Steve's Ultimate Dental School Application Guide & artist2022's AADSAS guide

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How bad are student loans actually? Is Columbia worth 400K+ or will my state school get me to the same place in life that I want to be at?
 
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You'll never forget that feeling you get in your stomach when you receive your first interview invite in your inbox, when you shake the faculty members hand, when you walk out knowing you aced it, when you get to meet someone on SDN in real life, when you exchange numbers with someone at the end of the day, and on the morning of December 1st when your life changes forever.

I just can't get over how beautiful this quote is. 10/10.
 
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Do some schools just never contact unsuccessful applicants? Have not yet received rejections (or anything since supplementals) from Pitt, Penn, or Mich and am unsure if I should wait or just throw down my deposit. Curious if anyone else has experience eternal limbo by these schools?
 
Do some schools just never contact unsuccessful applicants? Have not yet received rejections (or anything since supplementals) from Pitt, Penn, or Mich and am unsure if I should wait or just throw down my deposit. Curious if anyone else has experience eternal limbo by these schools?

Penn is still giving out interviews.

Not sure about mich or Pitt.
 
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Do some schools just never contact unsuccessful applicants? Have not yet received rejections (or anything since supplementals) from Pitt, Penn, or Mich and am unsure if I should wait or just throw down my deposit. Curious if anyone else has experience eternal limbo by these schools?
If you haven't heard anything then you're still under consideration. I know BU never lets you know tho, they just let the clock run out on you.
 
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If you haven't heard anything then you're still under consideration. I know BU never lets you know tho, they just let the clock run out on you.

I know a few who haven't heard back and they are finishing up their residency lol.
 
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Do some schools just never contact unsuccessful applicants? Have not yet received rejections (or anything since supplementals) from Pitt, Penn, or Mich and am unsure if I should wait or just throw down my deposit. Curious if anyone else has experience eternal limbo by these schools?
If you are holding acceptances, I would wait another week or so and drop you deposit on the school you've received an offer from. If you receive an offer from your top choice later on, the worst that happens is you lose your deposit. If you don't do that, you are risking losing your seat and not getting offers later in the cycle.
Keep in mind, many people will do this. More seats will open up.
 
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That's what I plan to do: wait for another week and pay the $1000 deposit to a school. $1000 is not a small amount of money for me, but I still have another interview in Jan and if I get accepted I'll be more than happy to lose my $1000 deposit.

P.S: A few schools that I still heard nothing from are Pitt and BU.
 
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Hi! This is amazing stuff!!

Do you know by any chance the Canadian friendly school? How much itll be? which ones accept the Canadian DAT?

Thanks
 
Hi! This is amazing stuff!!

Do you know by any chance the Canadian friendly school? How much itll be? which ones accept the Canadian DAT?

Thanks

Most private schools UDM NYU BU etc etc and 400k+.
 
A bit outdated, but very useful nonetheless for 2014-2015. I hope there is a recent spreadsheet released by ADEA for last year.
 

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Hey @Scumbag_Steve, will there be a new Guide made for the 2018 cycle or will this one be sufficient?

Thanks for sharing this, btw!
 
Despite the numbers in the link being one year more outdated, I think the guide should still stand. Whenever more current ADEA info is published I can just replace the link!

You could always revise it and make a new thread for 2018 and have a moderator pin the new one. But who are we kidding, you are probably loaded with stuff to do at Uconn lol.
 
Prepare for the stupid questions...

I am in the process, maybe, of a career change.

From veterinary medicine to dentistry...
I cannot seem to understand the application process, from looking at VCU's application page. Is it a year long process basically or longer? Can someone talk to me like I'm a toddler, maybe I'll understand then. It's hard to be so on the path to one career and then abruptly switch.
 
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Prepare for the stupid questions...

I am in the process, maybe, of a career change.

From veterinary medicine to dentistry...
I cannot seem to understand the application process, from looking at VCU's application page. Is it a year long process basically or longer? Can someone talk to me like I'm a toddler, maybe I'll understand then. It's hard to be so on the path to one career and then abruptly switch.

I think the courses you take for science classes is the same for vet school med school and dental school. Look up the pre reqs you may be missing for VCU. That is the most time consuming part, taking courses. Next you have to start studying for the DAT which can take 1 month to 3 months depending on how fast you learn. And then of course you need to start shadowing a dentist/dentists to see what dentistry is really about. It is a year long process if you commit to it. I would suggest preparing right away for the 2019 cycle. The 2018 cycle starts in 4 months and who knows what classes you may be missing.

this is assuming you have a stellar gpa.
 
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All my pre-reqs are finished. Just need the DAT.

What I'm asking is about the actual application. For vet school you submit in September, get interviews and know by April to start in August. Is this the same with dental applications?
 
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All my pre-reqs are finished. Just need the DAT.

What I'm asking is about the actual application. For vet school you submit in September, get interviews and know by April to start in August. Is this the same with dental applications?
Aadsas portal opens June 1. It is rolling admission so the earlier you apply, the earlier you receive an interview and an acceptance. The general consensus is you should apply before August for the first batch. The earliest you will get an acceptance is December 1. Acceptances given between December 1 and February 1, you have 30 days to submit your deposit. Acceptances between February 1 and May 1 have 15 days to submit the deposit. Some schools require one deposit, where as others require 2 payments. Most schools finish interviewing in February and March. April 1 is when schools figure out who is holding multiple seats amd can take the acceptance offer back. Acceptances after May 1, schools can request your decision on the spot in order to fill up their seats as soon as possible. Classes can start at soon as August, each school is different so do your research wisely.
 
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Aadsas portal opens June 1. It is rolling admission so the earlier you apply, the earlier you receive an interview and an acceptance. The general consensus is you should apply before August for the first batch. The earliest you will get an acceptance is December 1. Acceptances given between December 1 and February 1, you have 30 days to submit your deposit. Acceptances between February 1 and May 1 have 15 days to submit the deposit. Some schools require one deposit, where as others require 2 payments. Most schools finish interviewing in February and March. April 1 is when schools figure out who is holding multiple seats amd can take the acceptance offer back. Acceptances after May 1, schools can request your decision on the spot in order to fill up their seats as soon as possible. Classes can start at soon as August, each school is different so do your research wisely.
Oh that's awesome. Thanks!
 
