WAMC - 24 DAT 3.8 cGPA 3.7 sGPA

[YuumiCat]

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Date of submission: Haven't yet. How late is August 1st-5th application?
Overall GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.7?
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 24 AA
State of Residence: Missouri

Undergrad Attended: UMKC
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? Nope
Reapplicant? Nope
Nontrad? Nope

Shadowing Experience: 150 hours of general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 350 hours in food pantry/thrift store to fund causes.
Employment: Working and cooking at family owned restaurant for around 6 years. Starting when I was around 8, but I just served the customers at that age.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Member in Predental Club. Member and team lead on varsity esports team?
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Nope
Relevant Honors or Awards: Does dean's list count?
LOR type and strength: 2 science 1 dentist 1 volunteer supervisor. Probably around average strength.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Terrible at interviews. Any resources on getting better aside from youtube? I do want to work in rural as I grew up living there, so I'm fine with it.
School list:

I'm looking at mostly virtual interviews and cheapest prices. Only inperson should be SIU, all others are virtual I think. I just want to guarantee one acceptance at least, that's why the list is so long. Is there anything to cut/add? This is with the estimated tuition and cost of living

SIU* - 280k 70k 1.64% OOS Acceptance 14% OOS Enrolled per class 50 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
UMKC (State) - 360k 90k 31.33% IS 69.49% IS 79 Enrolled 20.2 DAT AVG
LSU - 360k 90k 2.62% OOS 16% OOS 75 Enrolled 21.6 DAT AVG - Chalk Carving
Howard - 368k 92k 8.46% OOS 92.42% 66 Enrolled OOS 18.9 DAT AVG - Cheap, might get yield protection according to others?
UTenn - 420k 105k 3.41 % OOS 29.69% OOS 128 Enrolled 20.5 AVG DAT
Marquette - 420k 105k 2.15% 49% 100 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG 26 95th %
Houston - 420k 105k 0.71% OOS, 4.72% OOS, 22.6 DAT
Creighton - 480k 120k 5.38% OOS 89.66% OOS 116 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
Pitts - 480k 120k 1.65% 36.51% 21.8 DAT AVG 26 95th%
Uconn - 480k 120k 1.47% OOS 40.82% 49 Enrolled OOS 22.2 DAT AVG
Iowa - 480k 120k 2.53% 31.25% 21.2 DAT AVG 27 95th %
UCSF - 508k 127k 2.97% OOS 29.51% 61 Enrolled OOS 23.3 DAT AVG - Unsure
UCLA - 518k 129.5k 1.47% OOS 11.76% 85 Enrolled OOS 23.1 DAT AVG - Unsure
Touro - 520k 130k 6.33% OOS 56.54% OOS 214 Enrolled 21.1 DAT AVG

Uncertain
UNE - 500k 125k 1.97% 23.08% 20.6 DAT AVG 25 95th %
UNMC - 520k 130k 1.97% OOS 23.08% OOS 52 Enrolled 20.6 DAT AVG

 

[YuumiCat]

Forgot to add the details on DAT score
AA 24
QR 27
RC 22
BIO 24
CHEM 26
ORGO 22
TS 24
PA 23

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: Haven't yet. How late is August 1st-5th application?
Overall GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.7?
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 24 AA
State of Residence: Missouri

Undergrad Attended: UMKC
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? Nope
Reapplicant? Nope
Nontrad? Nope

Shadowing Experience: 150 hours of general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 350 hours in food pantry/thrift store to fund causes.
Employment: Working and cooking at family owned restaurant for around 6 years. Starting when I was around 8, but I just served the customers at that age.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Member in Predental Club. Member and team lead on varsity esports team?
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Nope
Relevant Honors or Awards: Does dean's list count?
LOR type and strength: 2 science 1 dentist 1 volunteer supervisor. Probably around average strength.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Terrible at interviews. Any resources on getting better aside from youtube? I do want to work in rural as I grew up living there, so I'm fine with it.
School list:

I'm looking at mostly virtual interviews and cheapest prices. Only inperson should be SIU, all others are virtual I think. I just want to guarantee one acceptance at least, that's why the list is so long. Is there anything to cut/add? This is with the estimated tuition and cost of living

