WAMC 2024-2025 Cycle

[pugsandpie]

Date of submission: June 2024
Overall GPA: 3.85
Science GPA: 3.8
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.8
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA - 23
NatSci - 23
Bio - 25
GC - 22
OC - 21
PAT - 20
QR - 23
RC - 24

State of Residence: MA

Undergrad Attended: UMICH
Major: Biology, Health, and Society
Minor: none
Minority? no
Reapplicant? no
Nontrad? no

Shadowing Experience: 110 multi specialty office, 10 pediatric, 10 other pediatric
Volunteering Experience:
- 100hr Virtual tutor for elementary students teaching literacy and in person library build events where we design and paint library spaces for kids,
-250hr director of volunteering oral health club where I organize elementary school presentations on oral health, homeless shelter events, distributing oral health and medical supplies nationally and internationally, cook for ronald mcdonald house (families with children in hospital)

Employment:
- 150 language center desk assistant: manage events for foreign language programs like translating events where people helped translate medical information etc,
- 300 muffin shop receptionist over summers,
- 600hr Receptionist at massage studio

Research: 500 (1year research assistant, other year volunteering): Rheumatology research assistant, immunoassays, hands on manual work treating mice orally, collecting blood samples and ELISA techniques. Involved in clinical trial as well. 3 publications, 2 presentations.

Other Extracurriculars:
- 300hr social chair and finance chair for archery club (also got the club to participate in repurposing medical supplies),
-Independent research project course created an online educational learning module for all students to learn about the land treaties and cultures of Michigan Indigenous Tribes,
-60hr Jewish center executive board planned events and setup shabbat dinners,
- 20hr led virtual summer women in stem book club,
Yoga club, rock climbing

Art activities: very involved with art, lathe woodworking, acrylic nail sculpture, embroidery, needle felting

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? met with UMICH admissions faculty, attended many umich dental lab events like amalgam pouring and waxups, networked with 8+ current dental students and got them to collab with my oral healthcare club event.

Relevant Honors or Awards:
- James B Angell Scholar - awarded twice, (all A grades for two or more consecutive terms)

LOR type and strength:
- Lead lab manager - Very strong, talked about manual dexterity skills, passion for learning, meticulous work
- Physiology Professor - extremely strong - knew him on very personal level, talked about my curiosity, compassion, excitement towards life and personality
- Immunology professor - strong, discussed my leadership skills, research, and my joy towards creativity
- Dentist (owner of large specialty practice) - strong - very personal, discussed my compassion towards patients, analytical skills, energetic disposition, engagement and strong interpersonal skills

School list: I am fortunate enough that my parents can pay for my application fees so I want to apply to about 16 schools and see if I get any aid. I value potential for specializing, supportive professors, global health outreach, urban areas preferred

My list is very long, need help narrowing. All advice appreciated!

Definitely Applying (even if its a crapshoot)
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Uconn
Umich
Upenn
Tufts
BU
Upitt

Potentials
UNLV
UoP
Midwestern IL?
Rutgers
UWash
OHSU
Ohio state
UNE?
Nova Southeastern?
Marquette?
columbia
tuoro
UIChicago
maryland
louiseville?

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[macsak]

Date of submission: June 2024
Overall GPA: 3.85
Science GPA: 3.8
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.8
DAT score (include AA and all sections):
AA - 23
NatSci - 23
Bio - 25
GC - 22
OC - 21
PAT - 20
QR - 23
RC - 24

State of Residence: MA

Undergrad Attended: UMICH
Major: Biology, Health, and Society
Minor: none
Minority? no
Reapplicant? no
Nontrad? no

Shadowing Experience: 110 multi specialty office, 10 pediatric, 10 other pediatric
Volunteering Experience:
- 100hr Virtual tutor for elementary students teaching literacy and in person library build events where we design and paint library spaces for kids,
-250hr director of volunteering oral health club where I organize elementary school presentations on oral health, homeless shelter events, distributing oral health and medical supplies nationally and internationally, cook for ronald mcdonald house (families with children in hospital)

Employment:
- 150 language center desk assistant: manage events for foreign language programs like translating events where people helped translate medical information etc,
- 300 muffin shop receptionist over summers,
- 600hr Receptionist at massage studio

Research: 500 (1year research assistant, other year volunteering): Rheumatology research assistant, immunoassays, hands on manual work treating mice orally, collecting blood samples and ELISA techniques. Involved in clinical trial as well. 3 publications, 2 presentations.

