WAMC- Help with school list

[l.m.8083]

Date of submission: Next week, Aiming for August 21st
Overall GPA: 3.56
Science GPA: 3.1
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.2
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 19 AA, 20 TS, 20 PAT, 16 QR, 22 RC, 20 BIO, 18 GEN, 20 ORGO
State of Residence: New York

Undergrad Attended: SUNY Corning Community College associates, SUNY Cortland bachelor
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No? I am on a gap year now, but I graduated with my bachelors in 3 years compared to 4 years. I wanted the year to work and earn money.

Shadowing Experience:
Dental, 4 offices, 1 being at school (~45 hours) majority at home done at another office (~64 hours) 144 in total.
Orthopedic Surgery internship/shadowing (111 hours) I had originally wanted to go the PA route so used this for my degree but then decided to shadow dental at the same time to help make a decision.

Volunteering Experience: EMS (30 ish hours), youth softball coaching ~160 and counting

Employment: Summer camp, 3 years full-time the entire month of July, Secretary at my family construction company part-time. Working on applying to some more jobs now that DAT is over. Gen Chem 1 Tutor for two semesters.

Research: 80 hours of Neurobiology research, I assisted on a review study, drew scientific illustrations, and assisted with ongoing fish studies weekly.

Other Extracurriculars: 2 semesters of division III softball, retired due to shoulder injury. Pre-dental club, biology club, chemistry club, EMS on campus, intramural volleyball.

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No, I am not close to any schools.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Unsure of what we can put down for this? Presidents list/deans list? Sports awards during college? Honor societies?

LOR type and strength:
Committee letter, 1 coach, 2 dentists, organic professor, research advisor, + head of the biology department from my school
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
School list:
Buffalo
LECOM
UNE
UNC
IUPUI

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[macsak]

Date of submission: Next week, Aiming for August 21st
Overall GPA: 3.56
Science GPA: 3.1
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.2
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 19 AA, 20 TS, 20 PAT, 16 QR, 22 RC, 20 BIO, 18 GEN, 20 ORGO
State of Residence: New York

Undergrad Attended: SUNY Corning Community College associates, SUNY Cortland bachelor
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Minor: Chemistry
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No? I am on a gap year now, but I graduated with my bachelors in 3 years compared to 4 years. I wanted the year to work and earn money.

Shadowing Experience:
Dental, 4 offices, 1 being at school (~45 hours) majority at home done at another office (~64 hours) 144 in total.
Orthopedic Surgery internship/shadowing (111 hours) I had originally wanted to go the PA route so used this for my degree but then decided to shadow dental at the same time to help make a decision.

Volunteering Experience: EMS (30 ish hours), youth softball coaching ~160 and counting

Employment: Summer camp, 3 years full-time the entire month of July, Secretary at my family construction company part-time. Working on applying to some more jobs now that DAT is over. Gen Chem 1 Tutor for two semesters.

Research: 80 hours of Neurobiology research, I assisted on a review study, drew scientific illustrations, and assisted with ongoing fish studies weekly.

Other Extracurriculars: 2 semesters of division III softball, retired due to shoulder injury. Pre-dental club, biology club, chemistry club, EMS on campus, intramural volleyball.

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No, I am not close to any schools.

Relevant Honors or Awards: Unsure of what we can put down for this? Presidents list/deans list? Sports awards during college? Honor societies?

LOR type and strength:
Committee letter, 1 coach, 2 dentists, organic professor, research advisor, + head of the biology department from my school
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
School list:
Buffalo
LECOM
UNE
UNC
IUPUI

you need lots more schools if you want to apply this cycle
many would recommend you wait and apply next cycle after retaking DAT for your best chance
UNC is one of the top 10 most competitive schools in the country and buffalo has high standards for IS residents
your science gpa is below the matriculant average (3.55) and your DAT is below the matriculant average (20.5)

 

[Mr.Smile12]

While you are probably good with your local schools (Buffalo and LECOM), you must add all of your New York schools that match your metrics and mission fit. Stony Brook I think mostly favors in-state applicants, though your metrics do run lower than their means/medians. If you clearly want to be a practicing dentist in WNY and upstate, add your in-states. Yes, that would include NYU so brace yourself for the tuition bill if it's the only school that gives you an interview. You need a few more privates on your list. Your networking with the schools (if you did this before applying) would help you acknowledge which programs won't have an issue with your CC preparation. I would presume your Boston and Philly private schools are in play too (except for the Ivy programs).

