Gap Year Recommendations Please

[HopefulHero]

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Hello all,

I am a senior studying Biology with a concentration in Human Biology and I will be graduating this May. My current plan is to take a gap year to gain more clinical experience and study to take the DAT before applying to dental schools next year. My GPA is currently around a 3.4 and I've maintained several leadership positions, jobs, and extra curricular activities while in college.

I wanted to know what advice any of you had for a gap year before applying to dental school. What have some of you done to be as competitive as possible for applications?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Brosephbro]

Well, remember that since dental school applications are for the following year, you are essentially taking 2 years off from school. One while you study and get shadowing hours and another while you interview/get accepted. That's quite the large gap, and some schools might be concerned that it's too big of a gap. If you could make a competitive application, I would start studying nowish and try to take the DAT late June/early July and get the application out before August.

 

[Tebros]

Kirby^ is right...why don't you just start studying for the DAT now and apply around july-august? I know it'll be late but you might still be able to get some interviews AND atleast if you didn't get accepted this year, you will be recognized next year by the dental schools you applied too. Atleast you know how the application process works...its expensive but its totally worth it.