April 2013 was a normal April for us. We celebrated Taylor's birthday, we were enjoying the Mobile weather & friends, and prepping for summer. We were also waiting to hear if Taylor was officially accepted to a grad program at A&M for the following August. Taylor had applied and interviewed for the program in January and while there he was told that he had the grades & GRE score to have "automatic acceptance". Apparently, he didn't and in April of 2013, we found that out. The program was going to help Taylor on the path of academia. He was currently working on his master's degree in marine science and had decided that he was more interested in teaching marine science than working out in the field. Marine science just wasn't where his heart was and he couldn't see himself being happy in that field for the rest of his life. So when we got the news we were both crushed. Taylor was crushed because he thought he had the next couple of years figured out...wait that was me. Taylor was crushed because he really thought he had found the path meant for him, I was crushed because I thought he had too, along with feeling like we knew what the next couple of years would look like (in Texas). We sat in bed that night and had a deep conversation - what was next? I told Taylor that now was the time to decide. He had the rest of his life to work, this wasn't a light decision on what that work would be. So I started naming possibilities. His undergrad was in Biology so I went that route; continuing marine science, med school, PT school, dental school, PA school, nursing school, etc. Then I just started naming careers, I mean if he was going back to school, might as well go back and do what you REALLY love; teaching, law, accounting, counseling, being a college professor, anything really. His interest was peaked in three: dentistry, PT & Counseling. He did some research, some soul searching and praying and decided that he was going to go all in on dentistry.
May 2013
The major steps toward being admitted into dental school are the application & taking the DAT (Dental Admissions Test). Texas applications open May 1st and the rest of the dental schools open on June 1. Taylor was applying to LSU (his Uncle Chuck, Uncle Luke, Aunt Christie & dad all went to dental school there :: And he lived in Louisiana from ages 2 - 18), and to all three Texas schools (Dallas, SA & Houston). The application process was a LONG one. You manually input all the classes you took in college along with the grade in each, all of your extra curriculars along with details & hours per week, volunteer work with details & hours per week, essays & shadowing hours & more I'm sure! He was able to get all of his shadowing hours in with dentists in Mobile and with his dad & uncles in Arkansas. And then he studied for the DAT, time allotting. He was still in grad school for Marine Science and was working on his thesis so it wasn't full time DAT studying.
June 2013
Taylor continued to study & shadow and submitted the applications!
July 2013
We moved back to Texas! Taylor took the DAT. He did really well on the perceptual part and average on the academic part. We were both pretty confident it was good enough to get into dental school. Now we waited to hear about interviews.
August 2013
Taylor heard back from LSU and interviewed there. He felt like it went well and had good vibes from the Admissions Dean.
September - December 1st 2013
We waited. Didn't get an interview at any of the Texas dental schools. Heard that being admitted as an out of state resident was VERY hard. Still prayed and waited. December 1st came and Taylor received a 'wait list' email from LSU. It wasn't a no, but it wasn't a yes. So we continued to pray and decided that if we hadn't heard about interviews or a yes from LSU by the end of January, Taylor would work on applying again & would retake the DAT.
February 2014
Taylor received an email from LSU saying that all spots were full. We hadn't heard from a Texas school so he started the studying process for the DAT again, but the right way this time. He was able to focus fully on a studying plan and take multiple practice tests.
May 2014
Taylor took the DAT and did AWESOME! Then we went and celebrated at Disneyworld for a week! Ha! Just kidding, but not really! Taylor submitted his Texas application later that month & we waited to hear about interviews! He was an in state resident now so we had high hopes!
June 2014
Taylor submitted an application to LSU along with 2 other out of state schools. We waited some more! While we waited we took the plunge and moved to San Antonio! That is where we wanted to be the most and felt like God was calling us. And then prayed!!!
July 2014
Taylor received an interview offer from LSU & A&M Baylor in Dallas. He accepted both, LSU in early August & A&M/Baylor in September.
August 2014
Interviewed at LSU, felt like it went even better than the last time. He also received an interview offer from San Antonio this month and gladly accepted. Did I mention that in August Taylor was fortunate enough to receive a JOB OFFER from a private school in San Antonio teaching middle school & high school science, for one year? As in, he was able to tell them about the possibility of dental school and they were alright with it being a one year position. God is good y'all! Taylor started that position on the 3rd day of school, late August.
September 2014
In September Taylor went to the A&M Baylor interview and liked it...just didn't like it more than LSU. All that was more appealing for him was that it was in Texas. He then interviewed at San Antonio! There was still something pulling him to LSU, but he did really like the San Antonio school. He liked the faculty that he interviewed with and the new clinical facility they were building. Not to mention, we were loving San Antonio. I had a job that I loved, and a church that felt like home. Not to mention we had some good friends here, the SPURS, and it was Texas.
October - November 2014
We waited again. This was the same waiting feeling from the year before, but with a little more hope! He had interviewed at three schools (instead of one) and felt really great about all three, and he had his awesome DAT scores to help!
December 1st 2014
Taylor received two emails:
12:00:47 AM
Dear Taylor Kauffman,
CONGRATULATIONS! It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that you have been selected for admission to the 2015 freshman class at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry.
09:08AM
Dear Taylor Kauffman,
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Admissions Committee of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry has voted to accept you into the First Year Class, Session 2015-2016.
The best part of the day was Taylor calling me that Monday morning on my way to work to tell me that he had been accepted to San Antonio. We had no idea he would find out Monday morning. For some reason we both had it in our heads that it was the 2nd! We had plans to stay up until midnight Monday night- not necessary anymore! Then at 9 that morning he forwarded me the email from LSU! We were so stoked!!! We spread the word and then started praying again! Taylor had been accepted to his top two schools. Now we had to make a decision. We had until the end of December to decide, but we knew where we were supposed to be, so later that week Taylor accepted his acceptance at the UT Health Science Center in SAN ANTONIO!!!
And we have continued calling San Antonio home! We love it here! Taylor has started school and he loves it as well. We both feel confident we made the right decision. Dental school will be journey, but we are so grateful that we have the opportunity!
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| Also - did I mention that Taylor will be the third generation of Kauffman Dentists??? PS How cute are they? |
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