What to do?

[r2thekesh]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I interviewed at only one school but I've been waitlisted (applied to 15, maybe 6 denials). For the one school that interviewed at, from what I can tell about 20-30 students put down deposits, there's ~80 spots but there's at least 80 students in front of me on the waitlist. Those numbers are off SDN so take them as you will.

I've been applying to jobs and I got a very promising research job offer. Well funded lab, interesting research, and it's dental related. I have to give the lab a 1.5-2 year commitment.This lab publishes often and it's not hard to get an authorship. Previous assistants have averaged 5-7 publications.

This is my 3rd time applying so I'll have to retake my DATs if I need to reapply. I've already done an SMP. I've shadowed for 200+ hr, volunteered for 200+, I've done research before never published. I'm currently taking a year off, working retail and taking a few trips that I wanted to.

The research job wants an answer in 2 weeks. What should I do?

 

[molar3]

So I interviewed at only one school but I've been waitlisted (applied to 15, maybe 6 denials). For the one school that interviewed at, from what I can tell about 20-30 students put down deposits, there's ~80 spots but there's at least 80 students in front of me on the waitlist. Those numbers are off SDN so take them as you will.

I've been applying to jobs and I got a very promising research job offer. Well funded lab, interesting research, and it's dental related. I have to give the lab a 1.5-2 year commitment.This lab publishes often and it's not hard to get an authorship. Previous assistants have averaged 5-7 publications.

This is my 3rd time applying so I'll have to retake my DATs if I need to reapply. I've already done an SMP. I've shadowed for 200+ hr, volunteered for 200+, I've done research before never published. I'm currently taking a year off, working retail and taking a few trips that I wanted to.

The research job wants an answer in 2 weeks. What should I do?

what is your UG bcp/science and overall gpa? what is your SMP gpa? why have u not gotten in, as a third year appplicant? whats your DAT? either something is very off with your numbers, or youre simply applying too late and to the "wrong schools" i dont think a publication is going to help you if you havnt gotten in, in 3 cycles. from what u wrote, there seems to be a vital problem that isnt going to be fixed with being published.

 

[r2thekesh]

3.3 oGPA, 3.3 SMP. 20's across the board, 25 in RC. I spent all of June revamping my personal statement so I'm comfortable with that. I had like 5 friends look at it, plus a newspaper editor for a local paper. Applied to 2 state schools, Case, Ohio State (because I know someone that thought could help me), Louisville, ASDOH, Pacific, Maryland, Pitt, Indiana, both Midwesterns, NYU, BU, and Tufts. Submitted July 6th, All secondaries were finished within a week of receiving.

 

[jackalo34]

3.3 oGPA, 3.3 SMP. 20's across the board, 25 in RC. I spent all of June revamping my personal statement so I'm comfortable with that. I had like 5 friends look at it, plus a newspaper editor for a local paper. Applied to 2 state schools, Case, Ohio State (because I know someone that thought could help me), Louisville, ASDOH, Pacific, Maryland, Pitt, Indiana, both Midwesterns, NYU, BU, and Tufts. Submitted July 6th, All secondaries were finished within a week of receiving.

I believe it’s your GPA-while not bad, both are the same, so the SMP shows no improvement. Also, what are your ECs? Could be your letter of recs. After 3 yrs, gotta be something.

 

[Benman44]

Either call the schools you think you have a good chance with and be up front with them, They will tell you if they know trust me,or you can either take the job and reapply next year or not take the job and if you dont get in reapply next year lol

 

[r2thekesh]

Thanks for the advice! But I guess I wasn't very clear with my real question. By taking the job, I should ethically remove myself from the application cycle because it would be around 6 months of training (it's probably less) but it's a lot of grant money used. Would you take yourself out of the application cycle or stay in the cycle for a "50% shot" (quote is from the admissions officer on a phone call) at being accepted?

The other advantage to the job is I will be working a dental school directly, able to take graduate/medical /dental classes while doing research for 50% of in state tuition. The professor is well connected with dental dean. But I would much rather be a dentist and study clinical sciences (ie get a PhD during postgraduate training) rather than study basic sciences before my dental degree.

BTW-My ECs are board of my PDC in undergrad, spanish speaking (spanish double major, studied abroad in Costa Rica, volunteered in Guatemala (non-dental related)), intern at my public health department in dental department, ran a 30 mile race (ultramarathon) and other endurance activities, leadership in my housing cooperative (helped remodel a kitchen), advocate for patients trying to find dental care without insurance while working for a non-profit, Graduate school council during my SMP, and I worked for students with disabilities while in college as a personal assistant.

