UPenn Supplemental!

[teamchee]

Hey everyone, what are you guys putting for the first prompt? It says to describe any activities not listed in your AADSAS app. Only problem is, everything for me is pretty much covered in my AADSAS, from the personal statement to the "dental experiences" category to the section where you describe your manual skills, etc. I had room to put everything in it too - hospital work, receptionist work, research, shadowing, predental courses...

I emailed the school to ask what to write about but they haven't responded. Would you guys just recommend reiterating some of the strengths of my AADSAS for this prompt?

Also, when're you guys sending these secondaries in? I hear they should be in by the middle of July if you want your completed app processed by the first cycle? (But this is just casually.)

Thanks guys!

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[chitownsmiles]

yeah I'm wondering this too. I'm really tempted to leave #1 blank because I'm so tired of writing essays and need to be studying for the DAT... pretty sure my app and personal statement say it all, and penn seems to be quite clear that they only want predental experience not listed on aadsas.

And how long do y'all think these essays should be? I'm thinking 3 paragraphs or so?

THANKS!

 

[Hoky Poky]

The first question is a bit of a pain, because like you guys said, most of your experience is covered under AADSAS. However, you can also use that question as an opportunity to talk about future experience that you would like to have (for example, shadowing different specialists). I would advise against leaving it blank however. I don't think they ask questions like that for no reason.

In terms of length, its really up to you how much it takes to express all you want to say. My responses were all around a third to half a page in length. I think you want to present your points in a concise manner, and elaborate when needed. Don't just write to fill up to a certain amount.

 

[teamchee]

So I got a response to the email I sent out on Friday asking the admissions committee about this, and this is what they wrote:

Dear xxx:

Thank you for your interest in our program. If you do not have additional predental experience to list, please don't respond to this question. It is clear that it is not necessary to restate information on your AADSAS application. We are looking for your judgment in terms of essay length.

Sincerely,

Corky Cacas

Director of Admissions
University of Pennsylvania
School of Dental Medicine
240 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030

(215) 898-8943
(215) 573-9648 (Fax)
www.dental.upenn.edu

I'm not sure that leaving it entirely blank is such a good idea though. Hoky Poky's idea is great, I think I'll briefly do something along those lines. Good luck guys

 

[TeamGuo]

eck I'm having some troubles with U penn supplemental essays too. Above post is a good idea though, leaving blank just seems not passionate toward dentistry.

That email response is funny though, it's basically saying do what you gotta do, it's up to you. kk

 

[appleonius]

"We are looking for your judgment in terms of essay length."

WTF?! just judging based on length? this isn't the bedroom!

 

[Neuro178]

So for future UPenn applicants, like myself... it might be a good idea to leave out something sort of "minor" that could satisfy this question later? I'm not sure if any of you went to Governor's School, but I think I would write about that.... I went to PA's Governor's School for Health Care right before senior yr of high school, so I wouldn't really list that on my application. But it might be good to answer for this question, no? (I went to the Pitt dental school once while in Gov School to do a simlab and a second time to shadow all day and meet the dean).

Good luck, guys! 😳

 

[klutzy1987]

"We are looking for your judgment in terms of essay length."

WTF?! just judging based on length? this isn't the bedroom!

I guess you didnt do so well on the RC . It says they want you to use your own judgement when determinig the length of your essay. It doesnt say that its judged based on length.

 

[klutzy1987]

"We are looking for your judgment in terms of essay length."

WTF?! just judging based on length? this isn't the bedroom!

Im so gonna get inb trouble for this, but lol wth. There is alot more that goes into the bedroom oher than length. If thats all you got, im gonna go out on a limb and say that RC isnt your only weak section (if you get what I mean).

lol, j/k