What should I be doing to improve my application?

[Blarelli]

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I won't be applying for another year, but I want to do what I can now to start improving my application. I am doing well as far as academics go, but I think I'm really weak as far as good EC's go. Here's what I've got.

-200 or so hours as a scout master, but I haven't been involved in this for the past year or so.
-1 year as the sunday school president at church (does this even count?).
-Two year LDS mission.
-8 hours shadowing a general dentist.

I'll have a little extra time this summer, so I'm going to volunteer 3-4 hours a week tutoring summer school kids, and hopefully get my shadowing hours up around 80 hours or so. What else can I be doing to improve my EC's?

 

[hl11]

Things you can do:

-Get more hours of shadowing experience
-Get at least a 3.5 for both the science and overall GPAs
-Beat the DAT
-Get strong LORs and PS

 

[Blarelli]

Things you can do:

-Get more hours of shadowing experience
-Get at least a 3.5 for both the science and overall GPAs
-Beat the DAT
-Get strong LORs and PS

What about volunteer hours? I haven't been able to do much in the past year.

 

[Sajitude]

What about volunteer hours? I haven't been able to do much in the past year.

Honestly from my experience with the process volunteer work isn't that significant in the application consideration process. Have a solid GPA >3.5 and shoot for at least 19's across for the DATs.

Personally I highly value volunteering but the number of hrs. you donate doesn't tell the school anything about how successful you can be at dental school.

 

[Frederico Albin]

If you have a above the average GPA, maybe you can join the Honors Society at your school, thats a great addition to any application.

 

[hl11]

Yeah, i think volunteering hours are not that important, but if you have the time, why not?

The most important things are both the GPA and DAT scores. Just do mad well on them.

 

[Aceofspades]

Steroids.

 

[WilsonJing]

dont do steriods! I thought it would help me get in. But it didnt. That is bad advice