need advice & suggestions please!

[Red Devil]

hey all,

I'm new to this site, but I was told to post on this
forum with all my q's about the dental application
process, etc...
So, here goes...

I recently decided to shift my focus from medicine to
dentistry, but I haven't shadowed a dentist as yet.
However, I volunteered at a orphanage a few years ago
where I informed and taught children about the
importance of hygeine and maintaining good dental
care. It was a great experience, and I could
definitely see myself making a difference as a future
dentist.

So, I have filled out most of the AADSAS for the 2006
cycle (just have the essay part left). I need to,
however, shadow a dentist and take the DAT.

1.) I just wanted to know if any of you think it's possible for
me to shadow a dentist for 2 months (June and July), and would
this be enough time for me to shadow and get a LOR
from a dentist?

2.) Would I be too late in the application
process if I took the DAT in August? I have already
started preparing for the exam, and it's going well so
far. If I feel like I need to take a Kaplan course, I
will sign up for the one in July. Otherwise, I am just
planning on using the Barron's and Kaplan's DAT books
and Topscore.

3.) Would I be too late to apply if all my
LOR's went out in August along with my DAT scores?

4.) Should I send in the AADSAS as soon as I'm done even if the DAT
scores and LOR's are sent out later?

5.) Also, is it better for me to just get 3 separate LOR's from
professors/dentists, or do I have to go through a
pre-health committee?

I just want to make sure it's possible to still get
interviews at schools even if all my materials
(besides the AADSAS) are sent in August. I feel like I
have more than enough research experiences, volunteer
experiences, extracurricular activities from college,
leadership activities, etc... and good grades to be
ready for applying. Also, I'm currently doing research
in a lab, and so I will have had 2 years of work
experience before entering dental school in 2006.

I think that's about it...any advice/suggestions will
be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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[kelbal10]

hey all,

I'm new to this site, but I was told to post on this
forum with all my q's about the dental application
process, etc...
So, here goes...

I recently decided to shift my focus from medicine to
dentistry, but I haven't shadowed a dentist as yet.
However, I volunteered at a orphanage a few years ago
where I informed and taught children about the
importance of hygeine and maintaining good dental
care. It was a great experience, and I could
definitely see myself making a difference as a future
dentist.

So, I have filled out most of the AADSAS for the 2006
cycle (just have the essay part left). I need to,
however, shadow a dentist and take the DAT.

1.) I just wanted to know if any of you think it's possible for
me to shadow a dentist for 2 months (June and July), and would
this be enough time for me to shadow and get a LOR
from a dentist?

2.) Would I be too late in the application
process if I took the DAT in August? I have already
started preparing for the exam, and it's going well so
far. If I feel like I need to take a Kaplan course, I
will sign up for the one in July. Otherwise, I am just
planning on using the Barron's and Kaplan's DAT books
and Topscore.

3.) Would I be too late to apply if all my
LOR's went out in August along with my DAT scores?

4.) Should I send in the AADSAS as soon as I'm done even if the DAT
scores and LOR's are sent out later?

5.) Also, is it better for me to just get 3 separate LOR's from
professors/dentists, or do I have to go through a
pre-health committee?

I just want to make sure it's possible to still get
interviews at schools even if all my materials
(besides the AADSAS) are sent in August. I feel like I
have more than enough research experiences, volunteer
experiences, extracurricular activities from college,
leadership activities, etc... and good grades to be
ready for applying. Also, I'm currently doing research
in a lab, and so I will have had 2 years of work
experience before entering dental school in 2006.

I think that's about it...any advice/suggestions will
be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

1.) 2 months is by far enough time to shadow and get a letter of recommendation.

2.)It is not too late to take the DAT in August. I applied in December, and I managed to get accepted to my top choice for the upcoming year. However, my stats were very good and I have an excellent dental background. I would not recommend applying that late. But August, you should be fine.

3.)No, you will not be too late. One of my LORs didn't make it out to schools until February.

4.) Yes, send out your AADSAS now, and then send in your LORs and DAT later. AADSAS will get a head start on processing your application, and it will already be given to the schools when you submit your scores and LORs.

5.) Do what is easier for you. Some schools do not even have a pre-professional committee anyway. Mine didn't.

Good luck to you - you sound like a good applicant.