One year ago today I was.......

[HOTTY]

I must say that one year ago today I was a nervous wreck. I was sooooooo stressed out all the time. The only way to deal with stress was to study for the DAT and get even more stressed because of all the stuff I didn't know. I remember my first KAPLAN diagnostic and I bombed it. What schools should I apply to? How much is all this going to cost me. Oh lord, those were some stressful times.

So to be a good SDNer and keep on the good side of mother karma, I will help whoever needs help in this thread. It is only my opinion, I do not know everything like most SDNers, but I have graduated from my University, applied to 20 or so schools and am attending this fall. So use me if you need to.....I have a ton of time on my hands between now and the fall.

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[Menna Atia]

Peace be upon you.I am just a new member and I come here also for help and benifiting from the others and thanks so much that you said you come here to help us.I always say the best thing in the life to be a doctor.I feel that the doctor is the most kind person in dealing with people and he is the most one who is working for mercy more than for money.
So now please I need advice.
How much hours should I study deally?
Also I have a problem with studing,I have this year 6 subjects to study(Dentition,Dental Materials,General Physiology,General Histology,Head and Neck and Biochemistry) and these subjects are really difficult and even I study much I forget and it costs me to revise the one lecture more than one time.And the day is busy with the lectures and labortries.So how can I make my memory better and find the best way to study?
It will be knid of you for replying and thank you for offering help.

 

[IamJetLi]

what school did u apply to?

I must say that one year ago today I was a nervous wreck. I was sooooooo stressed out all the time. The only way to deal with stress was to study for the DAT and get even more stressed because of all the stuff I didn't know. I remember my first KAPLAN diagnostic and I bombed it. What schools should I apply to? How much is all this going to cost me. Oh lord, those were some stressful times.

So to be a good SDNer and keep on the good side of mother karma, I will help whoever needs help in this thread. It is only my opinion, I do not know everything like most SDNers, but I have graduated from my University, applied to 20 or so schools and am attending this fall. So use me if you need to.....I have a ton of time on my hands between now and the fall.

 

[JohnDoeDDS]

Peace be upon you.I am just a new member and I come here also for help and benifiting from the others and thanks so much that you said you come here to help us.I always say the best thing in the life to be a doctor.I feel that the doctor is the most kind person in dealing with people and he is the most one who is working for mercy more than for money.
So now please I need advice.
How much hours should I study deally?
Also I have a problem with studing,I have this year 6 subjects to study(Dentition,Dental Materials,General Physiology,General Histology,Head and Neck and Biochemistry) and these subjects are really difficult and even I study much I forget and it costs me to revise the one lecture more than one time.And the day is busy with the lectures and labortries.So how can I make my memory better and find the best way to study?
It will be knid of you for replying and thank you for offering help.

What's with all this "peace be upon you" nonsense?

 

[KOM]

It's called manners...you know, being polite...

 

[HOTTY]

Peace be upon you.I am just a new member and I come here also for help and benifiting from the others and thanks so much that you said you come here to help us.I always say the best thing in the life to be a doctor.I feel that the doctor is the most kind person in dealing with people and he is the most one who is working for mercy more than for money.
So now please I need advice.
How much hours should I study deally?
Also I have a problem with studing,I have this year 6 subjects to study(Dentition,Dental Materials,General Physiology,General Histology,Head and Neck and Biochemistry) and these subjects are really difficult and even I study much I forget and it costs me to revise the one lecture more than one time.And the day is busy with the lectures and labortries.So how can I make my memory better and find the best way to study?
It will be knid of you for replying and thank you for offering help.

I was always best at studying first thing in the morning. Before all the craziness of the day sets in. Some poeple can do late nights, I would rather pull an all morning before I had to do anything else. Get up early and attack the subjects you need the most work on. For memorization, I would find a study buddy and just bounce ideas back and forth through flashcards or whatever.
I studied about 8-12 hours/day in the weeks leading up to the DAT. Congrats and best of luck!

 

[HOTTY]

what school did u apply to?

I applied to lots of schools, I am from Utah so I thumbed the ADEA book to see what schools accepted people from my state. As it turned out, many schools take many Utahns, so I applied to many schools.

