WAMC at top schools?

[smiski]

PLEASE DONT QUOTE THANK YOU!

I'm posting this to get opinions on whether I need to apply more broadly... getting mixed opinions from peers/family. Thanks!!

Date of submission: Within the first two weeks of the app opening

Overall GPA: 3.97

Science GPA: 3.93

Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.90

DAT score (include AA and all sections): 26AA, 27TS, 26PAT: 27 BIO 26 GC, 26 OC, 22 RC, 22 QR

State of Residence: CA

Undergrad Attended: UCLA

Major: Psych/bio

Minority? No - Asian

Reapplicant? No

Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 100 general, 160 ortho

Volunteering Experience: 25 hrs at a GP, 150 hrs in perio, 100 hours tutoring music to students from low income families(leadership), 400 hours providing dental hygiene supplies to students and coordinating with UCLA dental students to give free screenings/fluoride (leadership), 50 hours tutoring English to immigrant population

Employment: 180 hrs private tutoring, 1600 hrs paid intern in ortho and 250 hours in OMFS, 575 hrs at peds/peds ortho office.

Research: 300 hours in a dental bioengineering lab. Presented posters at AADOCR in NYC and at UCLA conferences

Other Extracurriculars: Undergrad learning assistant for biochem for 3 quarters, one of which I was a head learning assistant. Undergrad learning assistant for genetics (1 quarter)

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Not really but I shadowed/talked to the dental students/faculty that attended the events I would coordinate. Took a dental principles class taught by UCLA dental students with a lecture and lab component and presented a literature review at the UCLA School of Dentistry and placed.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Placed for that poster conference and deans list lol

LOR type and strength: 1 from ortho (expect very strong), 1 from biochem prof (expect strong), 1 from research PI (expect strong), 1 from bio genetics prof (expect strong)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

Did dual enrollment in HS so some of my prereqs like stats, psych/soc, and writing were taken at CC and not a 4 year. Wasn’t in any pre dental societies or clubs because I didn’t want to pay dues lol. Low GP hours. All my paid employment are in highly affluent cities (where my family is from and then UCLA is pretty much in beverly hills)… dont know how that will reflect

School list:

I am concerned because my list is super top heavy but I dont want to waste money on app fees on places I wouldnt go. Im OK with reapplying (but maybe I'm just saying this now and I should apply more broadly)...Main factors Im considering are cost, location, prestige (or specialising rates since I want to specialise), and pass/fail

UCSF (top choice - concern is that its research oriented and I dont have many hours)

UCLA (2nd top choice - in state tuition and I have the most connection to this school)

Harvard

Columbia

UOP - CA and 3 years

Penn

UMich

Midwestern AZ - safety and close to CA

BU - target/safety

UNLV - safety and close to CA

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[Mr.Smile12]

I am concerned because my list is super top heavy but I dont want to waste money on app fees on places I wouldnt go.

Your stats warrant shooting for the top if that's what you want.

I would include all your in-state options so add Western and USC (hold out for USC for a huge scholarship if they give those away). I would investigate Roseman and Colorado over BU.

 

[macsak]

PLEASE DONT QUOTE THANK YOU!

I'm posting this to get opinions on whether I need to apply more broadly... getting mixed opinions from peers/family. Thanks!!

Date of submission: Within the first two weeks of the app opening

Overall GPA: 3.97

Science GPA: 3.93

Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.90

DAT score (include AA and all sections): 26AA, 27TS, 26PAT: 27 BIO 26 GC, 26 OC, 22 RC, 22 QR

State of Residence: CA

Undergrad Attended: UCLA

Major: Psych/bio

Minority? No - Asian

Reapplicant? No

Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 100 general, 160 ortho

Volunteering Experience: 25 hrs at a GP, 150 hrs in perio, 100 hours tutoring music to students from low income families(leadership), 400 hours providing dental hygiene supplies to students and coordinating with UCLA dental students to give free screenings/fluoride (leadership), 50 hours tutoring English to immigrant population

Employment: 180 hrs private tutoring, 1600 hrs paid intern in ortho and 250 hours in OMFS, 575 hrs at peds/peds ortho office.

