2010 Applicant questions

[le14]

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Hi, I am applying for Dental school during the 2010 cycle and had a couple of questions:

1) I am trying to start the application process using TMDSAS and it's saying that it won't be available til May 1, 2009. From that, I want to start on my personal statement right now. As of now, I am clueless on what to include and how I should right it. Any help?

2) In studying for the DAT, I know the of Kaplan, DAT destroyer, Topscore, Crack DAT PAT and Cliffs AP biology. What else would be useful? Is it absolutely necessary to get the new updated editions or is the older ones fine? Is Kaplan worth the useful and worth the money?

and any other help that ya'll could give me as of now?


Thanks, Jimmy

 

[Lulu2809]

1) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=606798

2) I did a Kaplan Course and found it to be really useful. I'm not a great test-taker and averaged overall 7 points higher between my first test and the actual DAT.

 

[le14]

1) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=606798

2) I did a Kaplan Course and found it to be really useful. I'm not a great test-taker and averaged overall 7 points higher between my first test and the actual DAT.

Thanks, but in regards to the personal statement, it's not what or how to start that I'm having problems with, it's what to include and the basic format of it. any help?

 

[qk1984]

There is a Personal Statement 101 page on SDN: http://www.studentdoctor.net/essays/

And there are sample personal statements on www.DMDstudent.com

 

[Wei87]

1) I would say try visiting the career center at your school. They are typically a pretty good resource and might offer review services.

2) I am not too sure if you had already paid for the Kaplan course. But depending on your situation, my suggestion would be to just buy their online course. I actually took the Kaplan course back then, and in Hindsight, I thought the classes themselves weren't very useful.

The class portion of Kaplan is useful to students who maybe haven't taken organic chemistry, or any other classes related to the sections of the exam. The stuff they "teach" are very, very simple concepts that are usually explained pretty well in most review books and textbooks. Personally, I thought I would have gotten a lot more stuff done self-studying the Kaplan book rather than attending class for 2 hours.

The online package includes the small lectures, "lessons", subject tests, mock DAT, and a Kaplan DAT book (basically everything except for the weekly instructor). Save yourself $700 and go with the $300 online course!

 

[le14]

thanks guys...

any help about good study books?

 

[le14]

Help please guys...

Spring Break is next week and that's my STUDY WEEEKKKK

 

[Waitlisted2009]

Check the DAT Discussions board

 

[le14]

Wow, I actually got some of my personal statement written. The only thing is, since the application doesn't come up til May 1st, I don't know the requirements of the personal statement.


Does anyone know how long (or how short) the personal statement has to be?

also, I plan on asking for letters of Recs soon. Since the application isn't open yet, what am I suppose to do? Ask the profs. to turn them in where? etc.


thanks for all your help

 

[Wei87]

Wow, I actually got some of my personal statement written. The only thing is, since the application doesn't come up til May 1st, I don't know the requirements of the personal statement.


Does anyone know how long (or how short) the personal statement has to be?

also, I plan on asking for letters of Recs soon. Since the application isn't open yet, what am I suppose to do? Ask the profs. to turn them in where? etc.


thanks for all your help

1. You really should pay a visit to the career center of your school. Most of the formalities and information that comes with stuff like LOR can be answered at a career center. To answer your question... For AADSAS application, there are two ways to send LORs. One is electronically, and the other is the paper format. For electronic submission, you give AADSAS your Prof's information (e-mail) and he or she will get instructions in submitting LORs. For paper submissions, most universities offer LOR storage services (likely located in your school's career center). You can get your professors to write you a LOR and have them send it to the LOR storage service. Once the application opens, you can ask your storage service to send the LORs directly to AADSAS along with the "Letter of Evaluation Matching Forms" (downloaded and printable from your AADSAS application)

Both ways allows you to ask your professors to start writing a LOR for you well before the application opens.

2. For your personal statement, your limit is 4500 characters (including spaces). FYI, all the written portion of the application limits you by characters. NOTE: you will not be able to fudge even 1 more character above your 4500 limit. The application itself will not allow you to submit your essay if it's over 4500 characters

Hope this helps!