 

[LizzleO]

Well, since you're so kind to offer...
My GPA wasn't the greatest... ~3.4 cum, 3.3 sci, until today when I had my physics final (a 5 hour class!!!!!) and I am quite convinced I am bombed it. Really, really bombed. So, having accepted the fact that I will probably get a D or C in the class, I am trying to figure out my next course of action. Take it again at a community college? How exactly does that fit into my GPA? Does it count towards my GPA on my dental apps but not on my University's GPA? Do I not stand a chance at getting in now that my GPA is obliterated? Besides cleaning this up, how can I really improve my resume? I have lots of volunteer, leadership position stuff, violinist, etc.

HELP!

 

[HOTTY]

Well, since you're so kind to offer...
My GPA wasn't the greatest... ~3.4 cum, 3.3 sci, until today when I had my physics final (a 5 hour class!!!!!) and I am quite convinced I am bombed it. Really, really bombed. So, having accepted the fact that I will probably get a D or C in the class, I am trying to figure out my next course of action. Take it again at a community college? How exactly does that fit into my GPA? Does it count towards my GPA on my dental apps but not on my University's GPA? Do I not stand a chance at getting in now that my GPA is obliterated? Besides cleaning this up, how can I really improve my resume? I have lots of volunteer, leadership position stuff, violinist, etc.

HELP!

Sorry to hear about your bombed class. Two things come to mind. You need to be able to explain it to an Adcom (why you bombed a core requisite), second you can still do well on the DAT. That is the wildcard, a good DAT score can alleviate all sorts of gpa problems. A third thought that comes to mind is why are you failing physics? Dental school is going to be way harder than an undergrad non-calc or even calc physics class. Get going and get good grades! Adcoms only have so much to base their decision on, don't give them reasons to doubt your abilities! Dental schools will look at all gpa's that you give them in the form of a transcript. Don't hide anything and try to do as well as you can. If you pass the class, I would try to explain it away as a fluke of a grade. If you didn't pass, you have no choice but to retake and do better.

Having said all that, good luck!

 

[Snahster]

Sorry to hear about your bombed class. Two things come to mind. You need to be able to explain it to an Adcom (why you bombed a core requisite), second you can still do well on the DAT. That is the wildcard, a good DAT score can alleviate all sorts of gpa problems. A third thought that comes to mind is why are you failing physics? Dental school is going to be way harder than an undergrad non-calc or even calc physics class. Get going and get good grades! Adcoms only have so much to base their decision on, don't give them reasons to doubt your abilities! Dental schools will look at all gpa's that you give them in the form of a transcript. Don't hide anything and try to do as well as you can. If you pass the class, I would try to explain it away as a fluke of a grade. If you didn't pass, you have no choice but to retake and do better.

Having said all that, good luck!

I disagree. Physics/Math classes don't simulate dental school. I can Ace any bio class you give me but physics just isn't for me no matter how much time and effort I put in. Bio classes are more indicative of what you will face in dental school. Physics is a joke and shouldn't even be a requirement.

 

[kevin512]

Snahster, taking physics simulates the difficulty of learning a new subject. Physics is not easy and neither is most of the dental classes. Adcoms want to see if you can cut it. Can you?

 

[RICEman]

Are you in dental school yet? Because if you are in dental school already, you would know that there is a need for physics. There is a need to know basic phycis principles for classes like Biomaterials, Operative Dentistry, various Prosthodontics courses, etc. You need to understand principles of thermadynamics, fluids, leverage, fulcrums, tensile and compressive strengths, etc. Unless you do research, you may never have to do physics calculations in dental school (different schoold teach the courses differently), but you MUST understand the principles of dentistry and how they apply in dentistry. Thus, the need for physics as a requirement.

you only need to understand the fundamentals of physics - not all of it.
I appreciate the original posters for "volunteering" their time here.

On a side note, engineering physics is very hard. One can memorize everything in undergrad biochem or physiology text if time is not a factor......understanding/applying calculus based physics is much much harder than most upper division biology course.

I know so many "top notch" undergrad pre-dents/pre-meds/pre-law who would not survive (even just) the first two years of engineering school.


Again, please share dental school application experience/knowledge here......thanks!

 

[HOTTY]

I disagree. Physics/Math classes don't simulate dental school. I can Ace any bio class you give me but physics just isn't for me no matter how much time and effort I put in. Bio classes are more indicative of what you will face in dental school. Physics is a joke and shouldn't even be a requirement.

