WAMC, Need Advice

[picklejit]

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Date of submission: I'm posting this to get a realistic opinion on whether I should apply next cycle or apply for a post-bacc/SMP.
Overall GPA: 3.38
Science GPA: 3.22
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.242
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 490 AA, 460 TS, 480 PAT
State of Residence: FL

Undergrad Attended: Florida State University
Major: Health management policy and information
Minority? Yes- Hispanic first gen
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 200- 60 with peds, 60 with oral, rest with general
Volunteering Experience: Red Cross, 20 hours of hurricane relief. Remote Area Medical dental clinic service 100 hours. Hospice volunteer currently have about 90 hours, but will likely reach 180-200+ by the time I finish my contract. (I am still actively looking for volunteer opportunities before I graduate)
Employment: Leasing Agent- 9 months (during my junior and senior year so far ), Dental assistant- 3 months over the summer between junior and senior year. (small retail and food service experiences throughout college during the summer semesters)
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: I am the treasurer of a humanitarian club that raises funds for countries in dire need. We raise funds through fundraisers and campus tabling events.
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: No
LOR type and strength:

1. Biochem Professor- We connected really well, she says she wrote me a great one
2. Oral Surgeon- Known for a while now, very strong
3. Deciding between my cell structure or analytical chemistry professor. Both will probably be average, maybe good.

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
When I first started, I did pretty badly. Was getting tons of C’s in my chemistry courses, particularly a C- in gen chem 1 and C gen chem 2. But since then, I have retaken gen chem 1 with an A. However, does not change that I had slow upward progress up until about my Junior year, where I began to receive consistent B’s and A’s with current challenging classes like Microbio, Biochem, analytical chem, cell structure and function, with all A’s. According to my last 36 science credits I have a 3.508 GPA. I will be taking anatomy and phys 1 with lab, human phys, and biostatistics my next upcoming and last semester. I feel as though my upward trend is strong but could use work.
School list: (pretty crazy list ngl lol, just really wanna be a dentist like everyone else)
NOVA
LECOM
Tufts
NYU
BU
MU AZ and IL
ASDOH
LMU
Western U
Roseman
Touro
Howard
HPU
Louisville
UNE
ATSU Missouri

I came up with my list by looking at schools that accept students with lower GPAs. Additionally, I also just looked at schools that accept a lot of OOS. If you guys have any extra recs please lmk.

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: I'm posting this to get a realistic opinion on whether I should apply next cycle or apply for a post-bacc/SMP.
Overall GPA: 3.38
Science GPA: 3.22
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.242
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 490 AA, 460 TS, 480 PAT
State of Residence: FL

Undergrad Attended: Florida State University
Major: Health management policy and information
Minority? Yes- Hispanic first gen
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 200- 60 with peds, 60 with oral, rest with general
Volunteering Experience: Red Cross, 20 hours of hurricane relief. Remote Area Medical dental clinic service 100 hours. Hospice volunteer currently have about 90 hours, but will likely reach 180-200+ by the time I finish my contract. (I am still actively looking for volunteer opportunities before I graduate)
Employment: Leasing Agent- 9 months (during my junior and senior year so far ), Dental assistant- 3 months over the summer between junior and senior year. (small retail and food service experiences throughout college during the summer semesters)
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: I am the treasurer of a humanitarian club that raises funds for countries in dire need. We raise funds through fundraisers and campus tabling events.
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: No
LOR type and strength:

1. Biochem Professor- We connected really well, she says she wrote me a great one
2. Oral Surgeon- Known for a while now, very strong
3. Deciding between my cell structure or analytical chemistry professor. Both will probably be average, maybe good.

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
When I first started, I did pretty badly. Was getting tons of C’s in my chemistry courses, particularly a C- in gen chem 1 and C gen chem 2. But since then, I have retaken gen chem 1 with an A. However, does not change that I had slow upward progress up until about my Junior year, where I began to receive consistent B’s and A’s with current challenging classes like Microbio, Biochem, analytical chem, cell structure and function, with all A’s. According to my last 36 science credits I have a 3.508 GPA. I will be taking anatomy and phys 1 with lab, human phys, and biostatistics my next upcoming and last semester. I feel as though my upward trend is strong but could use work.
School list: (pretty crazy list ngl lol, just really wanna be a dentist like everyone else)
NOVA
LECOM
Tufts
NYU
BU
MU AZ and IL
ASDOH
LMU
Western U
Roseman
Touro
Howard
HPU
Louisville
UNE
ATSU Missouri

I came up with my list by looking at schools that accept students with lower GPAs. Additionally, I also just looked at schools that accept a lot of OOS. If you guys have any extra recs please lmk.

look at schools that take a lot of hispanics...

 

[picklejit]

look at schools that take a lot of hispanics...

Do you happen to know any schools that take a lot of hispanics? I thought in general race was not too important of a factor?

