WAMC: Business to Predental

[deleted1201027]

Date of submission: JUNE 2025
Overall GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.7 (Estimated 3.7-3.75 at time of app with current track)
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: No still taking prereqs
DAT score (include AA and all sections): No; need advice on what to aim for. EST 19-22
State of Residence: UT

Undergrad Attended: U of U
Major: Bachelor in Business Management, Masters in Business Management, Associate in Biology
Minor: No
Minority? Yes, second/third gen Hispanic/Native American
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes, first-gen student, demonstrated financial need (-1500 SAI)

Shadowing Experience: Worked as a dental assistant for about a year, would estimate roughly 100+ at a general dentist that does basically every procedure under the sun, and 20+ at another general dentist.

Volunteering Experience: 2 international service trips, various dental club service activities every semester, other club-related service activities every semester in undergrad with food bank service to sort food/products, Fraternity raised over $120,000 in donations for charity in a single semester. Not sure if I can put this or not but I offer free personal training to help others get started. (certified)

Employment: Dental Assistant 1 year general dentist, Residential Advisor, Student housing, trying to be a TA next semester for bio 1 or chem 1.

Research: No

Other Extracurriculars: Officer in various clubs, Student leader x2
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), x8 school and academic scholarships,

LOR type and strength: Bio prof(good / amazing), Chem prof(great), employers mazing), dentist, amazing)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
Since I come from a background in business, I already have most of my generals done and thus the pace of my application. I did an internship at the dental clinic I then worked at to demonstrate during my undergrad (junior year), that I wanted to do dental even while pursuing my business degree knowing I would eventually go into dental school and that this is indeed my dream. I have taken Biology 1/lab, and am currently in Bio 2, Genetics, and Chem 1.

Next semester I will take Chem 2, Cell Bio, and am inbetween Anatomy or an easy science class to boost my gpa and study for the DAT. I Will then take OCHEM ½ in the summer intensively, submit my app in june, and take the DAT in late July/beginning of August and reupdate my application. I plan on using the remaining year to finish the final pre-reqs. I believe it’s around 15 credits.

DAT studying:
Currently studying for Reading, PAT, and Biology, my strongest subjects.
Studying everything in winter/spring/summer once finished with Chemistry.

School list: (RANKED TOP TO BOTTOM)
Will go wherever accepted in order. Just looking to be close to home, be in state for a year to get in-state tuition, and a Cosmetic Dentist.
University of Utah (#1
Roseman University #1
Arizona - I have family here #2.1
Midwestern #2.2
Colorado/UNLV #2.3
UCLA - Feels like a longshot #2.4
LSU #3
OHSU - I was born in Oregon, have lots of family there #3
Temple - #3

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[macsak]

Date of submission: JUNE 2025
Overall GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.7 (Estimated 3.7-3.75 at time of app with current track)
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: N/A still taking prereqs
DAT score (include AA and all sections): N/A; need advice on what to aim for. EST 19-22
State of Residence: UT

Undergrad Attended: U of U
Major: Bachelor in Business Management(Utah), Masters in Business Management (Temple), Associate in Biology (In state school near U of U)
Minor: N/A
Minority? Yes, second/third gen European/Hispanic/Native American
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes, first-gen student, demonstrated financial need (-1500 SAI)

Shadowing Experience: Worked as a dental assistant for about a year, would estimate roughly 100+ at a general dentist that does basically every procedure under the sun, and 20+ at another general dentist.

Volunteering Experience: 2 international service trips, one during senior/freshman year of college and sophomore year of college (1 month total abroad), various dental club service activities every semester(10+ hours maybe?), other club-related service activities every semester in undergrad with food bank service to sort food/products (40-50 hours), Fraternity raised over $120,000 in donations for charity in a single semester. Not sure if I can put this or not but I offer free personal training to help others get started. (certified)

Employment: Dental Assistant 1 year general dentist(junior year), Residential Advisor for the dorms (1 semester)(senior year), Student job housing ambassador (1 year, scholarship, sophomore year), processor for a mortgage company (1 year, freshman year), trying to be a TA next semester for bio 1 or chem 1. Just got offered a job to be a personal trainer at a gym, deciding between that and the TA position.

Research: N/A

Other Extracurriculars: President of the Pre-Dental Club, Officer for the Native American student organization, Student leader x2
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), Multiple school and academic scholarships, masters degree academic scholarship, honors college, honors business program, peer mentor program scholarship, student leader scholarship, donor academic scholarship

LOR type and strength: Bio prof(good, could be amazing), Chem prof(building relationship now, great so far), employer(OFFICE MANAGER of the dentist I shadowed before working there, amazing), dentist the one I worked for, amazing)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

Did Master’s degree via study abroad in Asia for more than 1 year.