How exactly does submitting LORs work? When I open the application on June 1st, will there be a section that I have to fill out with my writers information & upload the LOR for them?
 
How exactly does submitting LORs work? When I open the application on June 1st, will there be a section that I have to fill out with my writers information & upload the LOR for them?

No they upload it. But if you are using inter folio I don't know, I didn't use that.
 
Do W's count as a F? I keep hearing both sides. Some say they don't count towards your GPA and some say it's an F.
I also don't want to retake the class I took a W in because I have other choices and because it's a lab it gets filled up really fast. Is it okay if I take another lab?
 
Opinions on glasses for interviews?? Also- sunglasses in a sunny city for outside? Is that a good idea or does nobody really do that


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Opinions on glasses for interviews?? Also- sunglasses in a sunny city for outside? Is that a good idea or does nobody really do that


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Doesn't matter whether you wear glasses or not. As for sunglasses, if it's an outside tour during the interview, I probably wouldn't wear them myself. I'd feel like I was trying to be incognito or something. Doesn't matter ultimately.

Just don't wear sunglasses during your interview. Or do, and let us know how confused and uncomfortable the interviewers were.
 
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Doesn't matter whether you wear glasses or not. As for sunglasses, if it's an outside tour during the interview, I probably wouldn't wear them myself. I'd feel like I was trying to be incognito or something. Doesn't matter ultimately.

Just don't wear sunglasses during your interview. Or do, and let us know how confused and uncomfortable the interviewers were.

Wearing them inside could be a potential power move. Updates to come


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Hey @Scumbag_Steve, it has been almost a year since your awesome guide was published. I am sure you are extremely busy, but you have no idea how cool it would be if you made a Guide to D1 for those of us about to start. Even if it were an abridged version, I'm sure it would be full of useful insights!!!
Thx!!
 
Hey @Scumbag_Steve, it has been almost a year since your awesome guide was published. I am sure you are extremely busy, but you have no idea how cool it would be if you made a Guide to D1 for those of us about to start. Even if it were an abridged version, I'm sure it would be full of useful insights!!!
Thx!!
I'll start...

Buy a 28 pill organizer like this. It will be helpful for holding extra typodont teeth. Our typodonts don't have third molars so we only need 28 slots to hold the 28 different teeth.
Get a computer that you can take handwritten notes on (if that's your style). I use the surface pro 3 but there are plenty of other good options out there.
Don't buy books. I haven't bought a single book yet and have still maintained a High GPA. I will probably be buying our prosthodontic book for reference though.
Don't pre-study. Enjoy your time off.
If you have to work before school try to give yourself at least a 1 or 2 before school starts where you don't work. I gave myself 2 weeks off and it was great.

I can add more as I think of them. Currently just about to begin finals week and procrastinating studying.
 
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I wonder if anyone can clarify some of the statistics provided on Doc Toothache's Tables from the 2015-2016 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.
I am trying to create my list of schools and have a few questions.
1) Is OOS status revelant for both public and private schools? It appears to be important, but I can't understand the bias if one is applying to private schools.
2) Looking at BU's data, for example, 5% OOS are accepted but the OOS enrollee's make up 58% of the class. Is the Percentage of Enrollee's table the more valuable as I consider my chances?
3) As I make a table for COA (I have the new ADEA Guide), I can see big differences in the data provided by each school for Instruments/Books/ Supplies and Estimated Living Expenses. Are either of these categories discretionary to a some extent, meaning I should compare tuition costs alone? In some cases the schools show dramatic swings in all categories of costs from year to year which is confusing. For example, at UNC, tuition and fees for D4 non-residents drops $18K from D1. What part of the COA do you feel I should compare?
4) No related to data, but a general question. It is impossible to do campus visits all over the country prior to applying, yet the comon advice is to apply to schools where you could see your self living for the next fours years. How can one make this assessment? Other than general assumptions based on weather or big city/suburban/rural, what has helped you choose?
 
I wonder if anyone can clarify some of the statistics provided on Doc Toothache's Tables from the 2015-2016 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.
I am trying to create my list of schools and have a few questions.
1) Is OOS status revelant for both public and private schools? It appears to be important, but I can't understand the bias if one is applying to private schools.
2) Looking at BU's data, for example, 5% OOS are accepted but the OOS enrollee's make up 58% of the class. Is the Percentage of Enrollee's table the more valuable as I consider my chances?
3) As I make a table for COA (I have the new ADEA Guide), I can see big differences in the data provided by each school for Instruments/Books/ Supplies and Estimated Living Expenses. Are either of these categories discretionary to a some extent, meaning I should compare tuition costs alone? In some cases the schools show dramatic swings in all categories of costs from year to year which is confusing. For example, at UNC, tuition and fees for D4 non-residents drops $18K from D1. What part of the COA do you feel I should compare?
4) No related to data, but a general question. It is impossible to do campus visits all over the country prior to applying, yet the comon advice is to apply to schools where you could see your self living for the next fours years. How can one make this assessment? Other than general assumptions based on weather or big city/suburban/rural, what has helped you choose?


1) Some schools are relevant(ish). Marquette, takes 50 IS and 50 OOS, I know MWU-IL stats show that IS students usually get in like 80% of the time once interviewed.

2) You should use the OOS interviewed/OOS applied for initial chances, but also OOS Interviewed Accepted/ OOS interviewed as the stat if you do get an interview.

3) I would look at instrument fees on top of tuition and COL. Some schools say you need about 20k for room and board, but with room mates and the right place you can do with about half/three quarters that (they also tell us this at the interview). From when I applied, most fees and instruments go down over the 4 years.

4) YOUTUBE, YOUTUBE, YOUTUBE. There are many videos of each school from either the actual school or their ASDA. You can get a good feel of the culture through the videos. Also, see if staff are involved in the asda parodies was a good sign for me. I took away that the staff enjoyed interacting with their students. Some schools do not have a clue to what their student's attitudes are. I literally asked the schools during interview and they didn't know how their students felt about the school or if they even enjoy the curriculum and learning process. The ASDA videos for my school were a big factor cause I saw that they had fun, while also knowing they are in a serious profession. We must be realistic, YES dentistry is very serious, but why can't we have fun and laugh. Some schools dont understand that.

