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sometimes i read about predents applying to 30 schools, filling out the apps, paying the fees, and never hearing back, even when their numbers are pretty good. then i hear about the people with good numbers that are on the perpetual and dreaded waitlist. i posted this on another thread and thought it might help more of you guys, especially those that want to know what else you could do.
for some of you, you can stop reading here because your app is so sick that you are all but garunteed a spot. but for some of us, it isn't gonna be easy, so i hope this gets somebody into dental school, in which case this will not be a waste of time.
OK,
so it is really tough to get to know 20+ schools. i sit in on interviews a whole heck of a lot, and i can tell you for sure that it screams out when someone hasn't dug to deep into what the school is all about. the ones who are really prepared outshine everyone else there. your name should be familiar to the school.
its about building a relationship, like dating a girl if you will. 😎 you don't want to be the blind date (they've heard all about you but you've never been introduced), you wanna be the boy next door (you're not best friends but you've met plenty and see each other often, even if passing by), you digg?
so what can you do to go that extra mile?
- if they have any pre-dental programs over the summer, you should fight to get into those. they get you shaking hands with faculty, and give you a good idea what going there might be like. schools like UCLA, UNLV, Midwestern, UOP, and many more have these programs. 👍
- you should call to ask questions about the program. "i heard the university is looking to expand its research dept, is that true? details?" "i have heard that your clinic is about to be remodeled, what kind of new technologies are you guys planning to add?!" these types q's can't usually be answered by admin clerks, and are often redirected to deans/ faculty that could answer them better. now you just kinda got introduced to someone who you'd like to get to know. (in the dating analogy, you just moved in next door haha)
- if you're in town, go visit the school! call and set up a tour and often you'll find that you might get an impromtu interview of sorts. maybe even a buisness card to keep them up to date on your app! this happens all time.
- talk to students who go there, often they can invite you to events that everyone is going to. current students might be able to get you involved in a community service or charity event that the school participates in. a bike ride or run/walk for a good cause or something. how nice would it be to see the dean on your interview day and he comes over and shakes your hand and smiles as you recall the race last year. that's a good impression to leave! (you just got sat behind her in homeroom)
next thing you know you're taking the head cheerleader to prom
get involved with your top schools. this is why its really tough to apply (IMO) to a lot of schools. this kind of extra mile will not only give you a leg up that others don't get, you also learn more about what you like more about school x than school Y, or why you could see yourself at one more than the other
...or you could apply to every school and hope your app does all the talking. personally i wanted to talk louder than my app because i believed that my numbers (which were horrible) didn't tell how great of a dentist i thought i would make.
for some of you, you can stop reading here because your app is so sick that you are all but garunteed a spot. but for some of us, it isn't gonna be easy, so i hope this gets somebody into dental school, in which case this will not be a waste of time.
OK,
so it is really tough to get to know 20+ schools. i sit in on interviews a whole heck of a lot, and i can tell you for sure that it screams out when someone hasn't dug to deep into what the school is all about. the ones who are really prepared outshine everyone else there. your name should be familiar to the school.its about building a relationship, like dating a girl if you will. 😎 you don't want to be the blind date (they've heard all about you but you've never been introduced), you wanna be the boy next door (you're not best friends but you've met plenty and see each other often, even if passing by), you digg?
so what can you do to go that extra mile?
- if they have any pre-dental programs over the summer, you should fight to get into those. they get you shaking hands with faculty, and give you a good idea what going there might be like. schools like UCLA, UNLV, Midwestern, UOP, and many more have these programs. 👍
- you should call to ask questions about the program. "i heard the university is looking to expand its research dept, is that true? details?" "i have heard that your clinic is about to be remodeled, what kind of new technologies are you guys planning to add?!" these types q's can't usually be answered by admin clerks, and are often redirected to deans/ faculty that could answer them better. now you just kinda got introduced to someone who you'd like to get to know. (in the dating analogy, you just moved in next door haha)
- if you're in town, go visit the school! call and set up a tour and often you'll find that you might get an impromtu interview of sorts. maybe even a buisness card to keep them up to date on your app! this happens all time.
- talk to students who go there, often they can invite you to events that everyone is going to. current students might be able to get you involved in a community service or charity event that the school participates in. a bike ride or run/walk for a good cause or something. how nice would it be to see the dean on your interview day and he comes over and shakes your hand and smiles as you recall the race last year. that's a good impression to leave! (you just got sat behind her in homeroom)
next thing you know you're taking the head cheerleader to prom
get involved with your top schools. this is why its really tough to apply (IMO) to a lot of schools. this kind of extra mile will not only give you a leg up that others don't get, you also learn more about what you like more about school x than school Y, or why you could see yourself at one more than the other
...or you could apply to every school and hope your app does all the talking. personally i wanted to talk louder than my app because i believed that my numbers (which were horrible) didn't tell how great of a dentist i thought i would make.
