Hey everybody!! I'm planning to apply for next year's application cycle and I was wondering most schools that I'm planning to apply to require a bachelor's degree before I start dental school and what not...I'm currently entering my 3rd year of college and I'm on track to finishing my bachelors in biology by summer of next year (a year ahead of schedule). Since a bachelors degree is required, do dental schools must have pre-reqs (including the bachelors degree) by spring or do summer courses count as well? Or does it vary by school? I'm planning to take my DATs for the first time in December...When is the best time to take them? When are the test scheduled and how long do I have to wait until I can retake them? Thanx in advance...This will help me plan better for the next *painful* year ahead of me 🙂.
Just have a few questions.
- Thread starter JEW UNIT
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Since you are applying next summer, there is no conflict of you finishing your bachelors in the spring or the summer. Most students apply during their senior year and can be accepted to dental school even before they have received their degree, so you're perfectly fine in that regard.
You can take the DAT this december, and if you need to re-take it, you have to wait at least 90 days. The DAT is offered everyday except Sundays (and some states they don't offer it on saturday either I think), so try to call and schedule a date 1.5 to 2 months in advance. You can also reschedule it as well if need be. I think it would be a good idea if you take it in december. If you wait till next summer to take it and end up having to retake it, then your application will be delayed.
You can take the DAT this december, and if you need to re-take it, you have to wait at least 90 days. The DAT is offered everyday except Sundays (and some states they don't offer it on saturday either I think), so try to call and schedule a date 1.5 to 2 months in advance. You can also reschedule it as well if need be. I think it would be a good idea if you take it in december. If you wait till next summer to take it and end up having to retake it, then your application will be delayed.
Thanx 4th molar for the response...I just have a few more questions.
I know that EC are a big part of admissions....I was wondering how do I improve on that...I haven't been pulling my weight on that aspect of the application (due to working full time). For now I have ~40 hours of community service and by the end of the next year I should have, in addition to the community service, ~320 hours of internship/research hours, shadowing of dentists, and a few hours of tutoring experience (hopefully)...Does that look good on a resume? What should I do to improve my chances (or atleast look well round)?
I know that EC are a big part of admissions....I was wondering how do I improve on that...I haven't been pulling my weight on that aspect of the application (due to working full time). For now I have ~40 hours of community service and by the end of the next year I should have, in addition to the community service, ~320 hours of internship/research hours, shadowing of dentists, and a few hours of tutoring experience (hopefully)...Does that look good on a resume? What should I do to improve my chances (or atleast look well round)?
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There should be plenty of student organizations on campus so find something that interests you. I personally think quality > quantity, so find an organization that interests you and pull your weight in it. Don't just join a bunch and not do anything in them. Also, try to volunteer at dental clinics, offices, and non-dental related activities. Try shadowing specialists if you haven't and continue your research if you can. I would focus on your DAT, b/c even though dental schools like to see well-rounded individuals, it's still a numbers game and a high GPA and DAT will outweigh ECs for you to land an interview.
Thanx. That's a shame;I was hoping the extra ECs will help my application look good to off set my GPA. It's extremely hard working full time (35-40 hours/week) and maintaining a 3.6 overall/science...And I'm still in community college. This is the toughest year with all that and 20+ credits at a university per semester 🙁....To maintain my GPA, I need straight A's from now on...Atleast I got 6 more months until I take the DAT's...I guess I need a perfect score to even be considered. Thanx for all your help...I really appreciate it.
Is there a website that will help understand how the DAT's are scored and how they are graded? Sorry for all the questions...I was a pre-pharm student and I'm used to the PCAT grading scale.
Is there a website that will help understand how the DAT's are scored and how they are graded? Sorry for all the questions...I was a pre-pharm student and I'm used to the PCAT grading scale.
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How do you get a bachelors degree if you're still in community college? A lot of dental schools prefer you take your pre-reqs at a 4 year university and some schools do not even accept CC credits.
Here's the website where you can find all the info about the DAT and how it's scored:
http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_examinee_guide.pdf
Here's the website where you can find all the info about the DAT and how it's scored:
http://www.ada.org/sections/educationAndCareers/pdfs/dat_examinee_guide.pdf
Thanx for the information...My CC has a 3+1 program...Spend 3 years at CC and 1 year at a university to get a BS in Bio...In my first 2 years (the year I just finished) I completed 3 years worth of classes (84 credits)...So I can transfer for the remainder 36 (Need 120 for the BS)...🙂. Anything it takes to get out of college faster 😛. I checked and most schools require atleast 30 credits at a university.
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EC's are totally overrated. I had like zero and a low GPA. Working holds more weight than you would think with adcoms. Also, legally changing your name to JEW UNIT would really go over well on the app.
Thanx for you input 🙂. Do you mind sharing your stats? Also, the think I'm mostly worried about dental schools (hell dentistry all together) is the actual hands on part. Is it as hard as people put it out to be.
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My GPA's were close 30 3.0 but not below. 21 AA, 20 TS, and 25 RC (which is the most important section on the DAT). On your Personal statement try to spin your work experience into being a beneficial life experience ( perhaps inter-personal communication skills, organizational, or even maybe hand skills). Its really not that hard to do and I believe it holds much more weight than volunteering which is obviously done to pad the application.
Thanx. How is the actual hands on portion of dentistry? Have you started that yet? Are you having difficulty doing it? How hard is it to get used to it? That's the part I'm worried about.
