quick question regarding applying for 2007

[Clover]

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i am looking to apply for fall 2007 but i haven't taken my DAT yet. when is the latest i can take it and still have my app sent in around june?

also, my gpa is a 2.98, sci (incl. math) is 2.5, sci (w/out math) is 2.66. would it be wiser to apply to dental schools and special masters programs (as backup) or keep stretching my undergrad out and keep taking upper division bio classes? i am currently a senior, started my pre-med classes in soph. year.

thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[bloodygums]

i am looking to apply for fall 2007 but i haven't taken my DAT yet. when is the latest i can take it and still have my app sent in around june?

also, my gpa is a 2.98, sci (incl. math) is 2.5, sci (w/out math) is 2.66. would it be wiser to apply to dental schools and special masters programs (as backup) or keep stretching my undergrad out and keep taking upper division bio classes? i am currently a senior, started my pre-med classes in soph. year.

thanks in advance for any advice!

If you want your App sent in around June I wouldn't take the DAT any later then March. It can take 6-8 weeks for your scores to be sent to your designated schools. You can wait longer if you don't mind having your AADSAS application with self reported scores reach your dental schools before your oficial scores. As you know, scores are sent indvidually to dental schools. AADSAS does not require your scores for your application to be complete. Most schools won't even start interviewing untill August so it probably wouldn't hurt you very much to wait untill May to take the DAT. Your GPA is a little low but as long as you've done well in your last few semesters I wouldn't worry about it. They don't care as much if you bombed your freshman year. Hope that helps.

 

[tinman831]

Your scores are sent by the ADEA and is separate from your application. It takes only 2-3 weeks for your scores to get to the schools once you take the test.

 

[Clover]

bump in hopes of more advice for my second question. thanks

 

[adr12]

bump in hopes of more advice for my second question. thanks

2.5 science is pretty low. My science when I started applying was 2.86 and I have now brought it up to 2.94. I applied to 13 schools and have been accepted at one so far, so it can be done. I also had a good DAT score, 22. I would see how you do on the DAT and definitely apply to a masters program as a backup. I would guess that doing very well in a masters program would help you out more than extending undergrad, but that's just a guess.

 

[howui3]

If you want your App sent in around June I wouldn't take the DAT any later then March. It can take 6-8 weeks for your scores to be sent to your designated schools. You can wait longer if you don't mind having your AADSAS application with self reported scores reach your dental schools before your oficial scores. As you know, scores are sent indvidually to dental schools. AADSAS does not require your scores for your application to be complete. Most schools won't even start interviewing untill August so it probably wouldn't hurt you very much to wait untill May to take the DAT. Your GPA is a little low but as long as you've done well in your last few semesters I wouldn't worry about it. They don't care as much if you bombed your freshman year. Hope that helps.

First off take the DAT when you feel confident and ready (base that on your practice exam scores). That said, AADSAS handles you application (letter, transcripts, personal statement) and ADA does the DAT scores.

AADSAS is VERY VERY slow, it takes several weeks (2-4) to verify the GPA and another 3-6 weeks to send out your application. For me from the time I submitted to the time it was sent out was close to 2 months (from Sept. 9th to Oct. 22nd). And then it takes some more time for it to get to the school and for them to process it.

The ADA is a bit quicker, they only have to send a 1 page score report. My test scores were sent out after about a week.

Since you want to get your application out early, you can e-submit it to AADSAS in June/July and take the DAT as late as June/July/Aug and have them at the dental school around the same time as the AADSAS application.

As far as the grades, they are a bit low so look at schools that you might be competitive at, and apply to those. It is in your best interest to boost your GPA by taking more classes BUT doing well in them. Take summer school, every session it is offered to get better grades. If you show a great improvement it will reflect positively on you application.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[Clover]

would taking summer classes be any use since the final grades wouldn't be up until july?

should i attempt to retake some pre-reqs over the summer or just take upper div. bios/chems?

do you think 2007 is out of the question?

thank you guys for the responses. i'm trying to sort this whole thing out.

 

[howui3]

would taking summer classes be any use since the final grades wouldn't be up until july?

should i attempt to retake some pre-reqs over the summer or just take upper div. bios/chems?

do you think 2007 is out of the question?

thank you guys for the responses. i'm trying to sort this whole thing out.

Though the grades might come out in July, you can always send an update letter to each school and send them a transcript to show your improvements. Taking classes during the summer is just my suggestions of a faster way to improve your GPA.

As far as the pre-reqs vs. upper bio. You must PASS all your pre-req classes. So if you got a D or F in any of the pre-reqs you should take those over, otherwise they will not count when applying.

 

[Clover]

calc 2 count as a pre-req? i got a D+ in that class. btw, thank you very much for the responses.

 

[Clovers]

calc 2 count as a pre-req? i got a D+ in that class. btw, thank you very much for the responses.

Some schools require calculus and some don't. But I think d-schools focus more on your science courses. I was thinking maybe you can e-submit your application in July when your summer grades come out. What do other SNDers think? I think July is considered pretty early since interviews doesn't start until November anyway. If he does get A's on all his summer classes then it'd definitely help bring up his GPA a little bit.