Asking a Dental School Dean Of Admissions Questions From Pre-Dents!

Hey everyone, the video is here! I asked people on Instagram and Reddit, if you had the option, what questions would you ask directly to a Dean of Admissions of a dental school? Luckily for me, our very own GSDM Dean of Admissions, Dr. Robert Kasberg, agreed to answer some questions for all the dental school applicants and pre-dental students out there.

I sent Dr. Kasberg a list of questions in advance and asked him to filter out some, for any reason. If your question wasn’t asked, it may have been filtered out, I’m sorry! If you have additional questions, comment them under the video and I may be able to get a part 2 with Dr. Kasberg!

I know this video is long, but I didn’t want to cut out any information from Dr. Kasberg that someone may find relevant. Feel free to watch this video in 2x speed, but I’ve also included time stamps so you know when a specific question is answered

0:00 - Video Introduction
3:03 - What are some of the most common mistakes applicants make?
7:32 - How can you make yourself stand out as a community college student?
9:43 - Does majoring in STEM give applicants an advantage over non-STEM majors?
12:26 - Besides a Master’s/Post-Baccalaureate, how can applicants strengthen their application during their gap year?
16:44 - Will applying while missing pre-requisites hinder my application?
18:55 - What is something that makes you look past a poor GPA or DAT?
22:03 - What makes a good personal statement?
23:31 - Does a student’s undergrad institution play a part in their acceptance?
25:16 - Does having a subsection under 18 on the DAT matter if your overall DAT score is good?
27:46 - Can a good DAT score outweigh a poor GPA?
29:07 - How does BU view students that have completed a master’s and performed far better than undergrad?
32:14 - How heavily does admissions weigh aspects like working part-time while in school?
34:36 - How much of a role do interviews play in the admissions process? How does one stand out in an interview?

Important to note: Every school is different. Every Dean of Admissions is slightly different, and some hold different ideals and values. Dr. Kasberg was not yet the Dean of Admissions at BU GSDM when I was admitted, so it is possible that the previous Dean of Admissions allowed my high DAT to overlook a GPA on the lower end of the range. All of this info just so you can keep in mind that nothing said is law.

If you're new to the channel, my name is Eli and I am a 3rd year dental student at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. I attended the University of Maryland, College Park for undergrad, and I did a post-bacc program at George Mason and Georgetown Universities, called G Squared.

On my channel I vlog my dental school journey as well as make videos for pre-dental students who want advice on getting into dental school. I didn't have the easiest journey to dental school, and a unique story, as I was interested in medical school for 2 years after graduating before switching to dental. Follow along my journey as a dental student and after I graduate, I want the channel to be a way for young Black men and women to see someone that looks like them working in the healthcare field. Also, share the channel with anyone you think may find it interesting! I appreciate all the support and really want to get my Youtube out there.

#dentalschoolvlog #dentalstudent #predent

10% Off DAT Bootcamp Code: StudentDoctorEli10
20% Off Anatomy Bootcamp Code: StudentDoctorEli

[Des_Armoni]

Whats so fire about this is you sitting next to Kasberg and he's talking about what makes a great student and what would make you stand out and you actually did all of those things! too cool. Proud man! He respects you. And so do we.

[jennyih]

I talked with Dr. Kasberg about 3 weeks ago and he made me feel so much better. MY GPA is not the best right now and he was understanding but REALISTIC. I'm happy that I got the chance to talk to him.

[sohyoungdennis]

This is one of the best videos on dental school admission process I've ever encountered! I truly appreciate your time and effort and the valuable information.

[n.c.]

Just a few hours ago I was feeling incredibly discouraged about this process which I've been on for some time now. Navigating this journey as a non-traditional student who switched career to pursue dentistry can be very intimidating and confusing. Thank you so very much for taking the time to make this video, which I have to say came to me at the perfect time! Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[JoannBasilio]

This is GOLD, Eli. Thank you for putting your time and energy into sharing valuable information with all of us predents!

[SnoMotion-qkmo]

Dr. Kasberg was excellent in this interview. I hope that he continues to educate us on your channel and share his knowledge.

[madisonnicole]

Amazing video, So grateful that you took the time out to make this video. Dr.Kasberg is dropping gems!

[nataliefigueroa]

That’s amazing that you were able to interview the dean of admissions at your school! As a pre-dental student, it’s awesome to hear advice from someone on the inside. Thanks so much, and keep up the great work!!!

[HURSTROCKET]

This guy gets it! He said the DAT doesn’t mean jack! Someone could have gotten mommy and daddy money to pay a large amount for study material that gave them an advantage. He says the GPA is more valuable because it shows a record of your studies in longitudinal. Various exams, timelines, etc is way more valuable than ONE test. This is the reason why there are currently about 7 schools that doesn’t require the DAT and reason on why many more will follow

[Des_Armoni]

This is so fire bruh! Thanks a ton! U went above and beyond. Thanks fr

[jorymaloney]

I thank you for posting this interview, beneficial isn't the word! I'll take very seriously this information, I feel better prepared going forward for having tuned in. Thank you again!

[xShields]

Wow, thank you for this video. I wish I could have had this resource when I applied to school.

[Noahwalker-fi]

This video truly impacted me, can’t thank you enough

[mallikarjunb]

One of the best Q&A session about Dental education in USA. Thank you very much.

[KJ-]

This was a great video. Thank you and Dr. Kasberg for the information and advice.

[luhan]

Thank you for asking all of the questions! I applied after junior year and didn’t get it. The Dean’s answers made me look at my application objectively.

[atran]

Thank you Eli for this! I watched the entire video- I hope to apply here this cycle after I take my DAT this August :)

[lifeofabreana]

Thank you!! I needed this video, I am currently a pre- dental student!

[bonkam]

This video is really helpful for applicants who want to become a dentist.

[Lil.aaron]

Good video thank you! Ima definitely pickup my grades in bio and chemistry