Since I come from a background in business, I already have most of my generals done and thus the pace of my application. I did an internship at the dental clinic I then worked at to demonstrate during my undergrad (junior year), that I wanted to do dental even while pursuing my business degree knowing I would eventually go into dental school and that this is indeed my dream. I have taken Biology 1/lab, and am currently in Bio 2, Genetics, and Chem 1.

Next semester I will take Chem 2, Cell Bio, and am inbetween Anatomy or an easy science class to boost my gpa and study for the DAT. I Will then take OCHEM ½ in the summer intensively, submit my app in june, and take the DAT in late July/beginning of August and reupdate my application. I plan on using the remaining year to finish the final pre-reqs. I believe it’s around 15 credits.

DAT studying:
Currently studying for Reading, PAT, and Biology, my strongest subjects.
Studying everything in winter/spring/summer once finished with Chemistry.

School list: (RANKED TOP TO BOTTOM)
Wiill go wherever accepted in order. Just looking to be close to home, be in state for a year to get in-state tuition, and a Cosmetic Dentist.
University of Utah (alumni) STRONG DESIRE #1
Roseman University STRONG DESIRE #1
Arizona - I have family here #2.1
Midwestern #2.2
Colorado/UNLV #2.3
UCLA - Feels like a longshot #2.4
LSU #3
OHSU - I was born in Oregon, have lots of family there #3
Temple - (alumni) #3
NOVA #4
LECOM #4
UNE #4
Howard #4
Louisville #4
Georgia #4

take off all of your #4 schools

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: JUNE 2025
Overall GPA: 3.75
Science GPA: 3.7 (Estimated 3.7-3.75 at time of app with current track)
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: N/A still taking prereqs
DAT score (include AA and all sections): N/A; need advice on what to aim for. EST 19-22
State of Residence: UT

Undergrad Attended: U of U
Major: Bachelor in Business Management(Utah), Masters in Business Management (Temple), Associate in Biology (In state school near U of U)
Minor: N/A
Minority? Yes, second/third gen European/Hispanic/Native American
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? Yes, first-gen student, demonstrated financial need (-1500 SAI)

Shadowing Experience: Worked as a dental assistant for about a year, would estimate roughly 100+ at a general dentist that does basically every procedure under the sun, and 20+ at another general dentist.

Volunteering Experience: 2 international service trips, one during senior/freshman year of college and sophomore year of college (1 month total abroad), various dental club service activities every semester(10+ hours maybe?), other club-related service activities every semester in undergrad with food bank service to sort food/products (40-50 hours), Fraternity raised over $120,000 in donations for charity in a single semester. Not sure if I can put this or not but I offer free personal training to help others get started. (certified)

Employment: Dental Assistant 1 year general dentist(junior year), Residential Advisor for the dorms (1 semester)(senior year), Student job housing ambassador (1 year, scholarship, sophomore year), processor for a mortgage company (1 year, freshman year), trying to be a TA next semester for bio 1 or chem 1. Just got offered a job to be a personal trainer at a gym, deciding between that and the TA position.

Research: N/A

Other Extracurriculars: President of the Pre-Dental Club, Officer for the Native American student organization, Student leader x2
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), Multiple school and academic scholarships, masters degree academic scholarship, honors college, honors business program, peer mentor program scholarship, student leader scholarship, donor academic scholarship

LOR type and strength: Bio prof(good, could be amazing), Chem prof(building relationship now, great so far), employer(OFFICE MANAGER of the dentist I shadowed before working there, amazing), dentist the one I worked for, amazing)

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

Did Master’s degree via study abroad in Asia for more than 1 year.

Since I come from a background in business, I already have most of my generals done and thus the pace of my application. I did an internship at the dental clinic I then worked at to demonstrate during my undergrad (junior year), that I wanted to do dental even while pursuing my business degree knowing I would eventually go into dental school and that this is indeed my dream. I have taken Biology 1/lab, and am currently in Bio 2, Genetics, and Chem 1.

Next semester I will take Chem 2, Cell Bio, and am inbetween Anatomy or an easy science class to boost my gpa and study for the DAT. I Will then take OCHEM ½ in the summer intensively, submit my app in june, and take the DAT in late July/beginning of August and reupdate my application. I plan on using the remaining year to finish the final pre-reqs. I believe it’s around 15 credits.

DAT studying:
Currently studying for Reading, PAT, and Biology, my strongest subjects.
Studying everything in winter/spring/summer once finished with Chemistry.