I knew I wanted to be closer to my home town and also just be in a city where there was stuff to do. Being out in a state where there was some things to do but not on demand made me miss having a faster paced life.

I also looked deep into each school's mission and their curriculum. Which is important, because you want to try and match learning styles and in my case the desire for a clinic heavy curriculum with a lot of opportunity to practice and hone in on skills.
 
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I will definitely use this guide to study for the DAT. Thank you and best wishes to everyone!
 
Do W's count as a F? I keep hearing both sides. Some say they don't count towards your GPA and some say it's an F.
I also don't want to retake the class I took a W in because I have other choices and because it's a lab it gets filled up really fast. Is it okay if I take another lab?

No Ws are not calculated in the GPA, they show up as a W. A pattern of Ws appears as if your protecting your GPA but a sole W, especially in a lab, won't raise any eyebrows especially if you have a reason for it.


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I took a summer course and the grades are now official. I already submitted my app and my past grades are verified. Would I be able to update my summer grades if I send in my transcript?
 
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Hey Folks,

As crazy as it seems, the 2017 cycle is just around the corner, only a month away! SDN has helped me tremendously, and I figured it would be a grave sin on my part to not return the favor. So in the spirit of altruism that dentists should but may not have, I decided to make a concise (lol sort of), clear guide to answer all of the common questions applicants may have. Anybody who has helpful advice is certainly welcome to contribute.

Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

Absolutely. Your situation is not "unique", as much as you'd like to think so. The search function of SDN will do wonders for you, as most of the "unique" issues you face have faced countless other applicants in cycles past. Learn from their mistakes. If you have the personality where every life issue or decision is a crisis for which you need immediate personal attention, rethink your career plans.

How do I decide which schools in include on my application?

This is a common dilemma that students face. The answer is personal and specific to each applicant, but there are ways to ensure you're at least on the right track. First and foremost, you need to be honest with yourself. This works both ways. I've seen people with 3.8 GPAs ,26 AAs, and above average EC's who get nervous and apply to more than ten schools, which is the definition of overkill and a fantastic way to waste money. At the same time, some people will apply with sub 3.0 GPAs, 18 AAs, and expectto have interviews without making improvements to their applications. If you feel like you don't have the ability to honestly and objectively assess your candidacy for dental school, or think that you can but want to be as smart as possible in your school decisions, take the following steps:

  1. Look over @doc toothache 's guide, which is linked at the bottom of this post. It has each school's average DAT and GPA. Keep in mind that averages mean that there are students with stats higher and lower that get accepted every year. Just because you have a 3.48 and their average is a 3.51 does not mean you are not a qualified applicant at their school. While numbers aren't everything, this is a good place to start. If you're worrying about specific quirks of schools, like "MWU-AZ needs 500 volunteering hours" or "Tufts doesn't take CC credits", then the search function and school specific threads are you friends.
  2. In the very same guide, there is the extremely helpful section where it tells you the % of applicants interviewed, and the % of interviewees that are accepted, both for in state and out of state applicants (which doesn't quite matter as much as private schools but you can still see it anyway). For each school, determine whether or not you're in state or out of state. Then, take your residency's % of applicants interviewed, and multiply it by the % of interviewees that get accepted. This is the best way to get a "chance" estimate at your school. THIS IS ALSO THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS ARE "OOS FRIENDLY". DO NOT CREATE A NEW THREAD TO ASK. THE GUIDE WILL TELL YOU
  3. Shout out to @kimball for including a nice file about the percentage of applicants get accepted to all dental schools in general based on their DAT score. It's attached below.
  4. This thread is the most comprehensive listing of schools that give IS tuition to OOS students after the first year. Schools and changing residency: the list Keep in mind it is less common for schools to do this than it is for them to offer it, so check out the list and definitely keep it in mind when applying.
  5. Search SDN threads to find applicants who are similar to you and how they fared, especially school specific discussions from past cycles School Specific Discussions
  6. Consider cost. Each school's website will have their cost listed. Google is your friend
  7. DO NOT start a chance me thread. Execute steps 1-6 and don't be lazy.
Other IMPORTANT factors include cost, curriculum, quality, location, prestige, atmosphere, etc etc. Cost, location, and curriculum are quantitative factors for which google can do wonders in the road to enlightenment. Quality, prestige, atmosphere and "chances of specializing" anecdotes abound here on SDN. Use the search function, and don't post a new thread asking what has been asked every cycle for the past ten years.

How many schools should I include on my application?

Again, there is no one correct answer, but your financial situation and quality of your candidacy should be considered. For instance, rock-star applicants need not apply to more than 5-6 schools. These 5-6 schools will include "safety" schools, and schools where the applicant could really see themselves attending. Most applicants (those who have not saved thousands of lives, won a Nobel Prize, gotten above a 27 AA, or were Olympic athletes) should apply to anywhere from 6-10 schools. Include at least two "less competitive" private schools to guard against bad luck and poor interviewing skills. Include other schools that you would actually be happy to attend. Applicants who are a bit weaker should apply to about 10-15 schools, and carefully select the schools at which they have the best chance of acceptance based on the @doc toothache guide. If you are not competitive at 15 schools, you are not competitive at 20, 25, etc. You are spending money past the point of diminishing returns. Anyone who applies to 20 schools is throwing their money away; plain and simple.

I did not follow the advice that I gave here. I applied to 13 schools and regret doing so. 6-8 would have been fine had I been honest with myself and more judicious in my selection.

How much is it going this whole thing going to cost?

A lot. The Fee Assistance Program from AADSAS has pretty strict requirements, and chances are you aren't as poor as you think you are and won't get it. I've known one person who has gotten it, and they said it covered the costs to apply to four schools, and that they had to foot the bill for additional schools. Their words, not mine, but they are trustworthy and I would take them at their word but don't want to make any promises that I'm remembering this correctly, but I'm almost sure I am.

EDIT: Thanks @MolarBear11 for the info that the FAP guidelines are 300% of the poverty level. I stand corrected. Apply people!

DAT- $400
AADSAS Fee- $245
Each additional dental school- $93.