Other Extracurriculars:
- 300hr social chair and finance chair for archery club (also got the club to participate in repurposing medical supplies),
-Independent research project course created an online educational learning module for all students to learn about the land treaties and cultures of Michigan Indigenous Tribes,
-60hr Jewish center executive board planned events and setup shabbat dinners,
- 20hr led virtual summer women in stem book club,
Yoga club, rock climbing

Art activities: very involved with art, lathe woodworking, acrylic nail sculpture, embroidery, needle felting

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? met with UMICH admissions faculty, attended many umich dental lab events like amalgam pouring and waxups, networked with 8+ current dental students and got them to collab with my oral healthcare club event.

Relevant Honors or Awards:
- James B Angell Scholar - awarded twice, (all A grades for two or more consecutive terms)

LOR type and strength:
- Lead lab manager - Very strong, talked about manual dexterity skills, passion for learning, meticulous work
- Physiology Professor - extremely strong - knew him on very personal level, talked about my curiosity, compassion, excitement towards life and personality
- Immunology professor - strong, discussed my leadership skills, research, and my joy towards creativity
- Dentist (owner of large specialty practice) - strong - very personal, discussed my compassion towards patients, analytical skills, energetic disposition, engagement and strong interpersonal skills

School list: I am fortunate enough that my parents can pay for my application fees so I want to apply to about 16 schools and see if I get any aid. I value walkable cities, potential for specializing, supportive professors

My list is very long, need help narrowing. All advice appreciated!

Definitely Applying (even if its a crapshoot)
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Uconn
Umich
Upenn
Tufts
BU
Upitt

Potentials
UNLV
UoP
Midwestern IL?
Rutgers
UWash
OHSU
Ohio state
UNE?
Nova Southeastern?
Marquette?
columbia
tuoro
UIChicago
maryland
louiseville?

what is your mission fit for the definite/potential schools?
"walkable cities, potential for specializing, supportive professors" is not mission fit...

 

[pugsandpie]

what is your mission fit for the definite/potential schools?
"walkable cities, potential for specializing, supportive professors" is not mission fit...

Those programs have global oral health and community initiatives, research opportunities.
"To transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research".

 

[macsak]

Those programs have global oral health and community initiatives, research opportunities.
"To transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research".

all 9 definite and 15 potentials have that same mission statement?

 

[pugsandpie]

all 9 definite and 15 potentials have that same mission statement?

They are similar that's correct.

UNC: Transforming dentistry for better health.
UCSF: A global leader in dental education and public health, clinical practice and scientific discovery
UCLA: to improve the oral and general health of the people of California, the nation, and the world through education, research, patient care, and public service.
Uconn: Our pursuits in education, patient care, research, service and outreach will support the missions of our academic health center and University.
umich: Advancing health through education, service, research and discovery
upenn: To transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research
tufts: Evolving comprehensive dental education that integrates science, technology, patient needs, and lifelong learning in a world-class environment.Interdisciplinary, dynamic research to improve oral care and impact overall health
BU: Provide lifelong learning opportunities and exceptional service to impact health care nationally and globally. To promote lifelong learning among dental professionals; with a goal to better serve their patients and communities.
upitt: providing the highest quality, evidence‐based patient treatment; preventive dental health education; community service; and are committed to lifelong learning
unlv: develops dentists and dental specialists, enhancing the health of Nevadans through teaching, clinical care, research, and service.
uop: providing a world-class dental education for our students and comprehensive, affordable patient care for adults and children in a humanistic environment.
midwestern il : dedicated to the education of dentists who will demonstrate excellence in comprehensive oral healthcare, service to the public, and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.

just to name a few
all are aligned with my goals attending dental school
i dont have just one mission i align with.

