WAMC 3.71 GPA, 24 AA

[dentalatbama]

Applying this upcoming cycle during the summer! Should I add or remove schools? AL resident so UAB is my top choice. Would apply to more southern schools but can't because I don't have their pre-reqs completed! Also sorry for bad formatting

Master's GPA: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.6X
DAT: 24 AA, 23 TS, 20 PAT
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: UAB
Major: Neuroscience and Accelerated Masters in Biomedical Sciences (will graduate with both bachelors and masters next spring)
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? NO
Reapplicant? NO

Shadowing Experience: 63 hours with personal dentist and AEGD residents
Volunteering Experience: 207 hours between multiple orgs
Employment: 590 hours mostly as a TA/instructor
Research: research based course. will present one poster from that course. no real research experience.
Other Extracurriculars: Director for a neuroscience competition, former logistics committee member for a school org, regular membership in pre-dental society
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Dental impressions day and tour
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean and Presidents list most semesters
LOR type and strength: 2 Science Prof, 1 Boss, 1 Dentist. All about average strength
Red Flags: Downward GPA trend: C in anatomy from last semester and W from this semester.
School list:

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Francisco

Western University

University of Connecticut

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The University of Iowa

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oklahoma

UAB

University of Louisville

University of Pittsburgh

Rutgers

Creighton University

Marquette University

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[Mr.Smile12]

Fine manual dexterity?

You can reduce your list by checking OOS stats for the public schools. Not sure you works go far with the schools outside your region (Connecticut, Iowa, UNC). Are your experiences with diverse populations enough for the California schools (UCSF, UCLA)? The remainder look reasonable but check the OOS.

 

[dentalatbama]

Fine manual dexterity?

You can reduce your list by checking OOS stats for the public schools. Not sure you works go far with the schools outside your region (Connecticut, Iowa, UNC). Are your experiences with diverse populations enough for the California schools (UCSF, UCLA)? The remainder look reasonable but check the OOS.

Oh yes, I forgot to include that I have about 60 hours volunteering as a DA. Not much else besides being able to use chop sticks since I was 7 and I enjoy grilling as a hobby.

My volunteer and work experience includes working with a wide range of patients and students. I work with some of the promising students and some of the most underprivileged and low socioeconomic students as an instructor.

Do you advise me to remove Connecticut, Iowa, UNC? I really have no interest in going anywhere but UAB but I still need to apply to many to maximize my chances of admission this cycle.

 

[macsak]

Applying this upcoming cycle during the summer! Should I add or remove schools? AL resident so UAB is my top choice. Would apply to more southern schools but can't because I don't have their pre-reqs completed! Also sorry for bad formatting

Master's GPA: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.6X
DAT: 24 AA, 23 TS, 20 PAT
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: UAB
Major: Neuroscience and Accelerated Masters in Biomedical Sciences (will graduate with both bachelors and masters next spring)
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? NO
Reapplicant? NO

Shadowing Experience: 63 hours with personal dentist and AEGD residents
Volunteering Experience: 207 hours between multiple orgs
Employment: 590 hours mostly as a TA/instructor
Research: research based course. will present one poster from that course. no real research experience.
Other Extracurriculars: Director for a neuroscience competition, former logistics committee member for a school org, regular membership in pre-dental society
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Dental impressions day and tour
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean and Presidents list most semesters
LOR type and strength: 2 Science Prof, 1 Boss, 1 Dentist. All about average strength
Red Flags: Downward GPA trend: C in anatomy from last semester and W from this semester.
School list:

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Francisco

Western University

University of Connecticut

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The University of Iowa

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oklahoma

UAB

University of Louisville

University of Pittsburgh

Rutgers

Creighton University

Marquette University

how did you select this list of schools?

 

[dentalatbama]

how did you select this list of schools?

I selected schools based off my pre-reqs, cost, and stats. I have not taken microbio and my physiology course will be from my Masters program so I'm not sure if dental schools will take a graduate phys course as a pre-req. Many southern schools require anatomy and phys and microbio, so I cannot apply there. I used the database from Path 32 to narrow down to this list.

 

[macsak]

I selected schools based off my pre-reqs, cost, and stats. I have not taken microbio and my physiology course will be from my Masters program so I'm not sure if dental schools will take a graduate phys course as a pre-req. Many southern schools require anatomy and phys and microbio, so I cannot apply there. I used the database from Path 32 to narrow down to this list.

you need to consider mission fit
pre-reqs, costs, and stats are not mission fit...