What is this IUPUI??? You likely just mean IU SOD, right?

Do you qualify for the LECOM articulation track? LECOM

 

[macsak]

While you are probably good with your local schools (Buffalo and LECOM), you must add all of your New York schools that match your metrics and mission fit. Stony Brook I think mostly favors in-state applicants, though your metrics do run lower than their means/medians. If you clearly want to be a practicing dentist in WNY and upstate, add your in-states. Yes, that would include NYU so brace yourself for the tuition bill if it's the only school that gives you an interview. You need a few more privates on your list. Your networking with the schools (if you did this before applying) would help you acknowledge which programs won't have an issue with your CC preparation. I would presume your Boston and Philly private schools are in play too (except for the Ivy programs).

What is this IUPUI??? You likely just mean IU SOD, right?

Do you qualify for the LECOM articulation track? LECOM

LECOM is a local school for OP?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

LECOM is a local school for OP?

They still have a dental clinic in Erie at last check.

 

[l.m.8083]

While you are probably good with your local schools (Buffalo and LECOM), you must add all of your New York schools that match your metrics and mission fit. Stony Brook I think mostly favors in-state applicants, though your metrics do run lower than their means/medians. If you clearly want to be a practicing dentist in WNY and upstate, add your in-states. Yes, that would include NYU so brace yourself for the tuition bill if it's the only school that gives you an interview. You need a few more privates on your list. Your networking with the schools (if you did this before applying) would help you acknowledge which programs won't have an issue with your CC preparation. I would presume your Boston and Philly private schools are in play too (except for the Ivy programs).

What is this IUPUI??? You likely just mean IU SOD, right?

Do you qualify for the LECOM articulation track? LECOM

I did not realize community college was an issue, LECOM is local to me but not the dental school if that changes anything. I will look more into it thanks. Yes I meant IU SOD sorry!! I do not qualify for LECOM articulate track.

 

[l.m.8083]

you need lots more schools if you want to apply this cycle
many would recommend you wait and apply next cycle after retaking DAT for your best chance
UNC is one of the top 10 most competitive schools in the country and buffalo has high standards for IS residents
your science gpa is below the matriculant average (3.55) and your DAT is below the matriculant average (20.5)

Okay, glad I posted here then. I was getting the impression I did not have to retake but I will look into retaking then.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I did not realize community college was an issue, LECOM is local to me but not the dental school if that changes anything. I will look more into it thanks. Yes I meant IU SOD sorry!! I do not qualify for LECOM articulate track.

I mention that LECOM has an articulation agreement with its dental school with your CC, so they should be on your list given their likelihood to consider CC coursework. While many dental schools will also accept CC courses, LECOM and Buffalo will recognize your CC within their geographical area compared to -- let's say -- USC.

Why are you interested in Indiana? Where (rural, suburban, highly urban; state) do you see yourself practicing?

 

[l.m.8083]

I mention that LECOM has an articulation agreement with its dental school with your CC, so they should be on your list given their likelihood to consider CC coursework. While many dental schools will also accept CC courses, LECOM and Buffalo will recognize your CC within their geographical area compared to -- let's say -- USC.

Why are you interested in Indiana? Where (rural, suburban, highly urban; state) do you see yourself practicing?

Oh okay that make sense, I see myself most coming back to this area as I love my community and the relationships I have built here. So upstate New York would be where I would most like to end up someday. I guess I am feeling a little lost on the application, I was told to apply to as many schools as I could due to my gpa by my school advisor.

 

[macsak]

Oh okay that make sense, I see myself most coming back to this area as I love my community and the relationships I have built here. So upstate New York would be where I would most like to end up someday. I guess I am feeling a little lost on the application, I was told to apply to as many schools as I could due to my gpa by my school advisor.

is 5 schools all you could afford to apply to?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Oh okay that make sense, I see myself most coming back to this area as I love my community and the relationships I have built here. So upstate New York would be where I would most like to end up someday. I guess I am feeling a little lost on the application, I was told to apply to as many schools as I could due to my gpa by my school advisor.