I'd appreciate advice on which schools might be a good match for my profile based on my extracurriculars, DAT, volunteer experience. I said in my post that my list was long and I needed help trimming it down. I haven't had a lot of time to research each individual school which is why I have a large potential list. Are there red flags in terms of OOS acceptance, my stats, any sections lacking?

Thank you

 

[macsak]

They are similar that's correct.

UNC: Transforming dentistry for better health.
UCSF: A global leader in dental education and public health, clinical practice and scientific discovery
UCLA: to improve the oral and general health of the people of California, the nation, and the world through education, research, patient care, and public service.
Uconn: Our pursuits in education, patient care, research, service and outreach will support the missions of our academic health center and University.
umich: Advancing health through education, service, research and discovery
upenn: To transform global oral health and well-being through exceptional clinical care, innovation, education, and research
tufts: Evolving comprehensive dental education that integrates science, technology, patient needs, and lifelong learning in a world-class environment.Interdisciplinary, dynamic research to improve oral care and impact overall health
BU: Provide lifelong learning opportunities and exceptional service to impact health care nationally and globally. To promote lifelong learning among dental professionals; with a goal to better serve their patients and communities.
upitt: providing the highest quality, evidence‐based patient treatment; preventive dental health education; community service; and are committed to lifelong learning
unlv: develops dentists and dental specialists, enhancing the health of Nevadans through teaching, clinical care, research, and service.
uop: providing a world-class dental education for our students and comprehensive, affordable patient care for adults and children in a humanistic environment.
midwestern il : dedicated to the education of dentists who will demonstrate excellence in comprehensive oral healthcare, service to the public, and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.

just to name a few
all are aligned with my goals attending dental school
i dont have just one mission i align with.

I'd appreciate advice on which schools might be a good match for my profile based on my extracurriculars, DAT, volunteer experience. I said in my post that my list was long and I needed help trimming it down. I haven't had a lot of time to research each individual school which is why I have a large potential list. Are there red flags in terms of OOS acceptance, my stats, any sections lacking?

Thank you

have you read your LORs?

Definitely Applying (even if its a crapshoot)
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Uconn
Umich
Upenn
these 6 schools are amongst the 8-10 most difficult schools to get into nationwide, ignoring stats
you need to add more schools if you are going to have these 6
that said, your stats are well within range for these schools

Tufts
BU
these 2 are huge privates, and your stats are well above their range
yield management could apply
i know you are thinking these are safety schools, but there are better schools to have as safeties...

Upitt
have you checked the OOS acceptance rate and also how many MI people get accepted here?

 

[macsak]

have you read your LORs?

Definitely Applying (even if its a crapshoot)
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Uconn
Umich
Upenn
these 6 schools are amongst the 8-10 most difficult schools to get into nationwide, ignoring stats
you need to add more schools if you are going to have these 6
that said, your stats are well within range for these schools

Tufts
BU
these 2 are huge privates, and your stats are well above their range
yield management could apply
i know you are thinking these are safety schools, but there are better schools to have as safeties...

Upitt
have you checked the OOS acceptance rate and also how many MI people get accepted here?

Potentials
UNLV
UWash
OHSU
these schools are not as likely to offer an interview because they know someone with your app will likely go to a closer school

UoP
columbia
these two are in the same category as your 6 definites

Midwestern IL?
UNE?
Nova Southeastern?
tuoro
these 4 private are in the same category as your 2 definites

Rutgers
Ohio state
prob the best 2 on this list to add to your definites

Marquette?
better safety school than your other privates

UIChicago
maryland
louiseville?
these 3 schools are in the same category as pitt above

 

[Mr.Smile12]

First off the top, hat tip to you. Great academic record, and I don't think you need to apply to 16 schools. 10 well-chosen schools are enough. Yes, you probably should include some of the most competitive dental schools since the Ivies or similar generally have strong programs connected with their global/public health programs (Harvard, Columbia, Penn, UCSF). A few that may not be as competitive relative to the overall pool but you could have a challenge as OOS include Colorado, Washington, and Michigan. NYU has an elective for D4s. So do your homework and calculate your chances... not on your metrics but on how each program's offerings resonate with what your goals are (beyond global health dentistry).

