with avg stats, is it too late to apply?

[Marie88]

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Hi all,

My stats are..

Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.58
PA: 20
AA: 21
TS:21

I took DAT on Sept. 1 and my AADSAS application is ready to be e-submitted but one of my LOR is not received yet (It's supposed to be in within few days). Once all of my LORs are submitted, my pre-dent advisor should review them and make as one Letter which takes up to 2 weeks. So... I'm guessing that I will be able to e-submit my application in early October. Is that too late to apply (I'm applying for 14 schools)? Should I wait for the next year cycle or just give it a try? I don't want to waste my money though... 🙁

 

[bing12]

you will be late, but it dsnt mean its too late for any interviews. It really is dependent on how much you value taking a chance and spending the money now. E-Submit right away if you decide to apply now.

 

[SEAirLand]

Your DAT scores are not average. They are avg for SDN, but a 21AA is going to show very well.

Avg test score on DAT - 17
Avg test score on DAT for students admitted - 19

 

[flyingforever]

Hi all,

My stats are..

Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.58
PA: 20
AA: 21
TS:21

I took DAT on Sept. 1 and my AADSAS application is ready to be e-submitted but one of my LOR is not received yet (It's supposed to be in within few days). Once all of my LORs are submitted, my pre-dent advisor should review them and make as one Letter which takes up to 2 weeks. So... I'm guessing that I will be able to e-submit my application in early October. Is that too late to apply (I'm applying for 14 schools)? Should I wait for the next year cycle or just give it a try? I don't want to waste my money though... 🙁

Those stats are not average, they are way above average. I say apply now.

 

[dapplicant]

Your stats are above average. Apply asap and you will have a decent shot. Also remember to submit secondaries right away.

 

[BizzyV]

You've got a shot. Hustle and do everything absolutely ASAP.

 

[MrAvicii]

the problem applying now is that you dont know where u will get accepted to or rejected from. i would save myself $$$ and apply early june 2012 and get accepted everywhere i wanted to go. why get accepted to some school where u dont want to go and that might cost way more than your state school? thats just my opinion.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

the problem applying now is that you dont know where u will get accepted to or rejected from. i would save myself $$$ and apply early june 2012 and get accepted everywhere i wanted to go. why get accepted to some school where u dont want to go and that might cost way more than your state school? thats just my opinion.

This is a good point, but I would argue with your statement that holding off a year is going to be that much more efficient financially. A year later in dental school = a year later of becoming a dentist = 80-100k income loss. but if your state school is Baylor or equivalently priced...then yeah, it might be worth it to wait ha.

 

[MrAvicii]

This is a good point, but I would argue with your statement that holding off a year is going to be that much more efficient financially. A year later in dental school = a year later of becoming a dentist = 80-100k income loss. but if your state school is Baylor or equivalently priced...then yeah, it might be worth it to wait ha.

exactly, if you can get into a state school then you might gain more than you would lose. but time is always an issue and people would rather pay more and wait less (which is a valid argument as well.) but the problem is, if he applies now and only gets into super pricey schools (because the state schools are full.) is it really wise to go? i dunno i would think twice, because its easier to relax a year vs. try to make up for the money you spent for a year at an expensive school.

 

[AndrewNJ]

This is a good point, but I would argue with your statement that holding off a year is going to be that much more efficient financially. A year later in dental school = a year later of becoming a dentist = 80-100k income loss. but if your state school is Baylor or equivalently priced...then yeah, it might be worth it to wait ha.

Remember that by waiting the OP isn't losing out on the first year of income. They are losing out on 1 year near the top of their earning potential, which by the ADA's figure is over 200k.

Applying now and going to an expensive school is roughly equivalent to waiting a year and going to a state school, since income earned this year will be negligable in comparison.

With those stats, I don't think it makes any sense to wait a year to save $2000 or whatever the apps will cost.

 

[MrAvicii]

Remember that by waiting the OP isn't losing out on the first year of income. They are losing out on 1 year near the top of their earning potential, which by the ADA's figure is over 200k.

Applying now and going to an expensive school is roughly equivalent to waiting a year and going to a state school, since income earned this year will be negligable in comparison.

With those stats, I don't think it makes any sense to wait a year to save $2000 or whatever the apps will cost.

i dont think you factored in the cost of an expensive school vs. the cost of cheaper instate school and the amount that he can make. 200k the first year after school will not happen, thats pretty much a fact.

i think he might gain or lose like 50 to 100k, but the math has to be done, you cant just wing it here.

 

[Mr. Thirsty]

i dont think you factored in the cost of an expensive school vs. the cost of cheaper instate school and the amount that he can make. 200k the first year after school will not happen, thats pretty much a fact.

i think he might gain or lose like 50 to 100k, but the math has to be done, you cant just wing it here.

It depends on his in-state tuition as well. I'm not saying don't punch in the numbers before you sign your name to a large debt, but at least evaluate, so long as you are interested in oos schools to begin with. People don't make 200k right out of school, yes, but 1 yr missing dental school = 1 yr of being a dentist lost = loss of one year of making 200k when you finally are running "smoothly" as a dentist. (as mentioned by AndrewNJ)
But I think we'd all understand if someone in this situation only got accepted to NYU, (when they can get their instate tuition for total 200k or w/e) and decided to wait a year. That makes complete sense.

