WAMC Applying next cycle (CA resident)

[SDERN]

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Hey guys, let me know what you guys think about my chances (also I preferably want to get accepted somewhere in California to be honest)
Overall GPA: 3.80
Science GPA: 3.82
DAT score: 22AA (No scores below a 20)
State of Residence: CA
100 hour volunteering, TA for 1 semester, Involved in one club on campus (Have a position in it),800 ish hours of research and have presented a poster. Also 30 hours shadowing (I should probably get that up I think?)

Thoughts?

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

Good gpa ok dat decent ECs, ok volunteering absolutely not enough shadowing.

Up that and you have a good shot. What is your school list?

 

[Cthuluhoop]

In my opinion, a 22 DAT is a really solid score, not just an okay score.
But I do agree, you need to volunteer and shadow more to have a well rounded application. You want to aim for at least 100 shadowing hours.

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

@Cthuluhoop I agree normally but OP is Californian and wants to stay in California. There are only two "affordable" schools in the great state of CA and both are popular schools.

For UCSF his GPA is above average and his DAT is average DDS Admissions Class Profile | UCSF School of Dentistry

For UCLA his GPA is average and his DAT is below average Interviews & Selection Factors | UCLA Dentistry

 

[SDERN]

@Cthuluhoop I agree normally but OP is Californian and wants to stay in California. There are only two "affordable" schools in the great state of CA and both are popular schools.

For UCSF his GPA is above average and his DAT is average DDS Admissions Class Profile | UCSF School of Dentistry

For UCLA his GPA is average and his DAT is below average Interviews & Selection Factors | UCLA Dentistry

Honestly don't really have a school list set yet. What do you think about other schools in California like UOP? Not worth it?

 

[artist2022]

Right now your strongest EC is research, which is pretty good but I think you need to be more diverse. I'd volunteer in different places, join other clubs, and definitely up your shadowing hours to like 100+.

I'd apply to all 6 CA schools but please please apply outside of CA too, the schools here are too competitive and the benefit of staying in CA is far less than the cost of losing a year and having to reapply next year because you wanted to stay in CA.

Last cycle, I applied to 5 of the schools (didn't do UCSF cause I was too lazy to do their supplemental) and got interview invites to all of them, but I definitely did apply outside of CA because even with my stats, I knew that all the schools here would be extremely competitive to get into.

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

UOP is only worth it if you have the HPSP military scholarship. Look into applying to OOS schools that give IS tuition after one year too

 

[AppalachianDentalBoy]

Important to note Artist had a 3.98 and 25 not a 3.8 and 22 which is why she had tons of success.

 

[SDERN]

Thanks for the advice guys!

UOP is only worth it if you have the HPSP military scholarship. Look into applying to OOS schools that give IS tuition after one year too

I haven't looked too much into it but couldn't UOP maybe be worth it in some ways even without a military scholarship since you graduate in 3 years/technically can start paying off loans quicker?

 

[Cthuluhoop]

I haven't looked too much into it but couldn't UOP maybe be worth it in some ways even without a military scholarship since you graduate in 3 years/technically can start paying off loans quicker?

In a short answer, no. Not at that cost

 

[macsak]

In a short answer, no. Not at that cost

not relative to UCLA or UCSF, but to OOS state schools (that don't offer IS after 1 year) or other private schools, it may be worth it
remember, you don't get one extra year of beginning earnings, you get an additional year of PEAK earnings

 

[Cthuluhoop]

not relative to UCLA or UCSF, but to OOS state schools (that don't offer IS after 1 year) or other private schools, it may be worth it
remember, you don't get one extra year of beginning earnings, you get an additional year of PEAK earnings

Yeah that's the long answer OP, it is dependent on what you're comparing it to. If you're comparing to a school like Boston U that costs the same price for 4 years, then it makes sense. However, $550k of UoP vs. $450k at an OOS public school or private school the line begins to get blurred. Personally, I would take one extra year in school over having an extra $100k at 7-8% interest rates over my head. That is a ton of money to add to a loan even if you do get an extra year.

Honestly though, at the price of UoP and other private schools, you're realistically not paying that loan off on a traditional plan. You're using one of the federal repayment plans, so you do get a head start on your 20-25 year debt service.