The Dental School application process – a journey
By Mudra Patel UA’25 and Jim Stellar
MP’s applications are now in. This blog is about the personal on-the-ground view of what it is like to go through this testing and application process, particularly after graduation and a gap year. I got to see it as her mentor, but let’s hear from her.
In all honesty, after I submitted my dental school applications I felt indifferent in the sense that I knew I laid out all of my hard work for admissions committees to see, and that was all I could do. I did not have control over the lens that they would see me through from August 14th til interviews, but I had to be content with my efforts. Not trying to be pessimistic, but I was being realistic knowing that I almost did not want to submit my applications because of the things that were out of my control and made me question my ability to get into dental school. I hesitated and was fearful that submitting my applications two and a half months into the cycle would prevent me from hearing anything on December 15, decision day. However, I remained hopeful and had an amazing support system of mentors, friends, and family that persisted and encouraged me to stick to my plan even when it all felt uncertain and unreachable.
Congratulations are in order as you have gotten into a dental school that you like, and it is at the University at Buffalo. Tell us how that feels.
December 15, 2025. I couldn’t believe how quickly this day had come since I spent pretty much EVERY DAY of the year working towards this career goal. I was at work that day and while I did not expect to assist a doctor that day (as I typically float around the office), I did and I somehow managed to not look at my phone until two hours after the news. Finally after getting a second at work, after breaking down and setting up an operatory room, I opened my phone to a Gmail notification saying I got into the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine’s DDS program!! I physically felt a burden of fear leave my body as excitement and gratitude entered. I felt so relieved. All that I thought about for seven years finally came to fruition.
I felt so proud and excited especially because after my interview with this school and interacting with the current dental students in their program, I felt very comfortable and envisioned myself being there happily. It still feels surreal because everything I did from high school to college came down to this moment of whether or not I would be entering a doctorate program in Fall 2026. I genuinely feel so excited more than nervous because something about this school and its environment makes me feel so reassured. On top of that, I am so so thankful for everyone that was by my side especially during this gap year where there was a lot of uncertainty with my future. My former pre-health advisor from freshman year, most of all helped me apply often scheduling zoom meetings where we would both work together online on our tasks. Overall, I am just so grateful and happy this all worked out the way it was supposed to.
OK, now it is over and you are going to UBuffalo. You reached your goal after all these years of focused effort, which I saw as one of your mentors. Oh, and by the way, seeing you from the outside, you did not reveal the internal stress that you obviously felt.
Now you have this period before you start dental school. How does that feel? Is it a let-down? Does it feel euphoric? What are you thinking now?
As of now, I’m just reflecting on the journey that it has been to get to this day and letting myself feel proud, but now that I’ve made it to this end, I feel like the remaining months before school are left for me to explore parts of myself that I have let go or I have not discovered. I still am working as a dental assistant until the end of April 2026, but I think that then it is time for a bit of a self-exploration period as this past year drained me emotionally throughout the process. Understanding my likes and dislikes, what hobbies I truly enjoy, and just getting to know myself will help me prepare for an even harder four years of study ahead of me. I’m excited to find out more about the person I am outside of academia and work, the person that I slowly forgot about these past seven years. All in all, I think this will let me ground myself and allow me to figure out ways I can balance the stress of being a human and being a professional.
Excellent plan. Or that is what I think again as one of your mentors and also as a person who is much older than you. We mentors really hope for the best for our mentees. And in fact we took them on for that reason that they will contribute to the world. So get your reset and get ready for the next step. The world needs you to be the best dentist and person possible. Sorry if that is some pressure. But you can handle it … clearly.
