any perceived 'weakness' into positives (i.e., how ____ taught you _____, how to rebound back from setbacks, etc). While it's easier said than done, try to not get too flustered when asked difficult questions. If your GC chem grade was a C+, explain what happened, the lesson it taught you, and go into how you ended up minoring in Chemistry (+your DAT score for GC is pretty impressive)! Truly, I believe interviewers want to see: 1) whether you are making excuses (don't -admissions officers can see thru it all), 2) how fast you can think on your feet, 3) what you have learned from your experiences/setbacks. You got an interview, which means YOU ARE CAPABLE 🙂

If you do not get in this cycle, I would definitely recommend pursuing a post-bac program (formal or informal, your choice), retaking the DAT, and applying much earlier than October. I applied with a 19AA, retook my DAT (21AA) and got an interview after. Stay positive!

 

[ElenaDDS]

You were given a clear indication of what you are lacking. How is "work as a lab technician in a dental office, or just shadow" make you a more appealing candidate?


When you were active as an interviewer, did you actually discuss with applicants the why of the rejection?

Nope. I just interviewed students w/ a faculty member. If he does get rejected, the school might tell him what they wanted to see. But he has yet to hear back yet.

And your advice is spot on. Working a lab tech in dental office or shadowing is not really enhancing an application all that much. Its not going to suddenly make him much more appealing.

 

[darknightzzz]

3.2 overall (3.0 science gpa) and I scored a 19 AA on the DAT (19 Bio, 22 GC, 21 OC, 18 RC, 17 QR and 23 PAT)

your DAT is not compensating enough for your GPA. though you have great upward trend, it seems like the later years the number of credits you took were not enough to pull up the low GPA from first year.

focus on fixing your DAT and GPA (postbach, masters)

with 1000000 ECs and 10000 dental shadowing, without stats, the doors are closed.

 

[dontbescared]

When did you interview at stony brook? Have you heard back anything?

 

[Akumar102]

When did you interview at stony brook? Have you heard back anything?

I interviewed two weeks ago, but I still have yet to get a response.

 

[Cello]

There is little you can do about your GPA at this point, but you can still work hard to improve your DAT and retake. A 19AA with a 3.2/3.0 GPA is not a good combination. A 22/23AA with those same stats will almost certainly get you more interviews.