"You'll get in your first cycle!"

[BowlingDoctor]

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Every time I shadow at the my dentist office and at the Dental School I'm applying at, everyone says, "You'll get in the first time!"

I know they are just being nice but at what point do you start doubting yourself or becoming too confident in yourself?

I know my stats aren't the greatest,
(19AA/19TS/24PAT/3.1GPA/3.25sGPA) so I have doubt in myself. I shadow a lot. I'm shadowing once a week at the Dental School and the Adcom knows who I am and he knows my GPA trend over the past two years to fix my GPA.

Is anyone or has anyone been in the same boat? What did you do or are you doing?

Maybe I'm just over thinking this and maybe I have a chance. Just worried about the next 10 months.

 

[chives_irvine]

What schools are you applying to? and what are your ECs like?

 

[MickeyMouse45]

don't assume that since adcom knows you and ur upward gpa trend, you will get in for sure. Its overconfidence. Try to do your best. Also, take bunch of easy classes to improve your gpa. you have good score esp PAT. EC can't cover up ur low gpa. i would recommend limit EC involvement and work hard to get As in classes.

 

[rassulwest]

Im in a similar situation, 19AA, 20TS, 3.45Ovgpa, 3.5scgpa, Im in a gap year taking a associate business management program (it was free so I took it while i prepare my application) and doing malaria research. As long as i get my interview skills up everyone is sure Ill get in first cycle ( my professors, adcom at dental schools, and dentist). at times I dont know if im really competitive as an applicant or they just trying to sheer me up lol.

 

[BowlingDoctor]

What schools are you applying to? and what are your ECs like?

I'm only applying to UMKC. I live in Missouri and financially I cannot afford to pack up and move to another state for school.

don't assume that since adcom knows you and ur upward gpa trend, you will get in for sure. Its overconfidence. Try to do your best. Also, take bunch of easy classes to improve your gpa. you have good score esp PAT. EC can't cover up ur low gpa. i would recommend limit EC involvement and work hard to get As in classes.

I have plenty of ECs. Volunteering with special Olympics, member of a local bowling association, among other things.

I've retaken classes for two years to fix my GPA and I've pretty much maintained a 3.9 over the past two years. I did really poorly (Lack of motivation and family situation). I'm in 18 credits this semester. So hoping that helps.

Im in a similar situation, 19AA, 20TS, 3.45Ovgpa, 3.5scgpa, Im in a gap year taking a associate business management program (it was free so I took it while i prepare my application) and doing malaria research. As long as i get my interview skills up everyone is sure Ill get in first cycle ( my professors, adcom at dental schools, and dentist). at times I dont know if im really competitive as an applicant or they just trying to sheer me up lol.

Same here. The adcom makes me feel good about my application and my advisor (Who used to work for a medical school in the adcom department) thinks I have a good shot when I throw in a good PS about family situation and career goals.

 

[BowlingDoctor]

Maybe I just need to stop reading SDN so much and focus on my own application. lol

 

[ncide]

I'm only applying to UMKC. I live in Missouri and financially I cannot afford to pack up and move to another state for school.

Take out loans and apply broadly if you want to be a dentist. But I will tell you, getting in with that GPA will be difficult but not impossible. Applying to one school will likely not fair well for you. There were 12 schools that didn't even extend an interview to me with a 3.6 GPA and a 20AA/21TS.

I packed my car full of my belongings and traveled across the country so that I could pursue my professional aspirations. I don't come from a wealthy family, I just saved up from working throughout undergrad and my gap years so that I could afford to do that.

 

[NCC1701]

This is the opposite from what I was told at the office I've shadowed at-- one dentist graduated in the 70's and another graduated about 8 years ago and neither of them got in their first time. They repeatedly told me that it was no big deal if I didn't get in the first time and that I should definitely try again. Try not to get too discouraged but I would definitely say to apply to more than 1 school.

 

[chives_irvine]

Take out loans and apply broadly if you want to be a dentist. But I will tell you, getting in with that GPA will be difficult but not impossible. Applying to one school will likely not fair well for you. There were 12 schools that didn't even extend an interview to me with a 3.6 GPA and a 20AA/21TS.

I packed my car full of my belongings and traveled across the country so that I could pursue my professional aspirations. I don't come from a wealthy family, I just saved up from working throughout undergrad and my gap years so that I could afford to do that.

I agree. Definitely apply more places. I am all for being cheap, however, applications is not a time to be cheap. Really, there are several schools within a reasonable amount of time from KC that have low cost of living and will consider you.

And not getting in the first time is not the end of the world, you can reapply and get in just fine, however it would be a year less on the end your professional career and income which is a big deal

 

[BowlingDoctor]

Thanks for your responses! I'm trying to not get discouraged. Just looking to see if anyone is in a similar situation.

 

[rassulwest]

Maybe I just need to stop reading SDN so much and focus on my own application. lol

SDN is full of the elite dental school applicants after all

 

[8_man]

How many offices did you observe at? UMKC requires at least 5.

I'll send you any useful information I hear about, hope you get in next cycle!

 

[577455]

Thanks for your responses! I'm trying to not get discouraged. Just looking to see if anyone is in a similar situation.

