WAMC 25/26 (High GPA, High DAT)

[09PattyKane]

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[macsak]

Date of submission: Planning on applying in June of next cycle
Overall GPA: 3.97
Science GPA: 3.963
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.957
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 26 AA, 25 TS, 24 PAT, 24 OC, 26 GC, 25 Bio, 26 RC, 27 QR
State of Residence: MA

Undergrad Attended: UMass
Major: Bio
Minor: None
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 60 hours of general/prosthodontics - Will be shadowing more this winter break to get to ~150
Volunteering Experience:

• 150 hours volunteering at VA hospital in the prosthetics department.
• Volunteering 3 hours/week at local food bank, will be at ~50 hours by end of semester.
• ~10-20 hours of volunteering through Habitats for humanity and club lacrosse

Employment: ~100 hours working for Meals on Wheels (delivered nutritious meals to elderly/disabled and completed wellness checks)
~ 1000 hours working as a grounds crew worker on a country club golf course
~ 500 hours at a gym working front desk/facility monitor
~ 500 hours as a cashier at local grocery store
~ 100 hours as a coach at a youth soccer summer camp
Research: None so far. I will be going abroad in the spring and will be conducting marine bio research while I’m there.
Other Extracurriculars:

• UMass Men’s Club Lacrosse (several practices a week, scrimmages in fall, full season in spring, ~300-500 hours so far)
• Biology TA (2 semesters, I graded work, hosted problem solving sessions for extra practice, held exam reviews, and proctored)
• Member of Pre-Dental Society and Habitats for Humanity
• Avid golfer, painter, and weight lifter

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Attended UConn admissions event with their dean of admissions
Relevant Honors or Awards: Abigail and Adams scholarship recipient, Dean’s List every semester thus far
LOR type and strength: I haven’t received them yet but I plan on getting a committee letter from the school. I plan on asking the Bio professor I TA for, my boss at the VA, and 1 (maybe 2) dentists from shadowing.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
School list: I could use input on my list as well as the # of schools I should apply to. I’m leaning towards specializing but haven’t fully committed to it yet. Other recommendations to improve my overall application are also welcome.

• Harvard
• UPenn
• Columbia
• Tufts
• BU
• UMich
• UConn

Maybe?:

• UNC (low OOS acceptance)
• UMaryland
• UCLA (Also low OOS acceptance)
• Temple

need more schools
the three ivies and umich are among the 10 most difficult to get into schools in the country
and uconn is likely in the top 15 or so
choose more oos publics...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You can benefit from building more hours, so keep going. You are applying to some of the most difficult schools in the nation, but you clearly have the metrics. The small concern is the dearth of research which could be a better fit with the Ivies (Harvard, Columbia, Penn), but it's not a deal-breaker.

Applying to dental school is not like applying to undergrad. If you pick a dental school, chances are you will practice in that area as you will be connected with the professional network in that state or region.

As a Massachusetts resident, I prefer you apply to all the usual regional suspects (UNE, UConn, Tufts, Boston, Harvard); could you be yield-protected with UNE and UConn? Possibly. Certainly the NYC schools should be included with reason (NYU yield protect likely, Columbia, Rutgers yield protect likely).

Check for public schools that treat you as in-state after a year. That could include Ohio State, UNC, Maryland, Buffalo, Pitt (confirm, I'm sure I'm not right with all of these suggestions, but check for other publics that do). Privates to consider would include CWRU, Marquette, Louisville... though they know with your stats you can pick your place.

Pick schools where it makes the most sense to you and will not tax your support system. UCLA, UCSF, Pacific, Roseman may sound enticing, but the cross-country flights can be challenging.

Overall I suggest no more than 15 schools; there are only 60 dental schools. You have the metrics to be picky.

 

[macsak]

You can benefit from building more hours, so keep going. You are applying to some of the most difficult schools in the nation, but you clearly have the metrics. The small concern is the dearth of research which could be a better fit with the Ivies (Harvard, Columbia, Penn), but it's not a deal-breaker.

Applying to dental school is not like applying to undergrad. If you pick a dental school, chances are you will practice in that area as you will be connected with the professional network in that state or region.

As a Massachusetts resident, I prefer you apply to all the usual regional suspects (UNE, UConn, Tufts, Boston, Harvard); could you be yield-protected with UNE and UConn? Possibly. Certainly the NYC schools should be included with reason (NYU yield protect likely, Columbia, Rutgers yield protect likely).

Check for public schools that treat you as in-state after a year. That could include Ohio State, UNC, Maryland, Buffalo, Pitt (confirm, I'm sure I'm not right with all of these suggestions, but check for other publics that do). Privates to consider would include CWRU, Marquette, Louisville... though they know with your stats you can pick your place.

Pick schools where it makes the most sense to you and will not tax your support system. UCLA, UCSF, Pacific, Roseman may sound enticing, but the cross-country flights can be challenging.

Overall I suggest no more than 15 schools; there are only 60 dental schools. You have the metrics to be picky.

15 schools with OP's stats?
that's too many IMO
and you know how much i hate to disagree with msmiles

 

[macsak]

15 schools with OP's stats?
that's too many IMO
and you know how much i hate to disagree with msmiles

i do agree with applying to schools that are regionally correct

 

[Mr.Smile12]

i do agree with applying to schools that are regionally correct

15 is my general upper-limit. I agree with these stats, 10 should be appropriate.

 

[09PattyKane]

You can benefit from building more hours, so keep going. You are applying to some of the most difficult schools in the nation, but you clearly have the metrics. The small concern is the dearth of research which could be a better fit with the Ivies (Harvard, Columbia, Penn), but it's not a deal-breaker.

Applying to dental school is not like applying to undergrad. If you pick a dental school, chances are you will practice in that area as you will be connected with the professional network in that state or region.

As a Massachusetts resident, I prefer you apply to all the usual regional suspects (UNE, UConn, Tufts, Boston, Harvard); could you be yield-protected with UNE and UConn? Possibly. Certainly the NYC schools should be included with reason (NYU yield protect likely, Columbia, Rutgers yield protect likely).

Check for public schools that treat you as in-state after a year. That could include Ohio State, UNC, Maryland, Buffalo, Pitt (confirm, I'm sure I'm not right with all of these suggestions, but check for other publics that do). Privates to consider would include CWRU, Marquette, Louisville... though they know with your stats you can pick your place.

Pick schools where it makes the most sense to you and will not tax your support system. UCLA, UCSF, Pacific, Roseman may sound enticing, but the cross-country flights can be challenging.

Overall I suggest no more than 15 schools; there are only 60 dental schools. You have the metrics to be picky.

Thank you guys for the feedback. I'll certainly add UNE and will look into public schools that treat OOS students as instate after a year.