What to do now

[nunskie]

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Hey guys,

So I applied to dental school this cycle, and I am pretty sure that I'm not getting in. As a preface to my question here are my stats:

GPA: 3.82
DAT: 23
Extracurricular: planned a university abroad service trip, tons of community service (400+ hours), University representative, Lab assistant, art ect. ect.
Shadowing: 200+
Also I applied the first week; but only to 3 schools (common at my university because our state school takes a lot of our students). I was invited to an interview for one school, and the interview portion went great, but there was a chalk carving test (which I stupidly ordered the wrong knife to practice with at home, and so in the interview I got really nervous and messed up.) I wasn't flat out denied but put on the waiting list; but it was a bad mistake so I don't expect too much. (as a side note to everyone out there, you can have great or not so great stats and sometimes things just happen, just try your best. Also make sure to apply to enough schools! Despite what has happened to me I still believe that it completely possibly for anyone!).

I'm not asking if my stats are good enough or anything, I promise, I know they are enough. But I would like to know what would be some good things to in the next year. I know they say to work on your weaknesses, but I'm not sure what to tackle to improve. Would it be worth it to take classes, or do you think that would be unnecessary? Or is it ok just to work? Any and all advice would be great---I'm just a little apprehensive about it all!! Thanks guys!

 

[sjv]

Stats solid, just work, apply a little more broadly (but I don't think you'll mess up on chalk twice).

 

[ToothfairyNC]

I think LSU is the only remaining state in the US that still makes you carved a tooth from chalk. The most important thing to do now is to get base with the school and ask them what you can do to improve your application. Could it be the personal statement or your recs letter? I wonder why you didn't get an interview for the other two schools because your stats is solid. But either way, the schools will tell you the specifics you should work on and it is also a good way to open communication with them. A lot of time, it does not hurt to know someone on the committee. But definitely apply to more schools next cycle. Other thing you can do is to practice carving, and more volunteering really just to tell them that you're doing something.

 

[Joelgrow]

Dude, I am not in dental school yet, so I can't give you any advice, but I am just surprised that you didn't get accepted with those stats.

Do you mind me asking what schools did you apply this year?

I wish the best luck of you man next year. Surely With those stats, you will get accepted the school you wanna go.

 

[Joelgrow]

Guys, I feel really stupid asking this, but what is the carving test??(chalk carving?)

do they make you to carve something at the interview?

 

[nunskie]

Guys, I feel really stupid asking this, but what is the carving test??(chalk carving?)

do they make you to carve something at the interview?

Only at LSU! Sorry if it made you worry, but yes, they do

 

[Joelgrow]

haha seriously? that is kinda funny

 

[sjv]

haha seriously? that is kinda funny

Yeah, you gotta buy the chalk and knife to practice at home before you attend the interview.

 

[nunskie]

I think LSU is the only remaining state in the US that still makes you carved a tooth from chalk. The most important thing to do now is to get base with the school and ask them what you can do to improve your application. Could it be the personal statement or your recs letter? I wonder why you didn't get an interview for the other two schools because your stats is solid. But either way, the schools will tell you the specifics you should work on and it is also a good way to open communication with them. A lot of time, it does not hurt to know someone on the committee. But definitely apply to more schools next cycle. Other thing you can do is to practice carving, and more volunteering really just to tell them that you're doing something.

I really don't think it was my recs, they really wanted write it for me. Personal statement? I thought it was fine but it may have been a little bland if I had to find something wrong. I really do think it was the amount of schools I applied to

 

[nunskie]

Thanks guys, but what are somethings people do in the gap year?

 

[Glimmer1991]

I'd absolutely be emailing all three schools, explaining your situation about how you will be applying again next year, and ask what you can do to improve your application. With your stats, I really feel as if you should have gotten in to at least one of those three schools. There must be some sort of an issue, unless the other two schools you applied to were extremely competitive or non-OOS friendly.

 

[dieanotherday]

I am substitute teaching and tutoring (both paid jobs) before matriculation. This would have been the plan regardless if I got in or not.

 

[nunskie]

I'd absolutely be emailing all three schools, explaining your situation about how you will be applying again next year, and ask what you can do to improve your application. With your stats, I really feel as if you should have gotten in to at least one of those three schools. There must be some sort of an issue, unless the other two schools you applied to were extremely competitive or non-OOS friendly.

Pretty OOS-unfriendly, I do appreciate the thought though 🙂. I really wanted to go to my state school, and I honestly didn't expect to mess up like that. My fault, indeed. But now I just need to find what to do in the next year.

 

[HaverfoodsDDS]

I'm sorry to hear your story, but I think it's a great example that the whole admissions process is a huge crapshoot and it's best to apply broadly (10+ schools minimum, in my opinion). You really never know why a school will/will not choose you. I am extremely happy with my cycle (9 Interview Offers, 6 Attended, 5 Acceptances), but even with my stats (4.0+GPA, 22DAT) I was rejected from Both Arizona Schools without an interview, and have yet to hear from schools like UNLV, Boston, Western (waitlist) among many others (I applied to 20) despite the fact that I received interviews and acceptances from schools that seemingly are much more competitive than the schools that did not offer me interviews/acceptances (UCLA, UCSF, Michigan, Penn, etc....).

I guess the moral of the story is you need to maximize your chances with schools by applying to as many as you can afford. It may seem like a big cost up front, but when compared to waiting an extra year and going through this whole tedious process again, I think you'd rather spend an extra thousand or so upfront to ensure you get into a school on the first attempt.

You have an excellent resume and should have NO PROBLEM matriculating next cycle if you apply broadly enough. Best of luck!

 

[FlossFloss]

what schools make you do this chalk carving thing?? first time i've heard of it 0_0 am i just really ignorant or is this only for select schools...?

 

[FlossFloss]

looked that up...and call me ignorant, but this seems like the most pretentious step for going into dental school?? Not that it looks overly difficult, but if a student took the DAT, studied extra hard in school, and did ok on the PAT, wtf is the point of making them do this too. just teach the student to be good at his craft in school as he goes...idk why but this practice pisses me off.

 

[sjv]

what schools make you do this chalk carving thing?? first time i've heard of it 0_0 am i just really ignorant or is this only for select schools...?

Just LSU.

 

[Dgeorg6]

What's up man. Sorry to hear you didn't get into LSU. I would definitely talk to Dr. Cheramie and see what went wrong and reapply to them next year. Your 23 is great and LSU obviously liked you a lot because they put you in the 1st group of in-state interviewees.

Honestly you must have really just bombed the interview and/or messed up the chalk completely. Can you think of anything wrong you said during the interviews? or during the group project did you interact a lot and get involved or sit in the corner and not speak? there are a lot of things that could have gone wrong.

Also.. What were the 2 other schools you applied to?


Anyways.. Definitely work hard to get into LSU next year. It will end up saving you probably 100k+ if you get in.