Dental schools tend to choose more regionally than medical schools where applicants are encouraged to "flood the zone." If you want to stay within the upstate/WNY/Erie/Ontario area, focus your list there. That's why I don't get IUSOD or UNC. At least with UNE you serve similar Northeast rural communities. You could try for BU and Tufts. Stony favors in-state NY, and NYU has the largest class and likely alumni network for the state of New York. Touro NY is also in play. For all of these schools, a stronger DAT result will help you, but these are likely your best shots that will help you fulfill your goal.

OOS: If community dentistry is your passion, apply when NEOMED dental opens. If you have time, see if you can make a campus visit. It's not that far away from WNY. It's still not clear how their IS/OOS balance is set, but their clinical experiences will be community clinic rotations.

 

[l.m.8083]

is 5 schools all you could afford to apply to?

No, I am able to apply to more! As of now, I have UNE, BU, UB, Touro, LECOM, but am open to applying to more.

 

[l.m.8083]

Dental schools tend to choose more regionally than medical schools where applicants are encouraged to "flood the zone." If you want to stay within the upstate/WNY/Erie/Ontario area, focus your list there. That's why I don't get IUSOD or UNC. At least with UNE you serve similar Northeast rural communities. You could try for BU and Tufts. Stony favors in-state NY, and NYU has the largest class and likely alumni network for the state of New York. Touro NY is also in play. For all of these schools, a stronger DAT result will help you, but these are likely your best shots that will help you fulfill your goal.

OOS: If community dentistry is your passion, apply when NEOMED dental opens. If you have time, see if you can make a campus visit. It's not that far away from WNY. It's still not clear how their IS/OOS balance is set, but their clinical experiences will be community clinic rotations.

I have family in the UNC/IUSOD area, that's why I considered them. Sorry for the confusion. I have marked off both from my list. I have not heard of NEOMED? I will look into it today. I thought my QR was the biggest downfall on my DAT, what should I aim for in a retake? Will I have to retake anyway if I reapply next year given the scoring is changing? Would Case Western be a school I should consider? Thanks for the help!

 

[macsak]

No, I am able to apply to more! As of now, I have UNE, BU, UB, Touro, LECOM, but am open to applying to more.

I have family in the UNC/IUSOD area, that's why I considered them. Sorry for the confusion. I have marked off both from my list. I have not heard of NEOMED? I will look into it today. I thought my QR was the biggest downfall on my DAT, what should I aim for in a retake? Will I have to retake anyway if I reapply next year given the scoring is changing? Would Case Western be a school I should consider? Thanks for the help!

please read my original response to your post

your oGPA is at the matriculant average (3.55), but your sGPA and BCP are significantly below (3.55)
your DAT scores are also belo the matriculant averages (20.5)

you don't have to retake only because the scoring is changing, the schools will be able to sort things out...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I have family in the UNC/IUSOD area, that's why I considered them. Sorry for the confusion. I have marked off both from my list. I have not heard of NEOMED? I will look into it today. I thought my QR was the biggest downfall on my DAT, what should I aim for in a retake? Will I have to retake anyway if I reapply next year given the scoring is changing? Would Case Western be a school I should consider? Thanks for the help!

Having family isn't enough to move the needle.

Your metrics may be low for Case. They also will be more focused on urban or suburban settings. NEOMED dental will open up after they get accredited, anticipating in a few weeks. But they are doing campus tours.

 

[l.m.8083]

Having family isn't enough to move the needle.

Your metrics may be low for Case. They also will be more focused on urban or suburban settings. NEOMED dental will open up after they get accredited, anticipating in a few weeks. But they are doing campus tours.

I will check out NEOMED. Thank you for the advice. I will reconsider apply next cycle instead to improve my application.

 

[l.m.8083]

please read my original response to your post

your oGPA is at the matriculant average (3.55), but your sGPA and BCP are significantly below (3.55)
your DAT scores are also belo the matriculant averages (20.5)

you don't have to retake only because the scoring is changing, the schools will be able to sort things out...

I am going to reconsider applying this cycle, and instead improve my application. Thank you for the advice!