What should I do ?

[vzorg]

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I am applying to dental school for the 3rd time now. I have applied to 18 schools. My scores are S 3.15, NS 3.26, T 3.18. My Dat Scores are
M 15, PAT 22, RC 21,B 20, C 20, OC 19, AA 19, S 20.
I actually have done two Bachelors and am a Canadian. I have some scientific publications, and enough extracurriculars along with shadowing. My GPA is low mainly because I got a 1.0 in my first year.

I was wondering if you guys could give me any advice with regards to the next step. Do I have a chance, has anyone ever gotten in with these types of stats? Recently i've been thinking that this is all just a pipe dream.

 

[sddat]

It's definitely not a pipe dream. If this year does not work out, I would guess the next step is a master's program. At your interviews, it may be wise to mention that this is your third time applying and that you very persistent in your goals.

 

[ashlander]

I am applying to dental school for the 3rd time now. I have applied to 18 schools. My scores are S 3.15, NS 3.26, T 3.18. My Dat Scores are
M 15, PAT 22, RC 21,B 20, C 20, OC 19, AA 19, S 20.
I actually have done two Bachelors and am a Canadian. I have some scientific publications, and enough extracurriculars along with shadowing. My GPA is low mainly because I got a 1.0 in my first year.

I was wondering if you guys could give me any advice with regards to the next step. Do I have a chance, has anyone ever gotten in with these types of stats? Recently i've been thinking that this is all just a pipe dream.

I am in a similar situation.
I had 1.0 my 1st semester, 2.1 for the first 2 years. Then, I put my heads together and pulled 3.7 with hardcore sci courses for the next 2.5 years before applying.
My numbers are in predents.
No research, good amt. of EC..
I knew I needed to kill the DAT to have any chance.
With good DAT and good improvements, schools must have liked me..8 interviews so far.
Bottom line, if you are done with school you need to do postbac or master.
AND KILL DAT. Also, you need to a really good GPA trend.
Spin your earlier mistakes to your adv. and you should be able to get in.
GL.😉

 

[sddat]

I am in a similar situation.
I had 1.0 my 1st semester, 2.1 for the first 2 years. Then, I put my heads together and pulled 3.7 with hardcore sci courses for the next 2.5 years before applying.
My numbers are in predents.
No research, good amt. of EC..
I knew I needed to kill the DAT to have any chance.
With good DAT and good improvements, schools must have liked me..8 interviews so far.
Bottom line, if you are done with school you need to do postbac or master.
AND KILL DAT. Also, you need to a really good GPA trend.
Spin your earlier mistakes to your adv. and you should be able to get in.
GL.😉

great job on the DAT, best of luck to you and good for you for owning up to your mistake (low GPA).

 

[doc toothache]

I am applying to dental school for the 3rd time now. I have applied to 18 schools. My scores are S 3.15, NS 3.26, T 3.18. My Dat Scores are M 15, PAT 22, RC 21,B 20, C 20, OC 19, AA 19, S 20.
I actually have done two Bachelors and am a Canadian. I have some scientific publications, and enough extracurriculars along with shadowing. My GPA is low mainly because I got a 1.0 in my first year.

How exactly did you improve your qualifications over the past 3 application cycles? An M.S. is a heck of a lot better than 2 Bs and your DAT will not set the world on fire.

 

[Tommy43087]

How exactly did you improve your qualifications over the past 3 application cycles? An M.S. is a heck of a lot better than 2 Bs and your DAT will not set the world on fire.

You are very cold doc. I never see any words of encouragement from you, although in many cases its great that you lay the facts down with no bs but sometimes its really putting down people when its uncalled for.

Anyways OP, i think you will be fine. Publications alone make you stand out. Also you have an extreme upward trend, which schools love to see!

Good luck👍

 

[Heroes007]

You are very cold doc. I never see any words of encouragement from you, although in many cases its great that you lay the facts down with no bs but sometimes its really putting down people when its uncalled for.

Anyways OP, i think you will be fine. Publications alone make you stand out. Also you have an extreme upward trend, which schools love to see!

Good luck👍

That's right. Keep it going, buddy!

 

[wantVCUdental]

At this point of the game i don't think there's anything else that you can do.., when did you submit your app?

I think 2 Bachelors can be better than 1 MS in cases where you are doing an MS in science, because MS in science just means you are running same experiments over and over again, whereas bachelor means you are expose to new subjects all the time and tested rigorously.

I agree that your GPA is not the best but your DAT score shows you are an academically capable applicant. I know a lot of us are running in circles wondering WTH is going on, but the only thing we can do now is to wait and to let the toothfairy make her picks. 😀

Good luck

 

[doc toothache]

You are very cold doc. I never see any words of encouragement from you, although in many cases its great that you lay the facts down with no bs but sometimes its really putting down people when its uncalled for.Anyways OP, i think you will be fine. Publications alone make you stand out. Also you have an extreme upward trend, which schools love to see!

