Any tips?

[DTran783]

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I'm new here to these forums and so far I've been spending the entire day looking through this section on the forums.

I was just wondering if I could get any tips for getting into dental school. Right now I'm a freshmen at a tier-one university.
I'm a narcoleptic insomniac where I suffer from sleep attacks during the day and its hard for me to sleep at night, making it harder for me to focus in school. My narcolepsy hasn't been as bad as high school where I fell asleep literally every class including gym.
My high school gpa was around 2.3 and my SAT score was 2120.
I went to a pretty tough high school ranked in the top 50 high schools nationally with hardcore narcolepsy first 2 years. It was probably too late to repair my gpa the last two years but as you can tell from my SAT scores, I've been working hard to improve and my narcolepsy is very mild now.

I just wanted some tips on what major I should go into, what are the best preps for the DAT, and how the application process works. I see some people posting their DAT scores with PAT, GC, AA, etc but have no clue what they stand for.

 

[toastybread]

.

 

[Dentalkid434]

I'm new here to these forums and so far I've been spending the entire day looking through this section on the forums.

I was just wondering if I could get any tips for getting into dental school. Right now I'm a freshmen at a tier-one university.
I'm a narcoleptic insomniac where I suffer from sleep attacks during the day and its hard for me to sleep at night, making it harder for me to focus in school. My narcolepsy hasn't been as bad as high school where I fell asleep literally every class including gym.
My high school gpa was around 2.3 and my SAT score was 2120.

I just wanted some tips on what major I should go into, what are the best preps for the DAT, and how the application process works. I see some people posting their DAT scores with PAT, GC, AA, etc but have no clue what they stand for.

You high school gpa and SAT scores do not match. With those SAT scores you seem to have a lot of potential, just keep working hard at it. I know it may be difficult with your condition, but I am sure you will plug through! As far as tips go -- take as many biology classes as you can prior to the DAT. Do not over burden your course load. Take a course load that you can manage while at the same time consisting of various science classes to impress dental schools. Take the DAT summer after sophomore year. Do not leave it until junior summer, as it is always best to be early in the application process, and you can always retake if necessary. Good luck!

 

[DoeAdeer]

I'm new here to these forums and so far I've been spending the entire day looking through this section on the forums.

I was just wondering if I could get any tips for getting into dental school. Right now I'm a freshmen at a tier-one university.
I'm a narcoleptic insomniac where I suffer from sleep attacks during the day and its hard for me to sleep at night, making it harder for me to focus in school. My narcolepsy hasn't been as bad as high school where I fell asleep literally every class including gym.
My high school gpa was around 2.3 and my SAT score was 2120.

I just wanted some tips on what major I should go into, what are the best preps for the DAT, and how the application process works. I see some people posting their DAT scores with PAT, GC, AA, etc but have no clue what they stand for.

You have narcolepsy. You should stay away from this profession.

 

[toastybread]

.

 

[DTran783]

Oh yeah, do yourself a favor and take some sociology classes. If you want to understand your patients, you need to understand how government policies and other factors can influence their lifestyles.

Wouldn't psychology classes be a better fit for understanding patients?

 

[awaitsimpatient]

Don't listen to some SDNers here, they can be so ignorant about their comments sometimes.
The reality is that your High School scores and SAT scores ( no ones cares when you apply to dental school), all that matters is you undergraduate GPA which you earn in college 🙂, so get a bachelor degree in some sciences like Biology, chemistry. .and make sure you take all the pre-requisite to apply to dental schooL (Bio, GEnchem, Orgchem, Phys, Biochem, etc..)..Try to keep GPA over 3.5.. Then take the DAT( dental admission test) and aim for at least 20 to be a competitive applicant.. All the peoples post like AA, TS, BIO, etc are related to sections of the DAT..If your condition had gotten better you should not even mention it when you apply.. Maybe you can have a bed in your office to take naps during the day? who knows, everything is possible

 

[LaughingGas]

