WAMC For the next cycle? Should I risk it, or apply for Postbacc?

[hoosdoingdentistry]

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Date of submission: Prospective submission is prior to July 2020.
Overall GPA: 3.3
Science GPA: 3.1
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 2.85
My GPA is severely lacking, but I have a strong upward trend.
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA:23/TS:23/PA:21/QR:18/RC:24/BIO:21/GC:25/OC:27
State of Residence: Virginia
Undergrad Attended: University of Virginia
Major: Psychology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: ~200 hours shadowing general dentists.
Volunteering Experience: ~300 hours volunteering at the Free Dental Clinic, and volunteering at local schools.
Employment: Currently employment 12 hours weekly at the university library.
Paid research position during the summer of 2018
Research: 520 psychology research hours investigating cognitive aging and deterioration.
Other Extracurriculars: Founder and co-president of a dentistry oriented volunteering organization.
LOR type and strength: I unfortunately never formed strong relationships with my professors, but I am expecting strong letters of recommendation from my primary investigator and from the dentist I shadowed.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere: I founded and have been managing a volunteering organization that focuses on creating awareness surrounding dental hygiene and health in local Charlottesville schools. My passion for dentistry stems from providing services to unserved and under-educated communities and creating opportunities for people to take autonomy in their own health.
School list:
Howard University
Tufts
UMD
Loma Linda
NYU
UCSF
Boston University
VCU
Rutgers
UNC
University of the Pacific

Are there any schools I should remove because I have absolutely no chance at acceptance? Are there any schools I should add?
I really appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!

 

[artist2022]

I'd remove Howard - you're not a minority. I'd remove UNC, they're not very OOS friendly, pretty much at all. Would add a couple more schools tbh because your BCP GPA is probably your biggest red flag and might cause you to be auto-rejected from schools. Tbh I'd apply and take classes at a 4yr near you to raise your GPA and be able to do Academic Updates as you progress through the cycle.

 

[hoosdoingdentistry]

I'd remove Howard - you're not a minority. I'd remove UNC, they're not very OOS friendly, pretty much at all. Would add a couple more schools tbh because your BCP GPA is probably your biggest red flag and might cause you to be auto-rejected from schools. Tbh I'd apply and take classes at a 4yr near you to raise your GPA and be able to do Academic Updates as you progress through the cycle.

Thanks for your reply! Do you have a suggestion as to how many more classes I should take to raise my BCP GPA? Would a 3.0 be sufficient? Also, what other schools would you recommend adding based on my stats?

 

[artist2022]

Thanks for your reply! Do you have a suggestion as to how many more classes I should take to raise my BCP GPA? Would a 3.0 be sufficient? Also, what other schools would you recommend adding based on my stats?

Above a 3.0 should be good. Schools to add would be based on your preferences and what you're looking for in schools, but I'd maybe have a few more privates like Case or LECOM, and maybe a few public schools that will allow you to get IS tuition after a year.

 

[hoosdoingdentistry]

Above a 3.0 should be good. Schools to add would be based on your preferences and what you're looking for in schools, but I'd maybe have a few more privates like Case or LECOM, and maybe a few public schools that will allow you to get IS tuition after a year.

Thanks so much! You're a lifesaver.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Date of submission: Prospective submission is prior to July 2020.
Overall GPA: 3.3
Science GPA: 3.1
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 2.85
My GPA is severely lacking, but I have a strong upward trend.
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA:23/TS:23/PA:21/QR:18/RC:24/BIO:21/GC:25/OC:27
State of Residence: Virginia
Undergrad Attended: University of Virginia
Major: Psychology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: ~200 hours shadowing general dentists.
Volunteering Experience: ~300 hours volunteering at the Free Dental Clinic, and volunteering at local schools.
Employment: Currently employment 12 hours weekly at the university library.
Paid research position during the summer of 2018
Research: 520 psychology research hours investigating cognitive aging and deterioration.
Other Extracurriculars: Founder and co-president of a dentistry oriented volunteering organization.
LOR type and strength: I unfortunately never formed strong relationships with my professors, but I am expecting strong letters of recommendation from my primary investigator and from the dentist I shadowed.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere: I founded and have been managing a volunteering organization that focuses on creating awareness surrounding dental hygiene and health in local Charlottesville schools. My passion for dentistry stems from providing services to unserved and under-educated communities and creating opportunities for people to take autonomy in their own health.
School list:
Howard University
Tufts
UMD
Loma Linda
NYU
UCSF
Boston University
VCU
Rutgers
UNC
University of the Pacific

Are there any schools I should remove because I have absolutely no chance at acceptance? Are there any schools I should add?
I really appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance!

Yipes, that BCP GPA is not going to do you many favors, even with privates. UCSF and LL (religious affiliation?) will be a donation. You can see about other large enrollment schools like BU, LECOM, and NOVA but your chances aren't great without some prior networking with students and admissions staff, and then no guarantees.

If you had a stronger understanding and history with underserved populations in health care, you might be okay at Howard and other HBCU dental schools. As it stands I say no.

I'd ask what classes comprise your BCP GPA and what advise you received from your prehealth advisor office, but if you don't feel comfortable with disclosing here, I suggest the Confidential Consult forum.

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[hoosdoingdentistry]

Yipes, that BCP GPA is not going to do you many favors, even with privates. UCSF and LL (religious affiliation?) will be a donation. You can see about other large enrollment schools like BU, LECOM, and NOVA but your chances aren't great without some prior networking with students and admissions staff, and then no guarantees.

If you had a stronger understanding and history with underserved populations in health care, you might be okay at Howard and other HBCU dental schools. As it stands I say no.

I'd ask what classes comprise your BCP GPA and what advise you received from your prehealth advisor office, but if you don't feel comfortable with disclosing here, I suggest the Confidential Consult forum.

Sent from my SM-N960U using SDN mobile

Hi, thank you for responding!

I took all the prerequisites, chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics, with all of the corresponding labs at my 4-year university. I'm hoping that if I do well in a chemistry class I'm taking, physics II (that I'm retaking because of a C-), and 8 credits of human anatomy, my BCP GPA will boost to above a 3.0 by late August.

Unfortunately, UVA does not have pre-health advisors.

My plan is to submit early in June/July, and do academic updates. Do you think that will be enough?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Hi, thank you for responding!

I took all the prerequisites, chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics, with all of the corresponding labs at my 4-year university. I'm hoping that if I do well in a chemistry class I'm taking, physics II (that I'm retaking because of a C-), and 8 credits of human anatomy, my BCP GPA will boost to above a 3.0 by late August.

Unfortunately, UVA does not have pre-health advisors.

My plan is to submit early in June/July, and do academic updates. Do you think that will be enough?

UVA has prehealth advisors in the Career Center and events coming up.

Pre-Health | UVA Career Center

career.virginia.edu

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[hoosdoingdentistry]

UVA has prehealth advisors in the Career Center and events coming up.

Pre-Health | UVA Career Center

career.virginia.edu

Sent from my SM-N960U using SDN mobile

That's a little embarrassing for me but thank you! I checked during my third year and I couldn't find anything so I assumed we didn't have pre-health advisors. I appreciate your reply otherwise I would have never found it! Thank you again.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

That's a little embarrassing for me but thank you! I checked during my third year and I couldn't find anything so I assumed we didn't have pre-health advisors. I appreciate your reply otherwise I would have never found it! Thank you again.

Ok. Have a meeting with them and get their critique. Find out when the next open house at VCU is scheduled or if the predental club has arranged a recruiter visit. You have to do some catching up to get a realistic appraisal of your application, especially with the school that admits the most UVa applicants to dental school.

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