Not trying to discourage you, but your stats aren't great and you are only applying to one school. This is a bad combo. Even applicants with godlike scores have to apply to more than one school. As someone said above, I've heard the opposite. I shadowed 3 general dentists, 2/3 applied to dental school more than once. I had to take out a loan with a credit union (low interest rate), save, and borrow money from my family to apply this cycle. But I got in and in 4 years I'll pay my family back with my salary as a dentist. If you want to get into dental school on your first try, add more schools.

 

[kenlucy2016]

Yes, add more schools.👍

 

[schmoob]

Applying to one school is a huge gamble, and odds are not on your side. You're better off figuring out a way to pay for more school designations so you have a better shot at ROI, otherwise there is a big chance you are throwing your money away.
How bad do you want this? Because there are lots of people who REALLY want it. Don't be your own biggest obstacle.

 

[DOC YANKEM]

Every time I shadow at the my dentist office and at the Dental School I'm applying at, everyone says, "You'll get in the first time!"

I know they are just being nice but at what point do you start doubting yourself or becoming too confident in yourself?

I know my stats aren't the greatest,
(19AA/19TS/24PAT/3.1GPA/3.25sGPA) so I have doubt in myself. I shadow a lot. I'm shadowing once a week at the Dental School and the Adcom knows who I am and he knows my GPA trend over the past two years to fix my GPA.

Is anyone or has anyone been in the same boat? What did you do or are you doing?

Maybe I'm just over thinking this and maybe I have a chance. Just worried about the next 10 months.

I'll give you the BRUTAL AND HONEST TRUTH: you have below average scores in all areas and the moment you said you are planning to apply to one in state dental school I nearly lost it. Like everyone who already posted above, you should apply to at least 10 schools. On top of that, you need to do your own diligent research because applying to ivy dental schools are just a waste of money.

This is my current situation: I have only applied to New York Dental Schools (except for Columbia) because I am a NY resident and I didn't plan to go out of state. Due to my limited options, I was waitlisted until January and only got accepted to Buffalo and Touro. If I had to go back, then I would definitely applied to more nearby schools such as Rutgers, UPENN, BU and Tufts. I knew all the ADCOMS at NYU for the past 4 years because my undergrad pre-dental society always attended their events and I went to every single year's impressions day. Don't get me wrong, I have at least 1000 hours of shadowing/ assisting from two NYU graduates and my other extracurricular activities are superb. It just shows how much ADCOMS care about who they meet pre-interview.

TL: DR I hope you rethink about which schools you apply to and look up their statistics.

 

[BowlingDoctor]

I'll give you the BRUTAL AND HONEST TRUTH: you have below average scores in all areas and the moment you said you are planning to apply to one in state dental school I nearly lost it. Like everyone who already posted above, you should apply to at least 10 schools. On top of that, you need to do your own diligent research because applying to ivy dental schools are just a waste of money.

This is my current situation: I have only applied to New York Dental Schools (except for Columbia) because I am a NY resident and I didn't plan to go out of state. Due to my limited options, I was waitlisted until January and only got accepted to Buffalo and Touro. If I had to go back, then I would definitely applied to more nearby schools such as Rutgers, UPENN, BU and Tufts. I knew all the ADCOMS at NYU for the past 4 years because my undergrad pre-dental society always attended their events and I went to every single year's impressions day. Don't get me wrong, I have at least 1000 hours of shadowing/ assisting from two NYU graduates and my other extracurricular activities are superb. It just shows how much ADCOMS care about who they meet pre-interview.

TL: DR I hope you rethink about which schools you apply to and look up their statistics.

Thanks for you input but like I said I cannot move. I've done research on Dental schools (hours and hours of research) so I know which schools I could potentially stand a chance given my stats and history but I'm applying at one.

That wasn't the point of my thread. I was wondering if others had been told they would get in the first time. Not a critique on my decisions for which school(s) I should be applying too.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

 

[schmoob]

Thanks for you input but like I said I cannot move. I've done research on Dental schools (hours and hours of research) so I know which schools I could potentially stand a chance given my stats and history but I'm applying at one.

That wasn't the point of my thread. I was wondering if others had been told they would get in the first time. Not a critique on my decisions for which school(s) I should be applying too.

Sorry if I offended anyone.

You are misunderstanding. It is not a critique, it is the advice you are asking for, but an answer you don't want to hear. People here are legitimately trying to help you. These are people who have acceptances, so their advice holds credibility.
Your school list is a big part of your application strategy. Your stats may get you in somewhere this cycle, but they are likely not enough to get you into the only school you apply to.
If you apply to only one school with your numbers, be prepared for disappointment. It has nothing to do with the competitiveness of the field or any sort of bias. It has to do with your inflexibility.
Trust me, a good percentage of students don't have the money for this. But they find a way. They cannot afford to move to another area, but they take loans and they figure it out. I moved across the country for dental school, WITH A FAMILY. If I only applied to the local dental school, I would not have gotten in.
So for those people telling you that you'll get in the first time, they aren't just being nice. You do stand a chance. But if you apply to just one school, your chances become very slim. If you cannot leave the area for a particular reason, then that reason is more important to you than dental school. That's ok, but it is something that should be accepted.
If you do decide to apply to just 1 school, I sincerely hope you get offered a seat. Best of luck to you.