What are some things you guys have learned?

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manifesto

manifesto

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The application process is over for many of this year's predents-or at least almost over. I'm curious on what interesting things you guys have learned from this application process. This extends back to your time in undergrad preparing for dental school.

In other words, I'm bored.
 
I learned that its best to look at your application objectively, and to be honest about my chances. I also learned to figure out how I may improve, and am currently coming up with a plan to give my application a face lift
 
T4h2gqx.jpg
 
manifesto said:
In what way?
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pfg459 said:
Cant believe it -- Beyond Ecstatic!

Acceptance

School: UTSD at Houston
Notification date: 7/25/14
Method of notification: Email
Residency: TX
TMDSAS mail-out date: 9/6/13
Application complete date: 9/6/13
GPA (science, overall) 3.55 sci, 3.50 overall
DAT (AA/TS/PAT/Reading/any section below a 17): 21/20/20/23/None
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Looking at last years acceptance thread, this is why....the last acceptance posted there was from 7/25/14. DO NOT GIVE UP!
 
irishmom said:
Looking at last years acceptance thread, this is why....the last acceptance posted there was from 7/25/14. DO NOT GIVE UP!
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and a texas school to boot!
 
I've learned how much the application process stinks, and how you should apply early. One thing I failed to do and now I'm kicking myself.
 
Apply early...it doesn't have to be the first week the application opens, but make sure you're writhing the first 4-6 batches.

I know someone applying this cycle with a 3.8+ GPA and a 22 DAT who has one interview because they didn't follow this advice.

DON'T APPLY TOO LATE WITH A 3.8+ GPA AND A 22 DAT. GET DIRECT TV.
 
I have learned that there is no rhyme or reason as to why some schools will interview you and others wont. Same goes for acceptances. I was accepted to schools I thought I had a bad interview at, and I haven't heard from other schools that I thought I was a perfect match for.
 
I learned that I am about $2000 more broke just to get one acceptance.... I learned that I had to subject myself to a lot of peer pressure to celebrate that acceptance... I learned that I am ok with all of that 😛
 
I learned that although you should apply broadly, don't apply stupidly. I wasted god knows how much money on several reach schools. I'll be more concise next time if these apps don't work out.
 
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How to give a firm handshake. I was always terrible with it.
 
Though I was told this, it really hits home when it applies to you - the whole thing is a crapshoot. I never heard from schools I thought I was shoo-in for and got accepted to one of the two reach schools I applied to. Apparently, some schools are interested in more than just stats.
 
Daneosaurus said:
Though I was told this, it really hits home when it applies to you - the whole thing is a crapshoot. I never heard from schools I thought I was shoo-in for and got accepted to one of the two reach schools I applied to. Apparently, some schools are interested in more than just stats.
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TRUTH. Haha
 
Daneosaurus said:
Though I was told this, it really hits home when it applies to you - the whole thing is a crapshoot. I never heard from schools I thought I was shoo-in for and got accepted to one of the two reach schools I applied to. Apparently, some schools are interested in more than just stats.
Click to expand...


Were you flat out rejected from your "Safety schools" or were you at least offered an interview?
 
Weakfart said:
Were you flat out rejected from your "Safety schools" or were you at least offered an interview?
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Rejected at a couple I thought I had a good chance at and wait listed at LECOM. I somehow got into Pitt lol
 
This whole process if anything is HUMBLING. puts alot into perspective...but ultimately you cant ever forget to lean on faith if not more than ever during this time. Without faith you have nothing. Also I learned that GOD'splan for you may be different than what you had visioned but you have to trust in whatever happens it was his plan....

I applied to only 3 schools. all instate (texas) because I wanted to be realistic with my fininaces and if that meant sitting out a year to save 150k than so be it lol. call me bold but I have one accpetance so far, and i interviwed at all 3 texas schools. I think its important to rememeber cost and to APPLY EARLY also the interview is SOOOOOOOO important regardless of it you have a 29 DAT score

Last but not least.....

PRAY.
 
Really is about what I expected to be.

Apply early, apply to a handful of schools, even some reach schools (what's worst they could do? Reject you?). Never shoot yourself in the foot when you have a chance not to.

And remember, patience is the name of the game.
 
