****Please help me to realize where I am in my path*****

[elena molaee]

Hello everyone,

I need your help to realize where I am in my path.

I finished my high school in a foreign country and I got my natural science diploma. After that, I continued my education in Architecture field and I got my bachelor degree in Architecture field on 2016 from that country. Then, I moved to the US on 2018 and I decided to change my educational path because I got really interested in dentistry field. In my opinion dental field has so many common with architectural field in terms of accuracy and delicacy. On a first year of college in the US, I finished some ESL courses and then started to take prerequisites science course of dental schools. In the country where I am form, the GPA scale is based of 20. When I converted my bachelor’s GPA to the US scale myself, it’s almost 3.55, but not sure about the accuracy. So far, I took ENG 101, general chemistry 1 & 2, general biology 1 & 2, calculous 1, physics 1 & 2, and psychology at community college with overall GPA 4.00. For the spring 2021, I am taking org chemistry 1 and biology & physiology 1 at university. Now I have several question regarding my situation and I will be grateful if you can help me with those.

1. How the science GPA is calculated? Is science GPA calculated only based on prerequisites or is based on bachelor’s science courses as well?
2. Do the dental schools accept my Architecture bachelor or I have to take a science related bachelor?
3. When is the best cycle to apply while I also need to take the DAT? Can I take it this up coming June or it’s too soon for me?
4. What is the best DAT resource or test sample to refer?
5. What is the best method to be prepared for reading comprehensive section of DAT?
6. I do not have any shadowing hours or community voluntarily hours because of Covid pandemic, do I still have any chance to get admission from dental school if I apply this up coming cycle?

Thanks for your time

 

[sobertiger]

1. sGPA takes all the science courses into account, not just the prerequisites.
2. Doesn't have to be a science related bachelor's degree. Some schools don't even require a bachelor's.
3. You should just apply this cycle. I took it in July and it was fine.
4. DAT Bootcamp worked best for me.
5. The practice tests on DAT Bootcamp were helpful. Practice time management!

 

[elena molaee]

Thanks for your answer. You mean I have to take the DAT on June 2021 while I have not completed org chem 2, biology 2, biochem, & microbiology by June ?

 

[sobertiger]

Thanks for your answer. You mean I have to take the DAT on June 2021 while I have not completed org chem 2, biology 2, biochem, & microbiology by June ?

Yes, you can still apply. You just need to finish the necessary coursework before you matriculate.

 

[elena molaee]

Yes, you can still apply. You just need to finish the necessary coursework before you matriculat

Yes, you can still apply. You just need to finish the necessary coursework before you matriculate.

Yes, you can still apply. You just need to finish the necessary coursework before you matriculate.

Honestly, I’m really concerned about taking DAT and applying for this cycle. one of my friend who recently took DAT told me I do not have any chance for this cycle because I have some prerequisites left and I do not have any shadowing hours. That’s why I put much research and found this great website with a lot of useful topics for getting more advice.

 

[sobertiger]

Honestly, I’m really concerned about taking DAT and applying for this cycle. one of my friend who recently took DAT told me I do not have any chance for this cycle because I have some prerequisites left and I do not have any shadowing hours. That’s why I put much research and found this great website with a lot of useful topics for getting more advice.

Is it necessary to finish all pre reqs before time of application to dental school? | Student Doctor Network

 

[elena molaee]

Is it necessary to finish all pre reqs before time of application to dental school? | Student Doctor Network

Thank you for the link. Without passing those courses prior to take DAT, what is my actual chance to get an appropriate score on DAT ( assuming to take it on June) ? Do I need to complete my shadowing hours before applying for this cycle ?

 

[sobertiger]

You have plenty of time. The material on the DAT is very basic. Just go over everything in DAT Bootcamp, or other prep course of your choice, and you should be set.

It has been very difficult to shadow dentists lately so I'm not sure how strict they will be with the amount of shadowing, but it's critical that you have at least some shadowing hours before you apply.

 

[elena molaee]

You have plenty of time. The material on the DAT is very basic. Just go over everything in DAT Bootcamp, or other prep course of your choice, and you should be set.

It has been very difficult to shadow dentists lately so I'm not sure how strict they will be with the amount of shadowing, but it's critical that you have at least some shadowing hours before you apply.

Thanks for your quick response, I really appreciate that. You really gave me self confidence.Is it necessary to have voluntarily work hours as well?

 

[sobertiger]

Thanks for your quick response, I really appreciate that. You really gave me self confidence.Is it necessary to have voluntarily work hours as well?

It helps to have some before you apply, yes. You can also put in the volunteer work that is in progress.

 

[elena molaee]

I'm confused about how they calculate the overall GPA and science GPA. Due to some personal problem, my first 2 years of bachelor program's GPA was not good but I have a good GPA for last 2 years of bachelor's program and as I mentioned my prerequisites' GPA is 4.00. I wanna know how all these will compose and how my first 2 years of bachelor's GPA going to affect my science GPA and overall GPA?

 

[sobertiger]

I'm confused about how they calculate the overall GPA and science GPA. Due to some personal problem, my first 2 years of bachelor program's GPA was not good but I have a good GPA for last 2 years of bachelor's program and as I mentioned my prerequisites' GPA is 4.00. I wanna know how all these will compose and how my first 2 years of bachelor's GPA going to affect my science GPA and overall GPA?

Not sure how they look at international GPAs, but all grades are counted.

 

[elena molaee]

Not sure how they look at international GPAs, but all grades are counted.

Do you know that ADEA has any preferential evaluation company for foreign documents transcript?

 

[doc toothache]

There is little point in rushing to apply until you have your shadowing required/recommended completed, and even less taking the DAT before you have finished the material you are likely to encounter on the test.
Whether or not schools choose to "count" you gpa you received outside of the country, it pretty much a moot point, since their interest is to see how you compare with other applicants in courses taken at a US institution. There are only slightly more than a handful of dental schools in the country that require a BS/BA, but, pretty much, all require to have prerequisite taken at a US institution.
It is unlikely that you will be the only applicant who has received a degree at a foreign institution and you can safely assume that AADSAS will know how to get your degree evaluated.

 

[elena molaee]

There is little point in rushing to apply until you have your shadowing required/recommended completed, and even less taking the DAT before you have finished the material you are likely to encounter on the test.
Whether or not schools choose to "count" you gpa you received outside of the country, it pretty much a moot point, since their interest is to see how you compare with other applicants in courses taken at a US institution. There are only slightly more than a handful of dental schools in the country that require a BS/BA, but, pretty much, all require to have prerequisite taken at a US institution.
It is unlikely that you will be the only applicant who has received a degree at a foreign institution and you can safely assume that AADSAS will know how to get your degree evaluated.

Yes as you mentioned, I am concerned about my prerequisites that are not completed before taking DAT. On the other hand, I am concerned about the gap year that if I do not apply for this cycle I will encounter with. My s GPA is 4.0 so far and I started to take org chm 1 and physiology 1 at the university for spring 2021. I am afraid if I apply for next cycle, I can not retain my GPA 4.0. I have not seen my family who lives in foreign country for 3 years, and I have plan to visit them in this summer because I really missed them. If I know I have any chance to apply for this summer, I can sacrifice my feeling and stay to take DAT and apply for dental school.