WAMC/school list help

[latneD_Dental]

Date of submission: Mid to late June
Overall uGPA: 3.71
Science uGPA: 3.62

DAT score (include AA and all sections):
First attempt (2021)
AA=16
TS=16
GC=16
QR=15
BIO=16
OC=15
RC=19
PAT=16
Second attempt (2023)
AA=20
TS=19
GC=20
QR=18
BIO=18
OC=19
RC=23
PAT=23

State of Residence: GA

Undergrad: Georgia State Uni
Major: Chemistry (graduating in Fall 2023)
Minor: None
Minority? No
Reapplicant? Yes, 2021
Nontrad? Yes

Shadowing Experience: Over 300 hrs (One general dentist 210 hrs, another general dentist 90+ hrs and current experience)
Volunteering Experience: 96 hours local missionary, 20hrs youth tutor, 48 hrs organic chemistry tutor, and started another youth tutor volunteer in May 2023.
Employment: 700 hrs as a waiter, 8400 hrs as a restaurant manager, 2080 hrs as a Health Care Specialist in the Army, and thinking of doing admin work at the dental office I'm currently interning at.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: multiple clubs, no board pos.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean's list 5 sems, president's list 1 sem. HOPE scholarship if that means anything..
LOR type and strength: 2 science profs (average strength), 2 gen dentist (strong)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I went to a community college for more than 70 credits due having no citizenship and international student tuition was too much for my family to handle during that time. I started college Aug 2013. Had to take a break from school in 2020 due to personal issues.

School list:
Dental College of Georgia
Lousiana State Uni
Southern Illinois
UKCD
UNC (reach)
Virginia Commonwealth

This is it so far.. I'm trying to do my best to get into a school where COL is not ridiculous.

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[macsak]

Date of submission: Mid to late June
Overall uGPA: 3.71
Science uGPA: 3.62

DAT score (include AA and all sections):
First attempt...


AA=16
TS=16
GC=16
QR=15
BIO=16
OC=15
RC=19
PAT=16
Second attempt
AA=20
TS=19
GC=20
QR=18
BIO=18
OC=19
RC=23
PAT=23
State of Residence: GA

Undergrad & Grad Attended: Georgia State Uni
Major: Chemistry (graduating in Fall 2023)
Minor: None
Minority? No
Reapplicant? Yes, 2021
Nontrad? Yes

Shadowing Experience: Over 300 hrs (One general dentist 210 hrs, another general dentist 90+ hrs and current experience)
Volunteering Experience: 96 hours local missionary, 20hrs youth tutor, 48 hrs organic chemistry tutor, and started another youth tutor volunteer in May 2023.
Employment: 700 hrs as a waiter, 8400 hrs as a restaurant manager, 2080 hrs as a Health Care Specialist in the Army, and thinking of doing admin work at the dental office I'm currently interning at.
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: multiple clubs, no board pos.
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean's list 5 sems, president's list 1 sem. HOPE scholarship if that means anything..
LOR type and strength: 2 science profs (average strength), 2 gen dentist (strong)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I went to a community college for more than 70 credits due having no citizenship and international student tuition was too much for my family to handle during that time. I started college Aug 2013. Had to take a break from school in 2020 due to personal issues.
School list:
Dental College of Georgia
Lousiana State Uni
Southern Illinois
UKCD
UNC (reach)
Virginia Commonwealth

This is it so far.. I'm trying to do my best to get into a school where COL is not ridiculous.

have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at DCG?

 

[latneD_Dental]

have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at DCG?

I went to the tour, attended health fair, and had a consultation call.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Are you applying for HPSP or HSCP? When you were an Army Health Care Specialist?

 

[latneD_Dental]

Are you applying for HPSP or HSCP? When you were an Army Health Care Specialist?

No, I went through a program called MAVNI.

 

[macsak]

I went to the tour, attended health fair, and had a consultation call.

did you apply with your first or second dat?
when? how many schools? any interviews?

 

[latneD_Dental]

I only applied to 2 schools (DCG and Meharry) in 2021-22 cycle, but with a sloppy and unprepared application. I was under pressure from family and regret so much that I even applied. I got my official scores for my first attempt in 2021 Aug and submitted the application in mid September (terrible mistake). No interviews, rejection from DCG and ghosted by Meharry. I took the DAT this year during April and now trying to apply with the second attempt.

