Tips for next cycle from those applying now

[thegreat267]

Hey guys,

I am currently a junior, and I already took my DAT this past summer ( 21AA, 21 TS, 23 PAT). GPA 3.8 overall, 3.7 science. I have leadership, volunteering, shadowing, and research.

What else should I be doing to prepare for this next cycle?

What would you have wanted to know before you started applying this cycle?

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[gucci]

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[cpain]

Ask for LORs as early as you can (took one professor 2 months to get mine in). Have secondary essays already written for your schools before you apply. Things I would've done differently.

 

[thegreat267]

Ask for LORs as early as you can (took one professor 2 months to get mine in). Have secondary essays already written for your schools before you apply. Things I would've done differently.

How would I know what to write for the secondaries?

 

[bsal1]

Definitely make sure to get the rec letters early on and also have your personal statement ready a few months before applying so you can get some solid feedback on it. Try to have everything lined up so you can apply as soon as possible.

 

[Hyunin1210]

Do not delay your application unless you absolutely have to. First batch is the best batch.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

How to block SDN on my computer during the months of July-October. Watching other people get interviews to places you applied is STRESSFUL.
Haha but in all honesty, looks like you're on the right track! Write your personal statement early, send transcripts when the application opens, and submit in June or July. Triple check for any typos on your application, especially when entering courses. And I totally agree with the LoR thing. Ask (and gently re-ask) early so you can get your letter and beat the other pre-meds/pre-dents who may be asking that professor as well haha
Good luck!

 

[kholley25]

The first batch of applications doesn't get mailed to schools until the end of June, around 4 weeks after the application opens; HOWEVER, the applications only get mailed out after GPA verification, which takes 4-6 weeks. Meaning if you want to be in the first batch, you need to apply the first week the application is open.

However, everyone says that as long as you're within the first 10 batches, your application is considered "early" and you are good. Meaning, you should try to e-submit your application by the end of July to maximize your chances at landing an interview.

Also, use interfolio to get LoRs in advance of the AADSAS application opening.

 

[DUPH]

Rush your transcript orders from all the colleges/universities you attended. One of my community colleges literally took 20 days just to send that dang thing and then took another week or so to get to AADSAS. Be on the safe some and rush all your transcripts; it might cost you an extra 20-40 bucks, but it saves a lot of time and stress.

 

[thegreat267]

The first batch of applications doesn't get mailed to schools until the end of June, around 4 weeks after the application opens; HOWEVER, the applications only get mailed out after GPA verification, which takes 4-6 weeks. Meaning if you want to be in the first batch, you need to apply the first week the application is open.

However, everyone says that as long as you're within the first 10 batches, your application is considered "early" and you are good. Meaning, you should try to e-submit your application by the end of July to maximize your chances at landing an interview.

Also, use interfolio to get LoRs in advance of the AADSAS application opening.

Rush your transcript orders from all the colleges/universities you attended. One of my community colleges literally took 20 days just to send that dang thing and then took another week or so to get to AADSAS. Be on the safe some and rush all your transcripts; it might cost you an extra 20-40 bucks, but it saves a lot of time and stress.

How does sending your gpa and transcript work? Do I have to tell my school ahead of time? Can you explain the process?

 

[futurepredent2016]

Start writing your personal statement early as possible, especially if you don't like writing. I had re-wrote mine multiple times before it was the way it is.

 

[kholley25]

How does sending your gpa and transcript work? Do I have to tell my school ahead of time? Can you explain the process?

When you access AADSAS for the first time, you are able to fill out all of the college coursework that you have taken (and have registered for) in the coursework section of the application. At the same time, you will contact your school to send official transcripts to the AADSAS service. After receiving the transcripts, representatives from AADSAS will verify the coursework information you have provided against your official scores on your transcript.

Let say you enter all your coursework information, request your transcripts be sent to AADSAS, and e-submit your entire application the first week of June. AADSAS will verify your GPA only after they have received the transcript. Once they receive it and you e-submit, you wait 4-6 weeks until GPA verification and your application is mailed shortly after. If, for whatever reason, your transcript is delayed, your GPA verification and thus application as a whole will also be delayed.

As far as requesting transcripts: I'm not sure how every school works, but my school required me to request a transcript online and pay a small (~$10) fee before they sent it. It was very easy because they automatically had the AADSAS address in their system, but YMMV depending on your school.

 

[Iwanttopulloutteeth]

If you're taking your DAT in August, would applying to just 1 school during the first batch be helpful for getting everything verified and ready to go, so that by the time August rolls around, everything else is good ??

