Applying Mid-July before taking DATs in September?

[Aamiracle]

Hey Everyone, I'm new to this.

So I'm at loss here...I just graduated from my Undergrad and have a cum. of 3.42, with a science GPA of 3.18.

I was aiming to take the DAT's this September but was going to send out applications mid July towards few schools of interest beforehand because I already know I am late!!!

My question is, what are my chances for Fall'16? I initially am taking a year off from school and after hours of research on the forums, I am not too sure if I should even try applying for Fall'16 or not as it seems like a lucky chance if i get in anywhere I can afford, but I don't want to lose another year.

I have over 250+ volunteer EMS hours through my school. I have worked within a doctors office alternating summers, but no dental experience at all yet. I have been actively looking for a Dental assistant/shadowing job for my gap year but it's much more difficult then I thought without connections.

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[hellofuturedentists]

You can always try, but it will probably be difficult if you don't have any dental experience.

 

[Aamiracle]

I know my GPA could of been better too, but thats what I thought, I have experience elsewhere, just none Dental, not yet at least.

With that being said I would order the books soon & start studying next week and have a solid two weeks to study, what do you think my chances would be?

I still have to get LOR's which I would hope wouldn't be a problem if I used interfolio

 

[hellofuturedentists]

Most, if not all, dental schools require or recommend dental shadowing. Shadowing allows you to better understand the profession in its entirety. If you don't have any shadowing, schools might not think you understand the nuances of being a dentist well enough to actually pursue it. I would find someone to shadow ASAP

 

[ajj70]

Your application probably won't get looked at without shadowing hours or a DAT. I'd find a way to get in 50 or 60 hours in the next couple weeks and figure out a way to get your DAT taken before September. If you rock the DAT, 23+, being a later applicant won't matter as much, but if your DAT is average or slightly below average, with your current EC/volunteering/shadowing, I would say your chances for interviews are very low.

 

[Aamiracle]

I'm confident in finding a place to shadow, even if I have to travel far for it within the following week.

With that being said, if I find hours to shadow, take my test in September off of studying from Kaplan & DAT Destroyer books, and some youtube, is there a good chance after that?

I'm even working on getting recommendations right now because the few professors I asked have agreed but never gotten back to me. I have one which i'll have my professor use "interfolio" to upload it.

I just highly regret taking this long and putting myself in this situation & I'm trying to find my way out of it.

 

[Aamiracle]

even then, if I found a job as a Dental Assistant, would that count as hours spent @ an office? Or do they directly require shadow hours.

 

[BeaverLover]

even then, if I found a job as a Dental Assistant, would that count as hours spent @ an office? Or do they directly require shadow hours.

I don't believe that will fulfill your shadowing requirements.

 

[BeaverLover]

I would suggest waiting out this application cycle. You're planning on taking DAT without having any dental shadowing, this test is a pain in the butt to study for (and expensive) so be 100% confident dentistry is what you want before putting in all that effort, unless you already scheduled for it. Some schools won't even look at applications without having everything completed, and taking it in September is kind of borderline if you account for the waiting period for scores to be uploaded. Best of luck!

 

[Aamiracle]

I would suggest waiting out this application cycle. You're planning on taking DAT without having any dental shadowing, this test is a pain in the butt to study for (and expensive) so be 100% confident dentistry is what you want before putting in all that effort, unless you already scheduled for it. Some schools won't even look at applications without having everything completed, and taking it in September is kind of borderline if you account for the waiting period for scores to be uploaded. Best of luck!

I know it seems rushed for me, I appreciate the advice though so I should just take my DATs, work and shadow and just show up for the next cycle? Also, my DAT scores will still be valid for the next few years correct?

 

[BeaverLover]

Yeah thats what I would do, skip this cycle and take your time studying for DAT. I believe most schools only consider scores from past 2 years to be valid but you'll have to look more into that. Your sGPA seems kind of on the low end too, have you thought about post-bacc?

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I would also say maybe wait it out. From the last paragraph in your first post, it seems like you switched from wanting a medical career to a dental career, which is totally fine and understandable. However, schools may see all this last minute dental stuff as a sign that your decision to pursue dentistry may not have been fully thought out, which would be bad.

 

[gsquared]

If you have 300 to toss at the DAT and another 500 or so for application fees, by all means, go for it. Just make sure you have a good prep going into the DAT, and I'd take it sooner in the application cycle if possible. Don't get too optimistic if you are planning on applying that late in the cycle.

 

[ajj70]

If you have 300 to toss at the DAT and another 500 or so for application fees, by all means, go for it. Just make sure you have a good prep going into the DAT, and I'd take it sooner in the application cycle if possible. Don't get too optimistic if you are planning on applying that late in the cycle.

$415

just signed up yesterday, waiting for me scheduling email...

 

[gsquared]

party time! keep us posted!

 

[ajj70]

...also, add the cost for Bootcamp, Chad's, etc. too!

 

[gsquared]

I used Chad's vids back when they were available for free off coursesaver or a uni website. I get this is a great resource but it is now fairly expensive. Does anybody know where to access these for less or for free? I'd like to set a couple of prehealth friends up with this great tool.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I used Chad's vids back when they were available for free off coursesaver or a uni website. I get this is a great resource but it is now fairly expensive. Does anybody know where to access these for less or for free? I'd like to set a couple of prehealth friends up with this great tool.

