WAMC (Seventh time applicant)

[MarkCLS]

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I apologize if the format is different, but here are my stats first:

Undergrad: Cell and Molecular Biology
Cumulative UGrad: 2.83 Science UGrad: 2.62
Graduate: Microbiology and Cell Science, with concentration in Medical Biochemistry
Cumulative Grad: 3.88 Science Grad: 3.88

cGPA: 3.0

DAT (took four times) :
1. AA: 17
2. AA:17
3. AA: 20
4. AA: 23

School list (CA resident) :
Boston U
USC
LECOM
Marquette
LLU
University of Iowa
Temple University
UCSF
University of Colorado
WesternU

I worked as a dental assistant for a short period, plus I have ~300 shadowing hours. I started a tutoring program in my church in 2008, and serve as a scoutmaster, so I have thousands of community service/volunteer hours. I was a recent immigrant during the first few years in college, so it did some damage on my GPA (clearly), but I tried to explain that in my application. This is my seventh time applying (since 2017), which is why I'm hoping this WAMC post reveals something missing in my application that I'm not seeing. I appreciate any input or feedback, or if you think I have a better chance at a school that is not in the list of schools applied to already!

Thank you!

 

[macsak]

I apologize if the format is different, but here are my stats first:

Undergrad: Cell and Molecular Biology
Cumulative UGrad: 2.83 Science UGrad: 2.62
Graduate: Microbiology and Cell Science, with concentration in Medical Biochemistry
Cumulative Grad: 3.88 Science Grad: 3.88

cGPA: 3.0

DAT (took four times) :
1. AA: 17
2. AA:17
3. AA: 20
4. AA: 23

School list (CA resident) :
Boston U
USC
LECOM
Marquette
LLU
University of Iowa
Temple University
UCSF
University of Colorado
WesternU

I worked as a dental assistant for a short period, plus I have ~300 shadowing hours. I started a tutoring program in my church in 2008, and serve as a scoutmaster, so I have thousands of community service/volunteer hours. I was a recent immigrant during the first few years in college, so it did some damage on my GPA (clearly), but I tried to explain that in my application. This is my seventh time applying (since 2017), which is why I'm hoping this WAMC post reveals something missing in my application that I'm not seeing. I appreciate any input or feedback, or if you think I have a better chance at a school that is not in the list of schools applied to already!

Thank you!

View attachment 390505

please fill out the FULL template...

 

[MarkCLS]

Date of submission: 8/4/2024
Overall GPA: 3.0
Science GPA: 2.9
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA 23 / PAT 22 / QR 24 / RC 19 / Bio 25 / GC 22 / OC 23 / TS 23
State of Residence: CA (born in Egypt)


Major: Molecular, and Cellular Biology
Minority? Yes (was told for Egyptians, I have to apply as African American)
Reapplicant? Yes
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 300 (shadowing general dentists)
Volunteering Experience: Dental assisting with Care Harbor (serves underserved communities)
Employment: Sub teacher (FT since 2017), QC (on and off since 2014), own a cleaning business (since 2011)
Research: none
Other Extracurriculars: Volunteer tutoring, scouts, weightlifting, boxing, woodworking and welding
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Care harbor LA, hosted by WesternU
Relevant Honors or Awards: Graduated Undergrad with honors in the major
LOR type and strength: Two from science professors, one from dentist, and one from dental assisting course instructor.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I interviewed with University of Iowa in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Waitlisted all three times.


School list:

Boston U
USC
LECOM
Marquette
LLU
University of Iowa
Temple University
UCSF
University of Colorado
WesternU

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: 8/4/2024
Overall GPA: 3.0
Science GPA: 2.9
DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA 23 / PAT 22 / QR 24 / RC 19 / Bio 25 / GC 22 / OC 23 / TS 23
State of Residence: CA (born in Egypt)


Major: Molecular, and Cellular Biology
Minority? Yes (was told for Egyptians, I have to apply as African American)
Reapplicant? Yes
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 300 (shadowing general dentists)
Volunteering Experience: Dental assisting with Care Harbor (serves underserved communities)
Employment: Sub teacher (FT since 2017), QC (on and off since 2014), own a cleaning business (since 2011)
Research: none
Other Extracurriculars: Volunteer tutoring, scouts, weightlifting, boxing, woodworking and welding
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Care harbor LA, hosted by WesternU
Relevant Honors or Awards: Graduated Undergrad with honors in the major
LOR type and strength: Two from science professors, one from dentist, and one from dental assisting course instructor.
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I interviewed with University of Iowa in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Waitlisted all three times.


