WAMC 4.0 GPA 21 AA (suggestions needed)

[heartdental]

Date of submission: Will be applying very early this cycle
Overall GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
Science GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 21AA/22TS (23 Orgo, 22 chem, 20 bio), 20 Reading, 18 PAT, 21 math
State of Residence: FL

Undergrad Attended:
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Minor: n/a
Minority? Yes (African American female)
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: will have over 100 hours of general dentist shadowing from two clinics by the time I graduate, also shadowed a pediatrician and geriatrician for around 10 hours each
Volunteering Experience: 30 hours from a study abroad with the honors college to the DR (helped in underserved clinics), around 130 hours at my church, planning on volunteering at a dental clinic too
Employment: Cashier at Walgreens (average 12 hours a week)
Research: None unfortunately
Other Extracurriculars: Secretary of a club, was a chem 1 peer leader for a semester
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: Deans list every semester
LOR type and strength: (orgo and chem pear leader professors w, and honors professor)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

If you have any suggestions on any things I should work on adding to my application please let me know.
If you have any suggestions for schools that I should add or remove please let me know and give me your reasoning.
I am not crazy about my DAT score (specifically my bio, reading and PAT) because I don't think it reflects the work I put in but I will not have the time to retake it this semester and still apply at a reasonable time because orgo 2 is taking up a lot of my time, and also I am not guaranteed to do better.
I am graduating in the spring (will be my third year) and will be taking gap year where I plan on getting a job at a dental clinic as being a front office desk person (was thinking I would gain experience in what its like dealing with insurance and the background of running an office) but if you have suggestions on better ways I would use my year let me know.

School list:
UF (IS- #1 choice bc of how cheap)
LECOM (IS)
NOVA (IS- very expensive)
UNC (OOS- competitive to get in but pass fail)
UAB (OOS- favors instate but close to home)
LSU (OOS- favors instate but cheap)
UCONN (OOS- favors instate but pass fail)
UNLV

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[Smile2thetop]

You could throw in UCLA or UCSF as well

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: Will be applying very early this cycle
Overall GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
Science GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 4.0 (still have 1 semester left)
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 21AA/22TS (23 Orgo, 22 chem, 20 bio), 20 Reading, 18 PAT, 21 math
State of Residence: FL

Undergrad Attended:
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Minor: n/a
Minority? Yes (African American female)
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: will have over 100 hours of general dentist shadowing from two clinics by the time I graduate, also shadowed a pediatrician and geriatrician for around 10 hours each
Volunteering Experience: 30 hours from a study abroad with the honors college to the DR (helped in underserved clinics), around 130 hours at my church, planning on volunteering at a dental clinic too
Employment: Cashier at Walgreens (average 12 hours a week)
Research: None unfortunately
Other Extracurriculars: Secretary of a club, was a chem 1 peer leader for a semester
Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? No
Relevant Honors or Awards: Deans list every semester
LOR type and strength: (orgo and chem pear leader professors w, and honors professor)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

If you have any suggestions on any things I should work on adding to my application please let me know.
If you have any suggestions for schools that I should add or remove please let me know and give me your reasoning.
I am not crazy about my DAT score (specifically my bio, reading and PAT) because I don't think it reflects the work I put in but I will not have the time to retake it this semester and still apply at a reasonable time because orgo 2 is taking up a lot of my time, and also I am not guaranteed to do better.

School list:
UF (IS- #1 choice bc of how cheap)
LECOM (IS)
NOVA (IS- very expensive)
UNC (OOS- competitive to get in but pass fail)
UAB (OOS- favors instate but close to home)
LSU (OOS- favors instate but cheap)
UCONN (OOS- favors instate but pass fail)
UNLV

why unlv?

 

[Ryxndek]

List seems fine, I'd maybe add Meharry and Howard in as safetys given your background and them being HBCU's.

I wouldn't include the pediatrician and geriatrician hours on the application, it's why dentistry, not medicine. You can certainly bring these experiences up if asked in an interview and make comparisons between the two careers, but no need to include in your app!

Your DAT should be just fine. I'd try to get some more volunteer hours like you're planning. You could certainly do a dentist office but it isn't required, I think volunteering with the less fortunate like homeless shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens would be looked more favorably and be more fulfilling.

Just get the app ready to go for an early June submission and you should be golden.

 

[Ryxndek]

why unlv?

thinking IS tuition available for OOS students

 

[heartdental]

You could throw in UCLA or UCSF as well

Thanks for the advice! I think those would be reach schools for me but what is your reasoning?

 

[heartdental]

why unlv?

like ryxndek said you can apply for IS tuition I believe after your first year and also I heard that they get a lot of clinical hours and practice over there

 

[macsak]

like ryxndek said you can apply for IS tuition I believe after your first year and also I heard that they get a lot of clinical hours and practice over there

there are more geographically logical schools that offer instate tuition after the first year...

 

[heartdental]

there are more geographically logical schools that offer instate tuition after the first year...

Do you have any suggestions for closer schools that offer instate tuition? Also why does the location of the schools I pick matter if I am OOS?