 

[macsak]

Applying this upcoming cycle during the summer! Should I add or remove schools? AL resident so UAB is my top choice. Would apply to more southern schools but can't because I don't have their pre-reqs completed! Also sorry for bad formatting

Master's GPA: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.6X
DAT: 24 AA, 23 TS, 20 PAT
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: UAB
Major: Neuroscience and Accelerated Masters in Biomedical Sciences (will graduate with both bachelors and masters next spring)
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? NO
Reapplicant? NO

Shadowing Experience: 63 hours with personal dentist and AEGD residents
Volunteering Experience: 207 hours between multiple orgs
Employment: 590 hours mostly as a TA/instructor
Research: research based course. will present one poster from that course. no real research experience.
Other Extracurriculars: Director for a neuroscience competition, former logistics committee member for a school org, regular membership in pre-dental society
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Dental impressions day and tour
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean and Presidents list most semesters
LOR type and strength: 2 Science Prof, 1 Boss, 1 Dentist. All about average strength
Red Flags: Downward GPA trend: C in anatomy from last semester and W from this semester.
School list:

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Francisco

Western University

University of Connecticut

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The University of Iowa

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oklahoma

UAB

University of Louisville

University of Pittsburgh

Rutgers

Creighton University

Marquette University

your list is all over the place geographically
UNC is extremely OOS unfriendly, and along with UCSF/UCLA are amongst the most 6-8 most competitive schools in the country

that said, your stats are excellent
why did you do a masters?

 

[dentalatbama]

your list is all over the place geographically
UNC is extremely OOS unfriendly, and along with UCSF/UCLA are amongst the most 6-8 most competitive schools in the country

that said, your stats are excellent
why did you do a masters?

I did not think too deeply about why I chose to do the masters. i had the option of either graduating a semester early or completing this accelerated master's program. the masters program is priced the same as my undergraduate tuition so I thought to myself why not; i'll get the most of out college if I can graduate with two degrees.

Regardless, it seems the likely candidates for removal should be UCLA, UCSF, OK, IA, and CT? I'll try to look for more schools with a matching mission fit but yet again I feel like my options are limited

 

[macsak]

I did not think too deeply about why I chose to do the masters. i had the option of either graduating a semester early or completing this accelerated master's program. the masters program is priced the same as my undergraduate tuition so I thought to myself why not; i'll get the most of out college if I can graduate with two degrees.

Regardless, it seems the likely candidates for removal should be UCLA, UCSF, OK, IA, and CT? I'll try to look for more schools with a matching mission fit but yet again I feel like my options are limited

ok, thanks

i haven't seen anyone indicate you should remove any of those schools
you need to do more research on OOS interview/acceptance stats and find schools with mission fit
you also need to construct a list with a few reach schools, mostly in-range schools, and a few safety schools...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Do you advise me to remove Connecticut, Iowa, UNC? I really have no interest in going anywhere but UAB but I still need to apply to many to maximize my chances of admission this cycle.

I said, "check the OOS." You must do your own work building your list. For an example on how to build your grid, see the reference in the article

Building Your Best School List - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

If you just want to spend money on applications to random schools who won't interview because they believe you just want to stay at UAB... it's your money. But you need to look closely at mission fit beyond just geographic proximity if you want to maximize your list.

Mission Fit: Key to Your Success - SDN

The Student Doctor Network provides free tools, resources, and advising services to help students become health professionals.

www.studentdoctor.net

As a generic applicant, there's nothing that automatically seems to exclude you, but we don't have your AADSAS application, letters/committee letter, or your essays. Submitting early will be key to a school list properly aligned with your purpose and vision as a dentist. Find out if you have to take Casper, and be prepared for Kira Talent recorded interviews (which are not always mentioned in the DSE as far as I know).

 

[dentalatbama]

Hello, does this list seem more realistic? I tried my best to find schools with a matching mission fit.

UAB

LECOM

PDM

BU

Creighton

Maryland

Minnesota

Virginia commonwealth

MOSDOH

ATSU

 

[macsak]

Hello, does this list seem more realistic? I tried my best to find schools with a matching mission fit.

UAB

LECOM

PDM

BU

Creighton

Maryland

Minnesota

Virginia commonwealth

MOSDOH

ATSU

what is pdm?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Can you tell me what your mission fit is?

 

[dentalatbama]

what is pdm?

it is upenn dental medicine . i have it as my biggest reach school

 

[dentalatbama]

Can you tell me what your mission fit is?

I believe I have selected schools that highly value early clinical care, community service for the underserved, and education. would this be an acceptable mission fit?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I believe I have selected schools that highly value early clinical care, community service for the underserved, and education. would this be an acceptable mission fit?