SIU* - 280k 70k 1.64% OOS Acceptance 14% OOS Enrolled per class 50 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
UMKC (State) - 360k 90k 31.33% IS 69.49% IS 79 Enrolled 20.2 DAT AVG
LSU - 360k 90k 2.62% OOS 16% OOS 75 Enrolled 21.6 DAT AVG - Chalk Carving
Howard - 368k 92k 8.46% OOS 92.42% 66 Enrolled OOS 18.9 DAT AVG - Cheap, might get yield protection according to others?
UTenn - 420k 105k 3.41 % OOS 29.69% OOS 128 Enrolled 20.5 AVG DAT
Marquette - 420k 105k 2.15% 49% 100 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG 26 95th %
Houston - 420k 105k 0.71% OOS, 4.72% OOS, 22.6 DAT
Creighton - 480k 120k 5.38% OOS 89.66% OOS 116 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
Pitts - 480k 120k 1.65% 36.51% 21.8 DAT AVG 26 95th%
Uconn - 480k 120k 1.47% OOS 40.82% 49 Enrolled OOS 22.2 DAT AVG
Iowa - 480k 120k 2.53% 31.25% 21.2 DAT AVG 27 95th %
UCSF - 508k 127k 2.97% OOS 29.51% 61 Enrolled OOS 23.3 DAT AVG - Unsure
UCLA - 518k 129.5k 1.47% OOS 11.76% 85 Enrolled OOS 23.1 DAT AVG - Unsure
Touro - 520k 130k 6.33% OOS 56.54% OOS 214 Enrolled 21.1 DAT AVG

Uncertain
UNE - 500k 125k 1.97% 23.08% 20.6 DAT AVG 25 95th %
UNMC - 520k 130k 1.97% OOS 23.08% OOS 52 Enrolled 20.6 DAT AVG

howard is an HBCU
chances at TX schools and SIU are very low for OOS...

 

[YuumiCat]

howard is an HBCU
chances at TX schools and SIU are very low for OOS...

I knew that Howard is an HBCU, but apparently there's still a few Asians getting in. I suppose I should've said that. Texas is like always a reach yes. SIU apparently takes OOS but mostly from Missouri. Last few years a majority of OOS taken are from Missouri.

 

[macsak]

I knew that Howard is an HBCU, but apparently there's still a few Asians getting in. I suppose I should've said that. Texas is like always a reach yes. SIU apparently takes OOS but mostly from Missouri. Last few years a majority of OOS taken are from Missouri.

how come you have not participated in any events with UMKC SOD?
the predental club never had jimi sode or richie bigham speak or predental day/tour?

 

[YuumiCat]

how come you have not participated in any events with UMKC SOD?
the predental club never had jimi sode or richie bigham speak or predental day/tour?

Ah, I did attend the UMKC Dental Symposium twice, but that's it. I don't particularly remember having either speak in meetings, but I might just be misremembering. I think most of it was about experiences in dental school and how to apply.

 

[macsak]

Ah, I did attend the UMKC Dental Symposium twice, but that's it. I don't particularly remember having either speak in meetings, but I might just be misremembering. I think most of it was about experiences in dental school and how to apply.

is there anything else you are leaving out?

 

[YuumiCat]

Hmm, I mean only thing that might affect anything at UMKC would be that I wasn't able to get into UMKC reserved admissions program due to bad interviews. They told me that they were looking forward to my reapplication through regular admissions as it'll be easier then. I'm not sure if that'll affect the application in any way.

I'm also just trying to get better at interviews as I become nervous when talking to authority figures. I do fine talking with patients and other people.

Other than that, I don't remember anything else off the top of my head. Maybe first gen student and disadvantaged area/student (Rural place + first gen applicant) according to AADSAS?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I knew that Howard is an HBCU, but apparently there's still a few Asians getting in. I suppose I should've said that. Texas is like always a reach yes. SIU apparently takes OOS but mostly from Missouri. Last few years a majority of OOS taken are from Missouri.

First, if you want rural dentistry, I don't understand why you have UCLA, UCSF, or Touro on your list. I suggest for geography:

UMKC (in-state)
ATSU-Missouri (in-state private)
KCU (in-state private, newer)
Iowa
Creighton
Nebraska
Minnesota
Lyon (OOS-private, new)
SIU (if you are from the Illinois side of St. Louis, not Chicago)
Midwestern-IL
Marquette
Louisville
Tennessee (maybe)

Outside the area, if you want rural dentistry, I would consider
Midwestern-AZ
ATSU-AZ
LECOM (cheap tuition)
Bitonte (if you want to live and work in Ohio)

Many more dental schools run in-person interviews because they need to show you their clinic spaces where you will spend 2 years of training. Narrowing your list to only virtual interviewing schools may work against you.

Have you talked to Asian students who attend Howard? On the surface, I don't know if you have lived experience in SDOH in a highly urban environment.

You list costs and cite a need to keep your costs low. Are you applying for NHSC or HPSP?

 

[macsak]

Hmm, I mean only thing that might affect anything at UMKC would be that I wasn't able to get into UMKC reserved admissions program due to bad interviews. They told me that they were looking forward to my reapplication through regular admissions as it'll be easier then. I'm not sure if that'll affect the application in any way.

I'm also just trying to get better at interviews as I become nervous when talking to authority figures. I do fine talking with patients and other people.