You have the mission statements, so you need to continue your spreadsheet and point out what programs support each school's mission. Mission and vision statements are promissory and ideally aspirational, just like oaths. How does each school walk the walk, and are you really interested in each walk? Sure, you probably won't know better until you develop your own expectations and oath.

You know who else may be very interested in people who have interest in global health? HPSP. Have you heard about humanitarian missions with the Navy?

Mission Accomplished: Five Months, 12 Ports, and 10,000 Grateful Dental Patients | DOCS Education

Mission Accomplished: Five Months, 12 Ports, and 10,000 Grateful Dental Patients

www.docseducation.com

Yes, I have fielded applications from predental applicants who volunteered on the ships to show their interest in making an impact in global health as a dentist. And Navy service isn't like "voluntourism." Maybe you haven't described the types of dental community outreach you have volunteered for within your communities, but if you want to understand global health, the Navy missions are pretty convincing (and I'll argue better than your typical voluntour med/dental brigades trip). Go for the HPSP scholarship and bring in money so you are more free to choose the school where you want to attend and get the training to prepare for international experiences you want to go on.

Your activities reflect working with domestically underserved communities, and that will make you a favorite among most dental schools. (I would definitely leverage this in your PS.) The question is whether any of the activities dental students do at each school resonate with the activities on your application. Missions of Mercy outreach opportunities, usually organized through a state dental association, Remote Area Medical weekends, and mobile dental clinics will help you in this bucket.

Places to eliminate if you want an "urban area" experience.
UNC, UConn, UMich, Ohio State, Utah, Roseman, Colorado... basically if you want to go back to a city and not stay in a college town like Ann Arbor, choose schools that are clearly in metro areas: the Boston, New York, and Philly schools. You can add the four California schools. That should get you close to 10.

One final suggestion on networking: seek local chapters of Alpha Omega. About Alpha Omega - Alpha Omega International Dental Society . Have them also make connections to find you additional mentors to help you along your journey. (See the list of student chapters.)

 

[macsak]

First off the top, hat tip to you. Great academic record, and I don't think you need to apply to 16 schools. 10 well-chosen schools are enough. Yes, you probably should include some of the most competitive dental schools since the Ivies or similar generally have strong programs connected with their global/public health programs (Harvard, Columbia, Penn, UCSF). A few that may not be as competitive relative to the overall pool but you could have a challenge as OOS include Colorado, Washington, and Michigan. NYU has an elective for D4s. So do your homework and calculate your chances... not on your metrics but on how each program's offerings resonate with what your goals are (beyond global health dentistry).

You have the mission statements, so you need to continue your spreadsheet and point out what programs support each school's mission. Mission and vision statements are promissory and ideally aspirational, just like oaths. How does each school walk the walk, and are you really interested in each walk? Sure, you probably won't know better until you develop your own expectations and oath.

You know who else may be very interested in people who have interest in global health? HPSP. Have you heard about humanitarian missions with the Navy?

Mission Accomplished: Five Months, 12 Ports, and 10,000 Grateful Dental Patients | DOCS Education

Mission Accomplished: Five Months, 12 Ports, and 10,000 Grateful Dental Patients

www.docseducation.com

Yes, I have fielded applications from predental applicants who volunteered on the ships to show their interest in making an impact in global health as a dentist. And Navy service isn't like "voluntourism." Maybe you haven't described the types of dental community outreach you have volunteered for within your communities, but if you want to understand global health, the Navy missions are pretty convincing (and I'll argue better than your typical voluntour med/dental brigades trip). Go for the HPSP scholarship and bring in money so you are more free to choose the school where you want to attend and get the training to prepare for international experiences you want to go on.

