Regarding "Apply early"

[Svart Aske]

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When people urge others to apply early, do they simply mean submit AADSAS early or do they mean get absolutely everything done early (eg. DAT, letters of recommendation, etc.)? Or can't you submit AADSAS unless every requirement is fulfilled?

I'm applying this coming cycle and I've already taken the DAT. But I can't be certain as to when my LOR's will be ready. Does this mean that I might be prevented from being able to apply early?

Thanks.

 

[aguacero]

Q: Does AADSAS hold up the processing of my application until my letters of evaluation are received?

A: No. AADSAS does not delay processing if we have not yet received any or all of your letters of evaluation. If your letters arrive after your application has been sent to the schools, AADSAS will forward those letters to your designated schools in the next mailing that occurs after their receipt.

This is from the AADSAS website.

I think the earlier you can get everything done the better off you 'll be. I know some of the schools start looking at files quite early.

 

[Epictetus21]

Schools won't consider your application complete until they have everything, AADSAS (with transcripts), LORs, and DAT scores. Ask your letter writers early (now) and let them know that you need the letters sent by May, so that AADSAS will get them by June.

 

[peterngu]

I submitted my app July 14th on AADSAS with everything except my letters of rec. Schools didn't look at it until September when my pre-health committee letter came in. I say do whatever it takes to get everything in by July the latest, to improve your chances of pre-dec. interviews.

 

[cherr1pop]

have everything in ASAP. most schools don't look at incomplete applications. and your chances of getting in are higher if you interview early when schools are actually looking for people to accept into the class as opposed to filling their waitlist.

 

[JamesOSU]

What they all said. EVERYTHING should be done by June 1st when you hit submit, ideally. Have them submit letters electronically between May 14-June 1, take your DAT in Early May if possible, and have that whole thing filled out ready to click submit. Then you are DONE, and can actually enjoy your summer too. You won't hear back until earliest mid-July when you might be asked for some supplemental stuff.

 

[Epictetus21]

^ ^
Dancingah, how are you a Midwestern C/O 2014 student if that class won't be admitted until next cycle?

 

[cybermech]

I believe that you should at least get your DAT scores in before you submit. Although, your score might not be official until the school receives the actual scores from the ADA, they will still be published on your application, which is VERY important.

Anyways, I'll explain what I did for the entire process.

1) Long before May 15, I archived my LORs in an "official" professional school LOR archiving service that was associated with my school. This way, I could request that they be sent out all at once.

2) I completed my DAT, but didn't send out scores before May 15. There's really no point in sending them out before May 15 because they might get lost.

3) On May 15 (well, actually May 20, but close enough), I submitted my application and immediately printed out my transcript matching form. I gave this to the registrar at my undergrad institution and had them mail out my transcripts with the matching form ASAP.

3) Also on May 15, I entered the info of the people who wrote recs for me on AADSAS and printed out the matching forms. I then gave these all to my undergrad institution's LOR archiving service and had them mail out my LORs to AADSAS right away.

4) Also on May 15, I put in an online request to send out all of my DAT scores to the schools I applied to.


There are you are! Voila! This is the absolute fastest way to do everything. I might mention that it's critical to get your transcripts in as fast as possible because the grade verification service really gets bogged down as the summer progresses... and they won't mail your app to the dental schools until your AADsAS GPA has been calculated. If you submit on May 15, the turnaround can be as little as 2 weeks. Towards the middle of June, it can be as long as 4-6. This is a very serious difference.

 

[drpsuedonym]

Everyone is spot on. Get your letters done super super early and have them saved at your school's LOR service because way too many people get screwed over because their letters are not done on time, and schools do NOT look at your application until they have absolutely every last thing.

 

[cybermech]

Everyone is spot on. Get your letters done super super early and have them saved at your school's LOR service because way too many people get screwed over because their letters are not done on time, and schools do NOT look at your application until they have absolutely every last thing.

As a corollary to that, regardless of whether or not a school is on rolling admissions, they WILL read applications in the order received, which could be a serious disadvantage if you submit later in the summer.