What are my chances with my GPA and DAT score?

[isso1418]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This is my first post on here! So please go easy on me
I was wondering what my chances are into getting into a dental program. I have a chemistry degree with an oGPA: 3.655 and my Dat scores are: AA 19 and TS 20. I shadowed a dentist for almost 140 hours and I have volunteering hours of about 1000 hours. I only have a few achievements so thats making me worried as well. I'm from Va and I really want to go to VCU's dental program but I know its sooooo competitive and very hard to get into. I would love to know what you guys think! 🙂

 

[O Gaúcho]

Average chance. Apply broadly.

 

[fit2]

very nice on the shadowing hours! that'll stand out cause it's more than average.
with average scores it's like an average chance to get an interview. try to incldue other things on experiences, have a good and persuasive PS, and hopefully good LOR's. what's ur sGPA? hgiher or lower than your oGPA?

 

[chives_irvine]

I would say average. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision of different adcoms. Race, ethnicity, background, sGPA, trends in schoolwork, courses taken, LORs and personal statements can have a huge impact. You would probably be best off if you applied broadly and to private schools

 

[isso1418]

very nice on the shadowing hours! that'll stand out cause it's more than average.
with average scores it's like an average chance to get an interview. try to incldue other things on experiences, have a good and persuasive PS, and hopefully good LOR's. what's ur sGPA? hgiher or lower than your oGPA?

My sGPA is 3.5

 

[isso1418]

I would say average. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision of different adcoms. Race, ethnicity, background, sGPA, trends in schoolwork, courses taken, LORs and personal statements can have a huge impact. You would probably be best off if you applied broadly and to private schools

I have 4 recommendations: 2 from Science professors, 1 from math professor, and 1 from the dentist I shadowed.

 

[fit2]

My sGPA is 3.5

yeah your scores are average. but most students that get ni are average. id say you have a good shot. apply broaldy and look at schools that have scores similar to yours and you should hear back with interviews in a couple of months

 

[isso1418]

yeah your scores are average. but most students that get ni are average. id say you have a good shot. apply broaldy and look at schools that have scores similar to yours and you should hear back with interviews in a couple of months

I applied to 18 programs. A mix of both private and public. I don't have many achievements under my belt so that worries me.

 

[fit2]

I applied to 18 programs. A mix of both private and public. I don't have many achievements under my belt so that worries me.

I don't think most traditionals do. I just have merit based scholarships and honors. But i do have 1 outstanding award for ochem so I guess that's more rare. most people will list honors and scholarships though

 

[isso1418]

I don't think most traditionals do. I just have merit based scholarships and honors. But i do have 1 outstanding award for ochem so I guess that's more rare. most people will list honors and scholarships though

I wish I could list all the difficult classes I got an A in hahaha. I wish I was more active in honor societies 🙁

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

Calculate My Chances This online calculator probably has a better algorithm than off-the-cuff answers from SDN.

I plugged in your data and it spit out a %56.55 chance of admission at VCU.

 

[isso1418]

Calculate My Chances This online calculator probably has a better algorithm than off-the-cuff answers from SDN.

I plugged in your data and it spit out a %56.55 chance of admission at VCU.

I didn't know that calculator existed. Thank you!

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Calculate My Chances This online calculator probably has a better algorithm than off-the-cuff answers from SDN.

It doesn't.

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

It doesn't.

Confused. It doesn't actually exist online, or it doesn't produce accurate predictions?

I will agree with the latter. It doesn't factor in all the personal and environmental factors that they look at in your file which are almost impossible to quantify. As far as I know most of us are not admissions officers and our opinions are just that: opinions.

My opinion is that if one is worried about achievements or whatever, go pursue opportunities that will make you a well rounded candidate and best case scenario those help you once you are accepted to a program by making you more mature and experienced. Worst case scenario they are extra ammo for next year's application.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Confused. It doesn't actually exist online, or it doesn't produce accurate predictions?

I will agree with the latter. It doesn't factor in all the personal and environmental factors that they look at in your file which are almost impossible to quantify. As far as I know most of us are not admissions officers and our opinions are just that: opinions.

My opinion is that if one is worried about achievements or whatever, go pursue opportunities that will make you a well rounded candidate and best case scenario those help you once you are accepted to a program by making you more mature and experienced. Worst case scenario they are extra ammo for next year's application.

Even based on the very little that it uses, DAT score (which for some reason only goes from 1-25?) and GPA, its predictions aren't accurate.

People on SDN are generally more up to date on the averages and ranges for those numbers, on top of specifics about each school that go unrecognized by this calculator (e.g. state of residence).

 

[caffeine jitters]

Yeah that calculator said I had a 65% chance at Harvard..... I will be the first to tell you I do not have a 65% chance at Harvard lol...

 

[isso1418]

Yeah that calculator said I had a 65% chance at Harvard..... I will be the first to tell you I do not have a 65% chance at Harvard lol...

Hey.... maybe you are more qualified than you think!

 

[fit2]

Hey.... maybe you are more qualified than you think!

that thing is kinda of outdated and scores are not nearly everything. they're fairly impotrant to get an interview and continue to be vital in an acceptance decision but acceptance hangs on quite a few things.
also harvard everyone with good grades has like a 0% or 100% or whatever...it doesn't matter. harvard really picks only the candidates that the school wants...not so much "qualified" applicants in the traditional sense. I know someone on the harvard med school admission and she talked to me a little about the process at harvard

 

[670206]

that thing is kinda of outdated and scores are not nearly everything. they're fairly impotrant to get an interview and continue to be vital in an acceptance decision but acceptance hangs on quite a few things.
also harvard everyone with good grades has like a 0% or 100% or whatever...it doesn't matter. harvard really picks only the candidates that the school wants...not so much "qualified" applicants in the traditional sense. I know someone on the harvard med school admission and she talked to me a little about the process at harvard

Could you please expand on what she told you?

 

[fit2]

Could you please expand on what she told you?

Harvard looks for leaders, pioneers. They look for more than just really smart and capable people. They look for people who take initiative and present themselves how they are very uniquely qualified in leading some project or idea.
and of course being diverse is good...different major and unique activities helps. dedication and sticking to something is also very important.

 

[rebecca_chatul_tov]

ok

 

[denture base maker]

Please do not believe the calculator. It only takes into account your score, not your ECs, and most important residency. Your DAT is a little bit low. The president of the pre-dent club in my school get into VCU with a higher score. He is VA resident and has terrific ECs. But you still have a chance.