Your activities reflect working with domestically underserved communities, and that will make you a favorite among most dental schools. (I would definitely leverage this in your PS.) The question is whether any of the activities dental students do at each school resonate with the activities on your application. Missions of Mercy outreach opportunities, usually organized through a state dental association, Remote Area Medical weekends, and mobile dental clinics will help you in this bucket.

Places to eliminate if you want an "urban area" experience.
UNC, UConn, UMich, Ohio State, Utah, Roseman, Colorado... basically if you want to go back to a city and not stay in a college town like Ann Arbor, choose schools that are clearly in metro areas: the Boston, New York, and Philly schools. You can add the four California schools. That should get you close to 10.

One final suggestion on networking: seek local chapters of Alpha Omega. About Alpha Omega - Alpha Omega International Dental Society . Have them also make connections to find you additional mentors to help you along your journey. (See the list of student chapters.)

i especially like this:
"You have the mission statements, so you need to continue your spreadsheet and point out what programs support each school's mission. Mission and vision statements are promissory and ideally aspirational, just like oaths. How does each school walk the walk, and are you really interested in each walk? Sure, you probably won't know better until you develop your own expectations and oath."

it's easy to write a mission statement that sounds good
think of it like a dating app profile...

 

[pugsandpie]

have you read your LORs?

Definitely Applying (even if its a crapshoot)
UNC
UCSF
UCLA
Uconn
Umich
Upenn
these 6 schools are amongst the 8-10 most difficult schools to get into nationwide, ignoring stats
you need to add more schools if you are going to have these 6
that said, your stats are well within range for these schools

Tufts
BU
these 2 are huge privates, and your stats are well above their range
yield management could apply
i know you are thinking these are safety schools, but there are better schools to have as safeties...

Upitt
have you checked the OOS acceptance rate and also how many MI people get accepted here?

Thank you so much for your advice! You mentioned there are better schools to have as safeties. Were you referring to Ohio and Rutgers? If not, did you have any other suggestions to add for safeties?

Thank you in advance !

 

[macsak]

Thank you so much for your advice! You mentioned there are better schools to have as safeties. Were you referring to Ohio and Rutgers? If not, did you have any other suggestions to add for safeties?

Thank you in advance !

no
rutgers and ohio state are OOS public schools, and are not safeties...

 

[pugsandpie]

no
rutgers and ohio state are OOS public schools, and are not safeties...

Understood. what safeties would you recommend?

 

[macsak]

Understood. what safeties would you recommend?

i recommend you do your own research, i already gave you tons of feedback...

 

[macsak]

no
rutgers and ohio state are OOS public schools, and are not safeties...

note: as i said earlier, you should add these to your definites if you are planning on applying to so many schools
they are in-range for you...

 

[Mr.Smile12]

OP, you are clearly looking for affirmation to apply OOS. Yes, your stats probably get you notice from some of the schools you believe are traditionally out of reach, but you should never consider them safeties. If you have access to the DSE, I estimate maybe 10% of "OOS" applicants can get interviewed at some public programs. I wouldn't be surprised if you have other people in your ear saying, "Why not... it's just an extra $200." @macsak gave you solid advice on your list, but we push it's important to demonstrate your sincere interest being a dental student there.

Saying that your purpose as a dentist overlaps with every dental school signals, "I'm going to be happy getting into any dental school." That's great, but if you're willing to settle anywhere, then why would I want to bring you into my school for an interview? If I sold you an outhouse in rural America for $700K, you'd buy it because you at least get a chance to own property?

Your "safeties" generally focus on being an in-state applicant at your public school (which stinks for you being a Massachusetts applicant) or applying to a dental school with a large student body with few reserved seats for articulation agreements (which you won't know how many unless you do your research and networking). You have the metrics to apply to all three of your Massachusetts private schools (I always contend no school should be yield-protecting its in-state pool). I'd throw in UConn and UNESOD because of regional fit. The NYC schools (which I include Rutgers for that) probably should be considered though look at the OOS applied to interviewed ratios. For example:

Touro NY OOS 305 interviews from 1763 applicants (1 in 5.78): clearly a good match/fit demographically IMO
Buffalo NY OOS 48 interviews from 1396 applicants (1 in 29)
(Stony is not OOS friendly at all.)
Rutgers NJ OOS 143 interviews from 1975 applicants (1 in 13.8)

You can do the rest of the homework, but I already looked up UNC... OOS 607 applicants, 107 interviews, 21 matriculated!