I don't have narcolepsy but I can relate to you because I do fall asleep a lot b/c due to work/courseloads (I'm either at school or work all 7 days per week). To compensate your lost time at school, I do record all the lectures that I attend to, in case I fall asleep due to my tiredness.
Now you SAT is very good, which seems you have a great potential. Great job at trying to overcome narcolepsy/insomnia.
People can tell you that you can technically choose any major as long as you fulfill the prerequisite for dental school. Personally, I would choose any bio major, that is easiest go get the highest GPA.
The reason I say to do bio, it's because the number of additional prereqs (besides intro bio, gen chem, ochem, physics) are increasing (biochem,microbiology, etc). When you are done with the prerequisites, you are pretty much done with about 70% of classes for bio major.
-I say choose the bio major, the one that is easiest to get highest GPA possible. Dental admission criteria are composed of GPA, DAT extracurricular (ec), letters, etc, but bluntly speaking and obseving this forum for couple of years, it's not hard to see that the two big criteria that gets you to interviews are GPA and DAT score most cases. Giving you example of UCLA, microbiology major GPA average is about 2.8 , while physiology majors are about 3.3. This clearly shows that its more convenient to choose physiology to maximize your chances of high GPA.
Ideally, you want to take 3 science + 1 elective per term, but it's ok to take less science courses if you think it will hinder your chances of getting a good GPA. Always GPA>>>> Courseload.
As for DAT, you will have another year to wait for it. Just to give you some heads up, ideally it's best to take right after Ochem 2 (assuming you are done with gen chem and intro bio), so you have less material to refresh. Also there are some combination of prep material that people use to do well (Chads, destroyer, etc) but doing well in your science classes are also another key to do well in DAT. For DAT, check again later when time is closer to take your DAT, since its possible a better prep material might come out by then.
Briefly about the application cycle. Application cycle opens June 1st usually. Things you should have ready by then are:
-Letters of Recommendation written by professors, so you can print the waive forum and either ask them to input letter electronically or by mail. If it's committee letter, make sure you have the letters ready and sent to committee MONTHS before the cycle opens (april or may).
-Personal Statement
-Ideally DAT scores but it's ok to take until mid July, to avoid later batch.
-Lots of volunteer/shadowing done, dental related.
-Copy of unofficial transcript, so you can input the class name, grade etc as shown in the transcript.

-Check out the sticky on top of the forum titled: 2012 a mini guide to DS by doc toothache.

Best luck OP.

 

[toastybread]

Wouldn't psychology classes be a better fit for understanding patients?

In my humble opinion, sociology is more helpful because it lets you understand the various patient demographics that you will serve in the future. You'll understand human service systems: healthcare, education, politics, local government, the penal system, etc. It shows you where the problems in these systems are, which can be useful if you're working in underserved rural regions or inner-city areas. This knowledge can help you tailor your practice to fit the needs of the community.

Sociology can also help us understand how policies create incentives/disincentives for dentists which can lead to ethical issues. A good example of this would be how some dental chains exploit state/gov't health insurance. The gov't reimburses chains like Aspen Dental or Kool Smiles more if they do crown procedures - thus creating an incentive for dentists to push the patient to get unnecessary crowns. Stuff like that.

Now I'm sure psych also touches on these topics...but sociology goes much more in depth, allowing you to really understand how policies can shape people's thought processes.

 

[DTran783]

