why does out health professions advisor still say we're ok?

[irishpint]

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So a housemate and I have been talking to our health advisor who insists we shouldn't worry and that we'll get in somewhere. He wont begin to discuss other options with us (postbac, etc). He's been doing this for like 20 years and is very well respected. I dont think he could/would just say this unless it was true, however, how true can it be? We've each had 2 interviews, for what it's worth, but no good news yet. We're starting to think he's crazy, but he insists we'll be fine and that people get in into May, June, etc.

What have your advisors said, anything?

 

[ItsGavinC]

A small (very small!) number of applicants do get in during May and June. But, that is NOT the norm, and actually fairly far from it. Especially for applicants that have only had two interviews.

I'd say, contrary to what the advisor is saying, that you aren't okay, and had better solidify some plans for the upcoming year.

 

[fightingspirit]

..

 

[SuperC]

I have to agree with what has been said here...
Three questions...

Stats?
How many schools did you apply to?
Is your app. complete and have you called to check?
Rejections?

-C

 

[PDizzle]

Also, when did you apply? When was your app complete?

 

[Jeppedo]

Also, when did you apply? When was your app complete?

Mother's maiden name?
Social Security number?

 

[duh?]

Mother's maiden name?
Social Security number?

Credit card #?
Health records?
Sex?
How frequently?

 

[polarnut]

have you recently been abducted by an alien?
on what grounds?
did they read your rights?

 

[v&andy_yankee]

So a housemate and I have been talking to our health advisor who insists we shouldn't worry and that we'll get in somewhere. He wont begin to discuss other options with us (postbac, etc). He's been doing this for like 20 years and is very well respected. I dont think he could/would just say this unless it was true, however, how true can it be? We've each had 2 interviews, for what it's worth, but no good news yet. We're starting to think he's crazy, but he insists we'll be fine and that people get in into May, June, etc.

What have your advisors said, anything?

first off, is it the advisor a general health advisor (aka PREMED advisor) or a special predental advisor? That might be a big problem right there.

When I was applying last year, my "health advisor" told me that I didn't have to worry too much about applying early because the "dental schools work on a later schedule than the medical schools." Yeah right, buddy, he was just trying to get me out of him office so he could deal with the more massive pre-med crowd. But even if he's a respected guy who has done the job for 20 years--chances are, if he's just a "health advisor" he knows all the fine details about applying to med school but jack squat about applying to dental school.

 

[Mustt Mustt]

Most advisors in big university settings are really old and don't know jack about applying to Dental School. This cycle when I was ready to apply I made one last meeting with her and she told me I had no chance at all and should consider post-bacc programs. Guess what I got into 4 schools and I had many more interview that I didn't go to. My advisor didn't even know thet UNLV and Arizona exists. She told me I was making a mistake and there are no such dntal schools in Arizona and Nevada. This shows how outdated and useless their advice is. I advise you to never go to advisor in an academic setting about applying to Dental Schools(may be they are too much focused on Medical School Admissions), but talk to some current students in nearby Dental School about what they think. SDN is a great resource but you have to be very careful about who you listen to becasue we get a lots of troll around here. Good Luck man.

 

[Grasshoper]

I agree with Mustt Mustt, Advisors can be outdated. I've been to about 5 interviews now and almost every single school has told me that their number of applicants this year has risen by 50% from last year. That just worsens your chances of getting in. I don't know if this is something your Advisor would know, perhaps too early for them to know. My advise is to do your own research and talk to more than just one advisor.

 

[flossin']

I didn't even talk to an advisor and I got in just fine. Advisors are useless. They know nothing and help you with nothing. Talk to people that you trust especially people who are young dentists. Thats what I did and it helped me a lot. Those advisor people don't give a crap about anyone because they don't know you that well.

 

[DoubleD_DDS2B]

So a housemate and I have been talking to our health advisor who insists we shouldn't worry and that we'll get in somewhere. He wont begin to discuss other options with us (postbac, etc). He's been doing this for like 20 years and is very well respected. I dont think he could/would just say this unless it was true, however, how true can it be? We've each had 2 interviews, for what it's worth, but no good news yet. We're starting to think he's crazy, but he insists we'll be fine and that people get in into May, June, etc.

What have your advisors said, anything?

What I've found is that everybody who doesn't know you will tell you that you'll get in somewhere. All along, I think - how can they know that?! Do they understand that roughly 3,000 applicants are competing for around 100 seats give or take. They don't ask my DAT scores, or if they ask they don't understand what a 20AA and a 17PAT mean, they just say, "don't worry, you'll get in." Well, I just thank them for their vote of confidence, chalk it up to them trying to be nice and "help" and go back to studying my A$$ off, knowing that I need A's in all my courses to make admission a reality. My personal experience with advisors has not been positive. From day one, my advisor told me that while gaining admission might be possible given my background that I should take "pre" courses for every real science pre-rec course I needed. If I listened to my advisor I would still be taking pre-calc for a physics that didn't require it, algebra I for gen chem which I aced without just fine and an into bio at a community college before "attempting" bio i for bio/med majors. Don't listen to people who don't really have a stake in your success or outcome, do the research for yourself, stay positive and keep doing what you feel you need to do. Nobody knows your situation and realities better than you.

