A freshman that needs guidance

[BBOYMD]

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This is my first year of college im on a premed track but got interested in dental.

im confused about the part of when to take the DAT
1) should i take it the summer going into my junior year or the summer going into my senior?

If not too much trouble could someone make a timeline summary for me of when i should take the test and apply.....

the main thing that im confused about is i want to go into dental school before my "4th year of college" is this possible? please explain.... 🙂

thanks JT

 

[toothytay]

http://www.mc.uky.edu/dentistry/students/dmd/timeline.html

 

[BBOYMD]

Thanks good info

 

[alanan84]

http://www.mc.uky.edu/dentistry/students/dmd/timeline.html

What I don't understand is how people take the DAT in April or May of their junior year! I don't know how you study for finals AND the DAT. I guess if you took it at the end of May, that would give you around a month and a half...

If you could take the DAT in between sophemore and junior years I think that would be ideal. Ochem should be very fresh (may not even have to study for that section...) and Bio and Genchem shouldn't be that rusty. That's what I would shoot for if I was a freshman.

As far as getting into dental school with only 3 years of college goes, that's pretty hard to do unless you're already in one of those early acceptance programs.

 

[BBOYMD]

I see... so what your are saying is take my DAT in the summer of going into my junior year? Then what am i suppose to do witht he remaining years of undergrad? completing my degree?

 

[FutureDent020]

Take it in late June of summer going into Senior year. You can submit your application without your DAT scores. So theoretically you could mail your app out June 1st or whenever the cycle opens. If you have your LOR's ready, the schools could have everything by early July except for your DAT scores. Once they receive those, you will start hearing some quick feedback. Your app would start being reviewed in August. Also, by taking it after your junior year, you can buff up on the DAT natural sciences just through taking advanced classes.
Ideally I think it is recommended you take it summer after sophomore year though. I haven't heard of many people who do that though.

 

[BBOYMD]

thanks for the good info.

 

[alanan84]

I see... so what your are saying is take my DAT in the summer of going into my junior year? Then what am i suppose to do witht he remaining years of undergrad? completing my degree?

You focus on getting good grades and making sure you submit your app in early June. Which means you need to be getting LOR's, shadowing, volunteering, etc.

I would finish finals in May after sophemore year, study for the DAT in May, June, and July and take it late July before school starts back up your junior year. Ace it and you'll be ready the next June for submit early and start collecting interviews.

That's the ideal situation. Not how it worked out for me. I took it in early August going into my senior year. The problem with that is although I had submitted my app in June, they couldn't start reviewing until mid-late August when they got my official DAT scores. It wasn't a big problem but it did slow things down in a system where you're rewarded for applying early...

 

[icedspice]

I agree with alanan

Basic Timeline:
Freshman
Sophomore
--DAT--
Junior
--Application--
Senior

In this way, even if you dont do well on the first time, you can take it the winter of your junior year.
However, if you leave it for end of junior year (when you are also applying), you will be under a lot of stress to do well because you only get one shot. (you need to wait 3 months after you take dat#1 before you can register for dat#2)
By taking it in the summer before junior year, you are allowing yourself another chance -- JUST IN CASE. Heck, if you do well, there is one less thing you need to worry about =D

 

[StirrinIt]

i did much much better taking my dat after my jr year, the adv bio helped a lot and im sure even my reading skills had improved simply by doing the readings for those.... i think genchem and ochem are fairly easy to "refresh" on

also, one of the articles was really intense neurobio on my DAT, i was familiar with many terms from my physio course and i can only imagine that made a big difference.

but, if u take it too close to applying u dont have a chance to redo it if needed

And in regards to your 4th year..it is still possible, and i suppose it doesnt hurt to try if u can afford it and want to put forth the effort, but dont be too afraid of rejection as this trend has dramatically decreased and schools obviously favor a more educated applicant.


timelines: google predental advisor or predental societies/clubs from universities

 

[StirrinIt]

also, keep in mind that you can take it TOO early.. some schools require you take your DAT within 2 yeras.. so if you take it spring soph yr and have to reapply after senior year, you run into that issue.