WAMC at Top Schools?

[lemonslice11111]

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Date of submission: 8/16/2025
Overall GPA: 3.93
Science GPA: 3.90
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.86
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 25AA/28TS/20PAT
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: Top public school
Major: science
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes (4 gap years helping family business)
Shadowing Experience:
250 general dentist shadowing hours
300 specialist shadowing hours

Volunteering Experience: 300 total hours (helped underserved people by tutoring, prepping meals, etc)

Employment: Thousands of hours, did multiple part-time jobs during college, did 2 years of dental assisting, after graduation I helped my family business, and recently working as a clinical research coordinator
Research: Did not do any undergrad research but I’m currently working in clinical research field
Other Extracurriculars: Took UCLA Basic Dental Principles (BDP) course, attended UCLA SOD Predental Shadowing day, attended a bunch of UCLA SOD zoom lecture series(hosted by dental students)

LOR type and strength: 3 science, 1 general dentist. Not sure about strength

School list:

Harvard

Columbia

UPenn

UCLA

UCSF

Michigan

UOP

Maryland

Buffalo


What are my chances at these schools? Also, when should I expect to get an interview?

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: 8/16/2025
Overall GPA: 3.93
Science GPA: 3.90
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.86
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 25AA/28TS/20PAT
State of Residence: CA
Undergrad Attended: Top public school
Major: science
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes (4 gap years helping family business)
Shadowing Experience:
250 general dentist shadowing hours
300 specialist shadowing hours

Volunteering Experience: 300 total hours (helped underserved people by tutoring, prepping meals, etc)

Employment: Thousands of hours, did multiple part-time jobs during college, did 2 years of dental assisting, after graduation I helped my family business, and recently working as a clinical research coordinator
Research: Did not do any undergrad research but I’m currently working in clinical research field
Other Extracurriculars: Took UCLA Basic Dental Principles (BDP) course, attended UCLA SOD Predental Shadowing day, attended a bunch of UCLA SOD zoom lecture series(hosted by dental students)

LOR type and strength: 3 science, 1 general dentist. Not sure about strength

School list:

Harvard

Columbia

UPenn

UCLA

UCSF

Michigan

UOP

Maryland

Buffalo


What are my chances at these schools? Also, when should I expect to get an interview?

how did you come up with this list?
why maryland?
why buffalo?

 

[lemonslice11111]

how did you come up with this list?
why maryland?
why buffalo?

Hello

I’m considering Maryland and Buffalo because they offer in-state tuition after one year, and both are places I’m willing to live. I know there are other schools with similar in-state tuition policies, but I narrowed my list to those that also accept prerequisites taken more than five years ago(since I have some old prerequisites).

 

[macsak]

Hello

I’m considering Maryland and Buffalo because they offer in-state tuition after one year, and both are places I’m willing to live. I know there are other schools with similar in-state tuition policies, but I narrowed my list to those that also accept prerequisites taken more than five years ago(since I have some old prerequisites).

you get interview invites and acceptances by having mission fit with a program
"in-state tuition after on year" and "places i am willing to live" are not mission fit
you are likely to experience yield management at these two schools...

your other 7 schools are easily in the top 8-10 dental schools to get into in the country
and while your stats are mind blowing, because all of these programs attract many high stat applicants, it is difficult to say which ones and how many you will get
not saying you won't get, because i am sure that you will get at least a couple as long as you interview at least decently

have you met previously with admissions staff at UCLA?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

On metrics, sure you could get a shot at the other top dental schools on the list, but as macsak noted, they're all going to be tough anyway.

The question I have is focused on how nontrad friendly you think these schools are. Why would you want to travel across the country to attend the Ivy dental schools? Just for the name? Unless you have a goal of becoming an academic dentist or pursuing a lucrative specialty, the dental school name you attend won't mean much.

You have UCLA listed, but you should include all the California schools (UCSF, Pacific, USC, Western, Touro). UNLV and AZDOH would probably love to have you, as would Roseman. If you want to get away from California to go to Michigan, go for it; maybe add Minnesota if there is a strong mission fit. I'd add other Midwestern privates like CWRU (though you might need Casper), Marquette, Creighton, or Louisville; though they may also look at you with some skepticism, if they think you are sincere about moving out of California, they could take a chance at you.

Also, when should you get an interview? You haven't gotten one yet? You said you submitted in mid-August, two months into the cycle. I hope anytime before March. We don't have your application to assess your letters and essays (and mission fit). You don't have much time to add more schools, and those you add now, you may get a winter interview slot (January or later). For most of the schools on your list that want high-metrics applicants, you're in the middle of the pack/peleton and haven't really said anything that would catch my eye to interview you. I think you'll have to trust the process unless there's an ace you haven't disclosed to us.