ADEA AADSAS 2025-2026 Application Questions Thread!

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jean03 said:
I applied on June 3rd, and some of the schools I applied to have already sent out their first wave of interview invites. If I haven't got an interview invite from them yet, does that mean I won't get one from those schools?
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no, not everyone who applies early will receive early interviews, but what it does mean is you will be reviewed by the adcoms more, so you have more chances to get an invite compared to someone who applied later. Just bc you didn't receive one now doesn't mean you couldn't receive one later.
 
jean03 said:
I applied on June 3rd, and some of the schools I applied to have already sent out their first wave of interview invites. If I haven't got an interview invite from them yet, does that mean I won't get one from those schools?
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No of course not. Most schools space out their interviews with the first round about now, then they will send more out usually in August, September, and November. It is so early in the process and you are ahead of the curve on getting your application in, do not worry. If you need any advise on interview prep just DM me!
 
Hi! Some questions about AADSAS categorizing experiences. What are you allowed to double dip?
For example, I was leadership on my schools red cross and did volunteering events. Would that go under EC or Volunteering? Or both and split the hours?
And I did a summer research program that falls under Academic Enrichment and Research. I worked on two projects, can I list them separately in Research (each with posters and pubs) and write the overall program under Academic Enrichment? Would I have to adjust the hours there (weird bc they are concurrent).
I could write more about the actual research, so maybe Research is better, but does it look bad that I dont have another Academic Enrichment?
Sorry for the long post; any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
When looking over my app, I realized that I checked received academic credit and compensated for two of my shadowing experiences. Because the application is already verified and under review by most schools, would it be worth emailing each individual school about it or should I leave it alone? I’m hoping my descriptions would suffice to explain that I was just a volunteer (shadowing). How much have an impact would these errors have my application? I am worried that because compensated was put as a recognition type it might invalidate my shadowing hours.
 
chknchkn32 said:
When looking over my app, I realized that I checked received academic credit and compensated for two of my shadowing experiences. Because the application is already verified and under review by most schools, would it be worth emailing each individual school about it or should I leave it alone? I’m hoping my descriptions would suffice to explain that I was just a volunteer (shadowing). How much have an impact would these errors have my application? I am worried that because compensated was put as a recognition type it might invalidate my shadowing hours.
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I do not think it is worth emailing because if they find out you made a mistake on your application they might take that as you did not pay attention and rushed and might not like that. I would just leave it, it should not be a big deal. Will not make or break your application decision I would think.
 
so on the dental application on the questions is “have you previously or are you currently applying to other pre health programs”. At the time I was but i accidentally answered NO bc ADEA said I do not to disclose when I have not been verified or submitted yet. My parents really wanted me to submit but I did not want to say yes and then my chance would be so low. I did end up applying to one but withdrew my apps. Am I in trouble like will dental schools find out, please be realistic. I have contacted Adea and Aacomas and they said that all liasion programs are only sent to the program and they cannot see. But, now I am like what if adea tells them? Idk i’m spiraling
 
emilia112 said:
so on the dental application on the questions is “have you previously or are you currently applying to other pre health programs”. At the time I was but i accidentally answered NO bc ADEA said I do not to disclose when I have not been verified or submitted yet. My parents really wanted me to submit but I did not want to say yes and then my chance would be so low. I did end up applying to one but withdrew my apps. Am I in trouble like will dental schools find out, please be realistic. I have contacted Adea and Aacomas and they said that all liasion programs are only sent to the program and they cannot see. But, now I am like what if adea tells them? Idk i’m spiraling
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relax its no big deal! If you withdrew applications then it does not matter. They will not be able to see, it is not like vet, dental, med, PA, nurse, etc. are wasting their time asking each other "oh did you also have this person apply?" No worries, just be honest next time.
 
matthewbernard9 said:
relax its no big deal! If you withdrew applications then it does not matter. They will not be able to see, it is not like vet, dental, med, PA, nurse, etc. are wasting their time asking each other "oh did you also have this person apply?" No worries, just be honest next time.
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ok it was after i submitted tho i withdrew from the one school i sent it to. im like freaking out lol
 
also do u think adea would tell idk what the limit of the liasion reps are
matthewbernard9 said:
relax its no big deal! If you withdrew applications then it does not matter. They will not be able to see, it is not like vet, dental, med, PA, nurse, etc. are wasting their time asking each other "oh did you also have this person apply?" No worries, just be honest next time.
Click to expand...
 
emilia112 said:
also do u think adea would tell idk what the limit of the liasion reps are
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stop worrying. It is not a big deal, you withdrew applications and they do not communicate with each other. Stop thinking about it.
 
have already submitted my applications but have gotten around 150 more hours of shadowing from three practices i have already shadowed at and submitted (so cannot edit). i already have 150 hours and only one school im applying to need more so should I only email that school and tell them i have received 50 more on each, or update and add new experiences on ADEA (two duplicate shadow entries)? when i called the school (dcg) the girl on the phone said email but she sounded annoyed
 
Ryxndek said:
Hello all pre-dents!

