WAMC?

[futuredent25]

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Date of submission: First week of June
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 20 AA, 20 TS, 17 PAT, 21 Chem, 20 OC, 18 QR, 21 RC, 20 Bio
State of Residence: GA

Undergrad Attended: A Georgia University
Major: Exercise Science
Minor:
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: Over 350 - several general dentists, oral surgeon

Volunteering Experience: Over 650

Employment: No

Research: No

Other Extracurriculars: Over 300, sorority, intramurals

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Tour of DCG, Virtual ADEA GoDental,

Relevant Honors or Awards: Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Gamma, President's List

LOR type and strength: 1 chem Professor, 1 sorority advisor, 1 dentist, and 1 community leader where I shadowed - Strong I assume

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Completing Undergrad in 3 years, Application will be submitted at age 20, but matriculation would be age 21

School list:
DCG
UAB
Louisville
Kentucky
LECOM

**Will my age be a factor?
Thanks for the advice

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: First week of June
Overall GPA: 4.0
Science GPA: 4.0
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 20 AA, 20 TS, 17 PAT, 21 Chem, 20 OC, 18 QR, 21 RC, 20 Bio
State of Residence: GA

Undergrad Attended: A Georgia University
Major: Exercise Science
Minor:
Minority? NO
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: Over 350 - several general dentists, oral surgeon

Volunteering Experience: Over 650

Employment: No

Research: No

Other Extracurriculars: Over 300, sorority, intramurals

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Tour of DCG, Virtual ADEA GoDental,

Relevant Honors or Awards: Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Gamma, President's List

LOR type and strength: 1 chem Professor, 1 sorority advisor, 1 dentist, and 1 community leader where I shadowed - Strong I assume

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: Completing Undergrad in 3 years, Application will be submitted at age 20, but matriculation would be age 21

School list:
DCG
UAB
Louisville
Kentucky
LECOM

**Will my age be a factor?
Thanks for the advice

how did you come up with this list?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

PAT 17. What activities best demonstrate fine manual dexterity?

What feedback have you gotten from DCG about your profile?

 

[futuredent25]

I practice cake decorating using tips, wood carving, and playing video games.
I have had a phone advisement appointment with DCG and received positive feedback. It’s a toss up on retaking the DAT with hopes of increasing PAT. I actually was scoring 22-23 on the practice tests so the score was disappointing to say the least. If I don’t get in, I will consider taking it again, though.

 

[futuredent25]

how did you come up with this list?

Instate of course for DCG. The other schools have a decent OOS presence.

 

[macsak]

Instate of course for DCG. The other schools have a decent OOS presence.

you need to have mission fit to get interviews/acceptances
"decent oos presence" is not mission fit
while you have a perfect gpa and tons of ecs, your dat is below the nationwide matriculant average (20.5), and likely below that of the OOS publics on your list
also, some may see your high gpa as a result of grade inflation given your dat scores
you need to have a broad list of schools, a few reaches, mostly in-range schools, and a few safety schools
one IS public, 3 oos publics, and an oos private runs you the risk of having a less than ideal cycle...

 

[futuredent25]

you need to have mission fit to get interviews/acceptances
"decent oos presence" is not mission fit
while you have a perfect gpa and tons of ecs, your dat is below the nationwide matriculant average (20.5), and likely below that of the OOS publics on your list
also, some may see your high gpa as a result of grade inflation given your dat scores
you need to have a broad list of schools, a few reaches, mostly in-range schools, and a few safety schools
one IS public, 3 oos publics, and an oos private runs you the risk of having a less than ideal cyc

Some may see the GPA as “grade inflation” but I there aren’t many who apply who have a perfect 4.0, so I do think that is in my favor. I took a full load every semester balancing dental school prerequisites and my kinesiology classes in 3 years. Wouldn’t you see that as a strength?
The DAT could be improved, no doubt, but I am hoping that will not be a deterrent for an interview. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[macsak]