So, assuming $500 for DAT prep materials and applying to ten schools, you are looking at $1,982. Each school generally charges secondary fees from $50-$100 (with some exceptions on either end of the price range), so that's roughly another $750, putting you at $2,732.

Please, for the love of God crash with a friend if you can for interviews, and do AirBnB if you can't. I didn't learn of AirBnB until I was almost done with my cycle. Instead of paying $80-$100 or more for a hotel room in cities, stay AirBnB for about half that. If possible, and if you're comfortable with it, room with another SDNer to split a room. It saves costs, gives you a friend, and is just a great option. Also, I drove to all of my interviews, so I can't really be of any help in terms of flights and trains, but do your best to find the cheapest tickets, but not at the expense of having to risk not arriving on time, or missing your flight on the way out. Interviews generally last until at least 2pm and you need to plan your exit from the city accordingly.

Hypothetically, let's say you get 5 interviews applying to ten schools. If you fly to two of them at $250 round trip, drive to the rest at $80 in gas round trip, that's an additional $740 in travel costs. If you're smart and do AirBnB for $50 a night at 4 schools, and stay with a friend at one, that's $940.

So, not including food during travel, the "average" person applying to ten schools and interviewing at five will spend $3,672 on the application process. So you either need to start saving well before you apply, or be born rich. A little bit of both is the best combination. My parents paid for the DAT and my suit, and I was left to cover the rest. I managed to do it a lot cheaper than the average applicant due to a fuel efficient car and staying with friends 3/8 interviews, but splurged on $700 on multiple DAT prep materials and I still spent around $2,500. You need to prepare for this if money will be an issue, and apply to as few schools as is safe for your application strength in order to save money.

Side note: I would shy away from taking a DAT course. You should be able to study using DAT Bootcamp and the prescribed materials on your own. It is cheaper and better. I know many of you have already taken the DAT but for those who haven't; heed these words!

When should I apply?

As early as possible, with no exceptions. The only questionable scenario that seems to pop up on SDN from time to time is the whole, "what if I don't have my DAT yet?" thing. This is how to address that situation. Apply without your DAT scores. Transcript and LOR verification, and AADSAS GPA calculations take 2-3 weeks, as does the official copy of your DAT scores to come in. There is a reason that the "first batch" is mailed almost a month before the application cycle starts (each subsequent batch is mailed out a week after the preceding batch, but batches don't mean jack **** and if you get your application in before August you're fine). The process takes time. So if you're going to be taking your DAT in June or July, submit your application without the DAT scores. Schools will generally acknowledge the receipt of your application, and not consider your candidacy until the scores come in. So while you're waiting for the DAT scores, the rest of the process is set in motion and by the time your DAT scores come in, your entire application is complete. If you wait until the DAT scores come in before applying, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

@fogorvostan brought up a good point in that you should definitely try to get an official copy of your transcript ahead of time to check it for mistakes. Not only will this help catch errors, you need at least an unofficial copy of your transcript in front of you to enter your grades correctly on AADSAS, so might as well kill two birds with one stone and get the official in the first place. Unforeseen errors, now matter how small or if they're on the part of your undergrad and not you, can delay your application. The only part of the application process which you should be anal retentive and paranoid about it making sure these little details are right, rather than parts of the process you can't control.

Thank you @SableFire for mentioning that some schools will accept faxes of the unofficial copy of your DAT scores if the situation above is applicable to your scenario. This can save you some valuable time in the application process if that particular school accepts the unofficial copy.

What will be on my application?

Obviously LORs, personal statement, grades, DAT scores etc. If you would like to start organizing you EC's into the format in which you'll have to enter it on AADSAS, take a look at what will be on there.

  • Academic Enrichment Programs
  • Awards/Honors/Scholarships
  • Shadowing
  • Extra Curricular/Volunteer/Community Service
  • Research Experience
  • Work Experience
Everything will have to be classified as one of these activities. There are limits (for instance, you can only include like ten or so volunteering activities). Each section has an opportunity for you to describe your shadowing, research, work, or volunteer experience, and I believe the limit on space is 120 characters (which is shorter than you think). If you can organize all of your EC's into this format and have the descriptions meet the space limits, you can copy and paste the day that AADSAS 2017 opens up and it will make your life much easier.

The manual dexterity prompt is open ended and has more space, the same for if you have to explain and academic issues/run ins with the law.


When should I hear from schools regarding interviews?

The schools specific discussion threads will tell you everything you need to know. The dates of notification in previous cycles are generally pretty close to the dates of notification for the current cycle give or take a few days.

How should I dress for my interview?

Thank you @fogorvostan for bringing this one up. I can't really speak for girls but again, like most other things, there are plenty of threads at your fingertips with the search function. I saw a wide range of stuff girls were wearing at interviews, and I can give the advice of a horribly uninformed and not stylish male contemporary, I just don't know it it's worth following.

You don't need a Hillary Clinton suit. Wear a skirt that is well below mid thigh, and those stocking/legging things that people wear so that they don't have bare legs. You can wear conservative heels if you are comfortable walking around in them on the tours, and if you can't handle them flats seemed pretty acceptable. Basically be a more modest version of Rachel Zane from Suits. She is a goddess, but I digress.

For guys, dark or light gray, navy (wear brown shoes if you pick navy!), or black (as long as it's not shiny, and thin pinstripes are a good idea to make it not too formal) suits. You don't need a $500 suit; we will need them later. Adcoms don't expect it to be hand made and tailored. You just need to follow obvious rules, like matching (saw kids with blue suits and black shoes, and make sure your shoes and belt match), you need long socks of appropriate color (saw a kid in a black suit with ankle socks), you need a normal tie without novelty patterns, and your suit needs to at least fit close to properly and not be wrinkled. Don't wear any overwhelming colors. Make sure your tie is tied properly. Don't be that kid who wears a bow tie, unless you're interviewing at a school in the South where it isn't as noticeable. Pretty much any suit that doesn't draw attention to you is perfectly acceptable. It's not too difficult to find stuff at Men's Wearhouse for around $200 that will be perfectly acceptable.

How do interviews work?

