Urgent Advice First Time Applicant

[ddsdreamcatcher]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Deleted

 

[fogorvostan]

I would personally wait until next year to apply (so for the class of 2022). That gives you plenty of time to take the DAT, organize LORs, write a personal statement, etc. Trying to get everything done now for this application cycle will probably result in a rushed, lower quality application than if you wait.

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

I would personally wait until next year to apply (so for the class of 2022). That gives you plenty of time to take the DAT, organize LORs, write a personal statement, etc. Trying to get everything done now for this application cycle will probably result in a rushed, lower quality application than if you wait.

I know 🙁 that's what I'm thinking too. It's just so tempting!! I have my LORs and PS ready but I still feel like It'll be rusher and super late. Haven't they made their decisions yet anyways? I thought December 1st is THE date. I'm just torn because I'm already an older applicant and shouldn't waste more time..

 

[zombieboi1]

I know 🙁 that's what I'm thinking too. It's just so tempting!! I have my LORs and PS ready but I still feel like It'll be rusher and super late. Haven't they made their decisions yet anyways? I thought December 1st is THE date. I'm just torn because I'm already an older applicant and shouldn't waste more time..

I would apply. With your gpa and a decent dat you will be competitive for post dec interview. Go for it, worst case is no.

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

I would apply. With your gpa and a decent dat you will be competitive for post dec interview. Go for it, worst case is no.

Do you happen to know if I have to take the DAT by 11.1 or do they want the scores by then? I know I will probably have to ask the school but I was hoping someone on here could help out

 

[zombieboi1]

Do you happen to know if I have to take the DAT by 11.1 or do they want the scores by then? I know I will probably have to ask the school but I was hoping someone on here could help out

I dont have the answer to that. But maybe you can email them your unofficial dat score so maybe they will hold your application until the official score is posted?

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

That's what I'm hoping for. Don't we get a score right after taking the test?

 

[Michael_Scott]

do NOT apply this year...if you end up not getting interviews/admissions then you have to possibly get new LOR's , definitely rewrite your PS and also make improvements on your application indicating "how you have improved your application since last year"
You do not want to do this extra work just because you did not wait and do it right the first time.

 

[8_man]

Regardless of applying now or next year, I would take the DAT soon. This will give you the opportunity to apply this cycle if you wish to do so, and it will give you more than enough time to retake for the next application cycle (if you do poorly).

My first impression is that it's going to be a gamble to apply this year. You may invest hours into writing personal statements, fishing for letters of rec., and gaining relevant work experience only to receive a rejection notice (based on how late your application will likely be sent). With a fantastic DAT score, you would have little to worry about. However, no one can predict how well you will score and you'll have to take that into consideration before investing all this time (and money $$$) to rush an application.

If you are willing to put in the work to get a high DAT score and submit a competitive application, then go for it. But if you wait for next cycle, you can account for the worst-case scenario (a low DAT score) and save yourself thousands of dollars in application fees. You would also not have to go through the trouble of re-writing all your essays and getting new letters in the case you don't get admitted this cycle.

Again, the decision is up to you. I'm just giving my honest thoughts on your situation. Good luck.

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

You're right. I won't have much time to improve my application if it doesn't work out this time around. ugh I guess I should wait like I had planned initially. It just makes more sense the longer I think about it!

 

[zombieboi1]

why wait? you don't want to wait an extra year if there is even a slightest chance of getting in. if you don't feel confident, only apply to a few of your top schools. dental schools are only looking for improvements from the previous cycle if you do apply again next year. just get more shadowing and volunteering hours if it does not work out this year. also for your personal statement, you do not need to write a brand new personal statement, just update it a little. that also apply for loe. just ask your professors if they can update the letter up a little. i am a re-applicant myself, and i can tell you it help my application a lots because i applied to all the same schools i did last year, and they get to see the improvement i made vs seeing my application for the first time. i say go for it if you can get a 20 dat because your gpa is more than good enough.

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

I see what you're suggesting. I'm just a little hesitant because I'd have to rush to take the DAT and pay for the apps and if I do poorly, I won't have time for a retake and blew lots of $$... I think GPA wise I'm in a good spot but I don't want to ruin my app with a low DAT.

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

do NOT apply this year...if you end up not getting interviews/admissions then you have to possibly get new LOR's , definitely rewrite your PS and also make improvements on your application indicating "how you have improved your application since last year"
You do not want to do this extra work just because you did not wait and do it right the first time.

Regardless of applying now or next year, I would take the DAT soon. This will give you the opportunity to apply this cycle if you wish to do so, and it will give you more than enough time to retake for the next application cycle (if you do poorly).

My first impression is that it's going to be a gamble to apply this year. You may invest hours into writing personal statements, fishing for letters of rec., and gaining relevant work experience only to receive a rejection notice (based on how late your application will likely be sent). With a fantastic DAT score, you would have little to worry about. However, no one can predict how well you will score and you'll have to take that into consideration before investing all this time (and money $$$) to rush an application.

If you are willing to put in the work to get a high DAT score and submit a competitive application, then go for it. But if you wait for next cycle, you can account for the worst-case scenario (a low DAT score) and save yourself thousands of dollars in application fees. You would also not have to go through the trouble of re-writing all your essays and getting new letters in the case you don't get admitted this cycle.

Again, the decision is up to you. I'm just giving my honest thoughts on your situation. Good luck.

Think about it this way, if you take the DAT now and apply, you may save a year. What does that year equal if you become a dentist faster? $120,000? More? Everything is perspective. My point is, you should go ahead and take it. Most people take the DAT at least twice. You said you are a URM. With that GPA, you can get a 16 and still get in because of URM and GPA (got this number from someone I know who was a URM and got into a school with an average of 22AA). So if I were you, I would go for it this cycle. I could advise you not to so that you wouldn't compete against me, but I'm not like that and never was. I like everyone to succeed and be happy.

You won't need brand new LORs if you reapply again. Just get LORs from Professors you've worked with closely and received A's with. Redoing your personal statement is a yes--but is that really a big deal?

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[ddsdreamcatcher]

Think about it this way, if you take the DAT now and apply, you may save a year. What does that year equal if you become a dentist faster? $120,000? More? Everything is perspective. My point is, you should go ahead and take it. Most people take the DAT at least twice. You said you are a URM. With that GPA, you can get a 16 and still get in because of URM and GPA (got this number from someone I know who was a URM and got into a school with an average of 22AA). So if I were you, I would go for it this cycle. I could advise you not to so that you wouldn't compete against me, but I'm not like that and never was. I like everyone to succeed and be happy.

You won't need brand new LORs if you reapply again. Just get LORs from Professors you've worked with closely and received A's with. Redoing your personal statement is a yes--but is that really a big deal?

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I just love this post!! Thank you for your positive comment. I hope you will keep up that attitude, this world needs more of people like you!

I called the schools I'm interested in, and they all also said the same thing. I should go ahead and apply and that being a re-applicant is not such a big deal. I'm going to take a few more days and think about it 😀