Re read the post. It suggests getting a Master's and improving dat.

 

[doc toothache]

I think 2 Bachelors can be better than 1 MS in cases where you are doing an MS in science, because MS in science just means you are running same experiments over and over again, whereas bachelor means you are expose to new subjects all the time and tested rigorously.

An MS is less about running the "same experiments over and over again" and more about taking upper level courses which cannot necessarily be achieved by opting for a collection of bachelor's degrees.

 

[Tommy43087]

Re read the post. It suggests getting a Master's and improving dat.

I guess...in like a cold way...

I dont think he/she needs a master's...with publications, two bachelor's, 19AA 20TS, 3.26gpa(upward trend) and alot of e.c.'s......sounds like a damn good app to me

 

[Tommy43087]

I guess...in like a cold way...

I dont think he/she needs a master's...with publications, two bachelor's, 19AA 20TS, 3.26gpa(upward trend) and alot of e.c.'s......sounds like a damn good app to me

unless OP is trying to get into like UCLA, UCSF, HARVARD, etc..

 

[doc toothache]

I guess...in like a cold way...
I dont think he/she needs a master's...with publications, two bachelor's, 19AA 20TS, 3.26gpa(upward trend) and alot of e.c.'s......sounds like a damn good app to me

The day our opinion (vs that of adcoms) really mattered, would be a dream come true.

 

[Tommy43087]

The day our opinion (vs that of adcoms) really mattered, would be a dream come true.

you are correct....

But then again thats the whole point of SDN, to get opinions and help from our peers...

 

[doc toothache]

But then again thats the whole point of SDN, to get opinions and help from our peers...

"The whole point of SDN is to get" information not mis/disinformation.

 

[Ostracized]

"The whole point of SDN is to get" information not mis/disinformation.

I agree with you. I also feel that a masters is always the best route to go if your stats aren't working for you. I did a research masters in biology, and that got me into dental school (I also applied 3 times prior to my masters).

The original poster is Canadian. I know for a fact that a masters degree is counted as a 5% bonus on your overall application at University of Western Ontario (as an example). 5% can be huge!

Also, to dispel a myth, not all research is repetitive. I was doing different experiments pretty much every month for two years. I also loved it, so that was a plus! You learn things in a research masters that you will never learn in undergrad.

 

[KitKat09]

I think being a third time reapplicant should have given you enough clues where do you stand with your appl and where you need to go. Being a Canadian, am not sure how much that means for US dental schools, I would think standarts are set much higher for Can applicants simply because there few spots available.
Am not sure what you have done to improve your app year from year but going back to schools you applied and discussing with them where they found your app lacking and what do they recommend for you to improve is something to think about. Many schools are very approachable when you reach them off season late winter, early spring.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Also, to dispel a myth, not all research is repetitive. I was doing different experiments pretty much every month for two years. I also loved it, so that was a plus! You learn things in a research masters that you will never learn in undergrad.

I am very happy for you that experiments work out 😀
Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky, and maybe as competent he he

 

[vzorg]

Wooooooooww... Thanks for the response guys... I was expecting one word answers.

With regards to my upward trend; Like I said I got a 1.0 in my first year and there was a exponential upward trend. Last year I got a 4.16.

I am a canadian but am not sure about the 5% bonus that the university of western ontario gives for Masters applicants. I have never heard of them quantifying the bonus that they add to your score.

I really don't care where I get in. NYU, Boston, its all good... I just want to sit down and learn about teeth. I obviously do have preferences of paying as little as possible for tuition. But no matter what i'm sure its worth the money.
Or else these schools wouldn't have all these applicants.
I have never gotten a single interview. I just have a huge pile of rejection letters.

I do have a ton of research experience. One problem with masters programs in Canada is that they do not entail a great deal of course work. They are mostly research based. You probably end up doing a stats course, a research methods course and two other science courses mainly in your area of research. This is why I didn't do a masters, I felt that it wouldn't have a big impact on my GPA.

Seriously I don't know what these schools want. I messed up one year and they are going to hold it against me for the rest of my life. Oh btw the reason I didn't do so well was that a friend of mine passed away with cancer. I'm not trying to make any excuses it is just a fact.

If a masters is what I have to do to get into dental school then that will be next on the list.

Does anyone know which schools look at upward trends.

I have applied to the following schools:

UNLV, NYU, Boston, Temple {REJECTED}, Arizona School of Dentistry {they dont' accept canadians}, USC, Midwestern, Loma Linda, U o P, Western University of Health Sciences, Howard University, NOVA, Tufts, University of Maryland, Meharry, and Marquette.