Cmon now there snashter, I never said it would simulate dental school. You are right to some degree. You aren't going to be blasting out any formulae in dental school trying to figure out what the moment of inertia of the nearest star is. Given that point, you are required to do well in a class that covers material that is somewhat new to you, about 10 times over!

Bottom line is this, if a ton of predents can get an A in physics, you should be doing good (A-B range) also if you want to have the best chance of going to your dream school. Just my opinion peeps. good day

 

[kevin512]

Hotty, can you post your personal statement?

thanks!

 

[Lidopaine82]

Hotty, can you post your personal statement?

thanks!

forget that... post a picture

 

[Menna Atia]

I was always best at studying first thing in the morning. Before all the craziness of the day sets in. Some poeple can do late nights, I would rather pull an all morning before I had to do anything else. Get up early and attack the subjects you need the most work on. For memorization, I would find a study buddy and just bounce ideas back and forth through flashcards or whatever.
I studied about 8-12 hours/day in the weeks leading up to the DAT. Congrats and best of luck!

Peace be upon you Hotty,thanks so much for advise.Also thanks for Allah (my lord) I always wake up early.

 

[bxs023100]

Sorry to hear about your bombed class. Two things come to mind. You need to be able to explain it to an Adcom (why you bombed a core requisite), second you can still do well on the DAT. That is the wildcard, a good DAT score can alleviate all sorts of gpa problems. A third thought that comes to mind is why are you failing physics? Dental school is going to be way harder than an undergrad non-calc or even calc physics class. Get going and get good grades! Adcoms only have so much to base their decision on, don't give them reasons to doubt your abilities! Dental schools will look at all gpa's that you give them in the form of a transcript. Don't hide anything and try to do as well as you can. If you pass the class, I would try to explain it away as a fluke of a grade. If you didn't pass, you have no choice but to retake and do better.

Having said all that, good luck!

exactly what do you tell them as the reason for making a C in a class.
i made a C in physics, and i tried hard. i studied but just couldnt understand the stuff. so what do i tell them if, hopefully, i get an interview?

 

[djeffreyt]

exactly what do you tell them as the reason for making a C in a class.
i made a C in physics, and i tried hard. i studied but just couldnt understand the stuff. so what do i tell them if, hopefully, i get an interview?

Well...that depends on what you do with that C. If you choose to take the class over and do better, you say something like...

Physics was a difficult subject for me. I am not the best at everything, and physics isn't easy for me to understand quickly. Unfortunately I didn't do as well as I had hoped during the first time I took the class, but I am the type of person who, when confronted with a challenge, will strive to overcome it. I retook the class, realized I had to work harder and get some help with the concepts, and the second time around I understood the material better and did better. I think that if I encounter similar subjects in dental school that are difficult, I will learn to adapt faster and seek help sooner so that I can learn the material and excel in the class.

If on the other hand you leave it as a C, well, use all the normal excuses you used in high school to explain bad grades to your parents. The teacher hated me. It's not a fair subject. When am I gonna need to use ohms law in real life?!?!?...probably won't work, but sure will be funny.

 

[HOTTY]

Hotty, can you post your personal statement?

thanks!

Sorry friends, I won't post my personal statement, it will pretty much give me away to those who have already read it. Anonymity is a beautiful thing.

 

[HOTTY]

forget that... post a picture

I posted a picture once last summer, the guys didn't believe it was me. I am not going through that again. Sorry Lidopaine...

 

[HOTTY]

exactly what do you tell them as the reason for making a C in a class.
i made a C in physics, and i tried hard. i studied but just couldnt understand the stuff. so what do i tell them if, hopefully, i get an interview?

What djeff has said is true, don't forget to play the personal reasons card if need be. Boyfreinds, parents etc. That whole pandora's box can sometimes be helpful.

 

[Nasem]

hotty... Please post your picture...
Its sooo hard fantasizing "us together" without your picture...

Do my imagination a favor and POST IT

 

[901preDent]

hotty ,
I am just curious about where you got accepted to a how long did it take. How hard did you study for the DAt and how did you do so.
P.S. I bombed my first prac. test also!!lol

 

[901preDent]

you only need to understand the fundamentals of physics - not all of it.
I appreciate the original posters for "volunteering" their time here.

