Need some advice on application timeline

[sleepinxlionhar]

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Hi all,

So I'm having sort of a hard time sorting out my timeline of when to apply and stuff. So, right now, I'm thinking that I might apply around July, not the earliest, I know. But the thing is, my final spring grades won't come out until June 25th, and that's almost already a month after AADSAS opens. So I don't think I can do anything about that. Then, asap, I'll submit my application. From what I have been reading on this forum, AADSAS won't be able to verify everything and send it to the schools until 4-6 weeks later. So then, I'm thinking of taking my DAT after submitting my application maybe like 4 weeks after submitting my application, which would be late July. Then basically, I'll have my scores sent to the schools.

So I have some questions:
1. Would the above be a good way to go about applying? Or is there a better way?
2. If I do submit my application without my DAT scores say on June 26th, would my application be considered to be "applied" on June 26? or would it be consider to be "applied" after I finally send my DAT scores in? Basically, which "time stamp" would they give to my application to this case, the one on June 26th, when I sent out my application, or the one in July when I finish the DAT?
3. Since I'm not familiar with the AADSAS application, I was wondering, if I take the DAT after sending my app., how would I send the scores to the schools I want? Do I just give my scores to AADSAS, and then they'll it out to the school? But I've heard that in the DAT, it'll let you specify up to 5 schools to send the scores to, since I want to apply to more than 5 schools..do I just put any 5, and have the rest sent through AADSAS?

Thanks!

 

[playa2652]

The earliest you get your app done and submitted, the better. Your application is put on hold until you submit the remaining information (ie DAT, LORs, transcripts), but it still puts you in a better position than someone who takes the DAT after submitting it. The adcoms of almost all the dental schools need about 1-2 months to go through the stacks of apps before they actually get to your file specifically. Your time stamp will be the day you submit it, but adcoms won't look completely at your app until all necessary items are submitted. I would check with other people and AADSAS, but that is my assumption. When filling out your app, you are given the option of adding which schools you would like to send your app to. This is different from when you apply to take your DAT (which is with Prometric test centers) who will electronically send your scores to the respective schools you pay to send them to. Both these processes require you to pay a fee. When filling out which schools to send your DAT scores, the fee gets slightly lower as you apply to more schools. Hope that helps.

 

[JamesOSU]

I believe you can apply June 1st and update with those new grades on June 25th by mailing in your new transcript and updating online, that might help streamline the process.

I thought they sent your app packet without DAT scores anyway, but the schools won't consider them complete until they have your scores, or is that just LORs? Hopefully someone else can help with this, its been too long since I dealt with it, haha

 

[lphiewok]

I think as long as you are applying in June (therefore, schools can start reviewing in July), you should be fine and still considered early.
There are lot of talk about applying early, but you do not have to be the first one to apply there. Many people apply until September and you should definitely still be considered as long as you finish everything in June and have your transcript sent to dschools asap.

They could start reviewing your file without your DAT but that will all depend on dschools I believe. Some schools will not start reviewing your file until it is 'complete' whereas some others will start reviewing as soon as files get there and even some will offer interview without DAT (but you will have to have very solid stats in other areas).

Good luck and as long as you know what you are doing, you should be fine!