Where not to apply?

[Livineasi]

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So I'm planning to apply to about 30 schools this cycle. I'm basically going all in!

I've only ruled out any schools that don't accept community college classes as pre-reqs.

I'm from California, my overall GPA is about 3.7 and I'm taking the DAT for the first time in July. Any advice on schools that I shouldn't even bother applying to cause they won't even look at an out-of-state applicant or who are known for only admitting those people with the highest of scores?

thanks.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Don't apply to 30 schools with a 3.7. That's ludicrous. It will cost you an arm and a leg and you'll get way more interview invites than you can realistically attend. If you're worried about your future DAT score than there's other options. If you assume you were to get an 18 or 19 AA, I'd say 12-15 schools would be a good amount. If you think you might get a 20 (or up ofcourse), 10 schools is the max you would need. Why dont' you just apply to about 10 or 12, and then after you take the DAT (if you're score isn't so great) add more schools at that time? You're taking it in July and AADSAS will already have your transcripts verified, so it won't take long for additional schools to get your app if you add them later on. Save some of that money for inteviews.

 

[samdds]

You should check out Adea Official Guide to Dental Schools and see the number of out of state students each school anticipates to accept. It is logic to think that apply to many schools increase your chance of getting in, but it can also hurt when schools see that you apply to so many school. Remember "Why this school?" is a popular interview question. Applying to 30 schools might make you answer not as convincing.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Schools not to include:
Loma Linda unless you're religous and will be providing a LOR from clergy
Meharry and Howard unless you're black OR disadvantaged
For state schools, use the stats compiled here and look for the ones that take a significant amount out of state (at least 15% of class out of state)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=519401

 

[caffeinehigh]

You seem to have a pretty solid GPA... Research and apply to the schools that you WANT to go to. 10-15 would be plenty if you ask me.

 

[TempleDMDKrazd]

Schools not to include:
Loma Linda unless you're religous and will be providing a LOR from clergy
Meharry and Howard unless you're black OR disadvantaged
For state schools, use the stats compiled here and look for the ones that take a significant amount out of state (at least 15% of class out of state)
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=519401

thats technically a myth. i didn't submit a LOR from a clergy or none of my friends did and they got interviews....

 

[qwerty86]

I have to agree with Sanonfire

Dont apply to Meharry and Howard unless your African American. Their demographics is 66-80% African American students. Howard has lower percentile. Other than that, check the instate/outstate ratio for each school. If the ratio is low, apply to that school. Some schools barely have any seats for outstate although their stats might seem enticing. Still, the ratio is very imp. 👍

 

[Livineasi]

I would think that if Howard and Meharry accept 80% African American students than they probably get mostly African American applicants. With that in mind - you'd think they might want to round out the class by enrolling a nice little white Jewish girl...no? Same with Loma Linda?

 

[Sephisabin]

I have a friend who goes to Meharry and she's vietnamese. They definitely do accept people who are not minorities, but it's really is close to 10% of their class... Loma Linda doesn't really discriminate based on religion... I'm sure being SDA doesn't hurt, but I know plenty of atheists who ended up there too. They do require have mandatory chapel every Wednesday, but I've heard a lot of people just sit in the back and study... haha. A 3.7 is an awesome GPA and if you do well on the DAT, you shouldn't need to apply to more than 10-12 schools, but it's all just a calculated risk... how much time and money are you willing to spend on apps to ensure you don't have to waste a year to reapply? As far as schools go, I've heard UW and Texas schools don't take California students...