WAMC for any more interview invites this cycle?

[c3tribro]

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[macsak]

the issue is your school list
texas schools are the hardest in the country to get into OOS
UNC too
and UF also
yes, you have great DAT scores, but your GPA and 2 Cs don't reflect that
(yes, i see the part about the ACL surgery)
in addition, UConn is well within the top 12-15 most difficult to get into schools in the country
UMaryland is your best shot at an interview, i would think
not to say that you won't get any others, but maryland is most likely IMO
i wouldn't worry too much if i were you, as long as your bros are doing well in school and have good reputations...

Date of submission: 7/24-30 (finished apps to all schools during this week)
Overall GPA: 3.87
Science GPA: 3.72
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.7
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 27AA - PAT/QR/RC/Bio/GC/OC/TS - 21/27/24/30/26/30/30
State of Residence: South Dakota (no in-state school)

Undergrad Attended: Brigham Young University
Major: Neuroscience, Spanish Studies
Minor: Gerontology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 106 hrs. Mainly general dentistry, but also oral surgery and endodontics.
Volunteering: varied, several thousand
Research: 330 hrs. Neuroscience research, posters presentations at SfN in San Diego and two university research conferences. No publication.
Other Extracurriculars: President of neuroscience club at my university. Very involved with my church + leadership opportunities.
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Took a tour of UNMC since my brother is currently attending there as a D3.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Full ride undergraduate academic scholarship (8 semesters full tuition)
LOR type and strength: All very strong. 1 from a dentist I shadowed, 1 from my research professor (who I also took advanced physiology from), 1 from another neuroscience teacher, 1 from a retired dentist I have a great relationship with who is very influential in California and has been involved at the state/national level in various dental organizations.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Received 2 C grades, one in Ochem 2 and one in Neuroanatomy due to two ACL surgeries during those semesters. I included these surgeries in my personal statement and supplemental essays. I served a church service mission for two years in Chile and Florida and speak fluent Spanish. I also have two older brothers currently in dental school (one is a D1 at Minnesota and one is a D3 at UNMC)
School list:
Minnesota - Interviewed (9/23)
UNMC (Nebraska) - Interviewed (10/17)
Roseman - Interviewed (9/27)
Iowa - Deferred (10/12)
UCONN
UF
UMaryland
UNC
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
UT Houston
UT San Antonio

Counted on the midwest schools as being my best bet since they're close to home and then applied to schools that I could see myself going to that also give in-state tuition after the first year. I wasn't counting on so few interviews though and didn't want to waste money applying to 20 schools. I'm blessed for the interviews I've had so far, and I think they went well. However, what chances do I have for more interviews to come my way? Thanks for the input!

 

[c3tribro]

the issue is your school list
texas schools are the hardest in the country to get into OOS
UNC too
and UF also
yes, you have great DAT scores, but your GPA and 2 Cs don't reflect that
(yes, i see the part about the ACL surgery)
in addition, UConn is well within the top 12-15 most difficult to get into schools in the country
UMaryland is your best shot at an interview, i would think
not to say that you won't get any others, but maryland is most likely IMO
i wouldn't worry too much if i were you, as long as your bros are doing well in school and have good reputations...

Thanks for the response! Is a cGPA of 3.87 and sGPA of 3.72 really that low? At all the averages I looked at I was well above their averages. Even for UNC/UCONN, the sources I've seen puts their average GPA at a 3.6/3.7. Also, you don't think schools take into account being a double major as well as the extenuating circumstances? Oh well, just trying to understand here, because nothing I do now changes anything. Would be nice to have some more options though.

Edit: I knew from the beginning that UF and Texas schools were a stretch but decided I might as well try. I was told it's good to have some reaches 🤷‍♂️. Guess I didn't realize how competitive UCONN and UNC were since I lined up with their stats pretty well. Live and learn I guess.

 

[macsak]

Thanks for the response! Is a cGPA of 3.87 and sGPA of 3.72 really that low? At all the averages I looked at I was well above their averages. Even for UNC/UCONN, the sources I've seen puts their average GPA at a 3.6/3.7. Also, you don't think schools take into account being a double major as well as the extenuating circumstances? Oh well, just trying to understand here, because nothing I do now changes anything. Would be nice to have some more options though.