I learned that applying to 17 schools is ridiculously expensive lol. I also learned interviews are actually a really fun experience but I sure am glad they're over nonetheless! 😉
 
peacelove&TX said:
This whole process if anything is HUMBLING. puts alot into perspective...but ultimately you cant ever forget to lean on faith if not more than ever during this time. Without faith you have nothing. Also I learned that GOD'splan for you may be different than what you had visioned but you have to trust in whatever happens it was his plan....

I applied to only 3 schools. all instate (texas) because I wanted to be realistic with my fininaces and if that meant sitting out a year to save 150k than so be it lol. call me bold but I have one accpetance so far, and i interviwed at all 3 texas schools. I think its important to rememeber cost and to APPLY EARLY also the interview is SOOOOOOOO important regardless of it you have a 29 DAT score

Last but not least.....

PRAY.
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Praying solves nothing. No one wants your religious propaganda in here.
 
Ok, sure, Pray is not the best command, but it at least restores a small amount of HP to everyone, so it could be useful in certain niche situations.
 
Maybe you need to prey on other applicants?
 
Daneosaurus said:
Praying solves nothing. No one wants your religious propaganda in here.
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A lil harsh mate.

But there IS alot of fluff in there as in about half the post was non-dental related. No need to include if religion worked for you or not.
 
Im with Dane, you either put in the work or you dont. Praying unfortunately wont make a 2.8 GPA get accepted into Harvard no matter what/who you pray to.

But the number one thing is have patience. Everyone always says it but its the best thing to remember. Interviews come randomly, acceptance calls come way too late on Dec 1st, and its not over till the cycle is. Also, just because someone has 1000 hrs volunteering and 4 papers published does not mean you are not on the same level as them if you do not. Do you best in undergrad and apply broadly and things should work out.
 
#1 - Get your letters of recommedation early. Also, get two dentists in case one likes to take his time.
#2 - Give yourself three months for your personal statement and anticipate writing it at least three times.
#3 - Apply early if at all possible.
#4 - Give yourself plenty of time to take the DAT.
#5 - Have something to do after you apply to take your mind off apps. I'm glad I still had a semester of school, yet I was still sweating.
#6 - Really think about the schools you are applying to and why you're applying. I applied to schools like USC as a backup and got waitlisted. When it was my only interview, I came to the realization that I would not want to take on that much debt even to become a dentist. Granted, I do have a family business that I can fall back on for the time being.
#7 - Stats aren't the end all, be all. And you truly never know that ADCOMs are looking for. I thought I would for sure get calls from all my schools. Got waitlisted from my backup and accepted from my top pick. A big bag of WTF?
#8 - Make some friends that are in the same process as you. I didn't find my school's pre-dent club until after I got accepted, so it was a lonely process. Luckily, I was able to chat with some cool people on the tinychat.
 
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I learned that Im not the failure and loser I thought I was turning out to be. A steadfast commitment and an obsessive drive to prove to myself that my value as a person is not negligible and that my future kids will not be a burden to society due to their genetic heritage they inherited from me.

I grew up in the ghetto where gangs ruled and I was bullied viciously b/c I was the odd one out and a very late bloomer, so my grades in elementary and middle school were miserable. In high school, after escaping the ghetto, I always scored 90+ in classes but it was meaningless as it was heavily dumbed down and I never had to study. So most of my life I strongly suspected I was stupid and a waste of space.

I was wholly unprepared for undergrad. I didnt know how to study effectively, not to mention, having spent most of my time goofing off with friends. Unsurprisingly, my 1st 2 yrs were really bad. I knew the future in store for me (depressed & back in ghetto) so I made school priority #1. After learning & refining my study techniques during junior yr, I began earning ~4.0s starting senior yr and graduated with cum/sciGPA of 3.0/2.8. Downright awful, but I persevered with a post-bac.

I applied twice to no avail. Disappointed, but nowhere near defeated. I applied a 3rd time as super-super-super senior and finally got in! My family, most friends, and career center advisers in both colleges I attended all suggested I quit and try something else. With each failed cycle, their "I told you so" subcommunications grew more palpable and a few even said it outright. But, to their surprise, I proved them wrong --though I didnt really care for their opinions on this to start with for varying reasons. I proved to myself my true value and that I wouldnt be setting my future kids up for failure by dealing them a bad genetic hand. Im real excited to start D school now, Im gonna love every minute of it.
 
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