WAMC Reapplicant (2nd Cycle)

[ARubberduck]

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First of all, I thank you for taking your time to read my post. Your time is as valuable as mine. I appreciate your help.

Date of submission: 06/16/25
Overall GPA: 3.03 (with letter of explanation, 3.27) AADSAS has my cGPA of 2.98
Science GPA: 3.51 AADSAS has my sGPA of 3.15
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.50
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA: 19 (410)
TS: 20 (430)
PAT: 22 (470)
BIO: 18 (400)
GC: 23 (480)
OC: 18 (400)
QR: 19 (420)
RC: 18 (360)

State of Residence: TX

Major: Pre-Med
Minor: N/A
Minority? Yes
Reapplicant? Yes
Nontrad? Yes (Due to gap years)

Shadowing Experience: 450+ hours (3x General Dentist, 2x Endodontist, 1x Orthodontist)
Volunteering Experience: 450+ hours; Civilian & Military hospital volunteer hours. (Boston Brigham Women's Hospital and 4x Army Community Hospitals)
Employment: 10 years (5 yrs as Army Pharmacy Technician, 2 yrs as Field Artillery Officer, 3 yrs Environmental Science and Engineering Officer-Current)

I am an environmental science and engineering officer in the Army. I do not want to utilize my service time as a card in the admission process. I just wanted to emphasize that my job is closely related to public health, sanitation, and epidemiology. I work with most of the dental and vet clinics on post quite often since my team and I inspect all the hospital and clinical facilities in Garrison. I joined the Army as a pharmacy technician and used to compound at least 30-40 medications daily at the inpatient pharmacy. I input this information to highlight dexterity.

Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Boston KDSAP (Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program), Campus International Student Program Ambassador, Army ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) program representative, Army Green-to-Gold program Cadre, The Army Performance Trial Program Cadre, Chaplain's Assistant, Kayaking Club
Army HPSP recipient (2022; However, I had to withdraw my scholarship due to deployment)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? None
LOR type and strength:
2x General Dentist
2x Science Professors (1x Microbiology & Cellular Biochemistry professor, 1x Preventive Medicine professor)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
I received my deployment order in the middle of my semester, which led to a significant decrease in my GPA. The rest showed an upward trend after. (Provided a letter of explanation for my GPA, with a copy of the official transcript) The transcript labeled the courses I could not complete with asterisks and did not count them in my GPA. However, AADSAS and TMDSAS do count everything. I am afraid that my application would be screened out, even with a letter of explanation.
Of course, there is no excuse. I do acknowledge that I already have red flags in my application. The DAT score is not high enough either. I am currently taking a couple of science courses and continuing my shadowing whenever I have spare time to keep my motivation. As you all know, it is a bit challenging (at least for me) to afford time to do extras since my duty hours fluctuate daily.

School list:
TAMU
UT San Antonio
UT Houston
Texas Tech
Tufts
BU
LECOM
Rutgers
Meharry
Creighton
ASDOH
MSDOH
Marquette
NOVA
Roseman
Temple
UF

How did I come up with my list:
I am from Boston, MA. Tufts and BU are my top choices since they are close to my hometown. All four TX programs, since I am currently stationed in TX, and I honestly liked their institutions. (Took quick tours). For NOVA and UF, I found out that they are military-friendly schools like the ones in TX. I was stationed in Georgia and Florida some years ago. I chose the rest after some research on their academic focus, missions, and curricula.

 

[macsak]

First of all, I thank you for taking your time to read my post. Your time is as valuable as mine. I appreciate your help.