Invitation, turn around time, and scheduling varies widely from school to school. School specific discussion threads will, again, be crucial to answering your questions. Generally, schools will give you a few weeks to a month's notice to pick from a selection of dates where they're offering you a spot to interview. You're almost always notified via email, and school can have you email or call during to schedule your spot. Try to get Monday or Friday interviews if you can; you'll miss fewer classes/days of work when traveling.

Interview formats vary from school to school, but almost all include a presentation, tour, lunch, chance to speak with students, and the actual interview portion. The interview portion can be one-on-one with faculty, you talking to multiple faculty at once, you talking to a student and faculty, multiple chances to speak with different faculty members, or MMI (more on that later). Typically, interviews are very low stress, conversational, and relatively informal. It's a chance for the admissions committee to get to know who you are, talk about your accomplishments and/or red flags, and determine whether or not they want to spend the next four years spending time around you. Don't be afraid to stray from talk about your grades and EC's; that's what you should be doing. You should be engaging in small talk, discussing hobbies, sports, and family, and being a well-rounded person who isn't a robot born to study. Interviews definitely favor the extroverts, so introverts should at least be polite and as outgoing and friendly as their personality allows.

When you get the chance to talk to current students, take it and run with it. They are almost always very honest, friendly, helpful, and willing to answer all of your questions. They provide invaluable insight into the atmosphere of the school and what your life for the next four years will entail if you choose that school. As @fogorvostan mentioned, treat your student interviewers with respect. Just because they're closet to being your "peer" than the Dean, it doesn't mean you can say whatever you want around them. Just use common sense, and don't do anything that would reflect poorly. The students' thoughts on the school during your interview day will be a major factor in your decision to choose from multiple acceptances of similar cost if you're lucky enough to have them.

Do not ask people "what are they going to ask at my interview?" It makes you sound desperate and insecure. You're going to be asked why you decided to become a dentist and why you applied to a particular school at just about every interview, so think out a well-formulated response to those questions that you'll have at the tip of your tongue when you need it. Also, know your application, in terms of why you are passionate about your ECs and what you did. Other than this, interviews require no preparation and you don't want to regurgitate stale, rehearsed responses. Adcoms want to see you relaxed and able to discuss anything; they rarely want to grill you. If they bring up a blemish on your application, be honest and for the love of God be accountable and take responsibility for your own actions. Nobody will think you are a mature young adult if you blame your C in Orgo II on your professor.

Also, you need to prepare specific questions about the school. You can do this before you go to your interview, but you will probably be able to formulate a few good questions just by paying attention during the school's presentation. You can ask for clarification on some of the information they gave you, which shows that you're seriously interested in the school and interested in the information they're providing. It may be a good idea to come in with one or two questions already prepared, as some interview schedules will have some students speaking with faculty before the info presentation, but there's no need to have a bunch prepared; interviews generally aren't long enough to get to all of them and are easily susceptible to small talk tangents that last twenty minutes.

Most importantly, be yourself. I know it sounds cliche, but it's the best advice. There is absolutely no reason to be stressed out. Excited nerves are one thing, but these will be the strongest at your first interview and wane for subsequent ones. You should be really excited and enjoying yourself; if you view interviews with flat out fear or dread, you aren't in the right mindset.

As promised, a little thing on MMI. I had 2/8 interviews be MMI and they both generally followed the following format: You get a certain amount of time to read a prompt. It can be an ethical situation, a question about your application, or issues in dentistry. After you read it, you discuss the prompt with a faculty member or student. Time runs out, and you go on to the next prompt and faculty member. Anyone with any sort of common sense and the ability to communicate with other humans need not fear the MMI; it is not nearly bad as some of the stories I've heard about them. They are no more or less "stressful" or "difficult" than any other interviews.


Any words of wisdom?

I'm a hypocrite for suggesting this, but don't check your email, AADSAS Portal, and SDN constantly throughout the day. Check it in the morning when you wake up, at noon, and before you go to bed. Anything else is overkill and will stress you out. Just because other people on SDN are receiving interviews at a certain school doesn't mean that all the interview slots have been handed out. This especially holds true prior to November. Chill out, the world isn't ending. Be patient. @fogorvostan gives good advice in that one rejection, or even silence from a school, should be taken with a grain of salt. You have to understand this process is many months long and while at the end of the day I believe the process truly gets applicants into the schools they deserve, there are some individual circumstances where it doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason.

Other applicants are not your enemies or the competition; they are friends you haven't met yet. You'll find that the other interviewees are people with whom you have a ton of common, and people that you will definitely be able to make small talk with around the table before the presentations start. If you know of someone on SDN going to an interview the same day as you are, PM them and meet up! Or better yet, share a room to save money! People are generally way too uptight about the whole process. Traveling to different cities and meeting other like-minded people in a world where not a lot of people are nerds like us and aspire to be dentists is a really exciting time in your life! I've met quite a few SDNers in real life, and remain friends with a good number of them! It's always an asset to have friends at different places across the country, for couch surfing, interview season, and being able to return the favor when they need to stay in your neck of the woods. Also, the more acquaintances and friends you have in the field of dentistry, the more perspectives you'll get. It's cool to know what goes on in other dental schools and other parts of the country.

Dental school admissions is not a zero sum game. Treat your fellow interviewees like friends, because there's a good chance they could easily become one. Adcoms aren't out to get you. You don't have to fight the person next to your for a seat. Be yourself, be polite, be respectful, be friendly, and be articulate, and you won't run into any problems.

I remember all of my interviews like they were yesterday. The application cycle was a really fun and eye opening experience in my life, and it's easy to let it pass by without appreciating it for what it really is. You'll never forget that feeling you get in your stomach when you receive your first interview invite in your inbox, when you shake the faculty members hand, when you walk out knowing you aced it, when you get to meet someone on SDN in real life, when you exchange numbers with someone at the end of the day, and on the morning of December 1st when your life changes forever. If you're not enjoying yourself, then you need to take a moment to realize just how far you've come and how far you need to go, and enjoy the moment for what it is!

If there are any other topics you feel I didn't cover, and aren't adequately explained in the @doc toothache guide linked below, just let me know and I'll be happy to help. Also, other people who are incoming or current dental schools are generally very helpful and knowledgeable so I welcome all of them to contribute!

