Applying to more than 1 type of health professional schools?

[autumn_rain]

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Hello,

I am pondering about the prospects of applying to more than one type of professional school this year since I have an interest in both careers; but I don't know how the admissions committees will look upon this.. There is a portion on the AADSAS which asks whether we are currently or have applied previously to non-dental schools, and specifically what type. How would the dental schools look upon it if we apply to another type of school, ie. medical or pharmacy school..? and would we have to explain it in our personal statement or something like that? thanks for any help.

 

[DMDreaming]

I think the adcoms will question how devoted you are and will be to dentistry. Especially with the application numbers rising and becoming more competitive, they seem to want to select those qualified individuals who are committed to dentistry. If you are applying to more than one type of professional school, you look as if you are not completely sure of your life's direction. Put yourself in the adcom's position. All things being equal, would you rather admit someone totally committed to dentistry or someone who looks to be unsure and might change their mind?

 

[reapply2007]

If you do apply to multiple professional schools, don't apply to multiple programs at the same school. Some schools only have one health sciences admissions office for all of the programs you've mentioned. Either way, it does beg the question of how dedicated you are to any of your professional schools, not to mention the $$ involved in applying.

 

[autumn_rain]

yes, thanks. i feel that my passion is in dentistry, but I feel that I would have less of a chance to get in this year since I have only recently, though considerably explored it, and am still waiting to take the DAT, letters, and submitting my apps. My other route would perhaps be easier since I have been on this path for a while. This is a change I am nervous about but at the same time I am excited about the wonderful things that I will be able to do with it. Only, it might take an additional year or however more for me to meet this new goal.

Deep inside, I think that dentistry is my desired career.. Then would having applied to a different type of professional school a previous year be something that dental schools still question?

 

[autumn_rain]

If you do apply to multiple professional schools, don't apply to multiple programs at the same school. Some schools only have one health sciences admissions office for all of the programs you've mentioned. Either way, it does beg the question of how dedicated you are to any of your professional schools, not to mention the $$ involved in applying.

Besides applying to the same school with multiple programs, would AADSAS have any connections with other professional school application services and vice versa?

 

[reapply2007]

AADSAS is the ADA portal to nearly identical application databases for multiple health science applications, all provided by a single company. If you want to see some of what the schools can see try the following link.

http://www.academicmanagement.com/admit2007/

 

[littlemissy]

if you don't get in this year its not the end of the world. better yourself next year by fixing your weaknesses and reapply. many premeds and predents have to reapply. so if you are truly have a passion for dentistry then you will pursue it no matter what. just be sure that you are willing to pursue it even if you fail this year. think to yourself would i pursue this career even if i couldn't get into this year or 4 years from now. would i still be interested in it?

 

[hokie4life]

find out what you are really into and go full force for that. i applied to med schools last year cuz i had always wanted it sicne starting colelge but withdrew before i even submitted secondaries cuz i realized i didn't erally want it anymore and my interests did change and i was just holding onto my freshman year dreams. I'm so glad I didn't go through with it and settle cuz it makes me that much more excited about dentisty andk knowing i'm following what i AM ACTUALLY really into.

if not now you'llre regreat and wonder what if later on if you go with your back up...it's the rest of your life you're talking about, it's worth more than a back up decision

good luck figuring it out 🙂

 

[MSH]

I jus got accepted to NYU dental and the admissions committee there asked me if I did apply to medical and Why. They know I did cuz I had to put that on the application and they did not tell me until now. They knew that I wanted to go to medical first but then i changed my mind. I would not apply to different healthcare fields if I were you...choose one and stick with it. If you are wondering which one to pursue, shadow people in those fields and see what lifestyle you want for the rest of your life..good luck

 

[Mila]

yes, thanks. i feel that my passion is in dentistry, but I feel that I would have less of a chance to get in this year since I have only recently, though considerably explored it, and am still waiting to take the DAT, letters, and submitting my apps. My other route would perhaps be easier since I have been on this path for a while. This is a change I am nervous about but at the same time I am excited about the wonderful things that I will be able to do with it. Only, it might take an additional year or however more for me to meet this new goal.

Deep inside, I think that dentistry is my desired career.. Then would having applied to a different type of professional school a previous year be something that dental schools still question?

If dentistry is your desired career and it is your passion then you have to go for it, and I would recommend not applying to other professional schools because that will not look good on either your applications for both schools. You need to choose one and stick with it.

I understand that you are nervous about choosing dentistry because it is a relatively new decision and you feel pressured for time. But I wouldn't worry so much about that if I were you. My story was that I decided dentsitry just about this time last year - in fact I think it was even a few weeks later. I hadn't taken the DAT, didn't really even know what subjects were covered on the DAT, and hadn't even looked at AADSAS. I started studying my ass off for the DAT and started filling out the AADSAS and writing a personal statement. I got everything in relatively very late (Oct-Nov), but I still managed to get a fair amount of interviews, acceptances to every school I interviewed at, including acceptances to all my top choice schools. I have to admit that (a) I got very lucky to get all of that despite applying so late, and (b) applying later in the cycle is more stressful and involves a lot more waiting (and is potentially even more expensive?). But in the end it was worth it and I would do it all over again if I had to.

The point is, if you are that passionate about dentistry, then go for it! You definitely still have a shot at this cycle. And if you don't get in this cycle, then there's always next cycle. In my opinion it's worth it to take an extra year and be a field that you want that badly, than to have saved a year but be in a profession that you're not really into. And if the extra year isn't worth it, then ask yourself: are you really as passionate as you think you are?