Hi, have this simple question: Is one semester of dental school harder than DAT? (Do not take into account your college curriculum, family if any, volunteering, work, etc.) Just Dental school curriculum vs getting ready for DAT
DAT vs Dental school
- Thread starter flossit
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I'm inclined to say no on this one.
Like the DAT, you are responsible for a huge amount of material in a short amount of time. There's a lot of it, but the material itself is not difficult. If you haven't been exposed to it before, I can see it being overwhelming. For most of us, though, we've seen all of this in undergrad.
For instance, in a given day, we have on average 5-6 hours free outside of class (if you're trying to maintain 7 hours of sleep a night). We were responsible for memorizing about 300-400 new concepts for anatomy every week, waxing, a semester's worth of molecular biology and immunology, dental morphology, all in 7 weeks.
What it comes down to is discipline. I was able to tell myself that studying for the DAT meant investing a short period of time (10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 3-4 weeks) for a lifetime of happiness. Dental school, however, has been a discipline marathon.
You want to have a life outside of dental school, then you need to be responsible and plan accordingly. You study late every weekday and you study early every weekend. This is every day.
I've had my down days where I feel exhausted, but when I actually take a moment and reflect, it hasn't been that bad (thus far).
My school heavily emphasizes didactics, so YMMV.
Like the DAT, you are responsible for a huge amount of material in a short amount of time. There's a lot of it, but the material itself is not difficult. If you haven't been exposed to it before, I can see it being overwhelming. For most of us, though, we've seen all of this in undergrad.
For instance, in a given day, we have on average 5-6 hours free outside of class (if you're trying to maintain 7 hours of sleep a night). We were responsible for memorizing about 300-400 new concepts for anatomy every week, waxing, a semester's worth of molecular biology and immunology, dental morphology, all in 7 weeks.
What it comes down to is discipline. I was able to tell myself that studying for the DAT meant investing a short period of time (10 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 3-4 weeks) for a lifetime of happiness. Dental school, however, has been a discipline marathon.
You want to have a life outside of dental school, then you need to be responsible and plan accordingly. You study late every weekday and you study early every weekend. This is every day.
I've had my down days where I feel exhausted, but when I actually take a moment and reflect, it hasn't been that bad (thus far).
My school heavily emphasizes didactics, so YMMV.
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The two are a bit different and depend on your personal strengths. Some people in my class had very high DAT scores (greater than 24), but struggle with the course-load and particularly the hand-skills side of dentistry and even fail several practicals. If you have good hand-skills (placing anatomically beautiful fillings, making ideal preparations, carving teeth well), then you can focus on your other courses. If you aren't, it's more difficult because it takes time and during that time your grades can suffer (your practical grades and grades in didactic work too since you spend more time in lab to catch up).
I was in the middle of the road (20AA/21TS) and thought the DAT test was manageable studying with a full-time job on top of it. I think dental school is more difficult but I am comparably doing better in dental school than my DAT. No way could I have a job in dental school.
I was in the middle of the road (20AA/21TS) and thought the DAT test was manageable studying with a full-time job on top of it. I think dental school is more difficult but I am comparably doing better in dental school than my DAT. No way could I have a job in dental school.
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I've been wondering this ever since I finished my DAT. My undergraduate degree has been getting incredibly tough as of late, and I am worried that it would be impossible to do any more than I am now.
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dental school is much, much harder
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@FeralisExtremum long time no see! hows dental school going for you?
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DAT was a piece of cake compared to dental school. You could cram for the DAT and get a 23+ in 4 weeks.
8 courses and clinical for a whole semester is a lot harder.
This is my opinion on DAT vs Dental school. Dental school itself maybe very easy for some, while very difficult for others.
8 courses and clinical for a whole semester is a lot harder.
This is my opinion on DAT vs Dental school. Dental school itself maybe very easy for some, while very difficult for others.
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It's hard work but I'm hanging in there. How's it going for you?
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Same. Actively need to check myself from time to time and remember to spend some time having fun. Loving it so far though.