 

[thegreat267]

When you access AADSAS for the first time, you are able to fill out all of the college coursework that you have taken (and have registered for) in the coursework section of the application. At the same time, you will contact your school to send official transcripts to the AADSAS service. After receiving the transcripts, representatives from AADSAS will verify the coursework information you have provided against your official scores on your transcript.

Let say you enter all your coursework information, request your transcripts be sent to AADSAS, and e-submit your entire application the first week of June. AADSAS will verify your GPA only after they have received the transcript. Once they receive it and you e-submit, you wait 4-6 weeks until GPA verification and your application is mailed shortly after. If, for whatever reason, your transcript is delayed, your GPA verification and thus application as a whole will also be delayed.

As far as requesting transcripts: I'm not sure how every school works, but my school required me to request a transcript online and pay a small (~$10) fee before they sent it. It was very easy because they automatically had the AADSAS address in their system, but YMMV depending on your school.

Thank you!

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[EasTexan]

According to SDN over the last few days, don't do it.


I jest, best advice I could give is get as much in order before the cycle opens as you can. Pretty much what everyone else has said.

 

[KeepItFlossy]

Aside from getting your letters of rec ready, just keep up the good work! Make sure your grades don't drop off as you finish the year, make sure your leadership, volunteering, and extracurriculars keep going and keep expanding. Start writing drafts of your personal statement and get a lot of feedback from a lot of different people before you decide you have a final draft. Start researching which schools you want to apply to (both in terms of acceptance stats and curriculum/culture of the schools). Start compiling a list of all of your volunteer hours, leadership experience, etc so that you have all the information handy and in one spot as soon as the application opens (this will be more important than you think). Then just submit as early as you can! This is when it's important to make sure letters of rec are ready and waiting. You don't want to have your application ready to submit and just be waiting on other people to write letters!

 

[CabbageKid]

Apply smart! This doesn't just mean apply to schools that you have the prerequisites completed. Do your research and find out which schools have a higher percentage of OOS (Out of state) acceptances. Don't bother applying to schools that reserve very few seats for out of staters, not only will it decrease your chances of interview, but it is also financially irresponsible! Don't forget you're going to have to dig into your pockets for flights/housing! Other than that, keep an open mind! A lot of people will talk down about some dental schools because of an unofficial ranking. Every dental school is special in their own way, and no dental school will be perfect.

 

[Weakfart]

Don't apply to more than like 6 or 7 schools. Only apply to schools where you can HONESTLY see yourself going. I'm very cautious and pessimistic by nature, and I wasted money applying to 13 schools. I didn't want to fall into the trap of being overconfident or cocky, and so I thought to myself, "I have to apply to a bunch to get in somewhere". This wasn't true. Provided your EC's and PS actually demonstrate a commitment to the field, and if you're socially competent, you're gonna have multiple acceptances. Just apply frugally and appropriately. That's my only regret. Make sure to get everything that goes on AADSAS (letters of rec, transcripts) in super early. Good luck!

Hundo percento this. I did the same. Now I have buyers remorse for about 5 schools.

 

[ajj70]

If you're taking your DAT in August, would applying to just 1 school during the first batch be helpful for getting everything verified and ready to go, so that by the time August rolls around, everything else is good ??

Your application will not be complete until all parts are in and verified so you can certainly apply on June 1st or whatever the first day will be, but until you get your DAT taken and the score submitted, your application won't get sent off. Taking your DAT in August will mean, most likely, a September batch date.

 

[ckirty]

I'm not sure what specialties you may have shadowed, but I went to as many as possible (general, endodontist, orthodontist, facial pain specialist, periodontist, and oral surgeon). Every interview I had with an open file it came up and was an easy speaking point to knock out some time while using technical jargon of the field and showing interest in all types of practice.

 

[thegreat267]

Thank you guys!

 

[Blackhorse90]

Start saving some money for the application and interviews

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

[.

 

[jackierific]

Something else you could do to start preparing is to have mock interviews. And I dont mean with just family members or friends. I asked one of the faculty members who wrote me a LOR to interview me and she gave me great feedback on what I did right and how I could improve for dental school interviews. I also had a mock interview with my advisor and two other members of the science faculty and again got more feedback on my answers, body language, talking speed, and overall impression. And then I also had my boyfriend ask me some questions we found on a website but that was mainly to practice thinking of and articulating my ideas and answers. This all gave me the confidence to go into my first interview, and I felt really good about how it went. But honestly, you sound like you have a lot going for you so just stay confident! Good luck!