 

[macsak]

Do you have any suggestions for closer schools that offer instate tuition? Also why does the location of the schools I pick matter if I am OOS?

yield management- OOS schools know that people with high stats are more likely to choose schools closer to home (like their IS schools), so they are less likely to offer interviews to OOS students outside of their region

i suggest you do your own research for schools that offer instate tuition...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Dental schools tend to have more regional class composition compared to undergrad programs because of their missions to serve their states or regions. However every dental school wants very good URM students, especially Black applicants who have metrics like the OP.

Have you networked with the NDA/SNDA chapters? See if your local or state NDA has professionals who can also mentor you. Network with schools now before you apply. Are you attending the ADEA GoDental Recruitment Fair in New Orleans?

Costs: are you considering HPSP or NHSC?

 

[heartdental]

Hello! I would appreciate feedback on my school list!

Here is a quick summary of my stats and extracurriculars! Will be submitting likely the first day.
Overall GPA: 3.99, sGPA: 4.0
DAT: 21AA/22TS (23 Orgo, 22 chem, 20 bio), 20 Reading, 18 PAT, 21 math
Residence: FL
African American Female

Extracurriculars:
Volunteer at Mission of Mercy
Volunteering at 2 different church food banks
Shadowing 3 general dentists and dentist at Dental Clinic
Volunteering at Community Dental Clinic
Leadership position in club at school
Cashier all throughout college (employment)
Do nails at home
Went on an Honors study abroad to the DR- healthcare related (volunteer hours)
Summer camp counselor at church (volunteer)
Sunday school teacher at church (volunteer)
Elderly Friendly caller
Christian Club at school
Chemistry I Peer leader

Graduated undergrad, taking a gap year
How did I make my school list?
I have a lot of volunteer experiences with the underserved, and no research, but almost all school’s mission statement say something about helping out the community and such. So, I created my school list by staying close to home, and also seeing which schools take OOS so I would not be donating to them. I also looked at tuition, as that is very important to me when looking at schools. I aim to apply to 10 schools, let me know if this should be enough.

Schools:
UF
LECOM
Nova
UAB
Howard
Meharry
Roseman (3 years)
UCONN ($$$ for OOS)
University of Louisville ($$$ for OOS)
VCU ($$$ for OOS)
LSU- not sure if it is worth it because they only take up to 15 students OOS

Any recommendations would really help- I have done my research but could have missed something

 

[macsak]

Hello! I would appreciate feedback on my school list!

Here is a quick summary of my stats and extracurriculars! Will be submitting likely the first day.
Overall GPA: 3.99, sGPA: 4.0
DAT: 21AA/22TS (23 Orgo, 22 chem, 20 bio), 20 Reading, 18 PAT, 21 math
Residence: FL
African American Female

Extracurriculars:
Volunteer at Mission of Mercy
Volunteering at 2 different church food banks
Shadowing 3 general dentists and dentist at Dental Clinic
Volunteering at Community Dental Clinic
Leadership position in club at school
Cashier all throughout college (employment)
Do nails at home
Went on an Honors study abroad to the DR- healthcare related (volunteer hours)
Summer camp counselor at church (volunteer)
Sunday school teacher at church (volunteer)
Elderly Friendly caller
Christian Club at school
Chemistry I Peer leader

Graduated undergrad, taking a gap year
How did I make my school list?
I have a lot of volunteer experiences with the underserved, and no research, but almost all school’s mission statement say something about helping out the community and such. So, I created my school list by staying close to home, and also seeing which schools take OOS so I would not be donating to them. I also looked at tuition, as that is very important to me when looking at schools. I aim to apply to 10 schools, let me know if this should be enough.

Schools:
UF
LECOM
Nova
UAB
Howard
Meharry
Roseman (3 years)
UCONN ($$$ for OOS)
University of Louisville ($$$ for OOS)
VCU ($$$ for OOS)
LSU- not sure if it is worth it because they only take up to 15 students OOS

Any recommendations would really help- I have done my research but could have missed something

i like all but uconn and roseman
you probably only need 8-10 schools max...

 

[heartdental]

i like all but uconn and roseman
you probably only need 8-10 schools max...

Thank you for the advice. Roseman appealed to me because I would finish a year earlier and would have an extra year to work and offset the cost of tuition. I know it is in Utah though so it is more on the West coast...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree LSU and UConn can be crossed off.

Just check to see how diverse Roseman is. DSE says their last reported cycle (2023 entering class) had 53 (self-described) Black applicants and zero matriculated.

 

[heartdental]

I agree LSU and UConn can be crossed off.

Just check to see how diverse Roseman is. DSE says their last reported cycle (2023 entering class) had 53 (self-described) Black applicants and zero matriculated.

Thank you for the advice.

 

[macsak]

I agree LSU and UConn can be crossed off.

Just check to see how diverse Roseman is. DSE says their last reported cycle (2023 entering class) had 53 (self-described) Black applicants and zero matriculated.

why take off lsu?
i think OP should look into any SE state schools that take FL residents

 

[Mr.Smile12]

why take off lsu?
i think OP should look into any SE state schools that take FL residents

Oh ok.