What are my chances?

[tigermidoriya]

Planning on submitting my app by the end of next week and I'm starting to get worried...
Please feel free to give me your honest opinions! My GPA and DAT are both mediocre =/

CA resident going into my third year of undergrad
cGPA: 3.51
sGPA: 3.38
DAT: 21AA / 19 TS / 20 PAT / 21 QR / 25 RC / 21 GC / 18 OC

Volunteering Hours: 100+ (hospital)
Shadowing Hours: 55+ (GP), 50+ (ortho/pedo/dental anesthesiologist), 8 (Oral surgeon)
Research Hours: 100+

Schools applying to: USC, UCSF, UOP, NYU, UDM, UCLA, TCDM, CRE, MWU, BU, TUF, TEMP, MWU-IL, MWU-AZ, OHSU

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[chiralola]

In what world is that a mediocre DAT

 

[tigermidoriya]

In what world is that a mediocre DAT

I guess my pre-dental advisor was a bit harsh then lol but I was comparing my score to the averages posted on dat-prep

 

[deleted678432]

In what world is that a mediocre DAT

On SDN world. Anything under 22 is mediocre and 22-25 is “middle of the pack”.

 

[tigermidoriya]

On SDN world. Anything under 22 is mediocre and 22-25 is “middle of the pack”.

So basically my DAT score significantly decreases my chances of acceptance?

 

[tigermidoriya]

Where do you want to go? Your stats are very nice!

Any school that will accept me lol

 

[Bingwen]

So basically my DAT score significantly decreases my chances of acceptance?

The average matriculating candidate has about a 20AA/20TS. You are by no means in trouble with your DAT but it is average of what people get in with.

 

[deleted678432]

So basically my DAT score significantly decreases my chances of acceptance?

It was a joke because everybody on SDN thinks that the average is a 23 and that you can’t get in with under that. Your DAT is great.

 

[chiralola]

Any school that will accept me lol

Even if you graduate $500k+ in debt?

 

[tigermidoriya]

It was a joke because everybody on SDN thinks that the average is a 23 and that you can’t get in with under that. Your DAT is great.

*facepalm* it didn't click in my head that SDN = student doctor network lol. Thank you

 

[tigermidoriya]

Even if you graduate $500k+ in debt?

The financial aspect of dental school has always worried me but after speaking to several GPs and specialists, I'm starting to feel less stressed about it. By living frugally and below my means, I believe that it is possible to pay off that debt in a reasonable amount of time. I still get the sweats just thinking about it from time to time though lol but the dentists I've spoken to have all told me that I'll be okay.

 

[Symphonies]

The financial aspect of dental school has always worried me but after speaking to several GPs and specialists, I'm starting to feel less stressed about it. By living frugally and below my means, I believe that it is possible to pay off that debt in a reasonable amount of time. I still get the sweats just thinking about it from time to time though lol but the dentists I've spoken to have all told me that I'll be okay.

I would still take off NYU to be safe, considering how much they charge for tuition.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

I believe that it is possible to pay off that debt in a reasonable amount of time.

Not likely if you’re practicing in “Cali.” All these dentists you mention, what was their student loan balance adjusted for inflation? Some dental schools have literally doubled their tuition in the past 10 years. All the while dentist income has stagnated. If these dentists you’re talking about graduated 10 or 20 years ago, they have no idea what you’re facing now.

Big Hoss

 

[chiralola]

I would still take off NYU to be safe, considering how much they charge for tuition.

And the Midwesterns...

 

[tigermidoriya]

And the Midwesterns...

Not likely if you’re practicing in “Cali.” All these dentists you mention, what was their student loan balance adjusted for inflation? Some dental schools have literally doubled their tuition in the past 10 years. All the while dentist income has stagnated. If these dentists you’re talking about graduated 10 or 20 years ago, they have no idea what you’re facing now.

Big Hoss

I would still take off NYU to be safe, considering how much they charge for tuition.

That means I'll have to take off UOP and USC as well...there goes half of the schools on my list hahaha. I might have to get out of CA for a good chunk of my life then I guess.

 

[Symphonies]

That means I'll have to take off UOP and USC as well...there goes half of the schools on my list hahaha. I might have to get out of CA for a good chunk of my life then I guess.

You can always practice elsewhere, going to a CA school doesn't mean you have to stay there! USC is another super expensive school I believe (almost up there with NYU I think? I know it's one of the most expensive ones). Not sure about UOP-- I know a lot mention it has high tuition but since it's a 3 year program, but it's arguable that you would save a lot more by gaining an extra year of income (assuming you're going to general dentistry)