 

[Incis0r]

Also, use interfolio to get LoRs in advance of the AADSAS application opening.

My school does a committee letter; I'm going to have five writers send the letters directly to committee, which will write a summary of them and then attach the five original ones with my packet to dental school. Do I still need to use inter-folio? Do I need to upload LoRs on AADSAS or is it fine if my committee sends it directly to each dental school?

 

[Weakfart]

My school does a committee letter; I'm going to have five writers send the letters directly to committee, which will write a summary of them and then attach the five original ones with my packet to dental school. Do I still need to use inter-folio? Do I need to upload LoRs on AADSAS or is it fine if my committee sends it directly to each dental school?

It's fine if you give it to your committee directly, no need for interfolio in this case since they'll have it and send everything out anyway.

 

[Incis0r]

It's fine if you give it to your committee directly, no need for interfolio in this case since they'll have it and send everything out anyway.

Thanks!

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

,

 

[Incis0r]

And only the single committee letters needs to be uploaded, not all the individual ones. Your pre-health office will be very busy, so while I'm sure you're on top of getting the five letters, make sure you're on top of them sending out the committee one! My applications was ready to go June 2nd but I had to wait until the 19th before they got the committee letter in, even though all the individual letters were ready in late April. It didn't affect my application that much, but it was confusing when the first batch got mailed and I wasn't in it.

Good advice- I will do this thank you.

 

[Pro-Dentite19]

Hey guys,

I am currently a junior, and I already took my DAT this past summer ( 21AA, 21 TS, 23 PAT). GPA 3.8 overall, 3.7 science. I have leadership, volunteering, shadowing, and research.

What else should I be doing to prepare for this next cycle?

What would you have wanted to know before you started applying this cycle?

You are a shoe in for multiple interviews. Make yourself a lock for admission by calling the admissions offices of your top schools and scheduling a time to meet with the dean of admissions. Showing interest before the application cycle is probably one of the best ways to get in. Ask about attending clinics or other volunteer opportunities associated with that school. Your grades and test scores are awesome so you are in great shape.

 

[thegreat267]

You are a shoe in for multiple interviews. Make yourself a lock for admission by calling the admissions offices of your top schools and scheduling a time to meet with the dean of admissions. Showing interest before the application cycle is probably one of the best ways to get in. Ask about attending clinics or other volunteer opportunities associated with that school. Your grades and test scores are awesome so you are in great shape.

I have always been hesitant about contacting admissions people. I don't know how to go about doing that.

 

[Incis0r]

I have always been hesitant about contacting admissions people. I don't know how to go about doing that.

I agree- you have a great shot!

Another strategy that I would recommend is going straight to the dental students. I'm in contact with dental students from over eight schools across the country. They give me the good and the bad, and they give it to me straight- no beating around the bush.

You've got access to amazing dental students here on SDN itself. This is where I formed a good amount of my connections.

 

[gucci]

You are a shoe in for multiple interviews. Make yourself a lock for admission by calling the admissions offices of your top schools and scheduling a time to meet with the dean of admissions. Showing interest before the application cycle is probably one of the best ways to get in. Ask about attending clinics or other volunteer opportunities associated with that school. Your grades and test scores are awesome so you are in great shape.

If I meet with the dean of admissions now I feel like she might not remember me come interview time which is in the early Fall next year, especially with all the students requesting time to speak to her

 

[Incis0r]

early Fall next year, especially with all the students requesting time to speak to her

Is this actually a thing? Do people meet with the Dean of Admissions of their dream school before being invited for an interview?

I have a school that I really really really hope I am lucky enough to get an acceptance to. But they are not within driving range. Would an e-mail of interest be OK?

Keep in mind- I apply next year.

 

[ckirty]

If I meet with the dean of admissions now I feel like she might not remember me come interview time which is in the early Fall next year, especially with all the students requesting time to speak to her

I also met with a couple dean of admissions in the fall of last school year (applying this cycle). They both noted that I met with them and put it in a file to be held over for the next year. One took notes of what we talked about, and they seemed to be pretty detailed judging by the amount she wrote. Spoke with both while I was at the schools between my interviews.

 

[Incis0r]

@ckirty Should I call the school I'm interested in and ask to speak with the Dean by phone, or e-mail?

 

[ckirty]

@ckirty Should I call the school I'm interested in and ask to speak with the Dean by phone, or e-mail?