The ADEA AADSAS app for the 2024-2025 cycle is now open!

Here is the link to the previous thread from last year

BUT, please read this post FIRST before asking your question, it may have your answer!

Good luck to all those who are applying this cycle!

Common AADSAS Application Questions:

Can I edit my application after submission?
Short answer, no. However, here is a list of things you can change according to the ADEA:
  • Editing your contact information.
  • Editing your profile information (username, password, etc.).
  • Adding programs with deadlines that have not yet passed.
  • Adding new evaluations (if you have not yet requested the maximum number of evaluations).
  • Editing or deleting evaluations that remain incomplete.
  • Adding new entries to certain areas of the Academic History, Supporting Information, and Program Materials sections (e.g., test scores, optional documents, etc.), where applicable (you are unable to edit or delete existing entries).
  • Editing program materials for programs you have not yet submitted to.
  • Adding optional documents to programs that you already submitted to (all other sections will be locked).

What if I didn't do well on the DAT and wish to retake it during the cycle, how will that affect my application?
Your best bet is to include your current score and indicate when you plan on retaking the test. Schools will place your application on hold until they receive the updated score, and once they do it will then be passed to admissions for review (assuming everything else is completed). This is better as you won't be immediately screened out in the admissions process should your DAT score be lower than you'd like. It's also better to submit right away if you have everything ready outside of your DAT score. This way, your application can be placed in the queue to become verified (which can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on when you apply), once verified, your application will be ready to be reviewed by each school once the DAT score becomes verified (which itself can take 2-4 weeks). Some schools will accept an unofficial score report to start reviewing your application.

Can I have more than 4 letters on AADSAS, can I choose which letters get sent to which school?
No, and No. AADSAS only allows a maximum of 4 LOR's to be uploaded (or 1 committee letter and 3 additional LOR's) Should you wish to send another letter, you will have to contact each school you wish the letter to be sent, and once confirmed (ask for what email to be sent to), have your LOR personally send the letter to each school. You cannot come in contact with the letter. You also cannot choose which letters can be sent where. I recommend having 2 Science LOR's, 1 Supervisor (From a job, volunteer position, or research) and then a non-science LOR (Could be a prof outside STEM, or a dentist). These 4 letters will cover almost 90-95% of all school requirements. However, make sure you keep track of each school you plan on applying to. I recommend having an excel sheet open to help keep track.
However, if your university offers a committee letter with more than 4 letter writers added in it, that’s fine. It does count as 3 letters when submitted to AADSAS. So you could have an additional letter uploaded separate from the committee letter.

When is it considered Early vs. Late for applying? Does it affect my chances of admission?
Generally, the consensus is June/July applications are early, August is on time, and September or later is considered late. Because dental schools work on rolling admissions, it's first come-first served. So the sooner you apply, the better your chances are in receiving an interview and pre-December acceptance. That's not to say if you apply in September you can't get an interview, but statistically, you are fighting for fewer interview seats available than someone who applied in June. So, generally, yes, the later you apply the harder it will be to get an interview and be accepted. Simply because schools have filled most of their interview slots. Public schools generally fill sooner than Privates, but it's school dependent. If you are in a position where it's apply in November or wait until the next cycle, I would recommend waiting as you want to maximize your chances and being a first-time applicant is to your advantage. Reapplicants are generally expected to have improvement in their application and held to a higher standard compared to first-time applicants. So you want to try and be one cycle and done!

How many schools should I apply to? What schools to apply to?
This question is difficult to answer as each applicant is different. Your best bet is to post a formal WAMC's thread and have our community offer suggestions based on your overall application (do your research before posting!). Someone who has a high GPA/DAT score could afford to apply to fewer schools (as long as they're a mix of safety, range, and reach) than someone who has a below-average GPA (<3.5 Overall) and below-average DAT (<20.8AA). However, the average number of schools applied to across all applicants is about 10.

