An estimate of the money for applying for dental schools and the fees

[Faefly]

I am just trying to see how much money do I need to apply for dental schools for say
10 schools
+dat fee
and the
dat materials: Destroyer and bootcamp & genius and the DatQvault(shared with roommate, so the money will be half for the materials)

+travel if hopefully I get an invitation or invitations

am I looking for $4000?
$5000?
or $10000?

I live in the east coast! and most of the schools would be east coast! but yeah I would apply to California in any case!

Should I get a loan from banks while I am still a student?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[#cariology]

I am also from the East Coast, applied to 10 schools, including USC, where I interviewed, so this should be similar.

1,000 for DAT and study material (You need to get chads videos for chem and orgo and should be able to resell Destroyer for most of what you paid for it)
2,000 for applications, including secondaries.
400 for interview attire (This is obviously more flexible and I have no idea what women's clothing costs)
300 for interview travel (I drove to Rutgers, took the train to NYU, and flew to USC and stayed with a friend)

Althogether that comes out to ~3,700 for 3 interviews, a nice new suit/shirt/shoes, and a very friendly email from Rutgers!

 

[mroerdh22]

I think 4-5k is a realistic estimate for the process of testing/applying/interviewing for 10 schools.

 

[Faefly]

I am also from the East Coast, applied to 10 schools, including USC, where I interviewed, so this should be similar.

1,000 for DAT and study material (You need to get chads videos for chem and orgo and should be able to resell Bootcamp for most of what you paid for it)
2,000 for applications, including secondaries.
400 for interview attire (This is obviously more flexible and I have no idea what women's clothing costs)
300 for interview travel (I drove to Rutgers, took the train to NYU, and flew to USC and stayed with a friend)

Althogether that comes out to ~3,700 for 3 interviews, a nice new suit/shirt/shoes, and a very friendly email from Rutgers!

Thank you this is very helpful!!
Congratulations on getting into Rutgers

 

[Faefly]

I think 4-5k is a realistic estimate for the process of testing/applying/interviewing for 10 schools.

Thank you!! I'll keep that in mind.

 

[okiedokeartichoke]

It's good you asked this because I've recorded every expense to the penny I've spent on this process so far. Here's my cost breakdown:

For the 15 schools I applied to, I spent:

• $1615 on AADSAS applications
• $1020 for supplemental fees
• $199.95 for 2015 DAT Destroyer + Math Destroyer (It was a bundle on the Destroyer site)
• $10 for Cliff's AP Bio (Amazon)
• $100 for Chad's videos ($50 for one subscription--I renewed twice)
• $137 for the Bootcamp subscription (good for 90 days I believe)
• $430 for the DAT exam
• TOTAL = $3,511.95

Total not including:

• Accommodations and travel expenses (i.e. gas, hotels, subway, buses, planes, trains, & automobiles ... lulz)
  • Estimation: ~$250 - I'm on the east coast and only went to 3 east coast interviews and stayed at a hotel once, so most were nearby
• Interview attire
  • Estimation: ~ $400 - tailored by my momma
  • Female
• Post-bacc courses + textbooks
• DA scrubs for jobs
• Misc. costs (i.e. passport photos, your patience, your sanity, an arm, a leg, left kidney, etc.)

I hope this gives you an idea! Ain't cheap.

 

[DC206R]

It's good you asked this because I've recorded every expense to the penny I've spent on this process so far. Here's my cost breakdown:

For the 15 schools I applied to, I spent:

• $1615 on AADSAS applications
• $1020 for supplemental fees
• $199.95 for 2015 DAT Destroyer + Math Destroyer (It was a bundle on the Destroyer site)
• $10 for Cliff's AP Bio (Amazon)
• $100 for Chad's videos ($50 for one subscription--I renewed twice)
• $137 for the Bootcamp subscription (good for 90 days I believe)
• $430 for the DAT exam
• TOTAL = $3,511.95

Total not including:

• Accommodations and travel expenses (i.e. gas, hotels, subway, buses, planes, trains, & automobiles ... lulz)
  • Estimation: ~$250 - I'm on the east coast and only went to 3 east coast interviews and stayed at a hotel once, so most were nearby
• Interview attire
  • Estimation: ~ $400 - tailored by my momma
  • Female
• Post-bacc courses + textbooks
• DA scrubs for jobs
• Misc. costs (i.e. passport photos, your patience, your sanity, an arm, a leg, left kidney, etc.)

I hope this gives you an idea! Ain't cheap.

Those kidneys aren't cheap. lol.

To OP: I applied to 12 schools. Received 4 interviews. In total including DAT/prep materials, applying + supps, and traveling, I spent about $4000-4500.

 

[Faefly]

It's good you asked this because I've recorded every expense to the penny I've spent on this process so far. Here's my cost breakdown:

For the 15 schools I applied to, I spent:

• $1615 on AADSAS applications
• $1020 for supplemental fees
• $199.95 for 2015 DAT Destroyer + Math Destroyer (It was a bundle on the Destroyer site)
• $10 for Cliff's AP Bio (Amazon)
• $100 for Chad's videos ($50 for one subscription--I renewed twice)
• $137 for the Bootcamp subscription (good for 90 days I believe)
• $430 for the DAT exam
• TOTAL = $3,511.95

Total not including:

• Accommodations and travel expenses (i.e. gas, hotels, subway, buses, planes, trains, & automobiles ... lulz)
  • Estimation: ~$250 - I'm on the east coast and only went to 3 east coast interviews and stayed at a hotel once, so most were nearby
• Interview attire
  • Estimation: ~ $400 - tailored by my momma
  • Female
• Post-bacc courses + textbooks
• DA scrubs for jobs
• Misc. costs (i.e. passport photos, your patience, your sanity, an arm, a leg, left kidney, etc.)

