WAMC (Upcoming cycle)

[crust99]

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Date of submission: Late June
Overall Undergrad GPA: 3.88
Overall Graduate GPA: N/A
UnderGrad Science GPA: 3.90
Combined Science GPA: 3.90

Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.92

DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA: 480, PAT: 480, QR: 450, RC: 460, BIO: 440, GC: 480, OC: 560
State of Residence: OH

Undergrad Attended: Ohio State
Major: Biology
Minor: N/A
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No


Shadowing Experience: 80 hours (~60 OMFS, other 20 between Endo/Perio/Ortho)
Volunteering Experience: 50 hours by the time I submit, plan to increase post application submission. This is honestly my biggest worry, I have been so busy during the school year that I had to move volunteering to the back burner to prioritize studies/work. I’m now worried I won’t be able to get enough hours in by the time I apply and that it will hold me back. (If leaving advice please let me know how many hours to aim for)
Employment: Student lab assistant: preparing chemistry experiments for professors to demonstrate in class, 15-20hrs/week (700 total), Dental assistant: full time for two summers (~800-1000hrs)
Research: starting research this summer working on a project collaborating between the chemistry department and CoD (~250hrs by end of summer)
Other Extracurriculars: Ochem student peer mentor, member of a few clubs
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 OMFS (strong) 2 Ochem professors (1 strong/1 moderate)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: low volunteer hours, I worked with my dad assisting
School list: Ohio State, CWRU, Pitt, UNC, LECOM, Louisville, potentially some southern schools

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: Late June
Overall Undergrad GPA: 3.88
Overall Graduate GPA: N/A
UnderGrad Science GPA: 3.90
Combined Science GPA: 3.90

Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.92

DAT score (include AA and all sections): AA: 480, PAT: 480, QR: 450, RC: 460, BIO: 440, GC: 480, OC: 560
State of Residence: OH

Undergrad Attended: Ohio State
Major: Biology
Minor: N/A
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No


Shadowing Experience: 80 hours (~60 OMFS, other 20 between Endo/Perio/Ortho)
Volunteering Experience: 50 hours by the time I submit, plan to increase post application submission. This is honestly my biggest worry, I have been so busy during the school year that I had to move volunteering to the back burner to prioritize studies/work. I’m now worried I won’t be able to get enough hours in by the time I apply and that it will hold me back. (If leaving advice please let me know how many hours to aim for)
Employment: Student lab assistant: preparing chemistry experiments for professors to demonstrate in class, 15-20hrs/week (700 total), Dental assistant: full time for two summers (~800-1000hrs)
Research: starting research this summer working on a project collaborating between the chemistry department and CoD (~250hrs by end of summer)
Other Extracurriculars: Ochem student peer mentor, member of a few clubs
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? N/A
Relevant Honors or Awards: N/A
LOR type and strength: 1 OMFS (strong) 2 Ochem professors (1 strong/1 moderate)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: low volunteer hours, I worked with my dad assisting
School list: Ohio State, CWRU, Pitt, UNC, LECOM, Louisville, potentially some southern schools

volunteering hours are going to be an issue
most schools have a minimum of 100 hours, but tons of qualified candidates are doing more while also having great ECs
shadowing hours most schools are also minimum 100

your stats are excellent, but UNC is EXTREMELY competitive, especially for OOS spots
does louisville have a history of taking OH residents?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes, Louisville has taken many Ohio residents. (My dentist who grew up in Ohio is one of them.) I would mind the OOS stats for Southern schools and pick the schools where you really want to attend. I would be wary of High Point.

Is there a reason why NEOMED is not on the list?

Where did your father attend dental school?

Yes, you should prioritize your volunteering/community service, perhaps even a bit more than the research you are doing (because research doesn't matter so much in dental school admissions).

 

[crust99]

Yes, Louisville has taken many Ohio residents. (My dentist who grew up in Ohio is one of them.) I would mind the OOS stats for Southern schools and pick the schools where you really want to attend. I would be wary of High Point.

Is there a reason why NEOMED is not on the list?

Where did your father attend dental school?

Yes, you should prioritize your volunteering/community service, perhaps even a bit more than the research you are doing (because research doesn't matter so much in dental school admissions).

I wasn’t too high on NEOMED because of the location and the fact that it’s brand new, would you recommend applying? My dad went to CWRU, and I would be able to save money living at home. I plan to continue volunteering all summer now that I have the time, and plan to hit 100 hours by August or so. My worry is that I would like to get my app in asap (aiming for end of June) and do not know how much volunteer time I will be able to get in before my app is in. Would it be better to wait to submit my app until I get more hours? Or just update it throughout the summer after I submit?

 

[crust99]

volunteering hours are going to be an issue
most schools have a minimum of 100 hours, but tons of qualified candidates are doing more while also having great ECs
shadowing hours most schools are also minimum 100

your stats are excellent, but UNC is EXTREMELY competitive, especially for OOS spots
does louisville have a history of taking OH residents?

I understand that most schools like to see 100 hours each, but I went to a pre-dent meeting for a Q/A with the dean of admissions sophomore year, and he said that it’s not necessarily a hard cut off, and that applicants can make up for lack of hours in the rest of their app. If I apply with lower hours, and update my app throughout the summer, being that the rest of my application is pretty well rounded do you think I’m sitting alright?

 

[crust99]

Yes, Louisville has taken many Ohio residents. (My dentist who grew up in Ohio is one of them.) I would mind the OOS stats for Southern schools and pick the schools where you really want to attend. I would be wary of High Point.

Is there a reason why NEOMED is not on the list?

Where did your father attend dental school?

Yes, you should prioritize your volunteering/community service, perhaps even a bit more than the research you are doing (because research doesn't matter so much in dental school admissions).