On a side note, engineering physics is very hard. One can memorize everything in undergrad biochem or physiology text if time is not a factor......understanding/applying calculus based physics is much much harder than most upper division biology course.

I know so many "top notch" undergrad pre-dents/pre-meds/pre-law who would not survive (even just) the first two years of engineering school.


Again, please share dental school application experience/knowledge here......thanks!

yea I know many engineering students that would sink in a upper division bio course or chem course as well... hell even some that cant hang in a begining biology class at my school!!

 

[Nasem]

hotty ,
I am just curious about where you got accepted to a how long did it take. How hard did you study for the DAt and how did you do so.
P.S. I bombed my first prac. test also!!lol

WHO CARES..... I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW HOT SHE IS !!!!

 

[djeffreyt]

hotty ,
I am just curious about where you got accepted to a how long did it take. How hard did you study for the DAt and how did you do so.
P.S. I bombed my first prac. test also!!lol

901...I think she already answered your question...unless you are looking for extreme detail:

I was always best at studying first thing in the morning. Before all the craziness of the day sets in. Some poeple can do late nights, I would rather pull an all morning before I had to do anything else. Get up early and attack the subjects you need the most work on. For memorization, I would find a study buddy and just bounce ideas back and forth through flashcards or whatever.
I studied about 8-12 hours/day in the weeks leading up to the DAT. Congrats and best of luck!

And Nasem, there are a million internet porn sites that could probably quench your over-zealous libido.

 

[HOTTY]

hotty ,
I am just curious about where you got accepted to a how long did it take. How hard did you study for the DAt and how did you do so.
P.S. I bombed my first prac. test also!!lol

I was accepted to multiple schools on December 1. I studied/rewrote notes on each topic outlined by the ADA. I worked really hard for a week, then took another practice test. After that, I reviewed each test thoroughly. I just made notes and gathered a ton of info on each topic.
Most tests will give you answers with great explanations. Use those to gain as much knowledge as possible. Don't waste your tests though, use them wisely and timely.
I spent a ton of time re-memorizing Gen-Chem formulae. Math was also a killer. The trick is to do as little number crunching as possible. Rather, line up equations and simplify as much as possoble before calculating. Otherwise you are thinking too much and wasting time. It is called Quantitative Reasoning for a reason, you need to be able to solve without getting all nitty-gritty with decimal places and multiple calculations per problem.

Good Luck Predents

 

[Nasem]

901...And Nasem, there are a million internet porn sites that could probably quench your over-zealous libido.

Oh come on, your such a kill joy.... those websites are boring ... besides, im here at work and I think they don't let us watch porn on a daily bases

ON THE OTHER HAND... THEY CANT' STOP ME FROM FORNICATING IN MY MIND.... YOU CAN TAKE AWAY MY WEBSITES BUT YOU'LL NEVER TAKE WAY MY MENTAL FREEEEEDOOOOMMM

 

[djeffreyt]

We're working on a chip that will take away your mental freedom.

 

[Nasem]

We're working on a chip that will take away your mental freedom.

NOOOOOOOOO

 

[HOTTY]

Nasem,

let's keep this clean, I am trying to help as many people as I can here. Your easily distracted mind can deter poeple from askng for help. This party will never get to your pants.

 

[trann]

hiii all

how much does Extracurricular Activities/Experience in Dentistry/Community Service play a role in dental school selection process?? do you have any idea??

would dental schools take 'extreme' students?... that is they are either: 1) very smart, high GPA, high DAT but don't have experience in dentistry ~ have minimal hours of Community Service... or 2) devotees to the community, full of knowledge about dentistry but they don't have the grades.. that is their GPAs/DAT scores are really low...

^ out of those 2 types of extremes above... which one 'sounds' better??? is it better to be person 1? or 2?



and did anyone in here get into any dental schools with like.. very little experience in dentistry??? .. i'm just curious

thankss

 

[HOTTY]

I shadowed for near forty or so hours. That is all the experience I have. So I would thus classify myself as person number one. Other than shadowing my dentist that I grew up with, that is about all.

In your personal statement you can say things that can't be proven anywhere else though. Say why dentistry is right for you. Whether it is an excitement/eagerness for applying science/technology into a real world application with human interaction or if it is just your dream since you were a young lad, write it! Your interviewers will defintely ask about these kinds of things. If you can figure these out, they will show in an interview and in your statement and the documented hours/experience will matter less and less.