 

[macsak]

Do you happen to know any schools that take a lot of hispanics? I thought in general race was not too important of a factor?

do your own research
it's not supposed to be a factor, but it can be...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would start by encouraging you to look for school chapters of SNDA and HDA. Check out the schools represented by the HDAF scholarship recipients. You really should attend (virtual) recruitment events, including events run by SNDA.

I also don't really pay much attention to activities with fewer than 50 hours unless it's shadowing.

Could you further characterize your ethnicity as Hispanic? Are you fluent in both English and Spanish?

I would rather you keep your list down to 10-12 schools where you know you will thrive inside and outside the classroom. Have you ever lived in Utah (Roseman on your list) or Maine (UNE)? Do you know where LMU is? Do you want to travel across country to Pomona (Western)? Again, look at the schools represented by the HDA scholarships to help narrow your list down or focus your outreach to schools where you want to attend. Be realistic and use the DSE to generally gauge your fit within their student community.

 

[picklejit]

I would start by encouraging you to look for school chapters of SNDA and HDA. Check out the schools represented by the HDAF scholarship recipients. You really should attend (virtual) recruitment events, including events run by SNDA.

I also don't really pay much attention to activities with fewer than 50 hours unless it's shadowing.

Could you further characterize your ethnicity as Hispanic? Are you fluent in both English and Spanish?

I would rather you keep your list down to 10-12 schools where you know you will thrive inside and outside the classroom. Have you ever lived in Utah (Roseman on your list) or Maine (UNE)? Do you know where LMU is? Do you want to travel across country to Pomona (Western)? Again, look at the schools represented by the HDA scholarships to help narrow your list down or focus your outreach to schools where you want to attend. Be realistic and use the DSE to generally gauge your fit within their student community.

Got you, thank you so much for the HDAF advice. This is my first time hearing about them.

I am Cuban-Venezuelan and fluent in both Spanish and English.

Have never lived in Utah or Maine, and I know that some of these schools are very rural or all over the place, but I am willing to go anywhere and everywhere. Also, could you provide more information about what the DSE is?

Finally, based on my app, would you say it is a good idea to pursue a post-bacc or SMP at Barry, for example? Nevertheless, I'll narrow my schools down more. Thank you tons for the info!!

 

[PHscale73]

You shouldn't have a problem getting an interview at any of the new schools (Neomed, pikeville, lyon, high point, LMU (I go here)). As for the Florida schools, they will most likely need you to take a post-bacc, but I would still get in contact with them.

 

[picklejit]

You shouldn't have a problem getting an interview at any of the new schools (Neomed, pikeville, lyon, high point, LMU (I go here)). As for the Florida schools, they will most likely need you to take a post-bacc, but I would still get in contact with them.

Thank you!! How do you like LMU? I was looking into the program and I was really interested tbh.

 

[picklejit]

I would start by encouraging you to look for school chapters of SNDA and HDA. Check out the schools represented by the HDAF scholarship recipients. You really should attend (virtual) recruitment events, including events run by SNDA.

I also don't really pay much attention to activities with fewer than 50 hours unless it's shadowing.

Could you further characterize your ethnicity as Hispanic? Are you fluent in both English and Spanish?

I would rather you keep your list down to 10-12 schools where you know you will thrive inside and outside the classroom. Have you ever lived in Utah (Roseman on your list) or Maine (UNE)? Do you know where LMU is? Do you want to travel across country to Pomona (Western)? Again, look at the schools represented by the HDA scholarships to help narrow your list down or focus your outreach to schools where you want to attend. Be realistic and use the DSE to generally gauge your fit within their student community.

Hello, I have one more question regarding this response. Do you happen to know any dental school outreach programs to put myself out there more and more clinical volunteer opportunities?

Thank you for all your help, I truly appreciate all of your feedback 🙂

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have never lived in Utah or Maine, and I know that some of these schools are very rural or all over the place, but I am willing to go anywhere and everywhere. Also, could you provide more information about what the DSE is?

Dental School Explorer, and ADEA resource. Its the comparison directory of ADEA Dental Schools.

Seriously, it's one thing to go anywhere but these schools choose students committed to serving their patients in the dental school clinics. That means you should have an understanding of the patients' lives and experiences to help them trust you. You already know most patients don't want to see you as a dentist, so you can't come in like a tourist.

 

[picklejit]

Dental School Explorer, and ADEA resource. Its the comparison directory of ADEA Dental Schools.

Seriously, it's one thing to go anywhere but these schools choose students committed to serving their patients in the dental school clinics. That means you should have an understanding of the patients' lives and experiences to help them trust you. You already know most patients don't want to see you as a dentist, so you can't come in like a tourist.

Of course, and that's understandable, it's why I am currently writing my senior capstone on rural oral healthcare to better understand a consistently underserved population in the U.S. Nevertheless, thank you tons for your support and comments!!!