Why is each item important for your vision as a dentist? I'm not sure "education" helps me understand your mission. They are all schools so education is their mission. Do you want to be an academic? Community dentist? What is early clinical education and is relevance to your mission?

 

[macsak]

Applying this upcoming cycle during the summer! Should I add or remove schools? AL resident so UAB is my top choice. Would apply to more southern schools but can't because I don't have their pre-reqs completed! Also sorry for bad formatting

Master's GPA: 4.0
Overall GPA: 3.71
Science GPA: 3.6X
DAT: 24 AA, 23 TS, 20 PAT
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: UAB
Major: Neuroscience and Accelerated Masters in Biomedical Sciences (will graduate with both bachelors and masters next spring)
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? NO
Reapplicant? NO

Shadowing Experience: 63 hours with personal dentist and AEGD residents
Volunteering Experience: 207 hours between multiple orgs
Employment: 590 hours mostly as a TA/instructor
Research: research based course. will present one poster from that course. no real research experience.
Other Extracurriculars: Director for a neuroscience competition, former logistics committee member for a school org, regular membership in pre-dental society
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Dental impressions day and tour
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean and Presidents list most semesters
LOR type and strength: 2 Science Prof, 1 Boss, 1 Dentist. All about average strength
Red Flags: Downward GPA trend: C in anatomy from last semester and W from this semester.
School list:

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, San Francisco

Western University

University of Connecticut

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

The University of Iowa

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of Oklahoma

UAB

University of Louisville

University of Pittsburgh

Rutgers

Creighton University

Marquette University

why are your LORs average?

 

[macsak]

it is upenn dental medicine . i have it as my biggest reach school

ah ok

you still really need to work on your list
you have one reach school, plus your in-state public
then you have 3 publics that aren't even close to your state
and five safety private schools, of which only lecom is relatively close

 

[macsak]

why are your LORs average?

and why are your shadowing hours so low?

 

[dentalatbama]

and why are your shadowing hours so low?

It’s been a couple of months since I first posted and I have 123 hours now

 

[dentalatbama]

why are your LORs averaage.

I have 3 recommenders say that would write good/supportive letters, but I’m not sure exactly how good. I have a 4th recommender who did not say how strong her letter would be, so I assume average for her

 

[dentalatbama]

Why is each item important for your vision as a dentist? I'm not sure "education" helps me understand your mission. They are all schools so education is their mission. Do you want to be an academic? Community dentist? What is early clinical education and is relevance to your mission?

Currently, I do want to pursue academic dentistry, and I’ve met a few adjunct professors at the dental school who are involved in community service at low income dental clinics. This is why I think my mission fit is to find schools that value community service and provide their students with early access to clinical work. Some of these schools match these values and some only partially do. Is this not enough?

 

[dentalatbama]

ah ok

you still really need to work on your list
you have one reach school, plus your in-state public
then you have 3 publics that aren't even close to your state
and five safety private schools, of which only lecom is relatively close

I do not understand how geographic information can influence my acceptance into a private school. I thought all privates are OOS friendly except for maybe UOP. I have those 3 state schools because I’ve seen from the ADEA that they accepted students from the south, but not from AL. Would it be wise to remove these schools?

 

[macsak]

I do not understand how geographic information can influence my acceptance into a private school. I thought all privates are OOS friendly except for maybe UOP. I have those 3 state schools because I’ve seen from the ADEA that they accepted students from the south, but not from AL. Would it be wise to remove these schools?

to take the example to the extreme, say a high stats student from california applies to boston and tufts
why should these schools offer one of their limited interview spots to someone who has tons of closer schools that will likely be offering them invites and acceptances?

this is why you need to have and show mission fit to the schools you apply to...

 

[macsak]

to take the example to the extreme, say a high stats student from california applies to boston and tufts
why should these schools offer one of their limited interview spots to someone who has tons of closer schools that will likely be offering them invites and acceptances?

this is why you need to have and show mission fit to the schools you apply to...

and please re-read my earlier post on how you should be compiling your school list...

 

[dentalatbama]

and please re-read my earlier post on how you should be compiling your school list...

I would apply to tennessee and georgia but they are very OOS unfriendly. would these be reach schools despite being geographically close and having a matching mission fit?

 

[macsak]

I would apply to tennessee and georgia but they are very OOS unfriendly. would these be reach schools despite being geographically close and having a matching mission fit?

they are slight reaches, yes
but more in range than a bunch of far away privates

you do know that you don't have to do prerequisites before you apply?
you only have to take them before you start school at all but one or two...