If I knew then what I know now...

[edkNARF]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Since the 2005 appliation cycle is just beginning, I was wondering if anyone who would mind sharing their advice on the process. I have been trying to get all my forms sent, monies paid, and transcripts to where they need to go. I was hoping that those who have completed the process could share some advice for us beginning our dental school journey. Whatever advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

 

[HuyetKiem]

wow.. I'm a first one to response ?

Try to get all your recommendation letters, transcripts and send them overnight in one package. minimize (sp) the risks of losing them by your professors, your school's office of record and especially those AADAS people.

 

[Bickle]

get confrimation that your application is complete at every school you applied to. Sometimes one school may be missing something and they wont tell you until later in the cycle.

 

[HangOnSloopy]

write down the dates of everything you sent in, and so when AADSAS loses it down the road, you can bitch at them and back it up with facts

 

[Mithridates]

Wish I had known that you can have a few really bad marks (i.e. low sixties) on your transcript and still get into your dream school. Also, I wish I had known how difficult all the travelling would be - sounds like fun at first, but then it sucks because you're missing so much school & your marks suffer. But you're applying early so you have it made.

 

[swiminh2o]

get confrimation that your application is complete at every school you applied to. Sometimes one school may be missing something and they wont tell you until later in the cycle.

This is very good advice and I second it! I followed up with each school and I found several who were missing info that AADSAS said they had sent. Just keep following up to make sure everything is in place.

 

[dr_benj]

There were about 3 schools that I wish I hadn't applied to, because I virtually had no chance at gaining admissions at these schools, or I just didn't really like the school. Do your research before spending all the money on applications.

 

[HBomb]

write down the dates of everything you sent in, and so when AADSAS loses it down the road, you can bitch at them and back it up with facts

Personally, I photocopy everything I send in and write the date I sent it on the photocopy.

 

[busdriver]

There were about 3 schools that I wish I hadn't applied to, because I virtually had no chance at gaining admissions at these schools, or I just didn't really like the school. Do your research before spending all the money on applications.

i totally agree...save yourself some money and do research about schools... 👍

 

[45540]

Overnight everything yourself with fedex. That way there's no way of it getting lost and you can confirm that it's been delivered.

Our school had a prehealth department which would collect our reccomendation letters and make copies with a nice cover letter to send out to the individual schools and AADSAS. That was very convenient since i had to get everything out to four different places.

And just keep checking back to everywhere to make sure they have everything they need and aren't missing something stupid which would hold you back.

 

[honestpredent]

wow.. I'm a first one to response ?

Try to get all your recommendation letters, transcripts and send them overnight in one package. minimize (sp) the risks of losing them by your professors, your school's office of record and especially those AADAS people.

This won't work because AADSAS requires that your school directly mails them your transcript; the same policy applies to professors mailing them your letter of recommendation. It's not worth chancing this even if it may have worked for others in the past because a strict employee at AADSAS will just have you resend all of your materials anyway since you mailed it to them in one package. I repeat, ONLY THE SCHOOL can mail your transcipts to AADSAS.

Also, find out each school's policy on what they need. For example, some schools require letters of recommendation to be presented on letter head and won't accept it if it isn't.(Detroit Mercy; UNLV) Some schools absolutely require a letter of recommendation from a dentist or health professional in the field of dentistry. Your file will be incomplete if they don't receive an LOR from them (UNLV).

That is the best advice. Call each school and verify if your application is complete with each one.

 

[trypmo]

Personally, I photocopy everything I send in and write the date I sent it on the photocopy.

YES - I couldn't agree more with this statement. And this goes for everything important, not just D-school apps! I can't tell you how many times I've needed to fall back on the contents of my filing cabinet because somebody screwed up.

Warning: to my experience FedEx CAN lose things and WILL try to dodge responsibility for packages they lose. I'd definitely not rely 100% on their getting the thing there in one piece and on time.



CopiesCopiesCopiesCopiesCopiesCopiesCopiesCopies...

 

[Zurik5]

I would have applied to less schools (applied to seven), and applied to one of the florida schools (so that i could have taken a vacation during the winter)... Best of luck.

 

[DarcyT]

This is very good advice and I second it! I followed up with each school and I found several who were missing info that AADSAS said they had sent. Just keep following up to make sure everything is in place.

Yes, make sure you call the school to see what they are missing. Then call AADSAS and bitch at them for not sending it or losing it. I think I had to send my transcript something like 3 times. Thank God it was still early.

Anyway, if you plan to apply to a Texas school they have thier own version of AADSAS which you apply through. So make sure you go through that. But if your out of state its gonna be really hard to get in. Only 20 of the 250 seats go to out of state students.

Good Luck.