The Official "Which Dental School Should I Apply To?" Thread

oh ok sorry trying to help

my mistake

I have already chosen my unis though and have even applied so I don’t need this thread anymore

Hey everyone, looking on advice on where to apply. Took a gap year to apply for Dentistry but got a low UCAT score this year of 2450, which makes me Band 4.

Am thinking a shortlist of Newcastle, Bristol, Glasgow, Dundee, Birmingham, Sheffield but any advice welcome.

Took a gap year to apply for Dentistry but got a low UCAT score this year of 2450, which makes me Band 4.

Actual A-Level results, Mathematics (A), Biology (A), Chemistry (A)

Actual GCSE results, Mathematics 8 (A*), Combined Science 9-8(A*-A*), English Literature 7 (A), English Language 6(B), ICT 8(A*), Business Studies 7(A), Geography 7 (A), Religious Studies 7(A)

Hi just to clarify, do you mean you got band 4 in the SJT or that you're in the 4th decile?

Hi thanks for your reply, my application is looking really weak tbh and I doubt i'm getting a slight chance anywhere

What are your complete stats?
Sometimes it's best to just consider this year a "practice run" and apply anyway even if you don't think you stand a chance. There's no harm in applying: if you get offers, that's great, but if you don't then it was expected anyway and you can just focus on getting the best A Level results you can and reapply next year.

Check with Plymouth whether they would accept an AAA - their website says A*AA-AAB but they seem to suggest that AAB is a contextual offer. Its a bit misleading (I've emailed, but the more people who email the better).

Stick with Manchester if you have a contextual.

Unfortunately you seem to miss the requirements of most dental schools due to your GCSEs (the B in biology is a problem) or A Level predictions or your low UCAT lowering your chances or a combination. I can only really advise that you stick with the schools you've chosen (email Plymouth though) and maybe apply to a 4th dental school even though your chances are slim (you meet Bristol requirements, but they place a 35% weighting on UCAT for example). If you get in this year, lovely, but otherwise you'll have to work really hard to get an A*AA at A Level to increase your eligibility for more dental schools, and then hopefully reapply next year.

Are you eligible for a contextual anywhere else apart from Manchester?

Hey everyone, looking on advice on where to apply. Took a gap year to apply for Dentistry but got a low UCAT score this year of 2450, which makes me Band 4.

Am thinking a shortlist of Newcastle, Bristol, Glasgow, Dundee, Birmingham, Sheffield but any advice welcome.

Actual A-Level results, Mathematics (A), Biology (A), Chemistry (A)

Actual GCSE results, Mathematics 8 (A*), Combined Science 9-8(A*-A*), English Literature 7 (A), English Language 6(B), ICT 8(A*), Business Studies 7(A), Geography 7 (A), Religious Studies 7(A)

What are your complete stats?
Sometimes it's best to just consider this year a "practice run" and apply anyway even if you don't think you stand a chance. There's no harm in applying: if you get offers, that's great, but if you don't then it was expected anyway and you can just focus on getting the best A Level results you can and reapply next year.

Plymouth informed me via a telephone conversation that AAB is only for a contextual offer. Otherwise they want A*AA

Did you stick with Barts in the end?

The website says "have predicted grades that are within one grade of the PARTNERS offer for the course(s) you are applying for" and their offer would be BBB so It may be the case that applying with AAA predictions may cease your eligibility. However, I'm not 100% sure so its best to email dental admissions directly and ask them (I have emailed about this too and will update you if I get a response).

Thanks for the advice and yeah that's the way i was looking at it tbh

My UCAT was: 2490 (430 in VR really brought it down)
My GCSEs are weak as well: Maths + Physics = 7 Biology + Chemistry + English Language + Geography = 6 Religious Studies + English Lit = 5 (and French at a 4) But I also have no work experience (due to COVIID) which I know isn't a requirement this year but I'm struggling for things to write about in my personal statement.

- Newcastle = probably not because their cut-off from 2016-19 has been 637-650 which you miss
- Glasgow = again, cutoff is higher than national average so avoid
- Dundee = fine
- Birmingham = good as they don't consider SJT banding
- Sheffield = they ask for a 7 in English language which you don't have. Not sure if they'll accept a 7 in English lit in lieu so email them about that if you want.

Yep!! I can’t pass up the opportunity to go to the same uni as the tsr queen of dentistry (imagine that hailing emoji here bc idk the code for it )

This one ?

Only apply to Barts/ QMUL if you are sure you can get an A*AA prediction as this is their requirement.
You're fine to apply to Birmingham
In all honesty, your stats are good and meet the requirements of all dental schools so technically can apply to anywhere you feel you'd be happy spending 5 years studying at Obviously I can't predict what your chances are as unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball, but, if you can write a good PS and push those predictions up you should be fine. If you think of any other dental schools you want to apply to, I'd be happy to advise you further if you want.

Only apply to Barts/ QMUL if you are sure you can get an A*AA prediction as this is their requirement.
You're fine to apply to Birmingham
In all honesty, your stats are good and meet the requirements of all dental schools so technically can apply to anywhere you feel you'd be happy spending 5 years studying at Obviously I can't predict what your chances are as unfortunately I don't have a crystal ball, but, if you can write a good PS and push those predictions up you should be fine. If you think of any other dental schools you want to apply to, I'd be happy to advise you further if you want.

Which other 2 unis do you recommend?
What about Bristol with the contextual offer based on postcode?
Would Newcastle not lower the UCAT mark if you are on the Partners program?
What about Cardiff or Queen's University Belfast?

Am thinking a shortlist of Newcastle (partners program), Bristol (contextual area), Glasgow, Dundee, Birmingham, Sheffield but any advice welcome.

Took a gap year to apply for Dentistry but got a low UCAT score this year of 2450, which makes me Band 4 for SJT.

Actual A-Level results, Mathematics (A), Biology (A), Chemistry (A)

Actual GCSE results, Mathematics 8 (A*), Combined Science 9-8(A*-A*), English Literature 7 (A), English Language 6(B), ICT 8(A*), Business Studies 7(A), Geography 7 (A), Religious Studies 7(A)

Have 1 week of dental work experience and 1 month voluntary work.

Thanks!! I’ve picked Leeds, Newcastle and Plymouth so far... and just trying to pick my last choice.

My only worry with Birmingham is that apparently they have really high weighting on GCSEs? and my GCSEs are lower than most dental applicants.

I like the look of Bristol too, but apparently they’re really picky? not sure tbh

Thanks for your reply though!!