Thank you so much! this was awesome and so helpful!
 
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Hey So I took my DAT. TS 23, AA 21, Bio 21, Chem 25, Ochem 24, PAT 21, QR 21 but my RC is 15....this is not a chance me but do you guys think I should retake it because of that 15? This is my second time and my first RC was 17. I saw the data for average DAT (mainly TS,AA, PAT) of Each school's but there's nothing about RC... :(
 
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Hey So I took my DAT. TS 23, AA 21, Bio 21, Chem 25, Ochem 24, PAT 21, QR 21 but my RC is 15....this is not a chance me but do you guys think I should retake it because of that 15? This is my second time and my first RC was 17. I saw the data for average DAT (mainly TS,AA, PAT) of Each school's but there's nothing about RC... :(

don't retake. just call the schools and confirm they are ok.
 
Hey Folks,

As crazy as it seems, the 2017 cycle is just around the corner, only a month away! SDN has helped me tremendously, and I figured it would be a grave sin on my part to not return the favor. So in the spirit of altruism that dentists should but may not have, I decided to make a concise (lol sort of), clear guide to answer all of the common questions applicants may have. Anybody who has helpful advice is certainly welcome to contribute.

Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

Absolutely. Your situation is not "unique", as much as you'd like to think so. The search function of SDN will do wonders for you, as most of the "unique" issues you face have faced countless other applicants in cycles past. Learn from their mistakes. If you have the personality where every life issue or decision is a crisis for which you need immediate personal attention, rethink your career plans.

How do I decide which schools in include on my application?

This is a common dilemma that students face. The answer is personal and specific to each applicant, but there are ways to ensure you're at least on the right track. First and foremost, you need to be honest with yourself. This works both ways. I've seen people with 3.8 GPAs ,26 AAs, and above average EC's who get nervous and apply to more than ten schools, which is the definition of overkill and a fantastic way to waste money. At the same time, some people will apply with sub 3.0 GPAs, 18 AAs, and expectto have interviews without making improvements to their applications. If you feel like you don't have the ability to honestly and objectively assess your candidacy for dental school, or think that you can but want to be as smart as possible in your school decisions, take the following steps:

  1. Look over @doc toothache 's guide, which is linked at the bottom of this post. It has each school's average DAT and GPA. Keep in mind that averages mean that there are students with stats higher and lower that get accepted every year. Just because you have a 3.48 and their average is a 3.51 does not mean you are not a qualified applicant at their school. While numbers aren't everything, this is a good place to start. If you're worrying about specific quirks of schools, like "MWU-AZ needs 500 volunteering hours" or "Tufts doesn't take CC credits", then the search function and school specific threads are you friends.
  2. In the very same guide, there is the extremely helpful section where it tells you the % of applicants interviewed, and the % of interviewees that are accepted, both for in state and out of state applicants (which doesn't quite matter as much as private schools but you can still see it anyway). For each school, determine whether or not you're in state or out of state. Then, take your residency's % of applicants interviewed, and multiply it by the % of interviewees that get accepted. This is the best way to get a "chance" estimate at your school. THIS IS ALSO THE BEST WAY TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS ARE "OOS FRIENDLY". DO NOT CREATE A NEW THREAD TO ASK. THE GUIDE WILL TELL YOU
  3. Shout out to @kimball for including a nice file about the percentage of applicants get accepted to all dental schools in general based on their DAT score. It's attached below.
  4. This thread is the most comprehensive listing of schools that give IS tuition to OOS students after the first year. Schools and changing residency: the list Keep in mind it is less common for schools to do this than it is for them to offer it, so check out the list and definitely keep it in mind when applying.
  5. Search SDN threads to find applicants who are similar to you and how they fared, especially school specific discussions from past cycles School Specific Discussions
  6. Consider cost. Each school's website will have their cost listed. Google is your friend
  7. DO NOT start a chance me thread. Execute steps 1-6 and don't be lazy.
Other IMPORTANT factors include cost, curriculum, quality, location, prestige, atmosphere, etc etc. Cost, location, and curriculum are quantitative factors for which google can do wonders in the road to enlightenment. Quality, prestige, atmosphere and "chances of specializing" anecdotes abound here on SDN. Use the search function, and don't post a new thread asking what has been asked every cycle for the past ten years.

How many schools should I include on my application?

Again, there is no one correct answer, but your financial situation and quality of your candidacy should be considered. For instance, rock-star applicants need not apply to more than 5-6 schools. These 5-6 schools will include "safety" schools, and schools where the applicant could really see themselves attending. Most applicants (those who have not saved thousands of lives, won a Nobel Prize, gotten above a 27 AA, or were Olympic athletes) should apply to anywhere from 6-10 schools. Include at least two "less competitive" private schools to guard against bad luck and poor interviewing skills. Include other schools that you would actually be happy to attend. Applicants who are a bit weaker should apply to about 10-15 schools, and carefully select the schools at which they have the best chance of acceptance based on the @doc toothache guide. If you are not competitive at 15 schools, you are not competitive at 20, 25, etc. You are spending money past the point of diminishing returns. Anyone who applies to 20 schools is throwing their money away; plain and simple.

I did not follow the advice that I gave here. I applied to 13 schools and regret doing so. 6-8 would have been fine had I been honest with myself and more judicious in my selection.

How much is it going this whole thing going to cost?

A lot. The Fee Assistance Program from AADSAS has pretty strict requirements, and chances are you aren't as poor as you think you are and won't get it. I've known one person who has gotten it, and they said it covered the costs to apply to four schools, and that they had to foot the bill for additional schools. Their words, not mine, but they are trustworthy and I would take them at their word but don't want to make any promises that I'm remembering this correctly, but I'm almost sure I am.

EDIT: Thanks @MolarBear11 for the info that the FAP guidelines are 300% of the poverty level. I stand corrected. Apply people!

DAT- $400
AADSAS Fee- $245
Each additional dental school- $93.

So, assuming $500 for DAT prep materials and applying to ten schools, you are looking at $1,982. Each school generally charges secondary fees from $50-$100 (with some exceptions on either end of the price range), so that's roughly another $750, putting you at $2,732.