Date of submission: 06/16/25
Overall GPA: 3.03 (with letter of explanation, 3.27) AADSAS has my cGPA of 2.98
Science GPA: 3.51 AADSAS has my sGPA of 3.15
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.50
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA: 19 (410)
TS: 20 (430)
PAT: 22 (470)
BIO: 18 (400)
GC: 23 (480)
OC: 18 (400)
QR: 19 (420)
RC: 18 (360)

State of Residence: TX

Major: Pre-Med
Minor: N/A
Minority? Yes
Reapplicant? Yes
Nontrad? Yes (Due to gap years)

Shadowing Experience: 450+ hours (3x General Dentist, 2x Endodontist, 1x Orthodontist)
Volunteering Experience: 450+ hours; Civilian & Military hospital volunteer hours. (Boston Brigham Women's Hospital and 4x Army Community Hospitals)
Employment: 10 years (5 yrs as Army Pharmacy Technician, 2 yrs as Field Artillery Officer, 3 yrs Environmental Science and Engineering Officer-Current)

I am an environmental science and engineering officer in the Army. I do not want to utilize my service time as a card in the admission process. I just wanted to emphasize that my job is closely related to public health, sanitation, and epidemiology. I work with most of the dental and vet clinics on post quite often since my team and I inspect all the hospital and clinical facilities in Garrison. I joined the Army as a pharmacy technician and used to compound at least 30-40 medications daily at the inpatient pharmacy. I input this information to highlight dexterity.

Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Boston KDSAP (Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program), Campus International Student Program Ambassador, Army ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) program representative, Army Green-to-Gold program Cadre, The Army Performance Trial Program Cadre, Chaplain's Assistant, Kayaking Club
Army HPSP recipient (2022; However, I had to withdraw my scholarship due to deployment)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? None
LOR type and strength:
2x General Dentist
2x Science Professors (1x Microbiology & Cellular Biochemistry professor, 1x Preventive Medicine professor)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
I received my deployment order in the middle of my semester, which led to a significant decrease in my GPA. The rest showed an upward trend after. (Provided a letter of explanation for my GPA, with a copy of the official transcript) The transcript labeled the courses I could not complete with asterisks and did not count them in my GPA. However, AADSAS and TMDSAS do count everything. I am afraid that my application would be screened out, even with a letter of explanation.
Of course, there is no excuse. I do acknowledge that I already have red flags in my application. The DAT score is not high enough either. I am currently taking a couple of science courses and continuing my shadowing whenever I have spare time to keep my motivation. As you all know, it is a bit challenging (at least for me) to afford time to do extras since my duty hours fluctuate daily.

School list:
TAMU
UT San Antonio
UT Houston
Texas Tech
Tufts
BU
LECOM
Rutgers
Meharry
Creighton
ASDOH
MSDOH
Marquette
NOVA
Roseman
Temple
UF

How did I come up with my list:
I am from Boston, MA. Tufts and BU are my top choices since they are close to my hometown. All four TX programs, since I am currently stationed in TX, and I honestly liked their institutions. (Took quick tours). For NOVA and UF, I found out that they are military-friendly schools like the ones in TX. I was stationed in Georgia and Florida some years ago. I chose the rest after some research on their academic focus, missions, and curricula.

first of all, thank you for your service

when did you submit last cycle?
where did you apply and did you get any interviews? result?

how come no howard?

 

[ARubberduck]

first of all, thank you for your service

when did you submit last cycle?
where did you apply and did you get any interviews? result?

how come no howard?

I submitted in early Sep 2022. Fairly late submission.

I did not receive any interviews because I notified schools that I will be withdrawing my HPSP application due to deployment. (Without Army HPSP, I cannot leave my current position/obligation years)

Howard is a great school. Unfortunately, DC is not on my move list.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for what you have done for our country.

Can you highlight the significant changes since 2022? I think 17 schools is too many, and I think your military/veteran status is going to help you. You already seem to identify the Texas schools as military friendly, and it wouldn't surprise me with Florida programs. Frankly, many dental schools should be doing more with veteran communities, so ask around among schools on your list.

Have you connected with SNDA or NDA? Do you know which schools won't look at your pharm tech background as some signal that you are "fleeing" pharmacy as a career path/vocation?