Applying at the end of Junior year/summer or wait for the cycle after you gradua

[MichaelSiu]

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My question is how many of you apply for dental school during the end of your junior year, and how many wait until you graduate and apply, taking a year off? Will the latter option put you at a disadvantage with dental schools? The reason I ask is I want more time be able to have some research/clinical experience. I'm ending my sophmore year with a mediocore GPA. I'm taking 2 classes in the summer, I have 40 hours of shadowing, and a few hours of volunteering. I plan on studying for the DAT this summer during my 2nd summer session, and taking it in the fall of my junior year, but what i really want is to have more time to do a dental summer program, research and clinical experience, and I just won't have enough time if I apply at the end of next year to do all these things. Because if I apply and I can't say "Oh I PLAN on doing this and that", i have to, and want to do it. So the summer between my junior and senior year is very important. Will taking that extra year off hurt in any way? During that time I plan on working full time either at a dental office or research.

What sucks about my school is almost every medical, dental, research, optometry or health related internship opportunity is networked through one system and you get it by a lottery system, and many many students sign up for it, so sometimes it's hard to get it. Although I guess I will have to go out and look harder..

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Fonz]

junior year is hard. you normally have to have stellar stats to get in, requirements are way higher than if you already have a bachelor's. Plus you might not have taken all the courses that will be on the DAT. Even cycle right after your 4th year could be hard depending on if you really planned ahead or not. I graduated last summer and waited till this cycle to apply so it will be a total of 2 years a bit over 2 years off. I felt it was ok for my situation because I definitely wouldnt have been ready last cycle.

 

[shamrock2006]

taking a year off definitely will not hurt you. Thats what I did and got in just fine. I noticed in my interviews that dschools like people w/ real world experience..shows you have maturity and that you are really committed to this b/c you've had time to ponder and explore different options. the ideal time is to apply after your junior year...but many people are taking time off before d-school. Hell, there are people in there 30's and beyond who are going as well as people in their mid to late 20's. Bottom line...apply when you feel you are at your strongest and have the best chance of getting in.

 

[dr.rex]

taking a year off doesnt hurt but what will you do i would have been bored, most people apply after junior year

 

[MichaelSiu]

I definitely won't be taking the year off to relax, if anything, this year "off" is to actually get more experience in the areas where I have none and need it. Thanks for the replies, I think I will plan accordingly, and hope all goes well.