That is not to say that dental experience doesn't matter or isn't important, it is. Get as much as you can. If you can't get those kinds of oppurtunities, you can still make it. Remember, the initial screenings involve mostly DAT and GPA numbers. You have to meet some of these minimums before you can even interview.

 

[shamrock2006]

i think i graduated from college one year ago to the day...

 

[djeffreyt]

and did anyone in here get into any dental schools with like.. very little experience in dentistry??? .. i'm just curious

thankss

I'm just wondering why you want to go into dentistry so much if You haven't had much experience in it and you put a snoring face right after you mention "experience with dentistry"

Of course...I could be reading to much into a smiley, but do you find actual dentistry boring?

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

I have a question about P.S....i google some sample P.S. for health profession and all of them have emotional/social stories about why they chose their particular profession....well i dont have a story! i chose dentistry because i cannot see myself doing anything else in life!i love helping people & i cant see people in pain( i am not just saying that to look good... i really am a people person)...now you guys might think that i can do this by going into medical as well. But I did not go into medical because i am a girl & i will have a family in future & i wanted a job with flexible hours & also where i can help people, that is why i chose dentistry.

So how am i suppose to write my P.S.?i am really worried about that...how am i going to write 1 page just on this stuff?

thanks in advance!

 

[ddhm]

I have a question about P.S....i google some sample P.S. for health profession and all of them have emotional/social stories about why they chose their particular profession....well i dont have a story! i chose dentistry because i cannot see myself doing anything else in life!i love helping people & i cant see people in pain( i am not just saying that to look good... i really am a people person)...now you guys might think that i can do this by going into medical as well. But I did not go into medical because i am a girl & i will have a family in future & i wanted a job with flexible hours & also where i can help people, that is why i chose dentistry.

So how am i suppose to write my P.S.?i am really worried about that...how am i going to write 1 page just on this stuff?

thanks in advance!

i think what you said about yourself above, short as it was, could form a solid basis for a decent PS. i posted a thread earlier this week about personal statements, and received some advice. one of the better ones being that your personal statement should reflect your personality. so if you don't have what you personally would describe as an "emotional/social" background or story relating to why you chose dentistry, then don't trouble or worry yourself over it by boxing your mind in and forming some set idea of what a dental school PS should be like.

myself personally, i read several personal statements written by other people to get an idea of the range of personal statement styles. most of the ones i read happened to be for med school though, and they tended to be very emotional and subjective, with a minority being written in very straightforward, cover letter-type styles. but i've also read some dental school PS samples and it seems to be the opposite. the majority took a very practical, straightforward "why i like dentistry and what i've done" approach.

in short, what you said about yourself -- that you can't imagine doing any other career, your reasons for being a people person, that you want the flexibility to accomodate your future family plans -- sounds like a good basis for a personal statement. i suppose what will matter the most will be the details specific to you that you incorporate into your statement.

and oh, don't you worry about not being able to write even a page's worth just on the stuff you said alone. the aadsas limit for your statement is 4500 characters including spaces. believe me, once you start writing and get in your groove, you'll quickly find yourself worrying more about what to cut out.

i wish you luck writing your statement.

 

[Lesley]

I must say that one year ago today I was a nervous wreck. I was sooooooo stressed out all the time. The only way to deal with stress was to study for the DAT and get even more stressed because of all the stuff I didn't know. I remember my first KAPLAN diagnostic and I bombed it. What schools should I apply to? How much is all this going to cost me. Oh lord, those were some stressful times.

So to be a good SDNer and keep on the good side of mother karma, I will help whoever needs help in this thread. It is only my opinion, I do not know everything like most SDNers, but I have graduated from my University, applied to 20 or so schools and am attending this fall. So use me if you need to.....I have a ton of time on my hands between now and the fall.

Congratulations! By taking time to smell the roses, reflection is another reward in and of itself, so is helping others.

I would think that most accepted dental applicants feel like you, as do most college and dental students at their graduations and the same goes for a new dentist who just secures their first job or practice. As much as these accomplishments took a lot of hard work, perseverance and planning, they almost seems miraculous in the end.

My older son graduates from college this week and my younger son just finished his first year, and now, like you, I'm smelling the roses, too. For me, life keeps getting better. College, dental school, the militiary, a practice, raising two kids, and now watching as they pass on through college, my joy continues! Enjoy each step and continue to take the time to look back after every one! It makes the journey so much clearer. Very Best Wishes and Good Luck.

