What are your thoughts on my qualifications?

[Shunwei]

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Hi all:

I have recently decided to switch careers from that of scientific research into dentistry, so I have been observing the forum--seems like there are some really good advice here. Anyways, I am pretty new in all of this, so I was wondering if some of you might take a minute and see if my qualifications are good for DS:

Undergraduate: Rice U
GPA, overall: 3.891 (Magna Cum Laude)
Science GPA: 3.80

Graduate: UC Berkeley (Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Bio)
GPA: 3.956

6 publications

DAT (last month):

PAT: 20
QR: 21
RC: 19
Bio: 23
GC: 22
OC: 22
TS: 22
AA: 21

Dental Experience: 5 months of shadowing a general dentist (~80 hours)


So what do you guys think? I feel that my GPA is fairly solid, but I wish that I had done just a tad better, especially in the RC, where one more point would have given me 20+ in all categories and a 22 AA 😡 . I only had marginal time to study for it, since I am a postdoc right now and that is very time demanding. I kind of want to take it again, but I am not sure if I would have the time to study more for it and the scores seem decent to me.

Anyway, what do you guys think. Especially for those with experience, what do you think my chances are to get into a good dental program? Thanks in advance.

 

[deleted100801]

you'll get into podiatry with those stats. not dentistry.

 

[Shunwei]

you'll get into podiatry with those stats. not dentistry.

Podiatry? What do you mean? Like I said, I am pretty new to all of this dental application stuff and don't know too much about what's what. Just want to get an idea of how competitive it is out there. Thanks.

 

[Nasem]

if your not intellegent enough to tell that you have a kick @$$ application, then I feel really sorry for the patients your gonna treat in the future when you become DDS

 

[Shunwei]

if your not intellegent enough to tell that you have a kick @$$ application, then I feel really sorry for the patients your gonna treat in the future when you become DDS

Hey, believe me, I am perfectly serious in my original question. I am relatively confident in my GPA and science background, but I do know that the DAT scores nowadays are very high and I don't have as many shadowing hours as I would have liked. That's why I asked.

 

[blueyes34]

Your stats are golden and you will have no trouble getting into dental school; good job with all of your hard work!

 

[laundry]

Good grief people...just because you are either freaking out about your own @SS getting in DS, or are so "intelligent" about your stats, does mean that you should post smart ass remarks to a sencere question. 😡 😡 😡 sheesh, you're not the one who is called Dr., that guy is.

On a separate note, I also think you're golden as far as getting in goes. I myself would like a DDS/PhD. Where are you applying? Oh yea...as far as actual advice, I'm sure you know this, but...Give a good thought about your Personal Statement because it's obvious that the reason for career change question will be the first thing to come to the ad com's minds.

Cheers

 

[Shunwei]

Good grief people...just because you are either freaking out about your own @SS getting in DS, or are so "intelligent" about your stats, does mean that you should post smart ass remarks to a sencere question. 😡 😡 😡 sheesh, you're not the one who is called Dr., that guy is.

On a separate note, I also think you're golden as far as getting in goes. I myself would like a DDS/PhD. Where are you applying? Oh yea...as far as actual advice, I'm sure you know this, but...Give a good thought about your Personal Statement because it's obvious that the reason for career change question will be the first thing to come to the ad com's minds.

Cheers

Thanks for the kind reply. I feel pretty confident about my GPA and science background, but since I have only made my committment several months ago about switching, I feel like I know relatively little compared to you guys. I do know that dental applications have gotten pretty fierce lately, so that's why I asked. Anyway, I am getting into dental because of an important personal experience, and I already have that put down in my PS.

 

[Nasem]

Good grief people...just because you are either freaking out about your own @SS getting in DS, or are so "intelligent" about your stats, does mean that you should post smart ass remarks to a sencere question. 😡 😡 😡 sheesh, you're not the one who is called Dr., that guy is.

Cheers

sincere my ass...
People SHOULD have common sense ESPECIALLY when they have a 3.8-3.9 GPA and TS 22 with AA 21....

YOUR STUDYING TO BECOME A DOCTOR FOR PETE'S SAKE HAVE SOME FU**ING COMMON SENSE!!!!!

 

[bruinpredent]

sincere my ass...
People SHOULD have common sense ESPECIALLY when they have a 3.8-3.9 GPA and TS 22 with AA 21....

YOUR STUDYING TO BECOME A DOCTOR FOR PETE'S SAKE HAVE SOME FU**ING COMMON SENSE!!!!!

not exactly the most diplomatic way to go about it....


to the OP: the reason people have been reacting and responding the way they have to your post is because many view your question as a means of bragging and fishing for compliments. whether or not this is the case, you should definitely be proud of yourself and of your scores.

considering you have good shadowing and volunteering experience and can express yourself well during an interview, i would definitely say you are a VERY competitive candidate

best of luck 👍

 

[Shunwei]

not exactly the most diplomatic way to go about it....


to the OP: the reason people have been reacting and responding the way they have to your post is because many view your question as a means of bragging and fishing for compliments. whether or not this is the case, you should definitely be proud of yourself and of your scores.

considering you have good shadowing and volunteering experience and can express yourself well during an interview, i would definitely say you are a VERY competitive candidate

best of luck 👍

Well, I assure you guys I am not here for bragging rights or whatnot (believe me I got better to do than that). I am very new to the applicant pool so I am just interested in seeing what folks think of my background, that is all. Like I said, I am aware that dental applications have been getting very compeitive so just want an idea of how I stand. Regardless, thanks to those of you who took the time to respond to my pose.

 

[darksky]

Hi all:

I have recently decided to switch careers from that of scientific research into dentistry, so I have been observing the forum--seems like there are some really good advice here. Anyways, I am pretty new in all of this, so I was wondering if some of you might take a minute and see if my qualifications are good for DS:

Undergraduate: Rice U
GPA, overall: 3.891 (Magna Cum Laude)
Science GPA: 3.80

Graduate: UC Berkeley (Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Bio)
GPA: 3.956

6 publications

DAT (last month):

PAT: 20
QR: 21
RC: 19
Bio: 23
GC: 22
OC: 22
TS: 22
AA: 21

Dental Experience: 5 months of shadowing a general dentist (~80 hours)


So what do you guys think? I feel that my GPA is fairly solid, but I wish that I had done just a tad better, especially in the RC, where one more point would have given me 20+ in all categories and a 22 AA 😡 . I only had marginal time to study for it, since I am a postdoc right now and that is very time demanding. I kind of want to take it again, but I am not sure if I would have the time to study more for it and the scores seem decent to me.

Anyway, what do you guys think. Especially for those with experience, what do you think my chances are to get into a good dental program? Thanks in advance.

the schools may wonder why do you like dentistry ? ?

 

[poc91nc]

Those stats and a 22 DAT score with "minimal" studying...I don't know...the the post isn't really oozing with humility. I can see how some people might take it the wrong way...


There are numerous resources on the net which you can use to compare yourself. Not saying it's right, but I think about half of the responses you'll get won't be positive.

 

[poc91nc]

sincere my ass...
People SHOULD have common sense ESPECIALLY when they have a 3.8-3.9 GPA and TS 22 with AA 21....

YOUR STUDYING TO BECOME A DOCTOR FOR PETE'S SAKE HAVE SOME FU**ING COMMON SENSE!!!!!

I agree to some extent...a quick google search should yield all the stats that are necessary to make a good assumption regarding the competetiveness of the op.