WAMC? 2025-2026 CYCLE NON-TRADITIONAL APPLICANT

[GlockieBae]

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Date of submission: June 5th
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.58
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.76
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA:21 TS:21 PAT:21 QR:23 RC:21 Bio:19 GC:22 OC:22
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: California State University
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? NO
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: ~200hrs general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 550hrs food pantry
Employment: N/A
Research: 1024, cell biology, 1 micro publication
Other Extracurriculars: President of women in science club at school
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 letter from my research professor, 1 letter from my gen bio professor who remained a very good relationship with me, 1 letter from genetics ( Got an A in this class), 1 letter from a dentist.
School applied:
UCLA/ UCSF/ USC/ UOP/ Western/ Midwestern-llinois/ Midwestern-Arizona/ Tufts/ Indiana University/ UCalorado/ UMaryland/ UMich/Upenn/ Columbia/Boston/ Roseman/ Case/ A.T.Still Arizona/ OHSU/ NOVA

I know I applied to a lot of schools, but after I found out that two classes I retook significantly lowered my GPA on ADEA, I was super discouraged. As a non-traditional applicant,31 years old and a mom of three. I’m very nervous that my stats are too average to get me in somewhere. Any school I should add to my list?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

As a non-traditional applicant, contacting the closest dental schools to you is always best, especially if you have family considerations. It would be good to contact students and find out how students with children (and partners) are supported. So clearly, the five California dental schools should be in play. Are the other locations you/your family could consider?

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: June 5th
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.58
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.76
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA:21 TS:21 PAT:21 QR:23 RC:21 Bio:19 GC:22 OC:22
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: California State University
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? NO
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: ~200hrs general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 550hrs food pantry
Employment: N/A
Research: 1024, cell biology, 1 micro publication
Other Extracurriculars: President of women in science club at school
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 letter from my research professor, 1 letter from my gen bio professor who remained a very good relationship with me, 1 letter from genetics ( Got an A in this class), 1 letter from a dentist.
School applied:
UCLA/ UCSF/ USC/ UOF/ Western/ Midwestern-llinois/ Midwestern-Arizona/ Tufts/ Indiana University/ UCalorado/ UMaryland/ UMich/Upenn/ Columbia/Boston/ Roseman/ Case/ A.T.Still/ OHSU/ NOVA

I know I applied to a lot of schools, but after I found out that two classes I retook significantly lowered my GPA on ADEA, I was super discouraged. As a non-traditional applicant,31 years old and a mom of three. I’m very nervous that my stats are too average to get me in somewhere. Any school I should add to my list?

how did you come up with this list?

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: June 5th
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.58
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.76
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA:21 TS:21 PAT:21 QR:23 RC:21 Bio:19 GC:22 OC:22
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: California State University
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? NO
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: ~200hrs general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 550hrs food pantry
Employment: N/A
Research: 1024, cell biology, 1 micro publication
Other Extracurriculars: President of women in science club at school
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 letter from my research professor, 1 letter from my gen bio professor who remained a very good relationship with me, 1 letter from genetics ( Got an A in this class), 1 letter from a dentist.
School applied:
UCLA/ UCSF/ USC/ UOF/ Western/ Midwestern-llinois/ Midwestern-Arizona/ Tufts/ Indiana University/ UCalorado/ UMaryland/ UMich/Upenn/ Columbia/Boston/ Roseman/ Case/ A.T.Still/ OHSU/ NOVA

I know I applied to a lot of schools, but after I found out that two classes I retook significantly lowered my GPA on ADEA, I was super discouraged. As a non-traditional applicant,31 years old and a mom of three. I’m very nervous that my stats are too average to get me in somewhere. Any school I should add to my list?

what is UOF? did you mean UOP?
there are 2 AT Stills...

 

[GlockieBae]

what is UOF? did you mean UOP?
there are 2 AT Stills...

Yes, thank you for corecting me. I meant UOP and AT still in Arizona.

 

[GlockieBae]

how did you come up with this list?

I used Dental Explorer to check the acceptance rates for out-of-state (OOS) and Asian applicants, made a list of schools with slightly higher rates than others, and chose the ones where I could see my family living.

 

[GlockieBae]

As a non-traditional applicant, contacting the closest dental schools to you is always best, especially if you have family considerations. It would be good to contact students and find out how students with children (and partners) are supported. So clearly, the five California dental schools should be in play. Are the other locations you/your family could consider?

Thank you for your advice! I applied all the school in CA except Loma Linda and Northstate. All the schools I applied to are in locations we would consider living in.

