Application help please!!

[hoylematt]

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I have a few questions regarding applications for the 2011 cycle. I have searched quite a bit, but i can't seem to find exact answers and I would really appreciate some pros helping me out.

1) Letters of Recommendation--I have 3 professors and the Dentists I shadowed with all lined up for LOR's but i do not know where to tell them to submit them to. Do they have to be confidential or can i look at them before submitting? All of my professor LOR's come from Science faculty is this fine?

2) I am retaking the DAT again in a few months. When should I have the test done so that my scores are submitted on time. I guess in short, when should i take my test again if i want to have my DAT scores ready the earliest they should be submitted?

In conclusion I am kinda freaking out cause i was thinking that i would have a couple months in the beginning of summer to cram again for the DAT, when I keep thinking that if the primary applications open June 3rd--don't i have to have my DAT done before then?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[yuppers]

1) Once you open a aadsas account, you will enter the LOR writer's info. Then they will receive directions to submit the letter via a portal. You can either waive or not waive your right to see the letter. It would be better to waive that right so that the letters seem more genuine.
The required letters depend on the school. Schools can require science, non-science, dentist, employer, religious leader, etc. You have to look this up for the schools that you are interested in.

2) Just take the test when you are ready. If you take the DAT early, most (if not all) schools will hold on to your scores fully knowing that you are going to be applying the next cycle. That being said the test scores are sent 3-4 weeks after you take the test. So if you take the DAT by May your scores will be at the schools by the time aadsas opens.

But since you are worried about not having time to study: you don't have to take the DAT before you submit your aadsas. However, it would be best to get it done by the end of July so that the scores will arrive by mid/late August. This way your application is not put aside by the schools waiting until your scores arrive.

 

[hoylematt]

@Yuppers

Thanks for your reply. So i Just took the DAT and got decent scores, but im going to retake it. When i apply in June, will the schools already have this last DAT score that i took--or because it was in the previous DAT cycle (ending in march) is it like they don't have any score and are waiting for an updated one?

I know its confusing--what i'm trying to say is what about the previous DAT scores, how do those factor in?

 

[Predoctalk]

If you do not request to have it sent, they will not have the official scores until they recieve your new ones. However, there is a section for you to enter old scores and a planned DAT on the AADSAS app. This way, they will know they are waiting on new scores.

 

[kapmann]

If you don't mind me asking what were your DAT scores? Even if they are "ok" or only slightly better than ok, if you're other stuff is great there may not be a need to retake it.

Yeah as far as LORs go, Submit the 4 to AADSAS that most schools would be most interested in. Obviously the 2 science letters, probably a non science prof and a dentist. Then if other schools require employers, a 3rd science, 2 dentists, etc. you can send them individually to the school without wasting an AADSAS spot on one some schools don't need.

Some schools don't like extra letters, but many I worked with loved getting more (within reason). Sending 5-7 letters is not excessive... if they're good.

 

[hoylematt]

DAT scores i just took: 17 science, 17 academic, 17 PAT. At least i was consistent.

So what your saying is that when i applied for the DAT and they said that they would send the scores to my top 5 school choices, only those 5 schools will have this current DAT score? So can i like call up prometric and not have them send my scores?

Can you access the applications earlier than June 3rd?

 

[Predoctalk]

DAT scores i just took: 17 science, 17 academic, 17 PAT. At least i was consistent.

So what your saying is that when i applied for the DAT and they said that they would send the scores to my top 5 school choices, only those 5 schools will have this current DAT score? So can i like call up prometric and not have them send my scores?

Can you access the applications earlier than June 3rd?

I'm not sure if you can keep the ADA from sending those first 5. Even if they don't send them, the schools will see these scores along with your new scores when you retake the test and have them sent. So, there is no point to try to stop them from sending the scores. Also, you would need to report this score on your AADSAS app June 3rd (no you can't access it sooner) as well as a planned attempt

 

[hoylematt]

Thanks guys for all the info! In conclusion lets see if i got it right.

1) on the ADEA application (available June 3rd) there is room for 4 letters of recommendation and the best bet is to include 2 science professors, 1 non-science professor, and 1 of my shadowing dentists. Once i make an ADEA account (available at any time) i will enter the 4 professor's/dentist's contact info on the site and it will send the instructions to them so that they can submit my letters of recommendation to the ADEA electronically. I should waive the right to see the letters and if any of the schools I want to apply to should require more than those 4 LOR's, I send them directly.

2) There is a section on the ADEA application where i have to put the scores i just got on the DAT plus a section that says im planning to take it again, but its important to take it by at least the end of July so that my new and improved DAT scores will be available by mid to late August.

Any of that last bit wrong? or Is that the track I'm supposed to be on when it comes to LOR's and DAT dates?

 

[Predoctalk]

Thanks guys for all the info! In conclusion lets see if i got it right.

1) on the ADEA application (available June 3rd) there is room for 4 letters of recommendation and the best bet is to include 2 science professors, 1 non-science professor, and 1 of my shadowing dentists. Once i make an ADEA account (available at any time) i will enter the 4 professor's/dentist's contact info on the site and it will send the instructions to them so that they can submit my letters of recommendation to the ADEA electronically. I should waive the right to see the letters and if any of the schools I want to apply to should require more than those 4 LOR's, I send them directly.

2) There is a section on the ADEA application where i have to put the scores i just got on the DAT plus a section that says im planning to take it again, but its important to take it by at least the end of July so that my new and improved DAT scores will be available by mid to late August.

Any of that last bit wrong? or Is that the track I'm supposed to be on when it comes to LOR's and DAT dates?

This part cannot be done until June 3rd at the at the earliest. It is part of the AADSAS application. The rest is correct!

 

[hoylematt]

@predoctalk

So if i have to wait until june 3rd to even allow my LOR writers to submit, what do i do in the meantime--cause some of them i can just tell are going to push it to the limit as far as deadlines go. I guess im confused if there is anyway to gather these LOR's before the 3rd of June.

Gosh why is this so confusing to me?
​

 

[fourrings]

I guess im confused if there is anyway to gather these LOR's before the 3rd of June.

Gosh why is this so confusing to me?
​

my undergrad had a "letter service" available so that i could store letters ahead of time (paper versions) and then just have them sent from the letter service to aadsas when the time came.

i would assume other schools might also have similar services set up

 

[icedspice]

Heya,
don't wait until the last minute to ask for the recc letters.
If your undergrad office doesnt have a letter saving service, here is an online resource:
http://www.interfolio.com/

You will add professors name/info and place it under Confidential recommendation --- then Interfolio will create a code specific to the professor (and I think you can either email the code to the professor or hand it to them). The profs can log on, submit the letter and save it to Interfolio until you need it.
Then, you can arrange the letters in the order you want aadsas/schools to see it and then interfolio mails it out! 😀

 

[hoylematt]

Thanks for the help guys, I am going to check first and see if the school has a service, otherwise I will use Interfolio.

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