Also should I look to increase my shadowing hours to reach the 100 hr mark? It seems redundant given that I have hundreds of hours of actual hands on experience.

 

[macsak]

Also should I look to increase my shadowing hours to reach the 100 hr mark? It seems redundant given that I have hundreds of hours of actual hands on experience.

hundreds of hours at your father's office
adcoms like to see that you have a variety of experiences...

 

[macsak]

I understand that most schools like to see 100 hours each, but I went to a pre-dent meeting for a Q/A with the dean of admissions sophomore year, and he said that it’s not necessarily a hard cut off, and that applicants can make up for lack of hours in the rest of their app. If I apply with lower hours, and update my app throughout the summer, being that the rest of my application is pretty well rounded do you think I’m sitting alright?

one school said it's ok
but most like to see more...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I understand that most schools like to see 100 hours each, but I went to a pre-dent meeting for a Q/A with the dean of admissions sophomore year, and he said that it’s not necessarily a hard cut off, and that applicants can make up for lack of hours in the rest of their app. If I apply with lower hours, and update my app throughout the summer, being that the rest of my application is pretty well rounded do you think I’m sitting alright?

I agree it's not a cutoff, but it separates a majority of applicants when reviewing applications. Most predental applicants have fewer than 100 completed hours, so in a game where we need to triage applicants, it's an easy filter to apply. Just understand that's a risk you have to take.

Applicants "make up for lack of hours" by participating in activities that effectively clarify their mission as a dentist (i.e., serve different communities in need). A DAT does not "make up" for a low GPA, and taking 100 more undergraduate hours won't either.

Also, don't rely on updating your application to keep your application in play. Did you ask the admissions officers how they handle academic updates and if any GPA adjustments trigger a re-evaluation of your application? I ask because I want to know how many "interview waitlist" predental students get an II after an academic update (the proof that such a review happens)... because I don't see it, nor is it reported to happen in the HPSA Spring Applicant Experience Surveys.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Also should I look to increase my shadowing hours to reach the 100 hr mark? It seems redundant given that I have hundreds of hours of actual hands on experience.

If you are working at your father's practice, why not switch to a colleague's practice and be a dental assistant? Shadowing puts your foot in the door, but working shows us you can thrive in a clinical setting.

 

[crust99]

If you are working at your father's practice, why not switch to a colleague's practice and be a dental assistant? Shadowing puts your foot in the door, but working shows us you can thrive in a clinical setting.

I agree it's not a cutoff, but it separates a majority of applicants when reviewing applications. Most predental applicants have fewer than 100 completed hours, so in a game where we need to triage applicants, it's an easy filter to apply. Just understand that's a risk you have to take.

Applicants "make up for lack of hours" by participating in activities that effectively clarify their mission as a dentist (i.e., serve different communities in need). A DAT does not "make up" for a low GPA, and taking 100 more undergraduate hours won't either.

Also, don't rely on updating your application to keep your application in play. Did you ask the admissions officers how they handle academic updates and if any GPA adjustments trigger a re-evaluation of your application? I ask because I want to know how many "interview waitlist" predental students get an II after an academic update (the proof that such a review happens)... because I don't see it, nor is it reported to happen in the HPSA Spring Applicant Experience Surveys.

I’m wondering if I should look to increase my shadowing hours to reach the 100 hr threshold despite having several hundred hours of hands on work experience. I shadowed colleagues in several different specialties because I felt like that gave me a more holistic view at dentistry, rather than shadowing a general dentist after working in an office for 8 months. Also, I’m just wondering if I should submit my application ASAP (while continuing volunteering) with whatever volunteer hours I have at the time of submission (update throughout summer as I accumulate hours). OR get to 100 volunteer hours and realistically end up submitting my app at least 2 weeks later.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I wasn’t too high on NEOMED because of the location and the fact that it’s brand new, would you recommend applying? My dad went to CWRU, and I would be able to save money living at home. I plan to continue volunteering all summer now that I have the time, and plan to hit 100 hours by August or so. My worry is that I would like to get my app in asap (aiming for end of June) and do not know how much volunteer time I will be able to get in before my app is in. Would it be better to wait to submit my app until I get more hours? Or just update it throughout the summer after I submit?

A lot of NEOMED faculty used to teach at Case (and Ohio State for that matter), and the dean used to run the CWRU student clinic. I have a good amount of confidence that Bitonte NEOMED knows what it's doing to address its mission. Now, I agree I don't know what plans are in place in case you want to gain more insight with specialties, so you should ask them about their plans for graduate education.

 

[crust99]

A lot of NEOMED faculty used to teach at Case (and Ohio State for that matter), and the dean used to run the CWRU student clinic. I have a good amount of confidence that Bitonte NEOMED knows what it's doing to address its mission. Now, I agree I don't know what plans are in place in case you want to gain more insight with specialties, so you should ask them about their plans for graduate education.

Makes sense that they pulled from other ISS, I’m sure it’s a great school, and I have many friends that have applied/go to their medical college. I’m fairly certain I would like to specialize and being that they’re newer I wasn’t sure what their post grad opportunities would look like. Something to look into! Thanks!

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Makes sense that they pulled from other ISS, I’m sure it’s a great school, and I have many friends that have applied/go to their medical college. I’m fairly certain I would like to specialize and being that they’re newer I wasn’t sure what their post grad opportunities would look like. Something to look into! Thanks!

I'm just saying don't completely knock it off your list, especially since their leadership has stated they want to put every effort to keep tuition low, given their mission to fill needed rural dental underserved areas in the state. It might not matter if you are going for a specialty or you work for your family's dental office, but you still need to avoid every dollar of debt possible.