Other than that, I don't remember anything else off the top of my head. Maybe first gen student and disadvantaged area/student (Rural place + first gen applicant) according to AADSAS?

ok, got it

you get interview invites and acceptances from having mission fit with a program
virtual interviews and cheaper COA are not mission fit...

 

[YuumiCat]

First, if you want rural dentistry, I don't understand why you have UCLA, UCSF, or Touro on your list. I suggest for geography:

UMKC (in-state)
ATSU-Missouri (in-state private)
KCU (in-state private, newer)
Iowa
Creighton
Nebraska
Minnesota
Lyon (OOS-private, new)
SIU (if you are from the Illinois side of St. Louis, not Chicago)
Midwestern-IL
Marquette
Louisville
Tennessee (maybe)

Outside the area, if you want rural dentistry, I would consider
Midwestern-AZ
ATSU-AZ
LECOM (cheap tuition)
Bitonte (if you want to live and work in Ohio)

Many more dental schools run in-person interviews because they need to show you their clinic spaces where you will spend 2 years of training. Narrowing your list to only virtual interviewing schools may work against you.

Have you talked to Asian students who attend Howard? On the surface, I don't know if you have lived experience in SDOH in a highly urban environment.

You list costs and cite a need to keep your costs low. Are you applying for NHSC or HPSP?

Is there an issue with UCLA, UCSF, and Touro alongside rural dentistry if I just want to practice rural? I'm not quite sure on the specifics here, and I'm unsure about the first two.
How impactful is geography?

UMKC is my main school that I want to get into.
ATSU-Missouri, I did take a look and saw how expensive it was, and since it was a private as well I kinda noped out.
I was looking at Iowa as well. The only problem I have is that it is an in-person interview and I heard they specifically say they want june applicants. I will probably be at UMKC during the interviews and don't have transportation to the airport for the in person interviews. I'm not sure how limiting it'll be.

Creighton and Nebraska I will apply to as well.
Probably can't afford Minnesota unless HPSP/NHSC (145k a year with living expenses)
How is Lyon's program? It seems like it's their upcoming 2nd year with a 3 year program. Decently cheap tuition though.

I'm from the middle of Missouri, if that counts for anything. I'm about 2/3 hours away from St Louis/SIU.
Midwestern-IL is also probably too expensive (155k a year)
I'm definitely applying to Marquette.

I heard that Louisville was very terrible?
I may look into LECOM, but I heard quite a few stories about them as well. They are somewhat on the cheaper side though. In-person interviews unfortunately as well.

Are in-person interviews regarded more highly or is it just to scope out the environment? Most of the schools on my list should be virtual aside from Iowa and SIU. I figured that without transportation and having to rely on Uber and the airport would be very difficult in which it might just be better to do virtual interviews.

I haven't talked to anyone that attended Howard.

I'm also not sure what you mean by having lived experience Social determinants of health (SDOH) in a highly urbanized area.

I was born in America, lived in Asia for a while, then came back to America at the age of 7 to the rural town in which I lived in until I went to UMKC. I usually go back for the summer and spring break as it's somewhat close.

Yeah, I'm also looking to apply for HPSP or NHSC. I would prefer NHSC since I'll be happy to work anywhere for the most part. My parents are wanting to retire soon and move somewhere, so we'll be able to move pretty much anywhere while I help take care of them.

 

[YuumiCat]

ok, got it

you get interview invites and acceptances from having mission fit with a program
virtual interviews and cheaper COA are not mission fit...

I don't particularly understand mission fit for the most part. Of course, virtual interviews and cheaper COA isn't a part of the mission fit.

I suppose my mission would be to help and work in rural communities of said state. Of course, I would go more into detail on that in my personal statement and such. I'm not quite sure how to explain it as "Why so and so school" though.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Clearly if you want to stay in Missouri or thereabouts to practice rural dentistry, we've given you suggestions. There will be more opportunities with AEGD (post-DDS) at many schools where you can focus more on rural dentistry. The challenge now is that you have to pick where you want to practice rural dentistry... and you aren't from the Pacific Northwest (see PNWU: Ask the Expert: Fotinos S. Panagakos, Dean, Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine | SDN) or West Virginia or Ohio (Bitonte) or Appalchian Kentucky (Pikeville). We are trying to find you opportunities to maximize your chances (I hesitate with Colorado, but I know they have rural dentistry).

It just feels like you aren't going into the process very prepared and you're trying to "let it rip" and see what happens.

 

[YuumiCat]

Clearly if you want to stay in Missouri or thereabouts to practice rural dentistry, we've given you suggestions. There will be more opportunities with AEGD (post-DDS) at many schools where you can focus more on rural dentistry. The challenge now is that you have to pick where you want to practice rural dentistry... and you aren't from the Pacific Northwest (see PNWU: Ask the Expert: Fotinos S. Panagakos, Dean, Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine | SDN) or West Virginia or Ohio (Bitonte) or Appalchian Kentucky (Pikeville). We are trying to find you opportunities to maximize your chances (I hesitate with Colorado, but I know they have rural dentistry).