I hope this gives you an idea! Ain't cheap.

The sanity part is already slipping away 😀
Thank you so much for this detailed response. This is kinda reassuring if I want to add more schools to apply to I was thinking it would be more, it is still to much and I need to live on a very tight budget from now on🙁 .
But the attire part I didn't put in my calculation! Why it had to be so expensive! Can't I get something nice from the H&M section for professional suits for less than 100 dollars and get done with it. I already spent too much money on my casual- formal look for the shadowing days

Best of luck!

 

[Faefly]

Those kidneys aren't cheap. lol.

To OP: I applied to 12 schools. Received 4 interviews. In total including DAT/prep materials, applying + supps, and traveling, I spent about $4000-4500.

Thank you for your reply. This is gonna help me on deciding how to spend my money from now on. or how I should not spend my money for the upcoming days 😀
Best of luck!

 

[Incis0r]

$5K

 

[Master Yoda]

okiedokeartichoke broke it down very well.

 

[DentistHopeful123]

I had four OOS interviews and I had to fly to all of them. Each trip was $300-$400 for a plane ticket, ~$100 for a cheap hotel, and then another $100 for food and ubering. I applied to 11 schools and had ~$2000 in AADSAS and individual school fees. DAT cost about in total $1000 to schedule and buy materials. You also will need to save up a couple thousand for school deposits at a minimum (yes, really). I spent about $400 on interview attire.

 

[Faefly]

$5K

Thanks, I hope it won't come to that, but I'll try to save as much as I can ( a lie since, I just spent 300 $ on goldfish tank, accessories, and food. )

 

[Faefly]

I had four OOS interviews and I had to fly to all of them. Each trip was $300-$400 for a plane ticket, ~$100 for a cheap hotel, and then another $100 for food and ubering. I applied to 11 schools and had ~$2000 in AADSAS and individual school fees. DAT cost about in total $1000 to schedule and buy materials. You also will need to save up a couple thousand for school deposits at a minimum (yes, really). I spent about $400 on interview attire.

1500+1000+2000+400=4900 almost 5k.
Thanks for the details, but your last comment is worrisome, I didn't think about the deposits, but I remember my cousin had to put 10 k on some school.

 

[NCC1701]

Yes save save save, especially if you are applying on the opposite coast from where you live. I only went to 5 interviews but I live outside the continental US. A plane ticket to the east coast cost me about $1100... I felt physical pain purchasing that ticket. Total I probably spent 6k on interviews.

 

[okiedokeartichoke]

Thanks, I hope it won't come to that, but I'll try to save as much as I can ( a lie since, I just spent 300 $ on goldfish tank, accessories, and food. )

Isn't it crazy how much money can rack up from a pet fish?! Roommates and I almost debated on getting a pet fish for our dorm. Just one fish. We noped out of that once we added up all the costs.

 

[Master Yoda]

1500+1000+2000+400=4900 almost 5k.
Thanks for the details, but your last comment is worrisome, I didn't think about the deposits, but I remember my cousin had to put 10 k on some school.

Which school was that?

 

[schmoob]

I wouldn't waste time/money on qvault. Chads, destroyer, BC/Genius should suffice.

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

I only applied to 5 schools, so I am probably below the SDN average, but it was still very financially draining. I think you should cut expenses where you can and save up as much as you possible as a safety net. It wouldn't be a pleasant experience to turn down an interview you'd otherwise be thrilled to attend based on money alone. Also, please apply to more schools than I did. I think I'm balding prematurely from the cortisol.

 

[ncide]

Which school was that?

The most expensive total deposit that I know of is NYU at $5,000.

 

[Zesta]

Those kidneys aren't cheap. lol.

To OP: I applied to 12 schools. Received 4 interviews. In total including DAT/prep materials, applying + supps, and traveling, I spent about $4000-4500.

LOL

 

[Faefly]

Which school was that?

]
a school in SF
I am not sure if it was UOP or the other one, but I know he was into the international program, so I guess or I hope it is a bit cheaper for the rest of us who are applying to the regular program. Either that or he exaggerated. lol
But he ended up losing the deposits as he went to another private school.

 

[Faefly]

I only applied to 5 schools, so I am probably below the SDN average, but it was still very financially draining. I think you should cut expenses where you can and save up as much as you possible as a safety net. It wouldn't be a pleasant experience to turn down an interview you'd otherwise be thrilled to attend based on money alone. Also, please apply to more schools than I did. I think I'm balding prematurely from the cortisol.

Thank you for this sincere advice. I am sorry that you are balding early, I hate what pre-dental pressure did to most of us.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

]
a school in SF
I am not sure if it was UOP or the other one, but I know he was into the international program, so I guess or I hope it is a bit cheaper for the rest of us who are applying to the regular program. Either that or he exaggerated. lol
But he ended up losing the deposits as he went to another private school.

That sounds pretty high, I think UCSF's was only $1k and UoP's is $3k.

 

[Faefly]

That sounds pretty high, I think UCSF's was only $1k and UoP's is $3k.

I guess then he exaggerated
or the total cost for everything he spent was something like that. I don't want to accuse him of exaggerating 😛

 

[ncide]

I guess then he exaggerated
or the total cost for everything he spent was something like that. I don't want to accuse him of exaggerating 😛

International students pay a lot more so it actually doesn't surprise me that it was that high for him.