WAMC? 2023 cycle

[AspiringDentist01]

Date of submission:
Overall GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.65
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.59
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 20AA, 21 BIO, 21 GCHEM, 18 OCHEM, 21 QR, 18RC, 20 PAT
State of Residence: Massachusetts

Undergrad Attended: University of Massachusetts Boston
Major: Biology
Minor: None
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 250 General Dentist, 100 Periodontist
Volunteering Experience: 66 hours for non profit charity, 60 hours mentoring pre-med/ pre-dental freshmen, 72 hours mentor for religious group (hosts events/trips for teenagers/ young adults), 160 hours volunteer at local mosque and summer camp hosted by it
Employment: 1350 hours at car dealership, 1534 hours as Dental Assistant at an office, 700 hours working/managing for my dad's taxi company
Research: No research
Other Extracurriculars: 90 hours interning at pharmaceutical company, 128 hours - member for pre-med society, 72 hours - member for pre-dental society (left the pre med group, and joined after I found out there was a pre dental group), 24 hours in summer men's basketball league, 25 hours for "Student's for Justice" group for raising awareness of what occurs in Middle East and helping in any way
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean's list for 7/8 semesters, received highest scholarship my school offers for all 4 years, received state scholarship for excelling in standardized statewide tests in high school, set to graduate with "Summa Cum Laude" in May

LOR type and strength: 1 LOR from my A&P professor (I'm close with him and believe will be strong letter), 1 LOR from former dean of science department (very close relationship and believe it will be very strong), 1 LOR from general dentist I shadowed and assisted (relatively strong), 1 LOR from my orthodontist (I was his patient for a decade, this letter might be average)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I failed genetics one term (the only term I didn't receive Dean's list), it was do to heavy personal matters that I explain in the application. I retook it the following year and received an A-. Other than that, I've never received a grade below an A-, other than maybe 4 B+.

I am the first in all of my family to attend college and pursue this path, as my parents were immigrants.

I plan on applying to Tufts, Boston University, UNE, Nova, Rutgers, East Carolina, Texas A&M, and other I have not decided yet

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[Ryxndek]

East Carolina and Texas A&M will be donations to the schools. East Carolina only takes IS students, and your stats aren't quite up to par for OOS students for Texas schools (though certainly worth a try, but I would try to keep expectations low)

Tufts, Boston, UNE, and Rutgers are good. Ties to NOVA?

I would do a little more research on the schools surrounding you. You could apply to Temple, UBuffalo, Touro, NYU, UPenn, Louisville, and maybe toss in Case Western.

I would aim to have ~10 or so schools. GPA is just above average for most schools and DAT is maybe just a touch below average for state schools and about average for privates.

I'm not 100% sure you should include the pre-med society, some adcoms may see it differently or you could touch on in your interview that you thought about medicine but the fit wasn't there.

Also, I would scrap the Ortho LOR. Specialists LOR's aren't viewed as highly as a general dentists. Schools are here to produce general dentists, not a specialist. If you can, I would see if you can snag an LOR from a supervisor. Maybe from your past jobs or volunteer work? It will help cover more bases for schools than having 2 dentists. (I had zero dentist LOR and got into multiple schools, it's not an end all be all)

Seems like a solid app, but the school list needs some work. Shoot me a PM I'd be more than happy to send you some resources that I used to formulate my list!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree with @Ryxndek. I don't know why you are avoiding the New York schools. I agree the ortho letter doesn't seem to help you either. You don't have to include it but not all schools have a predental student group so it's fine. Interprofessionalism exists too.

If you are into awareness of human rights issues facing the Middle East/Arab community, I would look at Detroit Mercy. Cross reference your list against schools represented by the AMMSA (American Muslim Medical Student Association) though keep your OOS acceptance rates in mind.

How's your Casper score? Are you preparing for online MMIs?

 

[AspiringDentist01]

I agree with @Ryxndek. I don't know why you are avoiding the New York schools. I agree the ortho letter doesn't seem to help you either. You don't have to include it but not all schools have a predental student group so it's fine. Interprofessionalism exists too.

If you are into awareness of human rights issues facing the Middle East/Arab community, I would look at Detroit Mercy. Cross reference your list against schools represented by the AMMSA (American Muslim Medical Student Association) though keep your OOS acceptance rates in mind.

How's your Casper score? Are you preparing for online MMIs?

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't logged back in for a while. I didn't take the casper test, only a couple of schools require it right? I just haven't really looked into school specifics yet, other than GPA and DAT score stats. I'll look into NY schools.

And yea, I don't believe I'll get a strong letter from the ortho, I'll have to ask someone else. I just thought having an ortho write a letter would look good, but if it doesn't matter too much, then I have someone I am close with who could write a much stronger letter.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Just check to be sure. I think 10 dental schools want Casper (?).

 

[Ryxndek]

Just check to be sure. I think 10 dental schools want Casper (?).

• California Northstate University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Indiana University
• Temple University
• University of Louisville School of Dentistry
• University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry
• University of Detroit Mercy
• University of Missouri - Kansas City
• University of Utah

**And HighPoint if/when applications open (Don't think DAT is required)

Schools that require the CASPer test: 2022-2023 Application Cycle

This post lists US schools requesting the Casper exam for 2022/2023: medical, dental, veterinary, and physician assistant schools.

www.thesuccessfulmatch.com

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Traveling.
Okay, and High Point makes it 10.