I don't have narcolepsy but I can relate to you because I do fall asleep a lot b/c due to work/courseloads (I'm either at school or work all 7 days per week). To compensate your lost time at school, I do record all the lectures that I attend to, in case I fall asleep due to my tiredness.
Now you SAT is very good, which seems you have a great potential. Great job at trying to overcome narcolepsy/insomnia.
People can tell you that you can technically choose any major as long as you fulfill the prerequisite for dental school. Personally, I would choose any bio major, that is easiest go get the highest GPA.
The reason I say to do bio, it's because the number of additional prereqs (besides intro bio, gen chem, ochem, physics) are increasing (biochem,microbiology, etc). When you are done with the prerequisites, you are pretty much done with about 70% of classes for bio major.
-I say choose the bio major, the one that is easiest to get highest GPA possible. Dental admission criteria are composed of GPA, DAT extracurricular (ec), letters, etc, but bluntly speaking and obseving this forum for couple of years, it's not hard to see that the two big criteria that gets you to interviews are GPA and DAT score most cases. Giving you example of UCLA, microbiology major GPA average is about 2.8 , while physiology majors are about 3.3. This clearly shows that its more convenient to choose physiology to maximize your chances of high GPA.
Ideally, you want to take 3 science + 1 elective per term, but it's ok to take less science courses if you think it will hinder your chances of getting a good GPA. Always GPA>>>> Courseload.
As for DAT, you will have another year to wait for it. Just to give you some heads up, ideally it's best to take right after Ochem 2 (assuming you are done with gen chem and intro bio), so you have less material to refresh. Also there are some combination of prep material that people use to do well (Chads, destroyer, etc) but doing well in your science classes are also another key to do well in DAT. For DAT, check again later when time is closer to take your DAT, since its possible a better prep material might come out by then.
Briefly about the application cycle. Application cycle opens June 1st usually. Things you should have ready by then are:
-Letters of Recommendation written by professors, so you can print the waive forum and either ask them to input letter electronically or by mail. If it's committee letter, make sure you have the letters ready and sent to committee MONTHS before the cycle opens (april or may).
-Personal Statement
-Ideally DAT scores but it's ok to take until mid July, to avoid later batch.
-Lots of volunteer/shadowing done, dental related.
-Copy of unofficial transcript, so you can input the class name, grade etc as shown in the transcript.

-Check out the sticky on top of the forum titled: 2012 a mini guide to DS by doc toothache.

Best luck OP.

Would working as a dental assistant help instead of volunteering and shadowing? I was thinking about getting a job and shadowing an oral surgeon that I shadowed in high school.

In my humble opinion, sociology is more helpful because it lets you understand the various patient demographics that you will serve in the future. You'll understand human service systems: healthcare, education, politics, local government, the penal system, etc. It shows you where the problems in these systems are, which can be useful if you're working in underserved rural regions or inner-city areas. This knowledge can help you tailor your practice to fit the needs of the community.

Sociology can also help us understand how policies create incentives/disincentives for dentists which can lead to ethical issues. A good example of this would be how some dental chains exploit state/gov't health insurance. The gov't reimburses chains like Aspen Dental or Kool Smiles more if they do crown procedures - thus creating an incentive for dentists to push the patient to get unnecessary crowns. Stuff like that.

Now I'm sure psych also touches on these topics...but sociology goes much more in depth, allowing you to really understand how policies can shape people's thought processes.

I honestly didn't know sociology went into all these topics and hopefully I get a good professor. I've notice most of the basic/general classes are taught by teachers who hardly even know the subject to teach it. Sat in a general biology and chemistry lecture for a week and the teachers/professors were basically reading off their power points word for word. Any tips on this if I get a bad teachers?

 

[KittySquared]

Extracurriculars are all fine and dandy, but this is still a numbers game. Keep your grades up and try to pick classes based on ratemyprofessor.com Student reviews of professors actually really matter. You want to do well and schedule your class in a smart manner and not end up getting shafted by all the tough and not so great lecturers.

 

[Zbtb7]

OP- If you become a practicing dentist, is there a risk that you'll have sleep attacks during work. What do you think will happen if you fall asleep with a high-speed drill going off in a patient's mouth?

 

[DTran783]

OP- If you become a practicing dentist, is there a risk that you'll have sleep attacks during work. What do you think will happen if you fall asleep with a high-speed drill going off in a patient's mouth?

If you've read one of my previous posts, I've mentioned that my narcolepsy has reduced significantly and only insomnia remains

 

[Predent36]

If your school lets undergrads TA, then TA eventually so you can obtain some awesome LORs from science or non-science professors.

Get involved with some leadership, or even research, if you have the time after all your volunteering and dental-related experiences.