If you are interested in Indian Health Services, both Arizona private schools should be on the list (I'm looking at AT Still). That brings me to 10. Lots of great rock climbing and beautiful yoga meditation spots.

I would also consider NHSC if you are serious about it.

If you have been around Michigan SOD a lot, I'd throw in an app there. Add Columbia and Penn (if you're already throwing in a Harvard app) and you get to a decent 15.

 

[pugsandpie]

OP, you are clearly looking for affirmation to apply OOS. Yes, your stats probably get you notice from some of the schools you believe are traditionally out of reach, but you should never consider them safeties. If you have access to the DSE, I estimate maybe 10% of "OOS" applicants can get interviewed at some public programs. I wouldn't be surprised if you have other people in your ear saying, "Why not... it's just an extra $200." @macsak gave you solid advice on your list, but we push it's important to demonstrate your sincere interest being a dental student there.

Saying that your purpose as a dentist overlaps with every dental school signals, "I'm going to be happy getting into any dental school." That's great, but if you're willing to settle anywhere, then why would I want to bring you into my school for an interview? If I sold you an outhouse in rural America for $700K, you'd buy it because you at least get a chance to own property?

Your "safeties" generally focus on being an in-state applicant at your public school (which stinks for you being a Massachusetts applicant) or applying to a dental school with a large student body with few reserved seats for articulation agreements (which you won't know how many unless you do your research and networking). You have the metrics to apply to all three of your Massachusetts private schools (I always contend no school should be yield-protecting its in-state pool). I'd throw in UConn and UNESOD because of regional fit. The NYC schools (which I include Rutgers for that) probably should be considered though look at the OOS applied to interviewed ratios. For example:

Touro NY OOS 305 interviews from 1763 applicants (1 in 5.78): clearly a good match/fit demographically IMO
Buffalo NY OOS 48 interviews from 1396 applicants (1 in 29)
(Stony is not OOS friendly at all.)
Rutgers NJ OOS 143 interviews from 1975 applicants (1 in 13.8)

You can do the rest of the homework, but I already looked up UNC... OOS 607 applicants, 107 interviews, 21 matriculated!

If you are interested in Indian Health Services, both Arizona private schools should be on the list (I'm looking at AT Still). That brings me to 10. Lots of great rock climbing and beautiful yoga meditation spots.

I would also consider NHSC if you are serious about it.

If you have been around Michigan SOD a lot, I'd throw in an app there. Add Columbia and Penn (if you're already throwing in a Harvard app) and you get to a decent 15.

Thank you so much this was exactly what i needed to hear. I appreciate you being kind and generous with your responses. I legit just wanted some examples of schools that might be more likely to accept me. This website is very harsh IMO to prospective dental students because it makes them think that nobody will accept them. I am confident in my ability as a dentist and more importantly very confident in my reasons for pursuing this career.

You are right I would be fine with going to any dental school because I dont care about the school I care about being a dentist. That's why I am not picky lmfao

 

[pugsandpie]

OP, you are clearly looking for affirmation to apply OOS. Yes, your stats probably get you notice from some of the schools you believe are traditionally out of reach, but you should never consider them safeties. If you have access to the DSE, I estimate maybe 10% of "OOS" applicants can get interviewed at some public programs. I wouldn't be surprised if you have other people in your ear saying, "Why not... it's just an extra $200." @macsak gave you solid advice on your list, but we push it's important to demonstrate your sincere interest being a dental student there.

