wamc???

[to0thfairy!]

Thanks!

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[macsak]

Date of submission: ready to submit June 3
Overall GPA: 3.78
Science GPA: 3.62
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.59
DAT score: 23 AA, 22 TS; 21 GC, 21 OC, 24 BIO, 22 QR, 25 RC
State of Residence: NY
Undergrad Attended: private, T25
Major: public health
Minor: sociology
Minority? no
Reapplicant? no
Nontrad? no
Shadowing Experience: 130 hours (gp, ortho, dental oncology, prosthodontics, oral pathology)
Volunteering Experience: 150 hours (hospice, food insecurity, oral health education, animals/environment, other work with underserved populations)
Employment: 760 hours (esl tutor, resident advisor)
Research: 800 hours; 2 publications; honors thesis (highest honors); two labs, one was dental related
Other Extracurriculars: 1100+ hours (greek org president + other leadership positions; volunteer org director + other leadership positions; food packing shift lead; biology teaching assistant; pre-dental society mentor)
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? yes, my state school (shadowing + research)
Relevant Honors or Awards: graduated summa cum laude; dean's list (2x); two honor societies
LOR type and strength: strong committee letter
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: taking 1 gap year, c+ in orgo 2
School list: Boston U, Case Western, Columbia, Harvard, USC, NYU, Rutgers, Stony Brook, Temple, Touro, Tufts, UBuffalo, UCLA, UCSF, UConn, UIC, UMD, UMich, UPenn, UPitt

how did you come up with this list?

 

[to0thfairy!]

how did you come up with this list?

wanted to prioritize programs on the east coast and in ny state but also shoot my shot at the uc's and ivies

 

[macsak]

wanted to prioritize programs on the east coast and in ny state but also shoot my shot at the uc's and ivies

you get interview invites and acceptances by having mission fit with a program
"east coast" and "shoot my shot are not mission fit
plus, with your stats you don't need anywhere close to this many schools...

 

[to0thfairy!]

you get interview invites and acceptances by having mission fit with a program
"east coast" and "shoot my shot are not mission fit
plus, with your stats you don't need anywhere close to this many schools...

honestly i was worried about my c+ in a pre-req hindering my chances, i've done extensive research on these schools and how they align with my values but staying close to home is a priority for me (east coast) and research is important to me as well, so the ivies/uc's are a stretch but i wanted to apply. hope this provides more context!

 

[macsak]

honestly i was worried about my c+ in a pre-req hindering my chances, i've done extensive research on these schools and how they align with my values but staying close to home is a priority for me (east coast) and research is important to me as well, so the ivies/uc's are a stretch but i wanted to apply. hope this provides more context!

ok, that's a better answer than what you said previously
thanks

Columbia, Harvard, UCLA, UCSF, UMich, UPenn- 6 of the 10 most difficult schools to get into (outside of TX schools)
you have pretty good stats and ECs, but it's difficult to say where you will get invites/acceptances

UConn- prob in the top 12-15 most difficult schools to get into (outside of TX schools), so also difficult to say

Rutgers, Stony Brook, UBuffalo, UIC, UMD, UPitt- in-range, i'd keep 3-4 of these, note that UIC takes very few OOS

Boston U, USC, NYU, Temple, Touro, Tufts, Case Western- your safeties, i would only choose to keep 2 or 3 of these, i would advise you to take off NYU, but i know you probably won't...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Taking a gap year is not a red flag. Neither is one C+.

You don't need to apply to 20 schools. With your metrics, a list of 10 mission-aligned schools is enough. Look up the Dental School Explorer. I think your sGPA is solid, but a bit below where the Ivies target. Maybe if you had more clinical employment (dental assistant), your overall app would feel more solid, in my opinion.

The current political situation with research funding should make you pause. It's clear the Ivies are targets, but all research is under scrutiny. You also won't have as much time to do "research" in dental school as you think (or hear about medical student research). How many students who graduated from your undergraduate have gone on to Ivy dental schools? Maybe your committee is a bit more optimistic about your chances if they have insight. (I"d say pick two of the three, but...)

For dental school, your top priority should be getting your hand skills up to a marketable level. That means understanding how the dental clinic operates, how productive you need to be, and how well your preceptors will support you. What insight do you have with all the schools you wish to apply to? Then look at COA and the debt you will take on; figure out if HPSP or NHSC is worth it and consider your options if PSLF goes away or your ability to draw on federal financial aid gets capped (read other topics).