I called the office of admissions at both. The number will most likely be listed on the school's website. An office worker answered and set up the appointments: one confirmed the meeting time on the phone and one sent me an email with available times to pick from. I didn't actually speak to the dean of admissions until arriving at both schools. Highly recommend a phone call as it's more personal and I feel that it shows a little more initiated than an email. I'm sure you'd be fine with either.

 

[Incis0r]

I called the office of admissions at both. The number will most likely be listed on the school's website. An office worker answered and set up the appointments: one confirmed the meeting time on the phone and one sent me an email with available times to pick from. I didn't actually speak to the dean of admissions until arriving at both schools. Highly recommend a phone call as it's more personal and I feel that it shows a little more initiated than an email. I'm sure you'd be fine with either.

And would having the call for the main conversation- not just to schedule the appointment, but actually during the appointment itself- be sufficient?

When they ask me why I want to set up an appointment to talk with the Dean, what should I say? My honest answer would be that I really love their school and want to get to know the Dean's philosophy, and want him to get to know me. Is that a good enough reason?

 

[gucci]

@Incis0r I am fortunate in that my dream school is my current undergrad school so I wouldn't be driving

 

[Incis0r]

@Incis0r I am fortunate in that my dream school is my current undergrad school so I wouldn't be driving

The Sunshine state doesn't smile on all of us. Enjoy it. I'm jealous.

 

[ckirty]

And would having the call for the main conversation- not just to schedule the appointment, but actually during the appointment itself- be sufficient?

When they ask me why I want to set up an appointment to talk with the Dean, what should I say? My honest answer would be that I really love their school and want to get to know the Dean's philosophy, and want him to get to know me. Is that a good enough reason?

Well they almost certainly won't remember you well without being able to put a face to your name. If you have the opportunity definitely meet with the dean face-to-face. I was very straight forward on the first call. I told them I was interested in applying to their school after looking over their website/talking with current students and wanted to meet with the dean to learn about the curriculum, labs, clinics, student life, etc. I brought a notebook with around 30 questions written down and we worked our way through them. I'd say you want to see if you're a good fit for the school or if the school is a place you could see yourself spending 4 years of your life rather than you want them to get to know you.

 

[Incis0r]

Well they almost certainly won't remember you well without being able to put a face to your name. If you have the opportunity definitely meet with the dean face-to-face. I was very straight forward on the first call. I told them I was interested in applying to their school after looking over their website/talking with current students and wanted to meet with the dean to learn about the curriculum, labs, clinics, student life, etc. I brought a notebook with around 30 questions written down and we worked our way through them. I'd say you want to see if you're a good fit for the school or if the school is a place you could see yourself spending 4 years of your life rather than you want them to get to know you.

Great advice, thank you! For me though, the school I want is all the way across the country....it'd be an expensive trip.

 

[gucci]

Road trip with some buddies in which you find yourself along the way...do it man

 

[Weakfart]

Road trip with some buddies in which you find yourself along the way...do it man

Haww man, I know the first thing I'm doing when I make some friends!

 

[Pro-Dentite19]

@ckirty Should I call the school I'm interested in and ask to speak with the Dean by phone, or e-mail?

I would try to schedule by phone (assuming of course that the school is too far away to meet in person). I met with the Dean of Admissions of my D-School a full calendar year before my application cycle. Not only did he meet with me for a full hour but I brought my transcript so we could discuss my pre-req status. He told me exactly what I needed to do to get accepted. He even mapped out my senior year courses for me in order to maximize my chances. My gpa was on the border so he told me that I needed all A's to have a chance and that I needed a minimum of a 20/20 DAT scores to be considered with my grades. He was brutally honest and told me that I was taking a big risk by quitting my job and applying (I am a career changer).

Honestly I think this meeting is the only reason I got accepted. I was a borderline candidate but I know that I have excellent "intangible" skills (interpersonal, verbal communication, demeanor, etc.). He said that with my interview skills I would likely get in anywhere (within reason), but the hard part for me would be to get an interview! I think this meeting "put me on the map" so to speak. He didn't explicitly tell me this, but I am sure they mark down the people who take the effort to come and meet them, it shows how determined you are.

And just in case this isn't obvious....if you do score a meeting with a dean treat it exactly as if it IS your interview. Full suit/tie, and be fully prepared for them to ask you anything....they won't just put good notes in your file if you show up and waste their time.

Remember that admissions faculty's main job is to recruit good people for their schools. You are literally making their job much easier if you already know you are a good candidate and you do all the legwork for them by just showing up and talking to them!

 

[gucci]

What kind of questions should you ask them?