Predental academic timeline

[TheRighteous]

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I'm a predental freshman at UC Berkeley. I'd like to know what is the preferred timetable, if you will, for predental students.

For example, in high school, you start doing college applications in the beginning of senior year and you generally take the SAT's/ACT in your junior year. I realize that this is a lot more complicated than the transition from high school to undergrad, and I just want to see how most people work it out.

Thanks.

 

[dddsmack]

Sorry righteous, I don't remember high school at all. I think I overslept the ACT. Its all a blur. 😕

I am just glad you all don't know my real name. There are pics and videos all over the internet.

 

[DDSY]

I'm a predental freshman at UC Berkeley. I'd like to know what is the preferred timetable, if you will, for predental students.

For example, in high school, you start doing college applications in the beginning of senior year and you generally take the SAT's/ACT in your junior year. I realize that this is a lot more complicated than the transition from high school to undergrad, and I just want to see how most people work it out.

Thanks.

In a nutshell. Take your 3 basic sciences first (orgo, chem, bio) and some math. Take the DATs (dental admission test). Take physics and other prerequisites. Do some extracurriculars (shadowing a dentist is highly recommended. Apply to dental school during your junior or senior year or take a year or two off.

 

[TheRighteous]

In a nutshell. Take your 3 basic sciences first (orgo, chem, bio) and some math. Take the DATs (dental admission test). Take physics and other prerequisites. Do some extracurriculars (shadowing a dentist is highly recommended. Apply to dental school during your junior or senior year or take a year or two off.

Thanks, I just a couple of questions. Would it help if I take the one-year pre-req of college level reading/comprehension course prior to taking the DAT? Also, how similar are the DAT reading and math sections compared to those of the SATI?

 

[beastly115]

Thanks, I just a couple of questions. Would it help if I take the one-year pre-req of college level reading/comprehension course prior to taking the DAT? Also, how similar are the DAT reading and math sections compared to those of the SATI?

Most schools require 6 credits of English/Literature anyway. I don't remember the SAT at all. For the DAT though, the math is mostly algebra, some geometry, and word problems. You don't even need pre-calc. As for the verbal, just read the passage and answer the questions. Nothing special.

 

[lemoncurry]

dental schools won't even look at your app unless you're taking an average of at least 20 units a quarter.

 

[Macko8144]

Take Bio/Chem your first year and Organic Chem your second year. Then take the DATs after your sophomore year. With all of this behind you, you can spend your early pre-senior year summer finishing up that AADSAS personal statement and be able to apply relatively early in June. 🙂

 

[TheRighteous]

dental schools won't even look at your app unless you're taking an average of at least 20 units a quarter.

20 quarter units is the equivalent of ~13 semester units, is that considered the average? I mean, if you take less than an average of 13 semseter units, you can't even graduate.

Oh yes, a question just popped in my head. What's the most heavily weighed criteria in dental school admissions? Overall/Science GPA? DAT?
I was looking through predents.com and some applicants with incredibly high GPA's were rejected without interviews and that made me a little curious.

 

[Streetwolf]

The DAT is weighed more heavily relative to GPA than the SAT is for colleges. A lot more, because performance on the DAT apparently is a good indicator of performance in dental school.

That being said, with a 3.4+ GPA and 20+ DAT scores you should certainly find your way into at least a couple dental schools.