Research: 300 hours in a dental bioengineering lab. Presented posters at AADOCR in NYC and at UCLA conferences

Other Extracurriculars: Undergrad learning assistant for biochem for 3 quarters, one of which I was a head learning assistant. Undergrad learning assistant for genetics (1 quarter)

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Not really but I shadowed/talked to the dental students/faculty that attended the events I would coordinate. Took a dental principles class taught by UCLA dental students with a lecture and lab component and presented a literature review at the UCLA School of Dentistry and placed.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Placed for that poster conference and deans list lol

LOR type and strength: 1 from ortho (expect very strong), 1 from biochem prof (expect strong), 1 from research PI (expect strong), 1 from bio genetics prof (expect strong)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

Did dual enrollment in HS so some of my prereqs like stats, psych/soc, and writing were taken at CC and not a 4 year. Wasn’t in any pre dental societies or clubs because I didn’t want to pay dues lol. Low GP hours. All my paid employment are in highly affluent cities (where my family is from and then UCLA is pretty much in beverly hills)… dont know how that will reflect

School list:

I am concerned because my list is super top heavy but I dont want to waste money on app fees on places I wouldnt go. Im OK with reapplying (but maybe I'm just saying this now and I should apply more broadly)...Main factors Im considering are cost, location, prestige (or specialising rates since I want to specialise), and pass/fail

UCSF (top choice - concern is that its research oriented and I dont have many hours)

UCLA (2nd top choice - in state tuition and I have the most connection to this school)

Harvard

Columbia

UOP - CA and 3 years

Penn

UMich

Midwestern AZ - safety and close to CA

BU - target/safety

UNLV - safety and close to CA

MW-AZ is $$$$$
BU is not a target school

7 out of the 10 schools are amongst the 10 most competitive in the nation outside of the texas schools
so while you have nearly perfect stats and will get interest from at least a few of these schools, it's difficult to judge your chances

are you a good interviewee?

have you spoken to UCLA admissions about your chances?

 

[Wisetoothshucker]

I graduated from UCSF couple years ago, got in with good stats but not like yours. I had basically no research experience, decent ECs. You're looking good for any school, you probably don't need to expand your list if you don't want to. I'd personally add the Texas schools for cheap tuition but that's up to you (hard to get in as OOS).

UCSF and UCLA are excellent especially for specializing. Good tuition, good reputation, pass/fail. Can't beat them in my opinion.

Keep up the good work, you're doing great!

 

[smiski]

Your stats warrant shooting for the top if that's what you want.

I would include all your in-state options so add Western and USC (hold out for USC for a huge scholarship if they give those away). I would investigate Roseman and Colorado over BU.

I'll look into those, thank you! Yep I hadn't included USC due to insane cost, was kind of on the fence because some of my peers did receive scholarships this cycle making COA comparable to other schools... Im also a little iffy on PBL (I definitely learn better with traditional lectures) but will speak to current students more about their experiences overall

 

[smiski]

MW-AZ is $$$$$
BU is not a target school

7 out of the 10 schools are amongst the 10 most competitive in the nation outside of the texas schools
so while you have nearly perfect stats and will get interest from at least a few of these schools, it's difficult to judge your chances

are you a good interviewee?

have you spoken to UCLA admissions about your chances?

Thanks for your response! How would I go about speaking to current admissions members? I've spoke to a faculty member who used to be on admissions just about general tips for the application process, but it didn't really occur to me that I could directly ask if I have a good shot

 

[smiski]

I graduated from UCSF couple years ago, got in with good stats but not like yours. I had basically no research experience, decent ECs. You're looking good for any school, you probably don't need to expand your list if you don't want to. I'd personally add the Texas schools for cheap tuition but that's up to you (hard to get in as OOS).

UCSF and UCLA are excellent especially for specializing. Good tuition, good reputation, pass/fail. Can't beat them in my opinion.

Keep up the good work, you're doing great!

Thank you for your response! Can I PM you about your UCSF experience?

 

[Wisetoothshucker]

Thank you for your response! Can I PM you about your UCSF experience?

Definitely!