School list: (RANKED TOP TO BOTTOM)
Wiill go wherever accepted in order. Just looking to be close to home, be in state for a year to get in-state tuition, and a Cosmetic Dentist.
University of Utah (alumni) STRONG DESIRE #1
Roseman University STRONG DESIRE #1
Arizona - I have family here #2.1
Midwestern #2.2
Colorado/UNLV #2.3
UCLA - Feels like a longshot #2.4
LSU #3
OHSU - I was born in Oregon, have lots of family there #3
Temple - (alumni) #3
NOVA #4
LECOM #4
UNE #4
Howard #4
Louisville #4
Georgia #4

you skipped these:

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
Relevant Honors or Awards:

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Need your full GPA after prerequisites and a DAT score for a stronger assessment, but I agree your #4 group can be excluded assuming your best-case scenario. Why LSU?

 

[deleted1201027]

Need your full GPA after prerequisites and a DAT score for a stronger assessment, but I agree your #4 group can be excluded assuming your best-case scenario. Why LSU?

Agreed. I am more so talking about the strength of my application excluding those though, and was looking for advice on where it needs work/what is solid, and what DAT I should aim for given my bio and current app.

Would it look bad for me to continue my plan and take the DAT the same summer I finish OChem, or is that reasonable and realistic given my background?

I decided on LSU as an option given a statistical analysis of all the dental schools, and with their acceptance rate for OOS and tuition it just makes sense to be on the latter end for me. It is one of my last and final resorts though given the distance. Hopefully, I can get into an instate school, though...

 

[deleted1201027]

you skipped these:

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
Relevant Honors or Awards:

I skipped:
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
No.

However, my relevant honors and awards are mentioned, I just mistakingly didn't put them in bold.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), Multiple school and academic scholarships, masters degree academic scholarship, honors college, honors business program, peer mentor program scholarship, student leader scholarship, donor academic scholarship

 

[macsak]

I skipped:
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
N/A,

However, my relevant honors and awards are mentioned, I just mistakingly didn't put them in bold.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), Multiple school and academic scholarships, masters degree academic scholarship, honors college, honors business program, peer mentor program scholarship, student leader scholarship, donor academic scholarship

how is it N/A?
it's a yes or no question...

sorry i missed the awards part...

 

[deleted1201027]

My bad, N/A is the same as no to me, haha. I fixed it though, thank you!

 

[drDental_]

Agreed. I am more so talking about the strength of my application excluding those though, and was looking for advice on where it needs work/what is solid, and what DAT I should aim for given my bio and current app.

Would it look bad for me to continue my plan and take the DAT the same summer I finish OChem, or is that reasonable and realistic given my background?

I decided on LSU as an option given a statistical analysis of all the dental schools, and with their acceptance rate for OOS and tuition it just makes sense to be on the latter end for me. It is one of my last and final resorts though given the distance. Hopefully, I can get into an instate school, though...

LSU actually is not OOS-friendly per ADEA data (38/560 = ~ 6.79%). They also only offer interviews to approximately 5.22% of OOS applicants (27/517).

Their class was made up of approximately 21% OOS per the latest data in the dental school explorer although that does not make OOS-friendly as noted above.

 

[macsak]

Sorry, to me N/A is the same as no haha. I fixed it though, thanks!

thanks

you were pre-dental club president, spent years near UU d school and temple dental school, but haven't interacted with either school?

when did you decide on dental?

 

[macsak]

LSU actually is not OOS-friendly per ADEA data (38/560 = ~ 6.79%). They also only offer interviews to approximately 5.22% of OOS applicants (27/517).

Their class was made up of approximately 21% OOS per the latest data in the dental school explorer although that does not make OOS-friendly as noted above.

OP also needs to look at which state the OOS students were from...

 

[macsak]

I skipped:
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? networking, volunteering in a D-school clinic, shadow faculty, etc.
No.

However, my relevant honors and awards are mentioned, I just mistakingly didn't put them in bold.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s list 13/14 semesters (3.45 gpa), Multiple school and academic scholarships, masters degree academic scholarship, honors college, honors business program, peer mentor program scholarship, student leader scholarship, donor academic scholarship

you not only didn't put them in bold, you didn't put a space between the topics...

 

[macsak]

thanks

you were pre-dental club president, spent years near UU d school and temple dental school, but haven't interacted with either school?

when did you decide on dental?

oh, sorry
i didn't see the temple degree was abroad

also skipped the part about wanting to go dental in undergrad...

 

[macsak]

"Associate in Biology (In state school near U of U)"

wait, are you finishing your prereqs at a community college?