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: June 5th
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.58
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.76
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA:21 TS:21 PAT:21 QR:23 RC:21 Bio:19 GC:22 OC:22
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: California State University
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? NO
Nontrad? Yes
Shadowing Experience: ~200hrs general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 550hrs food pantry
Employment: N/A
Research: 1024, cell biology, 1 micro publication
Other Extracurriculars: President of women in science club at school
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 letter from my research professor, 1 letter from my gen bio professor who remained a very good relationship with me, 1 letter from genetics ( Got an A in this class), 1 letter from a dentist.
School applied:
UCLA/ UCSF/ USC/ UOP/ Western/ Midwestern-llinois/ Midwestern-Arizona/ Tufts/ Indiana University/ UCalorado/ UMaryland/ UMich/Upenn/ Columbia/Boston/ Roseman/ Case/ A.T.Still Arizona/ OHSU/ NOVA

I know I applied to a lot of schools, but after I found out that two classes I retook significantly lowered my GPA on ADEA, I was super discouraged. As a non-traditional applicant,31 years old and a mom of three. I’m very nervous that my stats are too average to get me in somewhere. Any school I should add to my list?

at first glance, 20 schools is too many
but upon further review

UCLA
UCSF
UOP
UMich
Upenn
Columbia
6 of the 10 most competitive schools in the country, not including the texas schools

OHSU
UColorado
good choice publics

Indiana University
UMaryland
publics that are too distant geographically to have a good chance
you need mission fit, "where i could see my family living" is not mission fit

USC
Western
Midwestern-Arizona
Roseman
A.T.Still Arizona
good choice privates

Midwestern-llinois
Tufts
Boston
Case
NOVA
privates that are too distant geographically to have a good chance, though tufts, boston and especially case have lots of azns
you need mission fit, "where i could see my family living" is not mission fit

 

[GlockieBae]

at first glance, 20 schools is too many
but upon further review

UCLA
UCSF
UOP
UMich
Upenn
Columbia
6 of the 10 most competitive schools in the country, not including the texas schools

OHSU
UColorado
good choice publics

Indiana University
UMaryland
publics that are too distant geographically to have a good chance
you need mission fit, "where i could see my family living" is not mission fit

USC
Western
Midwestern-Arizona
Roseman
A.T.Still Arizona
good choice privates

Midwestern-llinois
Tufts
Boston
Case
NOVA
privates that are too distant geographically to have a good chance, though tufts, boston and especially case have lots of azns
you need mission fit, "where i could see my family living" is not mission fit

Thank you so much for your reply. Regarding the few private schools you mentioned that are geographically too distant to have a good chance, why would they consider where an applicant is coming from if they are a private school and people are paying the same tuition? Did you mean they think people wouldn't move out of state to go there? Do you have any suggestions school that I should add in my list?

 

[macsak]

Thank you so much for your reply. Regarding the few private schools you mentioned that are geographically too distant to have a good chance, why would they consider where an applicant is coming from if they are a private school and people are paying the same tuition? Did you mean they think people wouldn't move out of state to go there? Do you have any suggestions school that I should add in my list?

schools have a limited amount of interview spots and acceptances they can give out
they have to be sure that the candidate is not only a fit for the class, but that there is a good chance they will attend if accepted
put yourself in the shoes of an adcom at say, nova
would you offer an invite/acceptance to a california resident who has all the california schools to choose from (and also the west coast and mountain schools) vs someone from louisiana or the carolinas?

i suggest you find schools closer to california with mission fit

 

[GlockieBae]

schools have a limited amount of interview spots and acceptances they can give out
they have to be sure that the candidate is not only a fit for the class, but that there is a good chance they will attend if accepted
put yourself in the shoes of an adcom at say, nova
would you offer an invite/acceptance to a california resident who has all the california schools to choose from (and also the west coast and mountain schools) vs someone from louisiana or the carolinas?

i suggest you find schools closer to california with mission fit

That makes sense. I think I have all the schools that are close to CA and have a good OOS acceptance rate. Please add any you think I missed. Thank you so much for your replies!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

That makes sense. I think I have all the schools that are close to CA and have a good OOS acceptance rate. Please add any you think I missed. Thank you so much for your replies!

You didn't answer my question about where you want to be. You have a family with children. You normally can't just uproot everyone so you could attend "any" dental school. Have your checked on childcare, schools, rent, job opportunities, etc.? I don't know your situation, but we could suggest you apply to Puerto Rico (not really)... would you do it?

 

[GlockieBae]

You didn't answer my question about where you want to be. You have a family with children. You normally can't just uproot everyone so you could attend "any" dental school. Have your checked on childcare, schools, rent, job opportunities, etc.? I don't know your situation, but we could suggest you apply to Puerto Rico (not really)... would you do it?

Currently two of my children attend a local private K-12 school , and my plan is to enroll them in a private school in the area where I will attend dental school.My husband works from home, so job opportunities and rent are not significant factors in our decision. As long as the location has a decent private school and a relatively safe enviroment to raise a family, we would have no problem moving there. I really like NOVA because I toured there K-12 and university in the past and I loved it.