Edit: I knew from the beginning that UF and Texas schools were a stretch but decided I might as well try. I was told it's good to have some reaches 🤷‍♂️. Guess I didn't realize how competitive UCONN and UNC were since I lined up with their stats pretty well. Live and learn I guess.

i never said your GPA was low...

 

[macsak]

Thanks for the response! Is a cGPA of 3.87 and sGPA of 3.72 really that low? At all the averages I looked at I was well above their averages. Even for UNC/UCONN, the sources I've seen puts their average GPA at a 3.6/3.7. Also, you don't think schools take into account being a double major as well as the extenuating circumstances? Oh well, just trying to understand here, because nothing I do now changes anything. Would be nice to have some more options though.

Edit: I knew from the beginning that UF and Texas schools were a stretch but decided I might as well try. I was told it's good to have some reaches 🤷‍♂️. Guess I didn't realize how competitive UCONN and UNC were since I lined up with their stats pretty well. Live and learn I guess.

the issue was not your reaches
your issue was too few in-range and safeties...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

3 interviews is awesome.

Yeah, as a SD resident, you have few options. The schools that you listed that interview you know this, and they understand their role in helping to address the dental workforce shortage in their neighboring states. You have a good shot with your metrics with Roseman, and I also think they understand what you could bring to their class with your perspective.

I would have added Marquette which is your other reasonable regional option. Iowa may already have filled up their interview spots for fall, so perhaps they'll move after offers begin to roll. @macsak and I might have differing ideas of other schools, but others I could think about include Colorado and the Arizona schools (in case you like a change in temperature). It depends on your mission fit.

 

[c3tribro]

3 interviews is awesome.

Yeah, as a SD resident, you have few options. The schools that you listed that interview you know this, and they understand their role in helping to address the dental workforce shortage in their neighboring states. You have a good shot with your metrics with Roseman, and I also think they understand what you could bring to their class with your perspective.

I would have added Marquette which is your other reasonable regional option. Iowa may already have filled up their interview spots for fall, so perhaps they'll move after offers begin to roll. @macsak and I might have differing ideas of other schools, but others I could think about include Colorado and the Arizona schools (in case you like a change in temperature). It depends on your mission fit.

Appreciate the insight! Do you think it's too late to add Colorado/Arizona schools? Or should I just ride this cycle out...
Also curious about your perspective @macsak

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Appreciate the insight! Do you think it's too late to add Colorado/Arizona schools? Or should I just ride this cycle out...
Also curious about your perspective @macsak

I'll also wait for my colleague's opinion. (He's heard from the admissions teams more often than me, especially west of the Mississippi.)

I would focus on the interview I have coming up (today). Good luck! Clearly your DAT will grab attention.

 

[macsak]

I'll also wait for my colleague's opinion. (He's heard from the admissions teams more often than me, especially west of the Mississippi.)

I would focus on the interview I have coming up (today). Good luck! Clearly your DAT will grab attention.

there are plenty of options OP could have looked into
colorado/utah, kansas/missouri, creighton, Oklahoma, marquette

as to whether or not to apply at this point, i am not sure how effective that strategy will be, so i am going to withhold judgement either way...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Well, the medical school interview "rule of thumb" says, if you get interviews three, a doctor you will be. Not sure if it necessarily fits for dentistry, but I would say if there are still schools you would love to attend if they were the only ones offering you a spot, it's worth a shot if the deadline hasn't already passed and you still have some money to burn. (Like gambling, don't invest money you aren't willing to lose.)

Considering dental schools don't have exhaustive secondaries compared to MD programs, I think the high DAT will grab some attention with screeners, and the solid GPA should keep them interested. Again, it boils down to mission fit and their ability to support a student from South Dakota. The farther out from SD, the less connection to orgs like the SDDA (South Dakota Dental Association).

Be judicious. If I could pick one additional school, I'd go for Marquette. It's in-region, and many SD applicants have found a dental school home there. They are private, and they likely fill their class a little late. OP has metrics above their reported averages in the DSE. Creighton would be next for similar reasons (their incoming class size was 117; Marquette was 99). The only reason: I liked Milwaukee (which is close to Chicago), and I haven't been to Omaha. Compare the COA's.