Please, for the love of God crash with a friend if you can for interviews, and do AirBnB if you can't. I didn't learn of AirBnB until I was almost done with my cycle. Instead of paying $80-$100 or more for a hotel room in cities, stay AirBnB for about half that. If possible, and if you're comfortable with it, room with another SDNer to split a room. It saves costs, gives you a friend, and is just a great option. Also, I drove to all of my interviews, so I can't really be of any help in terms of flights and trains, but do your best to find the cheapest tickets, but not at the expense of having to risk not arriving on time, or missing your flight on the way out. Interviews generally last until at least 2pm and you need to plan your exit from the city accordingly.

Hypothetically, let's say you get 5 interviews applying to ten schools. If you fly to two of them at $250 round trip, drive to the rest at $80 in gas round trip, that's an additional $740 in travel costs. If you're smart and do AirBnB for $50 a night at 4 schools, and stay with a friend at one, that's $940.

So, not including food during travel, the "average" person applying to ten schools and interviewing at five will spend $3,672 on the application process. So you either need to start saving well before you apply, or be born rich. A little bit of both is the best combination. My parents paid for the DAT and my suit, and I was left to cover the rest. I managed to do it a lot cheaper than the average applicant due to a fuel efficient car and staying with friends 3/8 interviews, but splurged on $700 on multiple DAT prep materials and I still spent around $2,500. You need to prepare for this if money will be an issue, and apply to as few schools as is safe for your application strength in order to save money.

Side note: I would shy away from taking a DAT course. You should be able to study using DAT Bootcamp and the prescribed materials on your own. It is cheaper and better. I know many of you have already taken the DAT but for those who haven't; heed these words!

When should I apply?

As early as possible, with no exceptions. The only questionable scenario that seems to pop up on SDN from time to time is the whole, "what if I don't have my DAT yet?" thing. This is how to address that situation. Apply without your DAT scores. Transcript and LOR verification, and AADSAS GPA calculations take 2-3 weeks, as does the official copy of your DAT scores to come in. There is a reason that the "first batch" is mailed almost a month before the application cycle starts (each subsequent batch is mailed out a week after the preceding batch, but batches don't mean jack **** and if you get your application in before August you're fine). The process takes time. So if you're going to be taking your DAT in June or July, submit your application without the DAT scores. Schools will generally acknowledge the receipt of your application, and not consider your candidacy until the scores come in. So while you're waiting for the DAT scores, the rest of the process is set in motion and by the time your DAT scores come in, your entire application is complete. If you wait until the DAT scores come in before applying, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

@fogorvostan brought up a good point in that you should definitely try to get an official copy of your transcript ahead of time to check it for mistakes. Not only will this help catch errors, you need at least an unofficial copy of your transcript in front of you to enter your grades correctly on AADSAS, so might as well kill two birds with one stone and get the official in the first place. Unforeseen errors, now matter how small or if they're on the part of your undergrad and not you, can delay your application. The only part of the application process which you should be anal retentive and paranoid about it making sure these little details are right, rather than parts of the process you can't control.

Thank you @SableFire for mentioning that some schools will accept faxes of the unofficial copy of your DAT scores if the situation above is applicable to your scenario. This can save you some valuable time in the application process if that particular school accepts the unofficial copy.

What will be on my application?

Obviously LORs, personal statement, grades, DAT scores etc. If you would like to start organizing you EC's into the format in which you'll have to enter it on AADSAS, take a look at what will be on there.

  • Academic Enrichment Programs
  • Awards/Honors/Scholarships
  • Shadowing
  • Extra Curricular/Volunteer/Community Service
  • Research Experience
  • Work Experience
Everything will have to be classified as one of these activities. There are limits (for instance, you can only include like ten or so volunteering activities). Each section has an opportunity for you to describe your shadowing, research, work, or volunteer experience, and I believe the limit on space is 120 characters (which is shorter than you think). If you can organize all of your EC's into this format and have the descriptions meet the space limits, you can copy and paste the day that AADSAS 2017 opens up and it will make your life much easier.

The manual dexterity prompt is open ended and has more space, the same for if you have to explain and academic issues/run ins with the law.


When should I hear from schools regarding interviews?

The schools specific discussion threads will tell you everything you need to know. The dates of notification in previous cycles are generally pretty close to the dates of notification for the current cycle give or take a few days.

How should I dress for my interview?

Thank you @fogorvostan for bringing this one up. I can't really speak for girls but again, like most other things, there are plenty of threads at your fingertips with the search function. I saw a wide range of stuff girls were wearing at interviews, and I can give the advice of a horribly uninformed and not stylish male contemporary, I just don't know it it's worth following.

You don't need a Hillary Clinton suit. Wear a skirt that is well below mid thigh, and those stocking/legging things that people wear so that they don't have bare legs. You can wear conservative heels if you are comfortable walking around in them on the tours, and if you can't handle them flats seemed pretty acceptable. Basically be a more modest version of Rachel Zane from Suits. She is a goddess, but I digress.

For guys, dark or light gray, navy (wear brown shoes if you pick navy!), or black (as long as it's not shiny, and thin pinstripes are a good idea to make it not too formal) suits. You don't need a $500 suit; we will need them later. Adcoms don't expect it to be hand made and tailored. You just need to follow obvious rules, like matching (saw kids with blue suits and black shoes, and make sure your shoes and belt match), you need long socks of appropriate color (saw a kid in a black suit with ankle socks), you need a normal tie without novelty patterns, and your suit needs to at least fit close to properly and not be wrinkled. Don't wear any overwhelming colors. Make sure your tie is tied properly. Don't be that kid who wears a bow tie, unless you're interviewing at a school in the South where it isn't as noticeable. Pretty much any suit that doesn't draw attention to you is perfectly acceptable. It's not too difficult to find stuff at Men's Wearhouse for around $200 that will be perfectly acceptable.

How do interviews work?

Invitation, turn around time, and scheduling varies widely from school to school. School specific discussion threads will, again, be crucial to answering your questions. Generally, schools will give you a few weeks to a month's notice to pick from a selection of dates where they're offering you a spot to interview. You're almost always notified via email, and school can have you email or call during to schedule your spot. Try to get Monday or Friday interviews if you can; you'll miss fewer classes/days of work when traveling.