 

[trann]

I'm just wondering why you want to go into dentistry so much if You haven't had much experience in it and you put a snoring face right after you mention "experience with dentistry"

Of course...I could be reading to much into a smiley, but do you find actual dentistry boring?

oh no. don't get me wrong. don't read so much into the smilies... i put that smiley there because i guess.. it applies to me.. which, in my opinion, bad....

of course i know what dentistry is like... i've actually seen dentists done work on people. i had hand-on-hand experience with the patients once when i attended TMOM - Texas Mission of Mercy... i got to make the malcolm too ... the thing is that i'm too busy with school stuff that barely have anytime to volunteer..... (plus i don't know any place around where i live that i could volunteer)... "what would happen if my extracurricular/shadowing was not so great??"... like below the number that adcoms at the dental schools look for...

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

oh no. don't get me wrong. don't read so much into the smilies... i put that smiley there because i guess.. it applies to me.. which, in my opinion, bad....

of course i know what dentistry is like... i've actually seen dentists done work on people. i had hand-on-hand experience with the patients once when i attended TMOM - Texas Mission of Mercy... i got to make the malcolm too ... the thing is that i'm too busy with school stuff that barely have anytime to volunteer..... (plus i don't know any place around where i live that i could volunteer)... "what would happen if my extracurricular/shadowing was not so great??"... like below the number that adcoms at the dental schools look for...

yea good question...what are the shadowing/voluntary #s for adcoms?

i have ~100 shadowing @ general dentist clinic & ~40 voluntary work @ hospital....i am stil currently doing both...

 

[Mstoothlady2012]

i think what you said about yourself above, short as it was, could form a solid basis for a decent PS. i posted a thread earlier this week about personal statements, and received some advice. one of the better ones being that your personal statement should reflect your personality. so if you don't have what you personally would describe as an "emotional/social" background or story relating to why you chose dentistry, then don't trouble or worry yourself over it by boxing your mind in and forming some set idea of what a dental school PS should be like.

myself personally, i read several personal statements written by other people to get an idea of the range of personal statement styles. most of the ones i read happened to be for med school though, and they tended to be very emotional and subjective, with a minority being written in very straightforward, cover letter-type styles. but i've also read some dental school PS samples and it seems to be the opposite. the majority took a very practical, straightforward "why i like dentistry and what i've done" approach.

in short, what you said about yourself -- that you can't imagine doing any other career, your reasons for being a people person, that you want the flexibility to accomodate your future family plans -- sounds like a good basis for a personal statement. i suppose what will matter the most will be the details specific to you that you incorporate into your statement.

and oh, don't you worry about not being able to write even a page's worth just on the stuff you said alone. the aadsas limit for your statement is 4500 characters including spaces. believe me, once you start writing and get in your groove, you'll quickly find yourself worrying more about what to cut out.

i wish you luck writing your statement.

thanks a lot! that helps...i am relieved now! i guess once i start writing i will be fine...just havent started working on it yet!

 

[djeffreyt]

The average minimum hours of observation and shadowing I've heard of usually is around 20-30 hours. If you have more great. You should try to make the time to do above the minimum, but you don't have to go crazy and shadow 500 hours. Generally speaking, if you do 30 hours at a general dentist's office, you'll probably see 95% of the type of stuff they deal with every day. You could then shadow specialists too to get more perspective.

There isn't a volunteering requirement that I know of at any school. But it never hurts to do it. At many schools, volunteering in the dental field is not what they mean when they say you should volunteer. Most schools realize that there aren't always dental related volunteer activities for the student to participate in, so you can volunteer your time with other charities and organizations as well. Again, though, I've never seen or read of a minimum volunteer hours requirement. It doesn't hurt though.

 

[HOTTY]

The average minimum hours of observation and shadowing I've heard of usually is around 20-30 hours. If you have more great. You should try to make the time to do above the minimum, but you don't have to go crazy and shadow 500 hours. Generally speaking, if you do 30 hours at a general dentist's office, you'll probably see 95% of the type of stuff they deal with every day. You could then shadow specialists too to get more perspective.

