Whittling Down the Schools... Need Some Help

Started by threemileisle
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threemileisle

threemileisle

Full Member
15+ Year Member
I browsed many threads on this topic before deciding to start my own. While they were all insightful, I found that none of them really applied to me.

I'm a non-traditional applicant, 30 years old.

UG GPA: 2.50
Postbac GPA (Career Changer, 50 units): 3.85
Cumulative: 2.95
Science: 3.30
DAT: 23 AA/22 TS/21 PAT/25 RC
ECs: Plenty of hours, but nothing extraordinary. Did a 280-hr clinical program in a hospital, non-dentistry related. Have 200+ hours shadowing/interning with several different dentists.
Research: None.

Going by DAT, I'm competitive anywhere. Going by GPA, I'm competitive nowhere. Furthermore, the GPA is complicated by the fact I that I did the postbac and I did well. I have no idea how schools will perceive that or if the sub-3.00 cum is something impossible to overcome.

I've gotten the list down to 30 schools based on OOS factors, but I'm afraid of eliminating others beyond that. I honestly am clueless as to where I stand, which prevents me from digging deeper (looking at location, clinical quality, cost, etc.). Would anybody advise me against just taking the plunge and applying to all 30?

Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated!
 
threemileisle said:
I browsed many threads on this topic before deciding to start my own. While they were all insightful, I found that none of them really applied to me.

I'm a non-traditional applicant, 30 years old.

UG GPA: 2.50
Postbac GPA (50 units): 3.85
Cumulative: 2.95
Science: 3.30
DAT: 23 AA/22 TS/21 PAT/25 RC
ECs: Plenty of hours, but nothing extraordinary. Did a 280-hr clinical program in a hospital, non-dentistry related. Have 200+ hours shadowing/interning with several different dentists.
Research: None.

Going by DAT, I'm competitive anywhere. Going by GPA, I'm competitive nowhere. Furthermore, the GPA is complicated by the fact I that I did the postbac and I did well. I have no idea how schools will perceive that or if the sub-3.00 cum is something impossible to overcome.

I've gotten the list down to 30 schools based on OOS factors, but I'm afraid of eliminating others beyond that. I honestly am clueless as to where I stand, which prevents me from digging deeper (looking at location, clinical quality, cost, etc.). Would anybody advise me against just taking the plunge and applying to all 30?

Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Your best bet is to call the schools you wish to apply to. Don't sell yourself short though. Yeah, your UG GPA is less than admirable, but you killed the post-bac GPA. That looks really good, in my opinion. Not to mention you killed the DAT. Plus you're a non-traditional applicant, that will help as well. I think you will have a shot at quite a few places... maybe some others have different opinions.

Good luck!
 
threemileisle said:
I browsed many threads on this topic before deciding to start my own. While they were all insightful, I found that none of them really applied to me.

I'm a non-traditional applicant, 30 years old.

UG GPA: 2.50
Postbac GPA (Career Changer, 50 units): 3.85
Cumulative: 2.95
Science: 3.30
DAT: 23 AA/22 TS/21 PAT/25 RC
ECs: Plenty of hours, but nothing extraordinary. Did a 280-hr clinical program in a hospital, non-dentistry related. Have 200+ hours shadowing/interning with several different dentists.
Research: None.

Going by DAT, I'm competitive anywhere. Going by GPA, I'm competitive nowhere. Furthermore, the GPA is complicated by the fact I that I did the postbac and I did well. I have no idea how schools will perceive that or if the sub-3.00 cum is something impossible to overcome.

I've gotten the list down to 30 schools based on OOS factors, but I'm afraid of eliminating others beyond that. I honestly am clueless as to where I stand, which prevents me from digging deeper (looking at location, clinical quality, cost, etc.). Would anybody advise me against just taking the plunge and applying to all 30?

Any insight at all would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Holy 30 schools batman.. I don't think your stats are THAT bad to warrant a torturous cycle 😳
The amount of fees, secondaries, and travel/lodging costs is mind boggling to me
 
I was similar to you in that I had a poor UG and good post-bacc after being a career changer along with a high DAT. I had tons of luck in apps and no one, not even one interviewer, questioned my original undergrad GPA.

However, 2.5 is pushing the limits of actually graduating and may raise more flags than my original 2.95ish undergrad GPA did (I applied with a cumulative over 3.3 after post-bacc)

I think many schools will overlook your original undergrad and give you a shot at an interview, but many schools may also discount you because of this. If I were you I would probably apply to 20+ schools, your 30 may not be a bad number.

If you get interviews rolling in like crazy, don't go to all of them. I went to less than half of mine. But, I sure was glad I applied to quite a few schools so I wasn't sweating a lack of interviews.



In your case, I believe your PS, LORs and interview are more important than for an applicant coming from a more typical background. They sure seemed important in my cycle and your app seems to have a fair amount of similarities.
 
Thanks for all the feedback! Sounds like it's not reasonable to hit as many schools as possible given my situation. Preferable to losing a year. I'll update as things develop.
 
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