Breaking down Admission Process

[mvs04]

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Ok guys, there are tons of the same and repeated questions being asked, (plus some that are just weird and downright mind-boggling I-can't-believe-I-might-be-your-classmate-ly *****ic). Here it is a simple break down:

Ingredients:

1 part decent GPA (science, overall, BCP, depending on the school's individual criteria; often 3.4ish)
1 part decent DAT (18-19)
1 part the usual extras (combination of volunteering/shadowing/work)
1 part decent interview
1 part applying fairly early

bonus optional: 1 part member of under-represented minority

Mix and bake and Take out of oven:

D school admission(s).

Maybe not to your first choices and maybe not to the most competitive schools, but honestly, a DDS/DMD is a DDS/DMD no matter where you went to school. You're human beings, and therefore very adaptable to change, so wherever you go, you'll get used to it and get into the flow of it once school starts, and a few years down the road, are you really going to even care where you got your degree from?

GPA-gimped applicants:

deficiencies in this area MUST be correspondingly made up for in excellence in the other factors. Most often the easiest way to make up for it is through the DAT. Since many schools filter interview applicants on stats alone, you NEED to get a nice DAT score to get your application looked at, and for those with < 3.0s... you need probably a >23 or so, and even more so as your GPA approaches 2.5 or even less (think >25). For those that have outstanding achievements extra-curricularly, you have a chance of obtaining interviews from schools that do not use a stats filter even if you have less than stellar numbers, though be mindful this route is a difficult one, esp. in lieu of the fact that as more and more applicants apply, almost all schools will start using some kind of filter.

Good luck 2006 applicants. Hope to see you all in D-school, except for the ones that ask ***** questions like what happens if I'm walking down the street and BAM! My hands fall off!

 

[onetoothleft]

This is a good summary that would answer a lot of people's questions.

In contrast to your implication--I believe that SDN is a great place to ask stupid questions or vent about dental anxieties (I even support people like you who vent about stupid questions). I would rather they get it out now then spend class time on these subjects. Plus many Dental-Curious people read these forums and get some insight into the field--which may encourage them to be dentists! Which I think is wonderful--The more the merrier!

 

[msf41]

pretty good summary of the important factors that schools base decisions on. I would just define what "apply early means". When I was applying my crack head pre-dent advisor was telling me that september was "plenty early".

When I applied in august last year I found out that about 5000 people had already applied (out of a total ~9,000). Therefore, I was much closer to the end of the pack than the beginning. I would define "applying early" as meaning June.

Apply early = AADSAS submitted by JUNE

 

[Gulch]

MVS, this post is way overdue. 👍 Just be sure to bump it every month or so when people start in with the same questions.

 

[mvs04]

someone need to post up a FAQ that's sticky so people can be directed to read it first before asking their usual inane questions....

that or people need to be able to start figuring out **** by themselves... I'd say the majority of dental students go through the process and get in without ever hearing of SDN.....

 

[juggamynugga]

Good luck 2006 applicants. Hope to see you all in D-school, except for the ones that ask ***** questions like what happens if I'm walking down the street and BAM! My hands fall off!

hahahahahaha i second that

 

[Pikeyman]

someone need to post up a FAQ that's sticky so people can be directed to read it first before asking their usual inane questions....

that or people need to be able to start figuring out **** by themselves... I'd say the majority of dental students go through the process and get in without ever hearing of SDN.....

I was that majority.

I googled "dental interviews" before my first interview and SDN came on.

So I feel you, man.

I'm all for helping but I just can't stand some of the *****ic sh't people post on this.

Some just don't want to grind it out like the rest of us.

 

[UW09]

I probably should ask a stupid question here 🙂

Is the ADEA application for all (most) schools or does each school have their own application. And where can I dl the applications to get an idea what they look at (I searched the site but I didnt find it...I guess im a bad searcher 🙁 )

 

[mvs04]

I probably should ask a stupid question here 🙂

Is the ADEA application for all (most) schools or does each school have their own application. And where can I dl the applications to get an idea what they look at (I searched the site but I didnt find it...I guess im a bad searcher 🙁 )

*blows up and dies.


. ... ok pal... go to www.google.com. type in "Dental School Application". Guess what's the first site that comes up?!?!

I think if you can't figure out how to apply... you should be automatically disqualified from dental school or any professional school.

 

[hokiedds]

mvs04, judging by your people skills, I'd say you are going to make a great dentist. Honestly, who wouldn't want to go for an appointment that the majority of people are predisposed to hating/fearing only to have the dentist act condescending just because they ask a question. True, there are alot of repetitive questions on here, but keep in mind that not everyone knows as much as you. So next time, why not just use all that wonderful knowledge about the admissions process and help people instead of insulting them for being too lazy to find the answers or for asking stupid questions. Good job on that initial post though, its packed with great info.

 

[Pikeyman]

I probably should ask a stupid question here 🙂

Is the ADEA application for all (most) schools or does each school have their own application. And where can I dl the applications to get an idea what they look at (I searched the site but I didnt find it...I guess im a bad searcher 🙁 )

Go to www.adea.org/links/default.htm and that should solve your problem.

The AADSAS fees are separate from each school's application fee. I suggest you check out every one of the schools' websites you are interested in. They will have information as to how much the fees are, etc.

