aadsas/applying question

[dentalplan]

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Hey, I'm new to the forums-

I've read around that people who are planning on applying for this upcoming cycle can already start working on certain aspects of their application like the personal statement, so it can be done and ready when the actual AADSAS thing is ready in May.

But how do you know what to write about if the application is not even available yet? I'm guessing it's the same from year to year? If so, what is the main question for the personal statement?

Another thing, hopefully I can get a general opinion on:

I'm planning on applying this summer, however I want to take the DAT probably end of July, or early August. And additionally, I am planning on taking 2 classes early in the summer to put my cumm. GPA over the 3.60 hump (I calculated this out). The summer classes formally end July 11, and grades on University transcript will probably show up mid July or around July 25 the latest hopefully.

My question is: How long would it take for AADSAS to process these things if I sent my transcript and DAT scores to them around late July or early August? I heard it's like 4 weeks or something?-is this accurate? So schools wouldn't get my application till late August or early September? If this were the case, would that necessarily be bad (not early enough)?

But I heard if you try to "update your transcript" to AADSAS, that's not necessarily good. If I send my transcript (not including the summer classes) like in May or June, and then I try to update the AADSAS transcript by sending them the summer class grades when I get them, they won't have the updated transcript until like November or some really late time in the year, right?

-That's why I think I should try to avoid doing it that way and just wait till I get the summer grades in and send out the transcripts with the summer grades to AADSAS in late July, and hopefully they can still process my transcript and send the application to schools before September. Do you think this is how it works, or is even a good idea? Or should I not even take the summer classes to put my GPA over 3.60, and concentrate on getting the app in earlier?

I heard some people say that applying really early is overrated, and it's better to make sure you have a solid DAT and GPA when you do apply...

So bottom line: Should I apply May/June with a 3.58 cumm or so, or get the application out in August (maybe late August depending on how long it take AADSAS to process) with a 3.60/3.61? I'm thinking the >3.6 will stand out a bit more. But, I'd rather have your opinion.

Extra info:

I took a few practice DAT's from topscore and achiever, and my AA for both always came out to around 21-22.

I don't know what my science GPA would be exactly because I think AADSAS has certain rules for calculating that...but I roughly calculated to be around 3.58-9, or maybe even 3.60.

And in general, what do you think my chances would be for schools in New England like BU or NYU (not in NE, but...close), or tufts, etc. How about any other schools in the country? I live in CT, and would be nice to get into UConn, but just hoping to get anywhere. My extracurrics are kind of general I guess- I have shadowing with around 3 dents, some community service work, and work experience...Do you guys specifically know of any schools that put less of an emphasis on extracurrics, and more on the other aspects of the app?

Thanks in advance guys- this is a good forum🙂

 

[blankguy]

AADSAS takes about 5-8 weeks to process your application and mail it to the schools. The earlier you submit to AADSAS the faster it gets done since you will be beating the big rush to apply. I recommend applying may/june. I applied on June 15th and AADSAS mailed my stuff to the schools on July 23rd. The later you do it the longer it is going to take since you will be part of the big pile of applications that need to be processed.

If you are getting 21-22 in Topscore and achiever, then it means you are ready to take the DAT. You'll probably end up getting 19-20 on the real DAT.

I suggest working on the personal statement now and giving the professors a heads up on writing you a recommendation. When the cycle opens you will have the recommendations set to go with the matching form that you generated for your application. All you will have to do is give the matching forms to the professors to mail.

Applying early is critical. Some people get away with it because of super stats.

 

[bigstix808]

not trying to hijack, but i have a question pertaining to this thread...i'm planning on submitting my aadsas app in late may/early june, but i'm not graduating (with a masters) until august. does this mean that i would have to re-send my transcripts to them to be processed again, or, if i submit it in may, it could be sent out (processed) by july-ish and i would not have to send in anything else? how does this work??

 

[ummjoey]

^when may 15th comes start filling out your application and tell your school to send official transcripts to AADSAS. then after everything is filled out you submit your AADSAS. once you submit you cannot make any changes except for like your e-mail and some other small things. you will then do an academic update in december where you will again tell your school to send the official transcrips to AADSAS. i think AADSAS will just hold on to your transcript if they recieve it and you havent filled out your coursework(can someone confirm this?).

i dunno......hopefully that helped

 

[SanOnofre2002]

There wasn't any specific question to answer for the personal statement. You can write it now, it's about a page long (2000 characters?). DON'T delay your application all summer to raise your GPA .02 points! If you sent your transcripts out in mid July, AADSAS wouldn't complete the verification untill end of August, maybe later. By the time the schools review your application, you won't really be early anymore and the first round of interview invites will be out. Don't even take any classes over the summer, study for the DAT. Your GPA is good enough to get you in but a bad DAT score could kill you.

 

[dr bojangles]

for the personal statement, just think about the obvious questions to help get you started, e.g. "why dentistry?"
i would say raising gpa by .02 or something, won't give you the dramatic advantage you're thinking it will. better to study and rock the dat's.
also, applying early is best, regardless of stats. the LORs i believe might allow profs to email the letters this year, not sure (faster than standard mail).

 

[ating]

At this point nothing you can do is as important as getting your application out EARLY!!! You can always send emails to schools with updates and such. Just get everything to them that they need to start looking at your app!

 

[rkamsterdam]

I agree with blankguy, with those scores you're ready to take the dat now. That is the one part of your application that I could see holding things up esp if you wait until august to take it. so take it in may.

My advice is to deal with aadsas as little as possible. I'd send your spring transcripts along with the other parts of your application as soon as they are available so aadsas can process and get your app to the schools asap. Once this is done, try to avoid using aadsas as much as possible. While some schools will only want transcipts via aadsas, many will take them directly from your registrar and this will literally save weeks. if this option is avail, send the updated transcipts directly to the schools admissions dept and this will ensure you first dibbs at an interview.

 

[bigstix808]

so to confirm the skinny here....once app has been submitted to aadsas, don't mess with it unless asked to by the schools i'm applying? i'm only concerned because i'm graduating this summer and i'd like for the schools i'm applying to to know this fact because the transcripts they get in may/june will not reflect that yet.

 

[1992Corolla]

In AADSAS you will be telling them your anticipated graduation date. SEND IN THE APP EARLY!

For everything I was planning on doing in the future (Aug) I just put down the expected date. So if I was going to have 500 shadow hours by the end of Aug, I put down that I had shadowed 500 hours. If you are going to get your degree in Aug, then put it down, but apply in MAY. You can post date some things, just as long as you follow through with them. If something changes, write a small letter and send it out to the schools you applied to. No big deal. There are more pointers at dmdstudent.com