Very Difficult Predicament

[bigboyrick2009]

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If anyone has been in a similar situation, or has any wisdom, I would appreciate it. My situation:

Applied in 2009(2 cycles ago): Gpa 3.42/science 3.33
DAT 19/19/15
4 interviews. 0 acceptances

Applied this cycle: Same DAT. 3 interviews so far. 2 alternate lists and 1 no respsonse. Not looking good.

After i applied in 2009 I just worked all year and then took Anatomy and Micro this past summer which i hadn't taken and got A-/A in the respectively. I Already have biochem/physio etc. Its not looking good this year. Assuming I have to apply again, what do I do from now till next decemeber 1st. If I did a masters, it would cost 20K, my grades wouldn't even be in by the time I interview again. Do I need it. I also don't want to take a chance of not getting in again. I applied to about 14 schools. Do you think if I up it to about 25 this summer and just work this year I will be fine. Nobody really asked what I was doing this year anyway...Thoughts? Insight? Thanks.

 

[bing12]

15 PAT? thats extremely low. you should prob retake it. the rest of your material/stats seem pretty legit though.

 

[321931]

In my opinion, the 15 kills your chances. A 15 anywhere (excluding QR) dramatically lowers your chances due to cutoffs. I would retake the DAT and reapply. Your app seems alright, its just that 15.

 

[Regmata]

You need to retake the DAT and a masters wouldn't hurt. Getting out of academics while you repeatedly reply without improving your application is only going to waste your time and money.

 

[Dental1001]

Have you called any of the schools you applied to and see what they say you could improve on? Maybe they can give you a better idea as to what part of your application needs improvement.

 

[punchdrunk7]

The only thing I can see that schools may be looking at as a worry is your PAT score. Your AA and TS are great. Your GPA is good as well, so if there is any suggestion I have its the that PAT may be holding you back....this is pure speculation obviously. Good Luck!!!

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

invest in crack the pat. take all ten and do them over and over and over. if you do this, guarunteed 20+ and dental school admission
but you need to start preping soon, next app cycle is 4.5 months away

 

[ScavangerPro]

A successful retake soon may help you get off one of those alternate lists.

 

[UCSFDentistry]

The 15 DAT score is definitely low, BUT you still got a lot of interviews considering that. Therefor there probably isn't a cut off for those schools or they just ignored it in your case. It might be your interviews that are the problem. Do you think you interview well? Might want to work on that.

 

[dentalWorks]

If anyone has been in a similar situation, or has any wisdom, I would appreciate it. My situation:

Applied in 2009(2 cycles ago): Gpa 3.42/science 3.33
DAT 19/19/15
4 interviews. 0 acceptances

Applied this cycle: Same DAT. 3 interviews so far. 2 alternate lists and 1 no respsonse. Not looking good.

After i applied in 2009 I just worked all year and then took Anatomy and Micro this past summer which i hadn't taken and got A-/A in the respectively. I Already have biochem/physio etc. Its not looking good this year. Assuming I have to apply again, what do I do from now till next decemeber 1st. If I did a masters, it would cost 20K, my grades wouldn't even be in by the time I interview again. Do I need it. I also don't want to take a chance of not getting in again. I applied to about 14 schools. Do you think if I up it to about 25 this summer and just work this year I will be fine. Nobody really asked what I was doing this year anyway...Thoughts? Insight? Thanks.

You have from now till June to apply, why don't you retake the DAT? Start studying now and take it by late May / early June.

As far as masters go, you don't need it, maybe continuing to take 1-2 classes per semester as a post-bacc won't be a bad idea.... Of course this isn't going to increase your GPA by much, but it will show dental schools that you are still involved with your education, which I think is important.

Applying to 20+ schools with a new DAT might do the trick.

