Dental school application news

October is nearing the end and much has happened since the last entry.

As I am writing this entry, I am also preparing to fly out to Arizona tomorrow for this week’s interview (10/30/2013).  The previous interview (10/21/2013) kicked off a 4-week grueling schedule where I will have one interview in each week and with each one forcing me to miss class and work.  Although I hate missing class and work, my future is obviously more important.  It’s okay.  This is the problem I wanted to have when I decided to apply again this year.

While people have reassured me that it’s no big deal to be a re-applicant and that admissions to dental school is extremely, I still feel rather embarrassed about being a re-applicant.  Not just a re-applicant, but a THIRD-TIME re-applicant.

The past two application cycles taught me a lot on how stiff the competition is and the challenge I face in overcoming my UPenn baggage.  For those that know my situation, you know it’s not an easy fix.  In fact, there is no good advice on how to handle this.  I seriously debated whether to reapply for the third time given the past two failed attempts.  Applying to dental school is expensive, time consuming, and emotionally draining.  Even moreso, I wasn’t sure if I could stomach another failed attempt if things didn’t work out.

I took some time to reflect and pray on the matter before I decided to give it one last hurrah.

So far, the adjustments I have made have truly paid off.

• In year 1, I had only 3 interviews total.
• In year 2, I had only 2 interviews.
• This year (year 3), it’s only October and I already have landed 6 interviews (a career high).

I have finished 2 interviews and, so far, everything seems to be going fine.  Normally, dental school interviews are supposed to be low stress since you have already proven yourself as a competent applicant through your stats.  However, in my case and given my past attempts, I have to DOMINATE them.  I have to prove to the admissions committee that my baggage is an aberration on my record and that I have what it takes to be a successful dental student.

“If given the chance to attend your dental school, I guarantee  you that not only will I succeed as a dental student, but also as a dentist.”

The exact words told to all of my dental school interviewers.

Here is the current interview schedule so far:

1. New York University (NYU):  10/8/201.
2. University of New England (UNE):  10/21/2013
3. Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine-Arizona (MWU):  10/30/2013
4. Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health (AZ):  11/5/2013
5. Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (MOSDOH):  11/14/2013
6. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine (LECOM-FL):  1/9/2013

Unlike previous cycles, this will be a quiet application cycle.  So if you want the latest news, you’re either going to have to talk to me or read about it on this WordPress.

Lastly, I want to take this time to say that I appreciate all the prayers, encouragements, and support that I’ve received from family and friends.  It’s truly a blessing to have all of you in my life.

December 2, 2013 is the first date that all dental schools will start handing out acceptance letters.
I hope to bring you all some good news around that time. 🙂

Thanks for the memories

In my spare time, I check up on friends on Facebook and see how they are doing in life.  Sometimes, I would shoot them a message and try to reconnect with them.

In one particular instance, I discovered that one of my old friends had UNFRIENDED ME!

Now don’t get me wrong.  It’s not the first time I have been unfriended.  In fact, many of the people I had friended in high school have unfriended me a long time ago.  Back when Facebook first came out, everyone friended each other, whether or not they were truly friends.  As years have past, people who take Facebook more personally start to only keep the Facebook friends that they are REALLY friends with.  So it comes as no surprise or offense to me when they decide to unfriend me.

However, the hurt really sets in when you are unfriended by someone who you once hanged out with.  Someone who you considered a close friend once upon a time.

It’s understandable how in the we all live very far apart and it’s really hard to keep in touch, but that’s just one of the many pros of Facebook.  It keep us connected!

So while I recognize that I can’t possibly be EVERYONE’S friend, I do take it to heart when I lose a good friend.  It shouldn’t come as a surprise for the unfriending.  I have made several attempts to reconnect with her, but I was never reciprocated with the same enthusiasm.  Reconnecting with a friend is a two-way street.  In time, our interaction came to a silence.

We had great memories together.  What happened?

Sure, there are many questions I have for this friend, but I suppose I am only left to wonder.  The unfriending on Facebook symbolizes that it’s truly the end.  I’m not going to lie.  I was pretty resentful about it.

Because if I really didn’t care about the friendship, losing you as a “Facebook friend” would mean nothing to me.

The closer friendship, the more it stings.
The thing about me is that I really treasure my friends.
I really do.

But if there’s any silver lining in all of this, it’s that I will always remember the good times we’ve had.  Nothing can ever take that away.

Memories last forever.