VCU reapplicant advising session

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

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I got some really good feedback out of it that will definitely help ALL of my applications. However, it also took on an interview-like tone about halfway through. The professor that I was speaking with asked me what my plan for balancing parental responsibilities with dental school was and expressed concerns about competing requirements as a parent being a factor in successfully completing curriculum.

I was wondering if anyone who has served on an ADCOM could provide some insight on this interaction and what a solid plan for success looks like. If I am admitted I am planning to maybe hire an au pair from Latin America and just suck up the additional cost as the price of doing business as a dental student. I will also have my extended family as a back up just in case the au pair doesn't work out or something comes up. What do other working parents normally do in my position?

 

[UNCafDDS]

An Au Pair will be your most cost effective option, unless you qualify for state/federal programs (like Head Start) - how old are your kids? Richmond has VCU and Uni. of Richmond, so you can hire a college student, though I still think Au Pair would be the way to go $-wise. I believe Au Pairs can legally work 35 hours a week only - double check that. Best of luck.

This is your second time applying at VCU? Mind sharing your stats?

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

[This is your second time applying at VCU? Mind sharing your stats?[/QUOTE]

My kids are 7, 2 and 8 months - (My 7 year old is my nephew, who came to me right after I had my son Carlos)

My application was rejected due to not having the DAT completed. I was transferred across the country right after having my daughter in September and it was too much for me to bite off in addition to orgo II. My oGPA is 3.35 and my sGPA is a 3.0

 

[ncide]

A couple of my classmates at VCU have kids, with a broad range of ages for their kids. A few are pregnant or have spouses who are. It sure is more difficult, but they make it work.

It's doable. Just focus on getting a good DAT score and try to up your GPA if you can.

 

[schmoob]

[This is your second time applying at VCU? Mind sharing your stats?

My kids are 7, 2 and 8 months - (My 7 year old is my nephew, who came to me right after I had my son Carlos)

My application was rejected due to not having the DAT completed. I was transferred across the country right after having my daughter in September and it was too much for me to bite off in addition to orgo II. My oGPA is 3.35 and my sGPA is a 3.0

.
Dental school with kids is tough. There will definitely be times when you won't be able to get an A in the class because, well, you're a mom. But, its doable. The good thing about dental school (depending on where you go), is you may not need to go to lecture. That definitely works to your benefit when it comes to time management.

I don't know why they started grilling you. But as mentioned above, do your best on the DAT. Your GPA is fine. ADCOMS have managed expectations. They don't expect someone with a fulltime job and young children that depend on you to achieve a 24AA like a 21 year old who has no responsibilities except college.

So if they ask you that question again tell them that you have been able to balance being a full time mom and a full time Soldier, and you have yet to fail at either.