There isn't a volunteering requirement that I know of at any school. But it never hurts to do it. At many schools, volunteering in the dental field is not what they mean when they say you should volunteer. Most schools realize that there aren't always dental related volunteer activities for the student to participate in, so you can volunteer your time with other charities and organizations as well. Again, though, I've never seen or read of a minimum volunteer hours requirement. It doesn't hurt though.

This is sound advice. To be a bit more specific, I think UNLV required me to shadow more than one dentist. They recommended 40+ hours with a general and a specialist. Ohio state required 40 hours also. I would say you can't go wrong with 40 hours and a combination of general and specialist. Good Luck to you all.

Keep the questions a comin'

 

[Envision]

I must say that one year ago today I was a nervous wreck. I was sooooooo stressed out all the time. The only way to deal with stress was to study for the DAT and get even more stressed because of all the stuff I didn't know. I remember my first KAPLAN diagnostic and I bombed it. What schools should I apply to? How much is all this going to cost me. Oh lord, those were some stressful times.

So to be a good SDNer and keep on the good side of mother karma, I will help whoever needs help in this thread. It is only my opinion, I do not know everything like most SDNers, but I have graduated from my University, applied to 20 or so schools and am attending this fall. So use me if you need to.....I have a ton of time on my hands between now and the fall.

Its nice to see you being so pleasant, its not quite how i remember you one year ago.

Nice to see you've changed for the better. Cheers on school and whatever.

 

[uesider]

When you guys said you "bombed" your Kaplan diagnostic... what numbers are you talking about? I got a 14 AA on the first one... is that worse than "bombing" it? (this was before any studying at all... so I wasn't THAT disappointed or surprised... but I also did not hear what anyone else in my class got so I really have no idea where I stand.)

 

[HOTTY]

Well predents, we are less than a week away for the opening of the new cycle.

Everyone should have things lined up and ready to submit. I would print off your transcripts from undergrad and have them ready. You will have to punch all that in by hand.

Any other questions before you get your app started?

Oh and it is nearly impossible to bomb a diagnostic, everybody usually does bad due to the unusual length of the test.

 

[HOTTY]

I have been getting a ton of PM's about AADSAS opening up....so here are some tips.

You can open the AADSAS and create your file anytime the new cycle begins.
After you create the file, you need to input all of the app material. This includes personal statement, transcript input, etc.

For the transcript input, you do need to put in every single class you have ever taken including department, grade, your credit hours earned, your grade, and what type of class it was (such as online, in class, etc) and so forth.

You will need to input degree expectations including type of degree and date expected along with any previous degrees.

There is a biographical section for all your personal and family info.
There is a section on your DAT scores or date the DAT is to be taken (estimates ok).
They will want short answers for manual dexterity, what companies you used to study for the DAT, extracurricular/volunteer, work history etc.

By far the most time consuming is the transcript entry. I stayed up all night entering it in so I could complete the app as soon as possible.

You can pay via credit or debit.
You do need to have your school send an official transcript to aadsas, and you do need to send your letters of recommendation in also. (if you don't do it electronically).

You can e-submit as soon as you enter everything in, always double check for errors because once it is in, you can't change much.
I e-submitted the next day, I was included in all the first mailings to schools and received interview offers in mid July. I took the DAT in mid June.

Any other questions just let me know. Oh and I don't claim to know it all, feel free to add to this if I missed anything.

Good Luck

 

[KEC029]

what about the transcript and lor matching forms?
how did you send them with yours stuff? did you ask your school to just attach them when sending out?

 

[djeffreyt]

This is sound advice. To be a bit more specific, I think UNLV required me to shadow more than one dentist. They recommended 40+ hours with a general and a specialist. Ohio state required 40 hours also. I would say you can't go wrong with 40 hours and a combination of general and specialist. Good Luck to you all.

Keep the questions a comin'

I guess I'll also add that Tufts requires 30 hours of observation and a letter of confirmation from the dentist you did the shadowing from. This is not a letter of rec, you need to confirm your hours. So it is easiest to do 30 with one dentist for them.

 

[phungy]

I guess I'll also add that Tufts requires 30 hours of observation and a letter of confirmation from the dentist you did the shadowing from. This is not a letter of rec, you need to confirm your hours. So it is easiest to do 30 with one dentist for them.

How does one send the letter of shadowing confirmation to Tufts? Through AASDAS or secondaries?