 

[geckel]

What I've found is that everybody who doesn't know you will tell you that you'll get in somewhere. All along, I think - how can they know that?! Do they understand that roughly 3,000 applicants are competing for around 100 seats give or take. They don't ask my DAT scores, or if they ask they don't understand what a 20AA and a 17PAT mean, they just say, "don't worry, you'll get in." Well, I just thank them for their vote of confidence, chalk it up to them trying to be nice and "help" and go back to studying my A$$ off, knowing that I need A's in all my courses to make admission a reality. My personal experience with advisors has not been positive. From day one, my advisor told me that while gaining admission might be possible given my background that I should take "pre" courses for every real science pre-rec course I needed. If I listened to my advisor I would still be taking pre-calc for a physics that didn't require it, algebra I for gen chem which I aced without just fine and an into bio at a community college before "attempting" bio i for bio/med majors. Don't listen to people who don't really have a stake in your success or outcome, do the research for yourself, stay positive and keep doing what you feel you need to do. Nobody knows your situation and realities better than you.

Honestly......the best advice is your own, but you already knew that. Yet, the best source for determining where you stand and what you need to do is on this site. If I hadn't found SDN I would have wasted my money applying in late December/early January and then worked a job full time waiting on an acceptance that didn't exist. I was confident that I was an upper crust applicant based on info told to me by advisors and even an adcom. But I read this site and learned quickly what I really have to do to get in. Enrolled fulltime this semester and plan on doing it again this summer.....no matter what someone tries to tell me. If I get in next year it will be, in part, because of SDN.

 

[geckel]

Honestly......the best advice is your own, but you already knew that. Yet, the best source for determining where you stand and what you need to do is on this site. If I hadn't found SDN I would have wasted my money applying in late December/early January and then worked a job full time waiting on an acceptance that didn't exist. I was confident that I was an upper crust applicant based on info told to me by advisors and even an adcom. But I read this site and learned quickly what I really have to do to get in. Enrolled fulltime this semester and plan on doing it again this summer.....no matter what someone tries to tell me. If I get in next year it will be, in part, because of SDN.

.........and if I don't get in it will be because I spent to much time on SDN. This place is addictive!

 

[astutts]

Though its difficult, my advice would be to contact your school(s) to find out what date or month they fill the class and then try not to freak out too much til then. In the meanwhile it is always good to have a back up plan for next year in case it doesn't work out. To give you hope last year i wasn't accepted until mid march to OHSU. I chose not to go there and instead moved to colorado to establish residency and apply to CU (I also enrolled in a one year masters program here in colorado). This year I interviewed back in october but didn't get accepted until this week. Every time the commitee meets they bring up your file so submit your first semester grades (I'm sure you've already done so) and keep your chin up!!

 

[polarnut]

.........and if I don't get in it will be because I spent to much time on SDN. This place is addictive!

why, thank you

 

[drengineer]

I was asked at one of my interviews about a C in some class... and i told them straight up... oh, that was the SDN effect!

 

[samo]

That is not necessarily true. My advisor was very good at helping me out apply to Dental school, and without him, am sure i would not have secured admission. He helped in lot of ways. He told me to take couple of science classes in the summer and ace them before applying so that i can boost my GPA which i think was a big plus..........a whole load in the summer......straight A's. ............Am not braggin here but just justifying a point...........He helped me start my statement. He helped me ina lot of other ways, by advising me on how to study for my DAT. I would give an A+ to my advisor. Although he was not a pre dental advisor but sure did his homework on the expectations of Dental school, and the proper procedures and guidelines. So all advisors are not bad........It depends on who you are paired with....I had couple of advisor changes in undergrad until i found who fits my needs....If you feel uncomfortable with your advisor, seek the help of other professors and switch advisors......It just shows that you are on top of things by realizing who is meeting your needs and who is just there as an icon to claim you as a student they advise when they really don't know who you are.....

 

[beezies]

The best advice I got from my advisor was "I don't know if you'll get in or not, it's totally random." Ummmm, thanks.

 

[thomasjm]

My best advice from an advisor was about taking the DAT early, before my junior year because I had completed a biochem course, o-chem and a cell bio course and he said "no, wait till after your junior year, that physics is tough on that test...." thanks buddy!

 

[samo]

Yo,,,,,,,,thomas guy, ........I need me smoke wateva ur advisor was on.....before Dental School......makes things go smooth in Gross Anatamoy