In regards to what OOS schools are best suited to you, please give this excel sheet I made a look. Input your state of residence, and you will see each school and how many students enrolled in their class from your state! It is by no means a direct representation of where you can/can't apply but it might give you a better idea of where previous students have had success.

How do schools handle Pre-Requisite coursework, how many CC credits can I have?
Each school handles prerequisite coursework differently. A few schools require all prereqs to be completed before applying, but most are fine having you indicate on the transcript entry that they are planned credits. Just make sure nothing is planned for the summer before enrolling. Schools will not accept prereq credits that are planned for the summer before entering dental school, they must be completed by the spring of the year you plan to enter school (usually no later than June 1st). In regards to CC credits, some schools do not care how many CC credits you have, some have a maximum of 60, and some have even less than that. It's up to you to determine which schools have which requirements. Some will be more lenient if you are just barely over the number, you can always reach out to admissions for clarification.
**Make sure you check each school's pre-requisite requirements on what courses are required vs. recommended. Failure to check will mean your submission to the school just became a monetary donation should you not take a course that was required and not indicated as planned.
* Stony Brook requires all pre-reqs be taken at the time of application, not matriculation (so if you plan on finishing up pre-reqs after you apply, don't apply to Stony Brook) *

Check this thread/excel file (also linked in my signature) to see which schools accept AP credit and which do not:When do most dental schools start for D1? Is there an excel chart for this?

When do most dental schools start for D1? Is there an excel chart for this?​

I am hoping to travel the summer before D1 but cannot figure out what date I should be back in the States by... any advice?
forums.studentdoctor.net

Check this post out about which schools accept/don't accept/kinda accept CC credits:

pinwheeels

Post in: 'Are there dental schools that won't admit me due to community college credits'

I'm a post-bacc taking my science pre-reqs at CC myself, so I found some valuable info on this and saved it. However, since you're doing it as a traditional student getting an AA and then doing your science classes at the 4-year university, I think you're in a pretty good position. For those schools who don't take CC credits or have limitations, I still question if that's only for the science pre-reqs. For the "red light" schools listed below, I wonder if they will still accept if a student transferred an AA/AS to a 4-year and finished all their science courses at the 4-year? I guess...
  • Like

Are there dental schools that won't admit me due to community college credits​

So my situation is that I started out as a finance major at community college and recently switched over to Biology/Pre-Health, I am in my sophomore year about to start my second semester. My current GPA is a 3.3, I haven't taken any science courses which is good because now I am ready to start...
forums.studentdoctor.net

If I have a C- on only one (or more) pre-requisite course(s), do I have to retake it? Can I take the course online?
If it's a pre-requisite course you must have a grade > C for it to be accepted (double check with each school, some are making changes due to increased competitiveness of applications). Schools will not accept a grade of C- or lower for pre-requisite courses. You will have to retake the course for it to be accepted. You can take the course at your local CC if it's easier, it will not hurt your application. Schools will, however, average the 2 grades. Should you have a C- and then get an A, the course GPA will be averaged to ~2.85.
Online pre-reqs usually are not accepted by schools. They strongly prefer, or require, them to be completed in person. If you have to, double check with your university to see how the course will be displayed on your transcript and make sure there's no online course designator or that it states it's an online course in the course title.

How does AADSAS Calculate my Overall, Science, and BCP GPA?
The GPA's are calculated using this breakdown, you can find the courses that count as Bio, Chem, Physics and Other Science HERE
Science and Non-Science Breakdown
BCP GPA: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry
Science GPA: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry and Other Science
Non-Science GPA: English, Behavioral Sciences, Non-Science

Is applying to a lot of schools expensive?
YES! Applying to dental school is expensive! That's why it's critical to develop a well-rounded list of schools to apply to (and this is why), and not just apply to a ton of schools that might not even look at your application (refer back to WAMC). AADSAS charges ~$115 per school, with the first school being $264. If you're applying to the average amount of schools, that will cost you ~$1,300 to submit your application. This is before paying for each school's additional supplemental fee, which can range from $50-$150. In addition to this, you may have to travel for interviews (budget $1,000 per in-person interview) as well as pay a deposit if accepted (that can be another $1,000 - $5,000). So before applying, make sure to make a budget, and a plan, for how you plan on paying for applying. I believe it cost me ~$7,000 to apply (and enroll) in dental school. This number came from having to pay for study materials and travel to take my DAT, Apply to 9 schools, fly/spend the night to 2 schools for a required visit/tour, and place my $1,500 deposit (which is non-refundable).

