Need help structuring the next 2-3 years of my life

[Impulse155]

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So I am planning to take a year off for the purpose that I would like my senior year scores to be shown to schools (since these will end up being some of the better semesters of mine and will bring my GPA up). I was just curious as to the sequence and:
1) When should I take my DAT assuming I take a year off
2) When should I be applying to dental school if I take a year

 

[MAR89]

At the earliest, you would apply directly after graduating when the next cycle opens in late May/early June (not sure which it's going to be this year).

As for the DAT, you can take it any time before graduation, or during the summer after it. But your app won't be complete until schools have your scores, so the earlier the better I suppose.

 

[nze82]

So I am planning to take a year off for the purpose that I would like my senior year scores to be shown to schools (since these will end up being some of the better semesters of mine and will bring my GPA up). I was just curious as to the sequence and:
1) When should I take my DAT assuming I take a year off
When you feel like you're ready and you can score well on it!
2) When should I be applying to dental school if I take a year

When you have all the requirements:
-Pre-reqs
-DAT
.
.
.

 

[Impulse155]

Lemme jus make sure im not confusing myself. I can apply before I get my DAT scores however schools wont look at my app until after they get my DAT scores.

 

[UCLAzy]

yes

 

[toothfairy3]

OP,

I had the exact same situation. I submitted my AADSAS app June 5 (right after i graduated, like 2 days after AADSAS even opens) and I took the DAT Sept 4 and studied July and Aug right after I graduated. The schools got my scores i think like Oct and i started getting invites like VERY soon after =) Good luck!

 

[Impulse155]

Thank you everyone so far for great responses.
So this is what im planning:
I graduate May 2012 (on time)
Take my year off from 2012-2013
During that time period in April-May 2013 take the DAT or sometime aroudn there since Ill be able to have a year off and dedicate a few months soley to studying for the DAT.
Then apply for dental schools.


When does the cycle for applying start for dental schools?
And is is true that dental schools wont see your results from your senior years? (assuming you dont take a year off) Because im going to want them to

 

[MAR89]

The way you've laid it out, you'd be applying for the 2013 cycle, rather than the 2012 one, meaning you'd actually be taking 2 gap years. Not sure if this is what you intended. If you want to apply during the 2012 cycle, you'd have to take the DAT August of 2012 at the latest, or thereabouts (for applying early, get it done by May or June). Taking it April-May of the next year would be far too late.

As for senior year scores, if you're taking a gap year of course they'll take them into consideration. No need to worry about that.

 

[Impulse155]

I think I know what your talking about.
I want to apply to go to dental school in Sept of 2013.
So I would start applying in like may-june of 2012
Also I would take the DAT in May or so of 20120

As for gap years I mean if I dont take a gap year, they wont see my senior scores, correct. Or definately not my second semester.
Is that correct? lol

 

[MAR89]

Haha ok. Yeah, if you're planning on matriculating in Fall of 2013, that itinerary looks great 👍

And yeah, if you don't take a gap year, meaning you apply right after junior year, the adcoms will not see your senior year grades before inviting you for an interview. You will, however, have to eventually provide them when sending in the academic update.

Hope I understood it correctly 😛

 

[Impulse155]

Haha ok. Yeah, if you're planning on matriculating in Fall of 2013, that itinerary looks great 👍

And yeah, if you don't take a gap year, meaning you apply right after junior year, the adcoms will not see your senior year grades before inviting you for an interview. You will, however, have to eventually provide them when sending in the academic update.

Hope I understood it correctly 😛

Yeah you understood everything correctly, thank you very much for your help.

 

[Impulse155]

So heres my plan:
Ive heard DAT Destroyer and Cliff notes Bio being good sources so I was going to buy them for this coming summer. And start reviewing them over the summer of 2011 (after the spring semester)

Then do a normal semester (Fall)

Winter I was going to do a test prep class (Kaplan or Princeton Review, ive heard princeton review is better but need opinions on this)

Do my spring semester (2012)
Review the rest of May
Take the DAT end of May- Middle of June
Apply and thne have my DAT scores sent out once they are done.
Might do a 9th semester, most likely not though.
Get into dental school for the 2013 cycle. 🙂

 

[Impulse155]

So heres my plan:
Ive heard DAT Destroyer and Cliff notes Bio being good sources so I was going to buy them for this coming summer. And start reviewing them over the summer of 2011 (after the spring semester)

Then do a normal semester (Fall)

Winter I was going to do a test prep class (Kaplan or Princeton Review, ive heard princeton review is better but need opinions on this)

Do my spring semester (2012)
Review the rest of May
Take the DAT end of May- Middle of June
Apply and thne have my DAT scores sent out once they are done.
Might do a 9th semester, most likely not though.
Get into dental school for the 2013 cycle. 🙂

So I was thinking, if I take the DAT in May or June, when would be the earliest that schools can get my DAT scores assuming everything else would be sent out already

 

[dentalWorks]

So heres my plan:
Ive heard DAT Destroyer and Cliff notes Bio being good sources so I was going to buy them for this coming summer. And start reviewing them over the summer of 2011 (after the spring semester)

Then do a normal semester (Fall)

Winter I was going to do a test prep class (Kaplan or Princeton Review, ive heard princeton review is better but need opinions on this)

Do my spring semester (2012)
Review the rest of May
Take the DAT end of May- Middle of June
Apply and thne have my DAT scores sent out once they are done.
Might do a 9th semester, most likely not though.
Get into dental school for the 2013 cycle. 🙂

This is a good plan, but.......here is a suggestion no one brought up
Why don't you take the DAT IN SUMMER OF 2011
This will make life much easier. First off, you won't have to "rush" and "review" the material right after graduation and take it end-of-May/June.

Spend most of this summer studying for it, 1-3 months worth of good studying will land you a good score. Knock it off the "to-do list" this summer so that ALL you have to do on your senior year is polish up your grades, your LORs, your personal statement, and apply June 2012

 

[notin]

So I was thinking, if I take the DAT in May or June, when would be the earliest that schools can get my DAT scores assuming everything else would be sent out already

the application process begins at the beginning of june, that's when aadsas opens for the year. so you'll fill out your application as fast as you care to and submit. it will take 3-4 weeks for them to get your transcripts, process, etc, then if they have everything they'll mail out your application. the first applications are sent out in late june/early july. assuming nothing else like transcripts are holding it up, you can expect your application to go out maybe a month after you take the dat, it takes maybe 3-4 weeks for them to get DAT scores and process them. so you can figure out what impact your dat date will have on your application.

fwiw, my wife is saying that aadsas actually mails out your application even if your DAT scores aren't with it, but it is basically irrelevant because schools don't care about your application until your DAT scores come in, so my above advice is basically still correct.