What would be considered a match or safe school for someone with my stats?

[Superphoenix]

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I’m trying to narrow down my school list but given my gpa/Dat scores it’s hard to compare to the average stats for schools. I have a 3.3 gpa 3.15 sGPA which is way below average for most schools but a 27 DAT which is way above average for most schools. Given the two extremes, which schools would be a match/safe school for me if at all? Are there any slightly reach schools I should apply to? Will I have a chance to apply to schools with higher gpa averages around 3.5-3.6 given my DAT score? I know reaches like Harvard and UCLA are a bit too far out there but I don’t want to sell myself short nor do I want to be overconfident and not get in anywhere. Thanks so much for your help! I won’t be able to meet with my advisor to talk about this until next week so here I am freaking out about it to you guys.

 

[Cthuluhoop]

Awesome DAT! But, your science GPA is pretty low for all dental schools. What was your total science score on the DAT? What are your extracurriculars? To be honest, based on your stats and the research I've done selecting schools, I don't think any school would be a "safe" school. Depending on your ECs and your TS score I would think you have a shot just because of your DAT. I would apply to your state school(s) and then a lot of private schools like LECOM, UNLV, NYU etc.

 

[deleted678432]

People with a 25 AA and 3.8 don’t even have safe schools, so I dont think that there are any for you unfortunately

 

[suede]

@AN4TOMY may I know how many schools you applied to? # of interview invites? # accepted?

 

[artist2022]

@AN4TOMY may I know how many schools you applied to? # of interview invites? # accepted?

AN4TOMY is applying this cycle but I have pretty much the same stats he listed in his post lol (was he thinking about me? 😛) 25AA, 3.88o, 3.99o, CA resident. I applied to about 14 and I got invites to 8, attended 4 (only the four SoCal ones) and into all four. I didn't hear a thing from Tufts or Boston, two of the schools I thought would be "safe" for me.

 

[deleted678432]

@AN4TOMY may I know how many schools you applied to? # of interview invites? # accepted?

I'm applying to 10 this cycle. I'm hoping to get at least a few interviews, but again, I don't know. Theres so many factors that they take into account when choosing an applicant that my GPA and DAT could literally mean nothing.

 

[Superphoenix]

Awesome DAT! But, your science GPA is pretty low for all dental schools. What was your total science score on the DAT? What are your extracurriculars? To be honest, based on your stats and the research I've done selecting schools, I don't think any school would be a "safe" school. Depending on your ECs and your TS score I would think you have a shot just because of your DAT. I would apply to your state school(s) and then a lot of private schools like LECOM, UNLV, NYU etc.

My TS is 26. I got a 30 on bio, and 24s for chem and orgo. In terms of EC’s I was a volunteer EMT as part of my university’s student run EMS organization in which I also had substantion leadership roles in. I’ve also been doing research since freshman year. Plus shadowing a dentist and all that other things you need. Yea my gpa really sucks and I’m hoping my DAT score is enough to overlook it to get in *somewhere*. I just want to make sure I don’t accidentally not apply there.

 

[Cthuluhoop]

Well, you crushed the sciences on the DAT, so to me that helps your case. But again, your science and overall GPA is a major determinant of you getting into dental school. I would definitely apply to the big private schools like LECOM, NYU, UNLV, Tufts, Boston, etc. With your DAT and solid ECs I think you have a shot at them. Also, apply to your state school as well and some other OOS friendly schools. You never know what can happen.
However, if you don't get any interviews contact the schools, and if they say it's the GPA I would definitely look into a masters program to raise it.

 

[Windex8787]

I don't think there are such things like "safe schools". Apply to as many school as you can since you never know what will happen