What do I do after my application is submitted?
RELAX! Once you get confirmation emails from schools stating your application is complete and under review, you can rest easy. But not too easy! Start practicing and anticipating interview invites. Usually, schools start sending invites in July/August and it will pick up in September/October. Follow the interview tracker (TBD) to get a general idea. Most schools will give you a month in advance to plan if it's for an in-person interview. If it's virtual they might give you less time. Utilize SDN's interview feedback pages on each individual school's thread to get some insight into questions schools have historically asked in the past. I'd also like to preface having good answers to the following questions which are/could be asked in an interview as well:
- Why dentistry? (can reiterate points made in your personal statement, or add some new things too)

- Tell me about yourself. (usually outside of dentistry, your hobbies, back story, where you're from, or anything important outside of school work/dentistry is a good spot to add here to help give them a better idea of who you are outside of your application)

- Why our school? (do your homework here, use this to help align your application with the school's mission and why they should add you to the incoming class, what do you bring to the table?)

- Any more questions for me? (don't just say no, unless you actually talked about everything you needed to talk about, but this doesn't always happen. Don't ask questions you can simply google either unless you're asking for clarification on something. Ask thoughtful questions to show you did your homework and you're genuinely curious/interested in the school. A thoughtful question or two can really go a long way!)

And as always, good luck, and trust the process!
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So I recently got invited for an in person interview. The thing is that I got invited to this interview before I took my DAT for the second time (I notified schools that I would be retaking my DAT). This program is my #1 choice. I don’t want to risk getting a lower score on my second attempt and compromise my chances of getting accepted, or having to take it for a third time. The only reason I wanted to retake it was to make up for QR section because I scored kind of low. My GPA’s are on the lower end and my DAT wasn’t the highest either, but I did get an interview nonetheless. Do you think it’s worth it to retake? Or should I cancel my DAT and go all in on this interview considering it’s my #1 choice anyway. What do you guys think
 
If it was on your application that you are retaking it , you should as they are expecting it. They are assuming you will do better but may delay an actual acceptance til you get the score in
 
is not being in the first batches of interview sent a bad sign? or it means they havent fully processed the application yet?
Ive seen some people say its in no specific order but some other ones say the better you are the sooner you get invites
can someone help me im a bit worried
 
Mavis2003 said:
is not being in the first batches of interview sent a bad sign? or it means they havent fully processed the application yet?
Ive seen some people say its in no specific order but some other ones say the better you are the sooner you get invites
can someone help me im a bit worried
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trust the process...
 
Hi! So I am planning on adding an experience on AADSAS (have been working as a DA and have accrued 150 hours) – is it ok to email schools to let them know I updated my portal or is that unnecessary/frowned upon? I know it's super early in the cycle but seeing interview invites roll out is making me a little bit stressed and being a DA is the one thing I think is lacking in my app. And am I still supposed to/allowed to email schools that say not to email them any additional materials? Thank you so much
 
to0thfairy! said:
Hi! So I am planning on adding an experience on AADSAS (have been working as a DA and have accrued 150 hours) – is it ok to email schools to let them know I updated my portal or is that unnecessary/frowned upon? I know it's super early in the cycle but seeing interview invites roll out is making me a little bit stressed and being a DA is the one thing I think is lacking in my app. And am I still supposed to/allowed to email schools that say not to email them any additional materials? Thank you so much
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You can email them to let them know you made an update to your application
 
Hi all!

I am a practicing dentist who applied to endodontic residency and will start my program this upcoming year. I did several mock interviews with endo candidates who found it very helpful in prep, and wanted to extend the experience and coaching to pre-dents interviewing this cycle. If you have any desire to practice in a mock interview — DM me! I developed interviewing guidelines with common questions and hope to extend it into something bigger.
 
Hi All,

I submitted my apps on 7/19 to mostly schools in California (UoP, UCLA, UCSF, USC). When would I be expecting interview invites assuming my stats fit their profile?
 
Sealard said:
Hi All,

I submitted my apps on 7/19 to mostly schools in California (UoP, UCLA, UCSF, USC). When would I be expecting interview invites assuming my stats fit their profile?
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not the place for this question
go to the WAMC subforum and fill out a full WAMC template....
 
Hiii, will updating my transcript delay any app progress? eg. I updated some classes progress and my degree status, will this put a hold on some of my apps that were previously "verified"?
 
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