Predental 2012 cycle

[Predental2012]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a little bit confused about the timing on when to apply....

I'm a 3rd year Bio Major at UCI. I currently plan to graduate in June 2012. I do not plan on taking a year off. So does that mean I would submit my application in June 2011? I'm also planning on taking the DAT on Jan. 22, 2011. Am I on the right track? Also, how many letters of recommendation are required? Based on my research, each school requires a different number, or there are different limitations like needing 2 recommendations from science lecturers and one from a dentist, or 1 from non-science might be required. I've been talking to a few dentists and they say you need letters of recommendation from a variety of professors. But how would I go about submitting those to AADSAS?

Sorry for all the questions, but any help or advice would be much appreciated!!

 

[CookimonsterDDS]

.

 

[Predental2012]

Oh wow thank you so much!! That's extremely helpful. Thank you!

I was also wondering about the personal statement. A lot of people have told me that it has to have information in it that the dental admissions won't see just on the application or in letters of rec. Things that let them get to know you better. Does that mean you elaborate on something in the applications? Is it too random to bring up something that's not in your applications? Like, a hobby, for example, if it's relevant to why you chose dentistry?

 

[RSimon]

Something you may want to consider is waiting till the summer to take the DAT. That way you don't have school on your mind in the background and can focus only on preparing for the exam. Not to mention have some extra classes under your belt. I spent about a month preparing and taking practice tests and did pretty decent. Just make sure you take several practice test and develop a strategy.

You personal statement should be mainly focused around why dentistry and your path to get there but also what makes you a good candidate. It is important to also convey that you are good with your hands and have done something to increase your manipulative skills through some sort of hobby or job. If you have done any research I would include that as well. If you would like to read mine I would be happy to share with you just send me a pm. It was apparently good enough to get me accepted.

 

[MrWilson]

For the DAT, I would personally recommend taking it in the summer. Maybe over your spring semester/quarter, do some light studying, then once the semester is over, give yourself a month or so of heavy studying before you take the test. I started studying in May once spring semester was over and didn't take the test until August, because I was working 50hrs a week. The day I took the exam, I sent my scores to each school I had applied. However, I already had my application in early June. I received two pre-Dec interviews, so for me taking the DAT in August, it wasn't too late.

In regards to the personal statement, this is an opportunity to show who you are. I wanted the schools to know what they were getting, so I inserted my true convictions, and what led me to dentistry. I'll be happy to let you read my ps as well. Just pm me.

Best wishes!

 

[swim90]

I'll also be applying for 2012. When should I start writing my personal statement and how detailed would you recommend that it be?

 

[RSimon]

I would go ahead and start now because it will take a while to get it to where you want it. I wrote mine about this time last year let it sit for a month and went back a reread what I wrote and adjusted somethings. After it was pretty happy with it I made some copies and sent it to a couple of my advisors and a couple friends that were comm and english majors to proof and give recommendations. Its better to knock things out early and when you have time instead of rushing last minute and having a sub par end product.

 

[jmc2012]

Predental2012... I will also be applying this June and I've already started mapping out my personal statement. I am trying to get a rough draft done so that I can get it proofed by an English professor ASAP. The hard part is getting a good rough draft that can be easily added to, so that it is specific for each school. From what I have read on here the earlier we can get the personal statement started the better off we will be. Good luck....

 

[MrWilson]

There isn't such a thing as starting your PS too early. I started generating ideas a few months before I wrote it. If I read something, or heard something on the radio, church, tv, wherever, that sounded good, I wrote it down, and came back to it later. In addition, use every useful resource that you have to proofread, whether it's a parent, professor, dentist, whatever. Example: fortunately, my cousin's husband was a TV reporter, and he helped me add a few things that made it stand out, and have some edge, so use whatever you can and be creative.

 

[Strikeout13GB]

Hey I also will be graduating in May of 2012, I've already got my DAT done but I'll still have one required class to take spring semester my senior year (biochem) and I plan on getting my shadowing hours done this summer Can I still submit my app in June of this year without all the shadowing hours being completed? I need 100 for VCU. I've heard the earlier you submit the better at VCU so I would like to submit it June of this year. Thanks

 

[RSimon]

Do you have any shadowing? If so you could list what you have done and then put planned activities for additional scheduled shadowing and update it later. Or just list what your going to do under experience and MAKE SURE YOU DO IT BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW. I was in a similar situation and I put hours down and made them up later so I could submit my app early. Both schools asked me to talk about things I observed and what I thought about my experiences so im sure its obvious if your lying or not about what you have done.

 

[Lane138]

bump this thread. Yay for DMD class of 2012!

For the personal statement, do you write a cogent story that's supposed to highlight one or two aspects of you/what drove you to dentistry, or was it more scattered and addresses everything?