According to ADEA, "2006 AADSAS Dental School Application coming mid-May".

So stay tuned.

And keep those questions comin'.

 

[UW09]

*blows up and dies.


. ... ok pal... go to www.google.com. type in "Dental School Application". Guess what's the first site that comes up?!?!

I think if you can't figure out how to apply... you should be automatically disqualified from dental school or any professional school.

I just want a PDF file or something to look at...I won't be applying for another 3-4 years as I'm only 17...

 

[EyeAmCommi]

Why must we discourage people from asking "stupid" or "*****ic" questions? I'm getting like this negative vibe from everyone on this thread. I'm ashamed that some of you have gotten into dental school and can call yourselves professional. I myself have asked these stupid questions before and it is because my situation, like everyone elses, is unique. I understand that some of you are irritated but don't you wish you had someone you could ask these "stupid" questions to when you were applying to dental school?

Please be congenial...don't fall into the same ranks as the fool who started this thread.

hokiedds, you're one of the few people I admire now on SDN.

 

[Pikeyman]

Why must we discourage people from asking "stupid" or "*****ic" questions? I'm getting like this negative vibe from everyone on this thread. I'm ashamed that some of you have gotten into dental school and can call yourselves professional. I myself have asked these stupid questions before and it is because my situation, like everyone elses, is unique. I understand that some of you are irritated but don't you wish you had someone you could ask these "stupid" questions to when you were applying to dental school?

Please be congenial...don't fall into the same ranks as the fool who started this thread.

Have you ever been in a class where professors flat out tell the students that had their hands up to look in the books?

I have seen some *****s that raised their hands in big classes and got the answer from the professors.

They had asked questions that they could themselves answer just by going through the texts. When you see people like that, you just shake your head in disbelief.

It's the same thing with these application questions.

All I'm saying (I'd assume many others on this forum) is do as much homework as you can on your own and then ask questions.

I did all the work myself when I was applying. It's what you do.

It's when you can't figure out on your own by using the schools' website or AADSAS' website or whatever, you start asking questions. I consider these intelligent questions.

I'm all for helping out here but sometimes I feel a need to rash out at some people that without having done their homework, ask dumb questions.

 

[EyeAmCommi]

Okay I like your lecture hall example with the professor but the equivalent of asking a bad question would not be the professor telling you to go "look it up." Here, it is more like having a student ten seats away from you stand up, tell you your questions are unwelcomed and that they are "*****ic."

The dumb questions that mvs04 is refering to are the ones who ask about their "chances" then they go on to drop their GPA and DATs. No textbook or website will tell you that. People who asks these questions on SDN ask because they want to know from people who are accepted, who have been through the hoops, what THEY think. I'm sure all they want are opinions, not definite answers cause nobody has those. If you don't want to respond, fine. If people want averages, they can go look it up. That's different. But when someone asks "what do you guys think my chances are?" There's no need to call their concern "*****ic," I mean after all, we're all after the same thing here. Don't you think so Pikeyman?

I think it's okay to rant on these forums but I think we have to feel for some of the people who are concerned about their situation, like myself. Just play nice.

 

[Tooth Fixer]

forgot what i was gonna say.

 

[Fermata]

Summary:

Have 4.0 GPA and 23+ DAT. 😱 😀

 

[reLAXgirl]

I LOVE forums. The drama is great. People make such big deals out of nothing and find offense when none was meant. Just wouldn't be as fun if people didn't get annoyed and if others didn't get annoyed for others being annoyed. What great fun.

 

[Pikeyman]

Okay I like your lecture hall example with the professor but the equivalent of asking a bad question would not be the professor telling you to go "look it up." Here, it is more like having a student ten seats away from you stand up, tell you your questions are unwelcomed and that they are "*****ic."

The dumb questions that mvs04 is refering to are the ones who ask about their "chances" then they go on to drop their GPA and DATs. No textbook or website will tell you that. People who asks these questions on SDN ask because they want to know from people who are accepted, who have been through the hoops, what THEY think. I'm sure all they want are opinions, not definite answers cause nobody has those. If you don't want to respond, fine. If people want averages, they can go look it up. That's different. But when someone asks "what do you guys think my chances are?" There's no need to call their concern "*****ic," I mean after all, we're all after the same thing here. Don't you think so Pikeyman?

I think it's okay to rant on these forums but I think we have to feel for some of the people who are concerned about their situation, like myself. Just play nice.

I hate to break this to you but "look it up" is professors' polite way of telling you to sit down and that your questions are not only welcomed but not worth answering.

When I said "doing your work", I thought it was implied that it was all about reading up. When I said "*****ic", I didn't mean the same thing as mvs04.

Even the "chance" questions can be answered if you were to go to your school's library and look up each school's stat.

I as an applicant never asked those questions. Why? Because I went to my school library and looked up ADEA's "The Official Guide to Dental Schools" and figured out for myself where I stood for every school I applied. But I understand we aren't the same. Sure, even the books with the stats won't be able to accommodate every need you have.

So I've helped other people with the "chances" questions but personally, "chance" questions are a way of trying to confirm your-"desperate and insure"-self that you can breath now.

But hey, that's me. I'm an a-hole. You cannot make yourself affected by one man's opinion.

 

[mvs04]

bump. Read this before you start asking questions.