What is the percentage of SDN members to Total Applicants???

[tiodrew]

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Any guesses on this question? The reason I ask is I'm a little worried that my DAT scores will not cut it for getting in when I apply in June.

BIO 18
GC 19
OC 21
RC 20
QR 16
PAT 18
AA 19
TS 19

After taking the DAT I was thrilled to have it over and I was pleased with my scores. Then I was introduced to SDN and that secure feeling started dwindleing as I sifted through the threads like "yeah I got a 22+ on every section of the DAT". It seams as though I'm below average when I comes to DAT scores (at least among SDN members). I will be applying in June and plan to get my apps. off early. I do have other things going for me like a 3.6 GPA, Research, tons of observation, volunteering and extra curricular stuff and I'm not trying to get into Harvard. I just want to get in and become the best dentist I can be. Does anyone think that this website (forum) creates unnecessary anxiety for avg. applicant like myself? Is this representative of all applicants or are SDN members just the cream of the crop?

 

[SugarNaCl]

To be honest, your GPA is good. Your ECs are good. Your DAT is average. I got in with 18s on my DAT, but if you think you can do better 100% it can't hurt to retake it if you have a specific school in mind. If you would settle on any school, you may be fine. Hard to predict the applicant pool from year to year as it grows in competition. Best of luck to you. Oh, and if you compare the applicants on SDN and predents to the overall stats of the schools, SDN and predents are undoubtedly higher on average.

 

[fancymylotus]

predents is skewed. theres like what, 200ish total people on there? maybe 300? and like fifty or sixty with <3.4's? And maybe a hundred with <21 on DAT? Not representative of the entire applicant pool obvi. SDN is a little better only because more people post and ask about their chances etc...but by no means do we represent everyone. Take the majority of what you read here with a grain of salt...at least I do.

 

[kappa505]

People on SDN are geniuses. I think that you will be fine with the scores that you have.

 

[Veneto]

Like Sugar said everything looks good. If you want to solidify a spot at some dental school then retake the DAT. A 19 is about the average now, and with things getting harder every year it may fall sooner or later. Keep in mind schools usually look more at the GPA, but a 20 or higher DAT would really make you stand out. Another factor is if you have a state school to apply to. The instate students can get in with a bit lower scores simply because there are not as many applying. If you are only applying to private schools and out of state schools I would really consider taking the DAT again.

 

[AlphaQUp]

Keep in mind that this is an online forum and there are people who inflate their scores to intimidate and discourage others.

 

[tiodrew]

Thanks for all your opinions. I do take everything said here with a "grain of salt". The only thing I'm worried about is taking the DAT again and doing worse in one or more subjects. My gut feeling is that I will at least get accepted in to one school, maybe two. Hopefully this influx of applicants peaked this cycle for the sake of those applying in June. I don't have the luxury of applying to a in-state dental school. There are none here in the mountain west. One advantage I have is that I've taken the DAT and done OK. Now that I have that behind me, I can really work on polishing my application. Right?

 

[Veneto]

Thanks for all your opinions. I do take everything said here with a "grain of salt". The only thing I'm worried about is taking the DAT again and doing worse in one or more subjects. My gut feeling is that I will at least get accepted in to one school, maybe two. Hopefully this influx of applicants peaked this cycle for the sake of those applying in June. I don't have the luxury of applying to a in-state dental school. There are none here in the mountain west. One advantage I have is that I've taken the DAT and done OK. Now that I have that behind me, I can really work on polishing my application. Right?

The only real polishing you can do now is to improve your scores. From your first post it seems you have all the rest of the real important EC's like good research and shadowing. Keep in mind these things are some of those things that will never by themselves get you into dental school but by not having them they can sure keep you out. The best thing in my opinion is to really look at your DAT score and see if you cant squeeze out a few more points in some section and raise that score to a 20 AA and 20 SCI cause with out of state that seems to be almost the minimum that is getting in, and though I'd love to say that the apps have peaked this year I really dont think so. If you look at the number of apps it kinda goes in cycles. The number of applicants for all professinal schools keeps climbing until there is an easier way to make money and have a secure job. Most recently it was the housing market, and before that it was all the .com and internet business. Now that both of those upsurges have leveled, or in the case of the housing market gone down (I am still trying to sell my home), the number of applicants have increased and will more than likley continue next year. I guess though I could be totally wrong and the reason for the increase is the simple fact that teeth, gums, cavities, plaque, saliva and toothbrushes are dope.

 

[drpduck]

I'll add my 2 cents...

I just recently got accepted with an 18/19/17 DAT, granted it was to my state school. I did not have a fantastic undergrad gpa (well in fact it was horrible), but I went to grad school and did well in my M.S. gpa. My point is that your scores are not absolutely horrible, especially with a 3.6 gpa. Applying to the right schools is extremely important (eg- if you have a state school, some bigger private schools accept a fair number of applicants). When I asked for advice about my DAT scores on here, other people on here told me I should retake it as well, and you have better scores then me!

Bottom line, research the correct schools, apply to several (~10) and try to relax. If you have time to retake it and feel absolutely confident in yourself to get better scores, then go for it. Otherwise I'd say if you apply wisely you should get a few interviews.

 

[caregood]

i had the same stats and i got into the school i wanted to get into...no worries, you'll get in!
the best advice i ever got was to apply early~so apply early and much luck!

 

[tiodrew]

I am planning on applying to >10 schools and I am planning on applying early. Both seem to be important for folks like me who don't have a in-state school to apply to.
-Caregood, how many of the schools you applied to invited you to interview? I'm curious because you have the same stats as me.

 

[markimark]

tiodrew,

just relax, man. i'm a living proof that the DAT scores aren't the only things they are looking for (my numbers were much worse than yours, including a 13 in QR 😀 . I still got a few interviews and 2 acceptances. so you should be fine.

Best of luck.

 

[pmantz]

We are all freaks and liars here, I am just kidding. From interviews I attended I would say one out three knew what SDN was. And so maybe a third of those people actualy post, so maybe 10% of applicants are on here. Do realize my sampling of applicants are ones' who got interviews and were on the ball as far as the app goes.

I got in with a 19/19/20 you'll be fine.

 

[tiodrew]

tiodrew,

just relax, man. i'm a living proof that the DAT scores aren't the only things they are looking for (my numbers were much worse than yours, including a 13 in QR 😀 . I still got a few interviews and 2 acceptances. so you should be fine.

Best of luck.

where did you get into? and were are you from? was it your in-state school?

 

[tiodrew]

We are all freaks and liars here, I am just kidding. From interviews I attended I would say one out three knew what SDN was. And so maybe a third of those people actualy post, so maybe 10% of applicants are on here. Do realize my sampling of applicants are ones' who got interviews and were on the ball as far as the app goes.

I got in with a 19/19/20 you'll be fine.

Thats great, how many interviews did you have when you were applying? What made you choose Marquette?

 

[Ebull]

Nothing like a speedy reply to keep the thread moving along.🙄