Which Factor Is Most Important To You? Apply Strategically!

[coolslugs]

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I have been on SDN for a while now and I feel that more people needs to apply strategically.

1) Apply to 10 schools max. Pick 2 schools that are a long shot, 2 schools that you are above average for (if possible), and pick 4-6 schools that you are average for. Chances are if you don't get into these 10 schools, then any other school you apply to won't make a difference.
2) If you have a GPA that's higher than 3.6 with DAT >20, please just choose your 3 favorite schools and 2 safety schools. You will get interviews and just focus on practicing for it!
3) Research the schools. Check out their campuses, class sizes, curriculum, locations, mission/philosophies before you apply. Meet their residency requirements. Talk to current dental students/alumni. Don't apply to schools that you probably won't go if you got in.
4) Apply early. Period.

The bottom line: Don't overwhelm the adcoms and slow down the process for everyone. Don't take up anymore interview spots than necessary. Save yourself some time and money!

 

[adizzle87]

I'd be careful with #2. Even with good stats you might get an interview, but at some schools interviews don't necessarily mean an acceptance (UCSF and Columbia come to mind). Even worse, what if you bomb one, then what? Like I said in other threads, sometimes schools are looking for a particular fit... so one can do well at an interview but still not get in (e.g. ASDOH, MWU, Nova, Western).

Point is even with good stats you should still apply broadly!

 

[kitejunky27]

yeh i agree with the above poster

I have stats above your cut offs, applied to 12 schools and only got in to 2. Alot of schools are looking for a particular type of person. Nothing is a sure thing.

 

[HASassin]

hrm
for number one, why do you say only max 10 schools?
im a pretty borderline applicant, and inorder to be safe i was thinking about applying to 15-18 schools (money isnt a factor vs an extra year of colledge)

my gpa is on the low end around 3.25, but hopefully my dat will be around 21 im thinking

 

[coolslugs]

hrm
for number one, why do you say only max 10 schools?
im a pretty borderline applicant, and inorder to be safe i was thinking about applying to 15-18 schools (money isnt a factor vs an extra year of colledge)

my gpa is on the low end around 3.25, but hopefully my dat will be around 21 im thinking

The theory is that if you list 10 schools in which you are average or above average for, and are in favor in terms of meeting residency, class sizes, other requirements etc....if you can't get into those 10 schools, then the other 10 schools you apply to probably won't consider you as well.

 

[coolslugs]

yeh i agree with the above poster

I have stats above your cut offs, applied to 12 schools and only got in to 2. Alot of schools are looking for a particular type of person. Nothing is a sure thing.

just curious, how many interviews did you receive out of the 12 schools you applied to?

 

[kitejunky27]

I had 7 interviews

I am chem major and havent done a ton of bio so I think that what held me back a bit, not that I am a bad interviewer.

just saying you never know what happens.

 

[somethinpositiv]

1) Apply to 10 schools max. Pick 2 schools that are a long shot, 2 schools that you are above average for (if possible), and pick 4-6 schools that you are average for. Chances are if you don't get into these 10 schools, then any other school you apply to won't make a difference.

I don't really agree with that. With amazing stats you can get away with applying to 8, above average stats 10, average stats 12+, and below average stats 15+ schools in my opinion. Better safe than sorry. Better to spend an extra 80 bucks now than 3000 bucks and a year of time reapplying. And I'd stick with schools that are within your range of scores (and are friendly to OOS applicants), with a couple of dream schools mixed in if you want.

It's a crapshoot sometimes, I don't believe that "if you don't get into these 10 schools, then any other school you apply to won't make a difference" as certain schools look for certain things in an applicant, and you may not have applied to a school that would have accepted you. Applying intelligently to enough schools, and to schools that are likely to accept you, is critical to success.

 

[Blue Panther]

Don't take up anymore interview spots than necessary. Save yourself some time and money!

Actually go to as many interviews as you possibly can.