School list:

Boston U
USC
LECOM
Marquette
LLU
University of Iowa
Temple University
UCSF
University of Colorado
WesternU

thanks
did you check with iowa re: why you were WL?

 

[MarkCLS]

thanks
did you check with iowa re: why you were WL?

They said they don’t accept many OOS. I think around 10%, according to ADEA dental school explorer. Last year, during a phone consultation, I was told to just continue shadowing, they want to see a continuous experience.

 

[drDental_]

They said they don’t accept many OOS. I think around 10%, according to ADEA dental school explorer. Last year, during a phone consultation, I was told to just continue shadowing, they want to see a continuous experience.

Given they have waitlisted you three times and they’ve confirmed that they are not out-of-state friendly, why did you choose to apply again?

 

[macsak]

Given they have waitlisted you three times and they’ve confirmed that they are not out-of-state friendly, why did you choose to apply again?

actually, iowa likes people who reapply
i don't think it's a great thing to do, but they appreciate people who keep on trying and don't give up...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Sorry, Egyptians and MENAs are not underrepresented minorities in dentistry. The faculty at many schools have lots of MENA representation. You do NOT apply as African-American, and I know some adcoms who would disqualify Egyptians who do. With the SCOTUS decision, I don't think we can do that anymore, but that could have played a factor previously.

Was Iowa the ONLY place you interviewed in all of your attempts? How many times have you applied to the other schools on your list?

 

[MarkCLS]

Sorry, Egyptians and MENAs are not underrepresented minorities in dentistry. The faculty at many schools have lots of MENA representation. You do NOT apply as African-American, and I know some adcoms who would disqualify Egyptians who do. With the SCOTUS decision, I don't think we can do that anymore, but that could have played a factor previously.

Was Iowa the ONLY place you interviewed in all of your attempts? How many times have you applied to the other schools on your list?

Iowa was the only place invited me for an interview before I finished my masters. I applied to other schools on the list 2-3 times. I finished the masters, and retook the DAT this year.

Regarding the application, are you saying I’m not supposed to apply as African-American? I asked my pre-health advisor who went back and forth with his contacts at other schools regarding what should I put for race/ethnicity, and he said African-American. The application doesn’t have an option for Middle Eastern, and we don’t qualify as White/Caucasian (not part of the Caucasus countries).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Regarding the application, are you saying I’m not supposed to apply as African-American? I asked my pre-health advisor who went back and forth with his contacts at other schools regarding what should I put for race/ethnicity, and he said African-American. The application doesn’t have an option for Middle Eastern, and we don’t qualify as White/Caucasian (not part of the Caucasus countries).

I know that (because I have had many ask me as a prehealth advisor and an admissions officer). Read

"Overrepresented Minorities": A Brief History | SDN

As a health professions advisor and admissions professional, I have found myself connecting with the frustrations of Middle Eastern/North African (MENA)

www.studentdoctor.net

When did you finish your masters degree? Depending on what courses were involved, I can be more optimistic about getting through more dental school admissions screens with your new DAT score. I presume you attended more recruitment events over the past 2 years (including online programs)? Have you connected with students at the schools where you wish to attend (at least Iowa since you interviewed there three times)?

 

[MarkCLS]

I know that (because I have had many ask me as a prehealth advisor). Read

"Overrepresented Minorities": A Brief History | SDN

As a health professions advisor and admissions professional, I have found myself connecting with the frustrations of Middle Eastern/North African (MENA)

www.studentdoctor.net

When did you finish your masters degree? Depending on what courses were involved, I can be more optimistic about getting through more dental school admissions screens with your new DAT score. I presume you attended more recruitment events over the past 2 years (including online programs)? Have you connected with students at the schools where you wish to attend (at least Iowa since you interviewed there three times)?

Wow, thank you for the article. I honestly did not think it was a big deal since I put in my PS that I was born and raised in Egypt, so I thought they'd consider me however they want. Do you think that was a factor in previous cycles then? If I put African-American?

I finished my masters in 06/2024, retook DAT 08/2024. ALL courses were science, mainly biology because I needed to boost my sGPA. However, most schools are strict with biology prereqs. For instance, UCSF asks to list only introductory bio only, which I took when I was a recent immigrant and didn't do so well on, and they won't consider upper division bio courses, or graduate level bio courses where I got all As.

I connected with a couple students at Iowa, and they told me the same thing as admissions advisor, to keep re-applying and state what's new this cycle.