 

[AndrewNJ]

i dont think you factored in the cost of an expensive school vs. the cost of cheaper instate school and the amount that he can make. 200k the first year after school will not happen, thats pretty much a fact.

i think he might gain or lose like 50 to 100k, but the math has to be done, you cant just wing it here.

I'm not sure you understood me. I know he won't make 200k the first year after school. The point was that you don't lose your first year's salary by delaying school. You work those years as an associate regardless of when you start dental school. If you start a year later, the year of salary you lose comes from the peak years of your career, not the beginning, i.e. you lose out on 200k+ of salary according to the ADA's general dentist salary levels.

So, pretend NYU will cost him, conservatively $400k and a state school is $200k. Getting into and attending NYU this cycle is equivalent to delaying for a year and attending a state school next cycle. Because:

$400k = $200k + $200k (in Opportunity cost of lost salary).

Sure the numbers are rough and largely depend on the OP's family's financial status, but the point is that savings made by avoidance of a high-tuition school by delaying a year is largely a myth, unless:

1) They plan on making a significant salary in this gap year
2) They get a scholarship to the cheaper school.

 

[MrAvicii]

I'm not sure you understood me. I know he won't make 200k the first year after school. The point was that you don't lose your first year's salary by delaying school. You work those years as an associate regardless of when you start dental school. If you start a year later, the year of salary you lose comes from the peak years of your career, not the beginning, i.e. you lose out on 200k+ of salary according to the ADA's general dentist salary levels.

So, pretend NYU will cost him, conservatively $400k and a state school is $200k. Getting into and attending NYU this cycle is equivalent to delaying for a year and attending a state school next cycle. Because:

$400k = $200k + $200k (in Opportunity cost of lost salary).

Sure the numbers are rough and largely depend on the OP's family's financial status, but the point is that savings made by avoidance of a high-tuition school by delaying a year is largely a myth, unless:

1) They plan on making a significant salary in this gap year
2) They get a scholarship to the cheaper school.

actually your analysis is not accurate, because of inflation that 200k that he will make up during peak years, is worth significantly less in 30 years from now, then it is today, so hence he WILL pay out more than he will gain because that 200k peak year salary will probably be worth 100k, 30 years from now. Inflation is pretty rampant. So it still DOES NOT make sense to go to school next year. (it doesnt matter if you average it out because inflation is set to rise about 3% each year.)

Plus any money earned in 2012 by missing d-school can be used for investment or savings and can yield significant % of return in the next 30 years, this would also eat into the 200k and once again make it lower than what it is.

Therefore I say wait it out, also there are other soft factors to consider (i.e. location, good clinical program, specializaiation, etc.) these factors are priceless and can determine the happiness of your d-school education.

lesson of the day: fools rush in lol i'd rather be patient and get what into the school i want.

 

[JLum]

Hi all,

My stats are..

Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.58
PA: 20
AA: 21
TS:21

I took DAT on Sept. 1 and my AADSAS application is ready to be e-submitted but one of my LOR is not received yet (It's supposed to be in within few days). Once all of my LORs are submitted, my pre-dent advisor should review them and make as one Letter which takes up to 2 weeks. So... I'm guessing that I will be able to e-submit my application in early October. Is that too late to apply (I'm applying for 14 schools)? Should I wait for the next year cycle or just give it a try? I don't want to waste my money though... 🙁

Hustle, my friend! Dental school awaits!

 

[AndrewNJ]

actually your analysis is not accurate, because of inflation that 200k that he will make up during peak years, is worth significantly less in 30 years from now, then it is today, so hence he WILL pay out more than he will gain because that 200k peak year salary will probably be worth 100k, 30 years from now. Inflation is pretty rampant. So it still DOES NOT make sense to go to school next year. (it doesnt matter if you average it out because inflation is set to rise about 3% each year.)

That all could very well be true. And cynically speaking, I bet inflation will rise even faster than that as our government realizes it can't keep spending over a trillion dollars more than we earn and printing money to make up the difference.

I'll end my participation in this thread by also saying, that with the OPs stats, he has a solid chance to get into a state school even applying this late. I applied in early november of last year and am currently attending my first choice school.

 

[FairytaleDMD]

I have like almost identical stats and schools! I regret not applying in July/Aug, but I still think we have a very good chance of multiple interviews + acceptances. Just maybe not by Dec. 1. With the extra time we had, our personal statements should be incredibly baller, right? 😉

I think schools will most likely review our apps before Dec 1, and if we are as impressive as other candidates they've already interviewed, the school will at least be aware of how many qualified applicants they've noted but not interviewed. They'll factor this insight into the Dec 1 acceptances.

I think a lot of people are in our shoes, just definitely not anyone on sdn! haha. I mean, just think of how many applicants there are each year. It's not like only 2% of people who apply after August get accepted. I think it would be crazy for a school to prefer "less-qualified" applicants just because they whipped together an application in June. People have their reasons for applying later. Good luck!!

Check out this thread from the last app cycle: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-773911.html
Notice that very strong applicants applied in oct and received interviews at very picky schools.

 

[FairytaleDMD]

p.s. I love how this thread transformed into a complete financial analysis of the cost of applying later!