 

[macsak]

I only applied to 2 schools (DCG and Meharry) in 2021-22 cycle, but with a sloppy and unprepared application. I was under pressure from family and regret so much that I even applied. I got my official scores for my first attempt in 2021 Aug and submitted the application in mid September (terrible mistake). No interviews, rejection from DCG and ghosted by Meharry. I took the DAT this year during April and now trying to apply with the second attempt.

what have you done to improve your application since last cycle besides the DAT?
are you international?

 

[latneD_Dental]

Did more recent community service, improved GPA a little (about .4 pts), got more involved in the school community by joining multiple clubs and activities, better personal statement (last personal statement was like 1500 characters), and application is more filled. I took every advice from my consultation call. I had no idea what I was doing in my last application so I had a lot of blank spaces. Fortunately, I found a mentor who is a general dentist and graduated from DCG. I am currently interning at her practice and she is helping me through the application/process.

 

[macsak]

Did more recent community service, improved GPA a little (about .4 pts), got more involved in the school community by joining multiple clubs and activities, better personal statement (last personal statement was like 1500 characters), and application is more filled. I took every advice from my consultation call. I had no idea what I was doing in my last application so I had a lot of blank spaces. Fortunately, I found a mentor who is a general dentist and graduated from DCG. I am currently interning at her practice and she is helping me through the application/process.

good good
please read the rest of my post...

 

[latneD_Dental]

good good
please read the rest of my post...

Sorry! Not international, resident of GA with US citizenship

 

[macsak]

Sorry! Not international, resident of GA with US citizenship

oh, ok
that will help a lot

while your gpa is above the matriculant average (3.55), your dat is below (20.5)
and the cheaper schools are much more competitive
being a reapplicant does not help either, but you have upgraded your application, so that will help
in addition, the large amount of cc credits can be an issue at some schools

if you want to avoid applying again, you will need to have a larger, broader, well chosen school list
otherwise, you will may end up on the outside looking in if you have a short, all public list...

 

[latneD_Dental]

oh, ok
that will help a lot

while your gpa is above the matriculant average (3.55), your dat is below (20.5)
and the cheaper schools are much more competitive
being a reapplicant does not help either, but you have upgraded your application, so that will help
in addition, the large amount of cc credits can be an issue at some schools

if you want to avoid applying again, you will need to have a larger, broader, well chosen school list
otherwise, you will may end up on the outside looking in if you have a short, all public list...

Thank you for your time and your advice!

 

[baseteeth]

SIU has a heavy in-state bias. I’m assuming it’s on there because of low tuition and COL, but do you have any connections there by chance?

 

[latneD_Dental]

SIU has a heavy in-state bias. I’m assuming it’s on there because of low tuition and COL, but do you have any connections there by chance?

Just some friends living there, but nothing else. Should I put it off my list? I’m still researching schools that takes my amount of CC credits, relatively okay COL, DAT score around my score, etc.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Okay.. being with MAVNI is very helpful, and I hope it is mentioned somewhere in your application essays. I would see which schools have significant interaction with veterans or military-related patients that fit your metrics. I would also look at student affinity groups that reflect your background.

Check out dental school clinics for veterans. I don't know if you wanted to stay in military healthcare, but you may want to consider HPSP.

Dental school’s Victors for Veterans Program expands its free care for Michigan veterans - U-M Dentistry News

Ann Arbor, Mich., Nov. 10, 2022 – The number of Michigan military veterans receiving free dental care through the University of Michigan School of Dentistry increased again this year with the addition of a third clinic location dedicated to that purpose. Dental students and faculty are now...

news.dent.umich.edu

Heroes Clinic- CU Anschutz Dental

The CU School of Dental Medicine’s Heroes Clinic s

www.colorado.edu

Case Western Reserve University dental students give back on Veterans Day

Veterans take advantage of free and reduced-cost dental care on Veterans Day

www.cleveland.com

I also would consider UF (probably military-friendly or leaning). Check if the other schools on your list would appreciate your experience in working with other military communities.

Apply on time and find your mission fit.

 

[latneD_Dental]

Ah this is so helpful! Thank you!