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[nolimitgrizz]

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Help would be appreciated with an idea of what type of schools I can realistically get into. Would like to stay in California. Thank you very much for taking the time to read!

Date of submission: N/A, wanting to apply this June
Overall GPA: 3.48
Science GPA: 3.34
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.30
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA - 470 (23)
SNS - 440 (20.5)
PAT - 530 (24.5)
Bio - 450 (21.5)
Gen Chem - 450 (21.5)
OChem - 420 (19.5)
Reading - 510 (25)
Math - 530 (26.5)
State of Residence: US
Undergrad Attended: UCLA
Major: Psychobiology
Minor: N/A
Minority? No (East Asian male)
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No
Shadowing Experience:
2,000+ hours working (paid) as a surgical assistant at an OMFS (part-time throughout undergrad)
200 hours shadowing general dentistry between 2 different offices (100 hours each)
Volunteering Experience:
200 hours of coaching Special Olympics basketball and soccer
100 hours dental (underserved communities)
Employment: Surgical assistant (see shadowing experience)
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Director of Prospects, Director of Fellowship, and Board of Academics in pre-health club... thousands of hours spanning all 4 years of undergrad (cannot count)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength:
2 science professors --> relatively strong
1 non-science professor --> relatively strong
1 misc (from DMD MD, also teaches at a dental school, is department chair at a well-known hospital, and examiner for dental board) --> very strong
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
1) Strong upward trend in cumGPA and sGPA... but low cumGPA and sGPA
2) Mediocre OChem DAT score, with my GPA being lowered mostly by OChem and Biochem (C, C+, C+). However, these classes were mostly taken in early undergrad years. Took OChem lab as an upperclassman and received an A.
3) Spent most of my extra time in undergrad working as a surgical assistant
School list: Not entirely sure (I know this defeats the main purpose), just want an idea of what would be realistic. This post is to help me gather more opinions as I formulate a school list with reachable schools. I would like to stay in California if possible (financial reasons, I am from California).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

I don't think your DAT OC score is that bad, but your GPA trend with upper-level/prereq classes will hurt your profile. Do you have any upper-level biomedical classes left to take?

Being a surgical assistant in OMFS isn't a knock against your dental school application. Maybe a little more experience with Special Olympics and some exposure to other community service activities (food bank, housing rehabilitation, job/tax preparation, etc.) should help you.

As a California applicant with your specific metrics, it might be challenging. You could explore your in-state options, but your metrics might be too low to guarantee a look unless you have a strong mission fit or community linkage to the patients the schools serve. Many California applicants wind up elsewhere across the country. I don't know what to tell you about finances other than to avoid expensive schools... but every dental school is going to be very expensive if you take on private loans. If you aspire for OMFS, given your experience, you need a stronger biomedical science record, especially once you get into dental school.

 

[macsak]

Help would be appreciated with an idea of what type of schools I can realistically get into. Would like to stay in California. Thank you very much for taking the time to read!

Date of submission: N/A, wanting to apply this June
Overall GPA: 3.48
Science GPA: 3.34
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.30
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA - 470 (23)
SNS - 440 (20.5)
PAT - 530 (24.5)
Bio - 450 (21.5)
Gen Chem - 450 (21.5)
OChem - 420 (19.5)
Reading - 510 (25)
Math - 530 (26.5)
State of Residence: US
Undergrad Attended: UCLA
Major: Psychobiology
Minor: N/A
Minority? No (East Asian male)
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No
Shadowing Experience:
2,000+ hours working (paid) as a surgical assistant at an OMFS (part-time throughout undergrad)
200 hours shadowing general dentistry between 2 different offices (100 hours each)
Volunteering Experience:
200 hours of coaching Special Olympics basketball and soccer
100 hours dental (underserved communities)
Employment: Surgical assistant (see shadowing experience)
Research: None
Other Extracurriculars: Director of Prospects, Director of Fellowship, and Board of Academics in pre-health club... thousands of hours spanning all 4 years of undergrad (cannot count)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength:
2 science professors --> relatively strong
1 non-science professor --> relatively strong
1 misc (from DMD MD, also teaches at a dental school, is department chair at a well-known hospital, and examiner for dental board) --> very strong
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:
1) Strong upward trend in cumGPA and sGPA... but low cumGPA and sGPA
2) Mediocre OChem DAT score, with my GPA being lowered mostly by OChem and Biochem (C, C+, C+). However, these classes were mostly taken in early undergrad years. Took OChem lab as an upperclassman and received an A.
3) Spent most of my extra time in undergrad working as a surgical assistant
School list: Not entirely sure (I know this defeats the main purpose), just want an idea of what would be realistic. This post is to help me gather more opinions as I formulate a school list with reachable schools. I would like to stay in California if possible (financial reasons, I am from California).

what is your gpa over the last 2 years?
what is your gpa over the last year?