It's $50 for a month for GC, OC, and QR, along with quizzes and downloadable outlines. It'd be nice if it were cheaper, but relative to other DAT materials, $50 is not that expensive. I think some pre-dental clubs offer like 10% off if you google it.

 

[gsquared]

sweet--thanks for the help!

 

[Aamiracle]

Yeah thats what I would do, skip this cycle and take your time studying for DAT. I believe most schools only consider scores from past 2 years to be valid but you'll have to look more into that. Your sGPA seems kind of on the low end too, have you thought about post-bacc?

I don't plan on it. I just plan on at this point getting a job as a dental assistant and shadowing the dentist while i'm there some days.

If you have 300 to toss at the DAT and another 500 or so for application fees, by all means, go for it. Just make sure you have a good prep going into the DAT, and I'd take it sooner in the application cycle if possible. Don't get too optimistic if you are planning on applying that late in the cycle.

I've talked to a lot of people and really appreciate the advices given, but I think I'm going to take it in September, and just beforehand have all my other applications sent out. It's $$$, but I figured if I do have that luck chance to get in then i'll be glad I did it, otherwise if I don't get in, I'll just build my resume and try again much much earlier next cycle. I really can't afford or do not see myself spending another year off, but if I have to after trying then I will

 

[Aamiracle]

I used Chad's vids back when they were available for free off coursesaver or a uni website. I get this is a great resource but it is now fairly expensive. Does anybody know where to access these for less or for free? I'd like to set a couple of prehealth friends up with this great tool.

What resources do you suggest studying for the DAT? I was looking on getting DAT destroyer & Kaplan, should I prioritize any other material over those two?

 

[Aamiracle]

I would also say maybe wait it out. From the last paragraph in your first post, it seems like you switched from wanting a medical career to a dental career, which is totally fine and understandable. However, schools may see all this last minute dental stuff as a sign that your decision to pursue dentistry may not have been fully thought out, which would be bad.

As true as that is, if I have a dental assistant position or shadowing opportunity by then, I would just add that on explaining that I'm doing that full time. But I can see what you mean.

I had a friend who gotten in to dental school with a 19, she applied in august, and was a medical scribe. She just had a really clever answer I guess when they asked her why dental

 

[gsquared]

I used some old MCAT books that I got from a lab mate when I was working a summer research gig. Since the basic sciences are pretty much identical, having a broad understanding with lots of practice in gen chem and ochem served me really well. I used the princeton review primarily.

 

[swindoll]

I would wait until next cycle to apply. Dedicate this year to DAT, shadowing, and research.

 

[gsquared]

swindoll has a good suggestion; don't rush or underestimate the amount of time/effort you put into the DAT. Four years of college and a couple of months of prep really only made me feel adequately prepared for the DAT.

 

[MrSamrtGuy]

As a non trad, I definitely understand not wanting to wait another year. But it'll be all right.

 

[Aamiracle]

As a non trad, I definitely understand not wanting to wait another year. But it'll be all right.

so you have the same suggestion as everyone else; wait another year?

 

[MrSamrtGuy]

so you have the same suggestion as everyone else; wait another year?

Yeah apply when you're ready. Apply from the strongest position you can, because if you have to reapply you're going to be expected to show some sort of improvement.

 

[Aamiracle]

After about 80% of people telling me to wait, i have decided to do just that. Currently i am working on attaining a Dental Assistant position part time, and shadowing as well after that.

in a month i plan on applying for the DAT a little later so I can have the time to study & also figure out my finances by then.

Also I failed to take 1 english course which most schools require which I plan on taking second semester timing, & then just applying in June' 16 after some dental assistant experience on my resume & shadowing as well. Good plan? any other suggestions?

 

[Bucks783]

See if you can do some dental research at a university...that is what I am currently trying to do. Especially at a university with a dental school since often the research advisers you interact with are on the selection admission committee itself...that is just what I was recommended to look into

 

[rdd215]

I would probably try to wait a year... the lack of dental experience is going to be a turn off to most dental schools. Additionally, if you take your DAT in september, the score won't reach the admissions offices for about 3-4 weeks after you take the test. Depending on the date you are planning, you're looking at maybe October as to when the schools will receive your FULL application. At that point, it is pretty late. Although it seems annoying to take a year off, I think it might be in your best interest to take that time off and make your application MUCH stronger. Take more time and study for the DAT and try to get a really good score to make up for the slightly lower science GPA.

 

[Aamiracle]

See if you can do some dental research at a university...that is what I am currently trying to do. Especially at a university with a dental school since often the research advisers you interact with are on the selection admission committee itself...that is just what I was recommended to look into

How would i go about that? Just emailing them/calling? I'm 3 hours away from my matriculated university and graduated so at this point I would just look in the surrounding areas.

 

[andreadds]

Hey Everyone, I'm new to this.

So I'm at loss here...I just graduated from my Undergrad and have a cum. of 3.42, with a science GPA of 3.18.

I was aiming to take the DAT's this September but was going to send out applications mid July towards few schools of interest beforehand because I already know I am late!!!

My question is, what are my chances for Fall'16? I initially am taking a year off from school and after hours of research on the forums, I am not too sure if I should even try applying for Fall'16 or not as it seems like a lucky chance if i get in anywhere I can afford, but I don't want to lose another year.

I have over 250+ volunteer EMS hours through my school. I have worked within a doctors office alternating summers, but no dental experience at all yet. I have been actively looking for a Dental assistant/shadowing job for my gap year but it's much more difficult then I thought without connections.

I would wait until next year after you have dental experiences