Some may see the GPA as “grade inflation” but I there aren’t many who apply who have a perfect 4.0, so I do think that is in my favor. I took a full load every semester balancing dental school prerequisites and my kinesiology classes in 3 years. Wouldn’t you see that as a strength?
The DAT could be improved, no doubt, but I am hoping that will not be a deterrent for an interview. I appreciate the feedback.

i never said it was not in your favor, nor did i say it wasn't a strength
and i also did not say your dat scores are a deterrent for an interview

the issue is your school list
having only 5 schools with 4 publics limits your opportunities at interviews and acceptances...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Some may see the GPA as “grade inflation” but I there aren’t many who apply who have a perfect 4.0, so I do think that is in my favor. I took a full load every semester balancing dental school prerequisites and my kinesiology classes in 3 years. Wouldn’t you see that as a strength?
The DAT could be improved, no doubt, but I am hoping that will not be a deterrent for an interview. I appreciate the feedback.

Deans of programs have told me (as if I didn't believe it) that we aren't giving gifts to perfect GPAs. We want future, empathetic, caring professionals, not stellar academics. Many students with high undergrad GPAs struggle in dental school who learn this after their first set of failed classes, some to the point they are dismissed. The hurdles are set high for a reason.

Louisville is much more OOS friendly than Kentucky (I personally would prefer them over Kentucky based on chances here). But I agree you need more privates to round out your list.

Tuition non-resident, per year, not counting instruments (+10-12K) and living
LECOM $57K
UAB $72K
UK $77.6K
UL $78.8K

Other OOS, I suggest on OOS chances (more than one OOS applicant per state)
NOVA Southeastern (because LECOM is also private), though tuition is $74.4K
LMU $69.5K (private)
VCU $76K (public)
Temple $75K (private)
Tufts $91K (private, but DAT stat range fits better)

As mentioned, I don't get a sense of your purpose/mission fit as a dentist at all, so you can shotgun more privates if you want to (UDM, Marquette, KCU, HPU if you wanted). If you have something amazing you haven't disclosed to us that warrants a big scholarship, great, but I'm not counting on that in these suggestions.

I don't think your DAT scores overall will exclude you from interviews if a strong sense of purpose is communicated. The PAT 17 though is on the low tail of the ranges reported by many schools above, so it could work against you if a school puts that much weight on PAT.

 

[futuredent25]

Deans of programs have told me (as if I didn't believe it) that we aren't giving gifts to perfect GPAs. We want future, empathetic, caring professionals, not stellar academics. Many students with high undergrad GPAs struggle in dental school who learn this after their first set of failed classes, some to the point they are dismissed. The hurdles are set high for a reason.

Louisville is much more OOS friendly than Kentucky (I personally would prefer them over Kentucky based on chances here). But I agree you need more privates to round out your list.

Tuition non-resident, per year, not counting instruments (+10-12K) and living
LECOM $57K
UAB $72K
UK $77.6K
UL $78.8K

Other OOS, I suggest on OOS chances (more than one OOS applicant per state)
NOVA Southeastern (because LECOM is also private), though tuition is $74.4K
LMU $69.5K (private)
VCU $76K (public)
Temple $75K (private)
Tufts $91K (private, but DAT stat range fits better)

As mentioned, I don't get a sense of your purpose/mission fit as a dentist at all, so you can shotgun more privates if you want to (UDM, Marquette, KCU, HPU if you wanted). If you have something amazing you haven't disclosed to us that warrants a big scholarship, great, but I'm not counting on that in these suggestions.

I don't think your DAT scores overall will exclude you from interviews if a strong sense of purpose is communicated. The PAT 17 though is on the low tail of the ranges reported by many schools above, so it could work against you if a school puts that much weight on PAT.

I appreciate the feedback. I am concerned about the PAT, but don't want to retake the DAT at this time. If I do not get accepted, I will reach out to the schools and ask for feedback. As far as a mission, I should add that I have volunteered at rural elementary schools, instructing proper brushing and flossing, promoting oral hygiene, and also created a STEM lab to increase awareness. I am passionate about providing Medicaid services in rural areas where many dentists are not accepting Medicaid patients. I feel that children fall through the cracks and early education is very important. I will certainly look at additional private schools to broaden my range.