Good luck to you

 

[bigboyrick2009]

It hard. the PAT was a fluke. The first 2 times i took it I got an 18 on PAT. I got an 18AA (19 RC) the first time so I retook it, but didn't study much so I got a 17 because i got a 15 in RC the second time (piano passage). This time i got a 18bio, 18GC, 21OChem, 19Rc, 17QR, 15PAT. I wouldn't mid retaking but consdeiring I am getting interviews. (19/19/15) I don't want ot take it and do worse in the AA/TS section and there is always that worry. I think my interview skills are lacking for sure out of pure nervousness in the moment. I only felt confident for 1 of the interviews. However At 3 schools I have good relationships with the admissions directors so if I apply a 3rd time im assuming im more likely to get an interview since i did the first 2 times at the same 3 school, do you think? I was thinking about taking a couple courses this summer and applying with the same DAT (hoping for the same 3 interviews and a couple more by adding about 10 schools) is this an option?

 

[welle]

Hello,
Can you please tell me where did you get interviews at and where did you get alternate lists for?

To improve your interview skills, I suggest the following:

Be way confident in yourself. Don't be cocky, but show the admissions that you have confidence in your application and your ability to do well in dental school. Believe that you are the most qualified applicant for this school. If you really do not feel it, it will show when adcom interviews you. How do you expect them to think you are worthy for their school, when you yourself don't believe it.

Practice a couple days before the interview. Really be natural. The adcom are made up of people just like you and me. So really just tell them what and who you are. It is okay to pause and get your thoughts together while communicating with them.

Don't let them intimidate you. Try to grasp control over the situation and the conversation and it will flow. Adding a personal touch to the interview usually will help.

Best of luck to you.

 

[bigboyrick2009]

R1: USC, Marquette, MW-AZ, UIC
R2:Marquette (alaternate), MW-AZ (alternate), UIC, havent heard from USC.

 

[jmt1984]

R1: USC, Marquette, MW-AZ, UIC
R2:Marquette (alaternate), MW-AZ (alternate), UIC, havent heard from USC.

Did any of the schools you were rejected from (either cycle) give you any feedback?

 

[bigboyrick2009]

yup Midwestern was the interview.

Marquette said science gpa/interview. I told them i was taking 2 classes etc and shadowing and i did a simulation course in arizona at midwestern. they said that was good. Hard interview again this time. Lots of questions, and unique ones at that.

UIC - interviewed way late mid march. Same thing told them what i was doing, got interview in jan this time. Thought interview was flawless.

USC - hard to get feedback. They said my DAT and GPA were at or above their average. my resume is filled with extracirriculars, dental internships, volunteering, leadership roles, etc.

I'd say a combination of my interviewing and the fact that after i interview there may be someone who also did well and has a 3.6 and they get the nod. Hard decision on both DAT retake and masters. Might do both, might do none. Might do one. Who knows?

 

[bigboyrick2009]

I'm taking a immunology continuing studies course at northwestern university that spans from march 31-June 6. I think i will retake the DAT, reapply without a masters. Is this the general consensus? I feel that even if i get a 19/18/18 or even an 18 on RC and 18 on PAT it will be better than a 19 on RC and an 15 on PAT. TThanks for the feedback. I figure ill take the DAT late april/early may and send it to schools as well to maybe help me get off the waitlist.

 

[bigboyrick2009]

the thing is to up your score is harder than it seems but going froma 19 to an 18 is as simple as missing 1-2 more questions. I might not even retake the DAT. I would rather do a masters cause gettin an A in those classes is more realistic for me than dominating 1 test.

 

[Hawkeye2011]

Not to sound like a jerk, but maybe you're doing something in your interviews that is putting them off. It could be in combination with the low PAT score, but if the 15 alone was the case I don't even think they would give you an interview. I got a 15 on the PAT as well, and got just one interview and luckily I was accepted. This leads me to believe the 15 killed my chances at the other schools and leads me to think that if the 15 you got was the only reason you weren't accepted then you probably wouldn't have even gotten the interviews in the first place.

Just my 2 cents but I think there is something more than the 15 on the PAT.