WAMC and school list suggestions 3.8 GPA 22AA

[londonmo1111]

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Date of submission: submitted AADSAS 7/25 and was verified the week after, but still waiting on a committee letter from the Pre-Health Office. Haven't paid any secondary fees yet, as I wanted to see my DAT score.
Overall GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.80
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.83
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Just took it today. 22 AA: 22 TS, 22 GC, 23 OC, 20 QR, 21 RC, 21 PAT
State of Residence: West Virginia

Undergrad Attended: West Virginia University
Major: immunology and medical microbiology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 115 hours, general dentist. Going to begin shadowing an oral pathologist at the university next week.
Volunteering Experience: ~270 hours total. Mostly from Intervarsity (helping international students adjust to studying at a new university), from freshman year until now. I also fostered kittens with a local animal rescue and spent a semester as a Conversation Partner with an international student, helping them practice English skills. Recently started volunteering at a homeless shelter preparing meals.
Employment: Bio/chem tutor for my university, 100 hours.
Research: 1040 hours of paid research in a neuroimmunology lab, conducting an independent research project. Full time over two summers, part-time during the school year. 3 university symposium poster presentations, 1 state symposium presentation. Possibly going to present at a national conference this coming year, but that would be way after dental school applications were reviewed.
Other Extracurriculars: Chinese Club (Secretary). I explained that since I'd much of my entire life in WV rejecting my heritage, it meant a lot for me to be involved in Chinese Club and not just embrace that part of myself but even share it with others.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Won 2 university-wide creative writing contests (2nd place for one, 1st place for the other). Was awarded a department-specific research internship. I also won Best Poster at one of the university research symposiums.
LOR type and strength: 2 extremely strong letters from my PI (who is also my professor and academic advisor) and my volunteering supervisor, a strong one from another science professor, and an average letter from the dentist I shadowed.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere: My GPA for the first semester of college was a 3.3 due to health issues, but after that, I kept it as high as possible. I explained that on my application, but I don't anticipate any problems since my final GPA is fine. I've been worrying about applying relatively late in the cycle.
School list:
West Virginia University
Boston University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Iowa
UConn
Columbia
UPenn
UMich
UCLA
UCSF
Harvard (but I think I'll give up on this one altogether, I was hoping to get a higher DAT score to make my chances better)

I know my school list is top-heavy. My reasoning is that West Virginia University is my state school and the most financially wise choice, and if I don't get in anywhere else, I would be happy to stay here and save a ton of money. Am I reaching too high, though? Do I have a shot at any of these schools, and should I add any others? My DAT score is around average for several schools, plus I've been seeing so many 4.0 GPA/25+AA applicants online and it's made me doubt myself.

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: submitted AADSAS 7/25 and was verified the week after, but still waiting on a committee letter from the Pre-Health Office. Haven't paid any secondary fees yet, as I wanted to see my DAT score.
Overall GPA: 3.81
Science GPA: 3.80
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.83
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Just took it today. 22 AA: 22 TS, 22 GC, 23 OC, 20 QR, 21 RC, 21 PAT
State of Residence: West Virginia

Undergrad Attended: West Virginia University
Major: immunology and medical microbiology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 115 hours, general dentist. Going to begin shadowing an oral pathologist at the university next week.
Volunteering Experience: ~270 hours total. Mostly from Intervarsity (helping international students adjust to studying at a new university), from freshman year until now. I also fostered kittens with a local animal rescue and spent a semester as a Conversation Partner with an international student, helping them practice English skills. Recently started volunteering at a homeless shelter preparing meals.
Employment: Bio/chem tutor for my university, 100 hours.
Research: 1040 hours of paid research in a neuroimmunology lab, conducting an independent research project. Full time over two summers, part-time during the school year. 3 university symposium poster presentations, 1 state symposium presentation. Possibly going to present at a national conference this coming year, but that would be way after dental school applications were reviewed.
Other Extracurriculars: Chinese Club (Secretary). I explained that since I'd much of my entire life in WV rejecting my heritage, it meant a lot for me to be involved in Chinese Club and not just embrace that part of myself but even share it with others.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Won 2 university-wide creative writing contests (2nd place for one, 1st place for the other). Was awarded a department-specific research internship. I also won Best Poster at one of the university research symposiums.
LOR type and strength: 2 extremely strong letters from my PI (who is also my professor and academic advisor) and my volunteering supervisor, a strong one from another science professor, and an average letter from the dentist I shadowed.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere: My GPA for the first semester of college was a 3.3 due to health issues, but after that, I kept it as high as possible. I explained that on my application, but I don't anticipate any problems since my final GPA is fine. I've been worrying about applying relatively late in the cycle.
School list:
West Virginia University
Boston University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Iowa
UConn
Columbia
UPenn
UMich
UCLA
UCSF
Harvard (but I think I'll give up on this one altogether, I was hoping to get a higher DAT score to make my chances better)

I know my school list is top-heavy. My reasoning is that West Virginia University is my state school and the most financially wise choice, and if I don't get in anywhere else, I would be happy to stay here and save a ton of money. Am I reaching too high, though? Do I have a shot at any of these schools, and should I add any others? My DAT score is around average for several schools, plus I've been seeing so many 4.0 GPA/25+AA applicants online and it's made me doubt myself.

you have 7 of the 10-12 most difficult schools to get into in the country on your list, so yes, it is top-heavy

have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at WVU D School?

 

[londonmo1111]

you have 7 of the 10-12 most difficult schools to get into in the country on your list, so yes, it is top-heavy

have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at WVU D School?

Yes! They hold a workshop for students interested in dental school and I attended. I believe it was in April, and I did list it under academic enrichment on my application.

Which schools do you think I should eliminate from the list, and should I add any?

 

[Ryxndek]

Yes! They hold a workshop for students interested in dental school and I attended. I believe it was in April, and I did list it under academic enrichment on my application.

Which schools do you think I should eliminate from the list, and should I add any?

A lot of those top-heavy schools are very expensive as well, I would look at UBuffalo as they offer IS tuition after the first year and you would be a good applicant given your stats. I would also throw in a couple of safety schools given your list.

 

[macsak]

Yes! They hold a workshop for students interested in dental school and I attended. I believe it was in April, and I did list it under academic enrichment on my application.

Which schools do you think I should eliminate from the list, and should I add any?

you should do more with WVU dental school, it is by far your cheapest option

you need to have a range of schools, a few reach, more in-range schools, and a couple safeties
your stats are solid, and not way out of place for your reaches
you are going to have to research and decide on your own what you want to do...