All my profs and the dentist were glad to give me letters when I asked. I had 30 minute discussions about my goals with them each time.

I definitely have felt this my best cycle in terms of my application quality but I had 2 interviews last cycle in compared to 1 this cycle (and 1 the first cycle).

 

[Baker2010]

3.3 oGPA, 3.3 SMP. 20's across the board, 25 in RC. I spent all of June revamping my personal statement so I'm comfortable with that. I had like 5 friends look at it, plus a newspaper editor for a local paper. Applied to 2 state schools, Case, Ohio State (because I know someone that thought could help me), Louisville, ASDOH, Pacific, Maryland, Pitt, Indiana, both Midwesterns, NYU, BU, and Tufts. Submitted July 6th, All secondaries were finished within a week of receiving.

I think your leaving something out.
3 times. Your def doing something really wrong and/ or have a huge red flag on our app.

 

[r2thekesh]

A bunch of C's first semester freshman year? Is that a major misstep? Hence why my GPA is so low. I asked schools if I should retake these classes but they kept saying to take more advanced classes. Since then it's been mostly B's with a few A's sporadically placed. Double major in molecular cellular bio and Spanish. An interviewer asked what I wanted my epitaph to read and I had to ask for the definition of epitaph. Is that a major no no?

English is my native language if that was a question. I identified Indian on the app if the affirmative action police are going ask. Any other questions?

 

[jackalo34]

A bunch of C's first semester freshman year? Is that a major misstep? Hence why my GPA is so low. I asked schools if I should retake these classes but they kept saying to take more advanced classes. Since then it's been mostly B's with a few A's sporadically placed. Double major in molecular cellular bio and Spanish. An interviewer asked what I wanted my epitaph to read and I had to ask for the definition of epitaph. Is that a major no no?

English is my native language if that was a question. I identified Indian on the app if the affirmative action police are going ask. Any other questions?

No real questions. Just trying to pinpoint why your app has been denied continuously despite how immaculate you say your app is. If I had to guess anything, it’s your GPA holding you back. At this point, I’d take the research position and re-pursue dentistry after you’ve saved up some money if its your true passion.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

An interviewer asked what I wanted my epitaph to read and I had to ask for the definition of epitaph. Is that a major no no?

I don't want to say it was a major no-no but that would definitely lose you some points depending on the interviewer.

I would take the job. I mean, you've done everything you can at this point. You can't bank off getting a spot in the class through the wait list (that's essentially what you're on even if they haven't explicitly said so). You've done everything you can to make your application the best possible. Your EC's are good, your DAT is fine, your GPA is the best you can make of it. You can't keep taking classes forever and bumping it up 0.01 at a time. At this point, it's time to try something different. Go do research and take some time off while making money. Do some networking with the dental school. I think that's your best bet right now. Taking the DAT again is killer though because your score is fine.

Louisville doesn't take that many Asians/Indians btw. I wouldn't have applied there.

 

[r2thekesh]

I wouldn't say my app is immaculate. My GPA is an issue. My shadowing is done in bunches ie didn't shadow for a while, then shadowed 40hr a week for 4 weeks. My SMP was pharmacology so some interviewers and admissions secretaries have been confused and don't understand what pharmacology is and why it's important to dentistry.
I would also say that I'm not the best interviewer in the world in the fact that I take my time and answer carefully rather than going through the first thought (maybe 5-10sec wait tops).
I reread some of my posts on this thread, sorry if they seemed snarky or mean. I was trying to keep the discussion light but didn't do a great job conveying it.
But thanks for the posts!

 

[jackalo34]

I wouldn't say my app is immaculate. My GPA is an issue. My shadowing is done in bunches ie didn't shadow for a while, then shadowed 40hr a week for 4 weeks. My SMP was pharmacology so some interviewers and admissions secretaries have been confused and don't understand what pharmacology is and why it's important to dentistry.
I would also say that I'm not the best interviewer in the world in the fact that I take my time and answer carefully rather than going through the first thought (maybe 5-10sec wait tops).
I reread some of my posts on this thread, sorry if they seemed snarky or mean. I was trying to keep the discussion light but didn't do a great job conveying it.
But thanks for the posts!

No problem. I don’t see any major flaws. If your interviewing aren’t the best, I would def work on those when you have time, but since you didn’t get that many interviews, it isn’t a major concern at this point. Just as AwesomeTeeth said, take the job. Take a break from applying and if afterwards you decide you want to try again, do so. The experience should be nothing but positive for your app. GL

 

[r2thekesh]

So I wrote this in a previous thread about finding my interviewers e-mails on the internet. Would it be a good or bad idea to e-mail them and ask for advice?