WAMC - MD Resident, applying to 21 schools, 1 gap year

[kansastooth]

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Date of submission: June 3rd
Overall GPA: 3.63
Science GPA: 3.52
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.47
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA 450/TS 470/QR 460/RC 400/BIO 510/GC 430/OC 460/PAT 370
State of Residence: Maryland

Undergrad Attended: UMD
Major: BME
Minor: n/a
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: Hospital Dentist (120 hours), General Dentist 1 (260 hours), General Dentist 2 (300 hours ), Clinic Dentist (102 hours)
Volunteering Experience: Hospice (90 hours), Remote Area Dental Volunteering (40 hours), Hospital Wheelchair Volunteer (100 hours)
Employment: Teaching Assistant for Biology (420 hours), Dental Assistant (160+ hours)
Research: Protein Dynamics Research (600+ hours), 2 Presentations
Other Extracurriculars: President of Pre-Dental Club (35 hours), volleyball coach (20 hours), Ballet (500+ hours)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? ADEA Go-Dental Fair
Relevant Honors or Awards: Award for capstone project
LOR type and strength: 2 science prof, 1 research, 1 dentist (all quite strong)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Retook organic chemistry 2 went from C- to a B, and got a c in last semester of biomaterials class
School list:

1. UMD
2. NYU
3. Boston
4. Tufts
5. VCU
6. CWR
7. Temple
8. Pitt
9. UCLA
10. Cali NS
11. UCSF
12. Western
13. Midwestern IL
14. IUC
15. UFlorida
16. USC
17. UNC
18. LECOM
19. Rutgers
20. UMich
21. OSU

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: June 3rd
Overall GPA: 3.63
Science GPA: 3.52
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.47
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA 450/TS 470/QR 460/RC 400/BIO 510/GC 430/OC 460/PAT 370
State of Residence: Maryland

Undergrad Attended: UMD
Major: BME
Minor: n/a
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: Hospital Dentist (120 hours), General Dentist 1 (260 hours), General Dentist 2 (300 hours ), Clinic Dentist (102 hours)
Volunteering Experience: Hospice (90 hours), Remote Area Dental Volunteering (40 hours), Hospital Wheelchair Volunteer (100 hours)
Employment: Teaching Assistant for Biology (420 hours), Dental Assistant (160+ hours)
Research: Protein Dynamics Research (600+ hours), 2 Presentations
Other Extracurriculars: President of Pre-Dental Club (35 hours), volleyball coach (20 hours), Ballet (500+ hours)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? ADEA Go-Dental Fair
Relevant Honors or Awards: Award for capstone project
LOR type and strength: 2 science prof, 1 research, 1 dentist (all quite strong)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Retook organic chemistry 2 went from C- to a B, and got a c in last semester of biomaterials class
School list:

1. UMD
2. NYU
3. Boston
4. Tufts
5. VCU
6. CWR
7. Temple
8. Pitt
9. UCLA
10. Cali NS
11. UCSF
12. Western
13. Midwestern IL
14. IUC
15. UFlorida
16. USC
17. UNC
18. LECOM
19. Rutgers
20. UMich
21. OSU

reaches:
UCLA
UCSF
UNC
UMich

target school:
UMD
how come you have not attended events here?
have you met with admissions?

likely donations:
IUC
UFlorida

in range:
VCU
CWR
Temple
Pitt
LECOM
Rutgers
OSU

safeties:
Boston
Tufts
Midwestern IL

prob could have skipped:
USC
NYU
Cali NS
Western

i would have recommended a smaller list, but i think you have a decent chance at success

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yeah, I think you could have gone with fewer reaches (definitely scratch the California schools off). I'm guessing at the ADEA GoDental Fair you met with all programs on your list?

What's remarkable to me: dental shadowing 782 hours! That's a TON of shadowing. Even more hours than premeds compile. What were you doing for that long?

 

[kansastooth]

Thank you so much for your input! Yes, I met with the programs on my list at the GoDental Fair. I do agree my list is a bit overkill atm, but I applied to several California schools because my family plans to relocate there in 2026.

Most of my shadowing hours came from summers spent at my own dentist’s office (both pediatric and adult), where I stayed nearly full days throughout the my break. I observed procedures like fillings, crowns, and extractions, and occasionally helped out in sterilization. This summer, I became certified as a dental assistant and started working full time at the pediatric office.

The rest of my hours were completed during the school year at local free clinics and dental programs affiliated with hospitals. As a community volunteer, I assisted with tasks like room setup and breakdown, filing, insurance verification, and other behind the scenes work.

 

[kansastooth]

reaches:
UCLA
UCSF
UNC
UMich

target school:
UMD
how come you have not attended events here?
have you met with admissions?

likely donations:
IUC
UFlorida

in range:
VCU
CWR
Temple
Pitt
LECOM
Rutgers
OSU

safeties:
Boston
Tufts
Midwestern IL

prob could have skipped:
USC
NYU
Cali NS
Western

i would have recommended a smaller list, but i think you have a decent chance at success

reaches:
UCLA
UCSF
UNC
UMich

target school:
UMD
how come you have not attended events here?
have you met with admissions?

likely donations:
IUC
UFlorida

in range:
VCU
CWR
Temple
Pitt
LECOM
Rutgers
OSU

safeties:
Boston
Tufts
Midwestern IL

prob could have skipped:
USC
NYU
Cali NS
Western

i would have recommended a smaller list, but i think you have a decent chance at success

Hello! This is super helpful. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly.

I’ve attended a few events hosted by UMD, but I transferred to the university during my sophomore year, so I didn’t have as much time to build a strong rapport with the admissions team.

I’m curious though why do you think NYU, California Northstate, and Western might have been skippable? Is it based on stats, or is there another part of my application that you think might not align well with what those schools are looking for?

 

[macsak]

Hello! This is super helpful. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly.

I’ve attended a few events hosted by UMD, but I transferred to the university during my sophomore year, so I didn’t have as much time to build a strong rapport with the admissions team.

I’m curious though why do you think NYU, California Northstate, and Western might have been skippable? Is it based on stats, or is there another part of my application that you think might not align well with what those schools are looking for?

all have most or all of these: expensive, new, far away from your state of residence, you already have plenty of privates...