Saying that your purpose as a dentist overlaps with every dental school signals, "I'm going to be happy getting into any dental school." That's great, but if you're willing to settle anywhere, then why would I want to bring you into my school for an interview? If I sold you an outhouse in rural America for $700K, you'd buy it because you at least get a chance to own property?

Your "safeties" generally focus on being an in-state applicant at your public school (which stinks for you being a Massachusetts applicant) or applying to a dental school with a large student body with few reserved seats for articulation agreements (which you won't know how many unless you do your research and networking). You have the metrics to apply to all three of your Massachusetts private schools (I always contend no school should be yield-protecting its in-state pool). I'd throw in UConn and UNESOD because of regional fit. The NYC schools (which I include Rutgers for that) probably should be considered though look at the OOS applied to interviewed ratios. For example:

Touro NY OOS 305 interviews from 1763 applicants (1 in 5.78): clearly a good match/fit demographically IMO
Buffalo NY OOS 48 interviews from 1396 applicants (1 in 29)
(Stony is not OOS friendly at all.)
Rutgers NJ OOS 143 interviews from 1975 applicants (1 in 13.8)

You can do the rest of the homework, but I already looked up UNC... OOS 607 applicants, 107 interviews, 21 matriculated!

If you are interested in Indian Health Services, both Arizona private schools should be on the list (I'm looking at AT Still). That brings me to 10. Lots of great rock climbing and beautiful yoga meditation spots.

I would also consider NHSC if you are serious about it.

If you have been around Michigan SOD a lot, I'd throw in an app there. Add Columbia and Penn (if you're already throwing in a Harvard app) and you get to a decent 15.

also you mean university of new england for UNESOD right

 

[Mr.Smile12]

This website is very harsh IMO to prospective dental students because it makes them think that nobody will accept them. I am confident in my ability as a dentist and more importantly very confident in my reasons for pursuing this career.

If you think we're harsh, wait until you get schooled by a preceptor in dental school. No matter how harsh the criticism, we are very supportive regardless. We advise based on experience and probabilities, so you can value that insight or -- if you're like most internet users -- you can seek perspectives that just butter you up. Or go to other forums where you can get completely crushed.

I'm glad you go into this process confident in your abilities. Hopefully the process will affirm that for you, but ask those who are manifesting offers from waitlist positions how confident they are now. What's worse is seeing so many people come in confident and find a way to drop out or fail dental school. You may be confident in your ability as a dentist, but you are not a dentist yet. You shouldn't be, or else you wouldn't be applying for school. And given the price tag for tuition, you better be confident you can graduate once you start.

There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance... and no doubt you'll get to see that once you're in dental school. On which side of the line do you fall?

 

[Ryxndek]

SDN and Reddit can be brutal sometimes. As uplifting as we try to be, it can be easy to misread or come off as harsh in an online anonymous forum. I think a lot of times too, applicants come in thinking they can apply wherever, and are content with getting in somewhere, until reality sets in and you're staring down the barrel of 450k+ in loans wishing, maybe, you applied to a cheaper school or went with the cheaper option instead of being lured in by a school's name and "reputation". Just try to be conscientious about costs, we all graduate with the same degree in the end; a harvard dentist is no different than a dentist graduating from Minnesota degree-wise (other than DMD vs. DDS lol). You're really just paying for names and connections, and how much is that worth to you? (in my honest opinion, not more than 450k, but everyone's financial situation is different)

With that said, I've been more than humbled multiple times in dental school by faculty this year. Good advice is to never take anything too personally, as usually it's with the best intention but the execution could be off. Sometimes I've also felt it's faculty testing you and seeing how you react, as they've become more lenient or relaxed after realizing I can handle criticism, as for some people this is the first time they've ever been criticized on something. Be confident but also be humble as you're still a student!

You've got a lot of really good advice so far, and I think your application will definitely get some looks from schools. Just get that app in and get ready to practice/research for your interviews! SDN's interview feedback page is quite helpful for getting some general questions down you could be asked.

Good luck!

 

[macsak]

oops, no focus
missed that OP attends UMich, but is an MA resident
can leave tufts and boston on list if you like...