It just feels like you aren't going into the process very prepared and you're trying to "let it rip" and see what happens.

Hmm, yeah I haven't really researched much into that as I was informed about 10-15 days ago that I wasn't unsuccessful in the reserved admissions interview, so I was scrambling for a couple of days to get letter of recommendations and finish up the AADSAS.

Is there much of a difference between where I can practice rural? I thought there were tons of places and since we can pretty much move anywhere, I thought it would be fine anywhere.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Date of submission: Haven't yet. How late is August 1st-5th application?
Overall GPA: 3.8
Science GPA: 3.7
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.7?
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 24 AA
State of Residence: Missouri

Undergrad Attended: UMKC
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? Nope
Reapplicant? Nope
Nontrad? Nope

Shadowing Experience: 150 hours of general dentist
Volunteering Experience: 350 hours in food pantry/thrift store to fund causes.
Employment: Working and cooking at family owned restaurant for around 6 years. Starting when I was around 8, but I just served the customers at that age.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Member in Predental Club. Member and team lead on varsity esports team?
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Nope
Relevant Honors or Awards: Does dean's list count?
LOR type and strength: 2 science 1 dentist 1 volunteer supervisor. Probably around average strength.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Terrible at interviews. Any resources on getting better aside from youtube? I do want to work in rural as I grew up living there, so I'm fine with it.
School list:

I'm looking at mostly virtual interviews and cheapest prices. Only inperson should be SIU, all others are virtual I think. I just want to guarantee one acceptance at least, that's why the list is so long. Is there anything to cut/add? This is with the estimated tuition and cost of living

SIU* - 280k 70k 1.64% OOS Acceptance 14% OOS Enrolled per class 50 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
UMKC (State) - 360k 90k 31.33% IS 69.49% IS 79 Enrolled 20.2 DAT AVG
LSU - 360k 90k 2.62% OOS 16% OOS 75 Enrolled 21.6 DAT AVG - Chalk Carving
Howard - 368k 92k 8.46% OOS 92.42% 66 Enrolled OOS 18.9 DAT AVG - Cheap, might get yield protection according to others?
UTenn - 420k 105k 3.41 % OOS 29.69% OOS 128 Enrolled 20.5 AVG DAT
Marquette - 420k 105k 2.15% 49% 100 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG 26 95th %
Houston - 420k 105k 0.71% OOS, 4.72% OOS, 22.6 DAT
Creighton - 480k 120k 5.38% OOS 89.66% OOS 116 Enrolled 20.5 DAT AVG
Pitts - 480k 120k 1.65% 36.51% 21.8 DAT AVG 26 95th%
Uconn - 480k 120k 1.47% OOS 40.82% 49 Enrolled OOS 22.2 DAT AVG
Iowa - 480k 120k 2.53% 31.25% 21.2 DAT AVG 27 95th %
UCSF - 508k 127k 2.97% OOS 29.51% 61 Enrolled OOS 23.3 DAT AVG - Unsure
UCLA - 518k 129.5k 1.47% OOS 11.76% 85 Enrolled OOS 23.1 DAT AVG - Unsure
Touro - 520k 130k 6.33% OOS 56.54% OOS 214 Enrolled 21.1 DAT AVG

Uncertain
UNE - 500k 125k 1.97% 23.08% 20.6 DAT AVG 25 95th %
UNMC - 520k 130k 1.97% OOS 23.08% OOS 52 Enrolled 20.6 DAT AVG

Congratulations on your 24, that’s a fantastic score, and with your GPA, you’re in a strong position. Wishing you the very best in this cycle!


For anyone else currently preparing for the DAT, don’t lose heart ,we’ve seen students from all backgrounds achieve amazing results with the right structure and support. If you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, there are resources and people who can help you through it.


Wishing everyone the best in this stressful part of the process...Nancy, co/owner Destroyers

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hmm, yeah I haven't really researched much into that as I was informed about 10-15 days ago that I wasn't unsuccessful in the reserved admissions interview, so I was scrambling for a couple of days to get letter of recommendations and finish up the AADSAS.

Is there much of a difference between where I can practice rural? I thought there were tons of places and since we can pretty much move anywhere, I thought it would be fine anywhere.

What is "reserved admissions"? Where did you apply? Were you rejected?

You can look at the map. Rural is different between states if you've never lived in more than one area of the country.

Map of Health Professional Shortage Areas: Dental Care, by County, July 2025 - Rural Health Information Hub

Map showing county-level data on Dental Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), indicating counties that are entirely in a HPSA, partially in a HPSA, or not in a HPSA.

www.ruralhealthinfo.org