Interview formats vary from school to school, but almost all include a presentation, tour, lunch, chance to speak with students, and the actual interview portion. The interview portion can be one-on-one with faculty, you talking to multiple faculty at once, you talking to a student and faculty, multiple chances to speak with different faculty members, or MMI (more on that later). Typically, interviews are very low stress, conversational, and relatively informal. It's a chance for the admissions committee to get to know who you are, talk about your accomplishments and/or red flags, and determine whether or not they want to spend the next four years spending time around you. Don't be afraid to stray from talk about your grades and EC's; that's what you should be doing. You should be engaging in small talk, discussing hobbies, sports, and family, and being a well-rounded person who isn't a robot born to study. Interviews definitely favor the extroverts, so introverts should at least be polite and as outgoing and friendly as their personality allows.

When you get the chance to talk to current students, take it and run with it. They are almost always very honest, friendly, helpful, and willing to answer all of your questions. They provide invaluable insight into the atmosphere of the school and what your life for the next four years will entail if you choose that school. As @fogorvostan mentioned, treat your student interviewers with respect. Just because they're closet to being your "peer" than the Dean, it doesn't mean you can say whatever you want around them. Just use common sense, and don't do anything that would reflect poorly. The students' thoughts on the school during your interview day will be a major factor in your decision to choose from multiple acceptances of similar cost if you're lucky enough to have them.

Do not ask people "what are they going to ask at my interview?" It makes you sound desperate and insecure. You're going to be asked why you decided to become a dentist and why you applied to a particular school at just about every interview, so think out a well-formulated response to those questions that you'll have at the tip of your tongue when you need it. Also, know your application, in terms of why you are passionate about your ECs and what you did. Other than this, interviews require no preparation and you don't want to regurgitate stale, rehearsed responses. Adcoms want to see you relaxed and able to discuss anything; they rarely want to grill you. If they bring up a blemish on your application, be honest and for the love of God be accountable and take responsibility for your own actions. Nobody will think you are a mature young adult if you blame your C in Orgo II on your professor.

Also, you need to prepare specific questions about the school. You can do this before you go to your interview, but you will probably be able to formulate a few good questions just by paying attention during the school's presentation. You can ask for clarification on some of the information they gave you, which shows that you're seriously interested in the school and interested in the information they're providing. It may be a good idea to come in with one or two questions already prepared, as some interview schedules will have some students speaking with faculty before the info presentation, but there's no need to have a bunch prepared; interviews generally aren't long enough to get to all of them and are easily susceptible to small talk tangents that last twenty minutes.

Most importantly, be yourself. I know it sounds cliche, but it's the best advice. There is absolutely no reason to be stressed out. Excited nerves are one thing, but these will be the strongest at your first interview and wane for subsequent ones. You should be really excited and enjoying yourself; if you view interviews with flat out fear or dread, you aren't in the right mindset.

As promised, a little thing on MMI. I had 2/8 interviews be MMI and they both generally followed the following format: You get a certain amount of time to read a prompt. It can be an ethical situation, a question about your application, or issues in dentistry. After you read it, you discuss the prompt with a faculty member or student. Time runs out, and you go on to the next prompt and faculty member. Anyone with any sort of common sense and the ability to communicate with other humans need not fear the MMI; it is not nearly bad as some of the stories I've heard about them. They are no more or less "stressful" or "difficult" than any other interviews.


Any words of wisdom?

I'm a hypocrite for suggesting this, but don't check your email, AADSAS Portal, and SDN constantly throughout the day. Check it in the morning when you wake up, at noon, and before you go to bed. Anything else is overkill and will stress you out. Just because other people on SDN are receiving interviews at a certain school doesn't mean that all the interview slots have been handed out. This especially holds true prior to November. Chill out, the world isn't ending. Be patient. @fogorvostan gives good advice in that one rejection, or even silence from a school, should be taken with a grain of salt. You have to understand this process is many months long and while at the end of the day I believe the process truly gets applicants into the schools they deserve, there are some individual circumstances where it doesn't seem to have a rhyme or reason.

Other applicants are not your enemies or the competition; they are friends you haven't met yet. You'll find that the other interviewees are people with whom you have a ton of common, and people that you will definitely be able to make small talk with around the table before the presentations start. If you know of someone on SDN going to an interview the same day as you are, PM them and meet up! Or better yet, share a room to save money! People are generally way too uptight about the whole process. Traveling to different cities and meeting other like-minded people in a world where not a lot of people are nerds like us and aspire to be dentists is a really exciting time in your life! I've met quite a few SDNers in real life, and remain friends with a good number of them! It's always an asset to have friends at different places across the country, for couch surfing, interview season, and being able to return the favor when they need to stay in your neck of the woods. Also, the more acquaintances and friends you have in the field of dentistry, the more perspectives you'll get. It's cool to know what goes on in other dental schools and other parts of the country.

Dental school admissions is not a zero sum game. Treat your fellow interviewees like friends, because there's a good chance they could easily become one. Adcoms aren't out to get you. You don't have to fight the person next to your for a seat. Be yourself, be polite, be respectful, be friendly, and be articulate, and you won't run into any problems.

I remember all of my interviews like they were yesterday. The application cycle was a really fun and eye opening experience in my life, and it's easy to let it pass by without appreciating it for what it really is. You'll never forget that feeling you get in your stomach when you receive your first interview invite in your inbox, when you shake the faculty members hand, when you walk out knowing you aced it, when you get to meet someone on SDN in real life, when you exchange numbers with someone at the end of the day, and on the morning of December 1st when your life changes forever. If you're not enjoying yourself, then you need to take a moment to realize just how far you've come and how far you need to go, and enjoy the moment for what it is!

If there are any other topics you feel I didn't cover, and aren't adequately explained in the @doc toothache guide linked below, just let me know and I'll be happy to help. Also, other people who are incoming or current dental schools are generally very helpful and knowledgeable so I welcome all of them to contribute!


I've created a spreadsheet with the averages for enrolled students at US schools. It's color coded and you can organize it using the drop down menus.
 

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I've created a spreadsheet with the averages for enrolled students at US schools. It's color coded and you can organize it using the drop down menus.
This is excellent, for what cycle was this data from?
 
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