should I even apply?

[crowdpuller]

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Hello guys

First all I would like to thank all of you for providing great tips. This site is an excellent resource.

I am a 4th year (well just completed 3rd) biomedical computing student from Queen's University, Canada. I am very much interested in applying for dental school.

My gpa as of right now is around 3.14... science is around there as well.
I havent taken my DAT yet. Will be taking it in August.

I have few questions tho:

1) The only preq I am missing is one year of English. Since, English is not offered in the summer I could not take it. Would it be possible to take it 4th year and Dental schools are fine with that?

2) What do you guys suggest I should do If I don't get in? Should I apply for masters. If I do apply for masters, when would be the next time I could apply for DAT school? After one year in masters?

3) Does kaplan offer their resource centre for $200 bucks, I was told my someone but couldnt find on their website?

What if I stay in undergrad, complete my 4th year and then take some extra courses? Apply again at the end of 4th year? Would that look bad on application.


I am just so confused about everything.

 

[aggie.teacher]

Here's my advice...
1) When you fill out your app, you get to list the classes you will take in the future, so they will know you will have your prerequisites finished in time. They know you still have a year to go and they will know exactly what you are taking.
2) If you don't get in, finish your 4th year, beef up your courses and GPA and go for it again next summer. Reapplying is not bad...I think it would look worse to start heading in a different direction, like grad school. Show them that you're serious, if indeed you are and don't start something you won't be able to finish. Maybe you could do research for a while - that will look good. Oh, and start getting some serious dental experience. Find a dentist to shadow and once you graduate from undergrad, work for a dentist if you're not accepted...or even if you are. That's really important.
3) Not sure about Kaplan. The Kaplan course seems good for people who like being in a class, but if you're good on your own, don't waste the money. Get the Topscore DAT cd, the DAT Achiever CD, the blue Kaplan book from the bookstore and take the ADA sample test. Use your textbooks and the Kaplan book as a study resource.

From what I gather, your GPA, DAT score, and dental experience are really key, so whatever you can do to beef those up, go for it.

 

[crowdpuller]

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have about 300+ hour of job shadowing experience.

I have a question tho. You are saying dont join grad school and apply again the next year if I dont get in. Do you think I should stay in undergrad for another year and take extra courses? Not sure even if that works.

My degree requires me to take 18.5 core courses, out of 20 I was allowd in my whole degree. Perhaps, I can take courses that I like at that point if I dont get in?

 

[The Musketeer]

I don't know if it still applies now, but when I was applying, many U.S. schools accept OAC English as the English preq. So if you have taken OAC English, you may contact the schools to see if they still accept it.

I am a 4th year (well just completed 3rd) biomedical computing student from Queen's University, Canada. I am very much interested in applying for dental school.

1) The only preq I am missing is one year of English. Since, English is not offered in the summer I could not take it. Would it be possible to take it 4th year and Dental schools are fine with that?

 

[aggie.teacher]

I guess things are a little different in Canada...I'm confused. In your 4th I'm suggesting that you take upper level science courses if you can. It will look good if you can pull As and boost your GPA. I honestly don't know what they'll think about grad school. If it's in science, I guess it couldn't hurt. I would just want the adcoms to know that dentistry is it for me; if I don't get in, I'll get in the field/boost my GPA/retake the DAT and try again. If after your 4th year, your GPA still isn't better, then I would consider taking more courses. Remember, this is all a big IF. If you rock on your DAT, you might be fine for this year. That should be your priority right now. It'll be your ticket to get in this cycle.

 

[crowdpuller]

Once again thanks a lot for your prompt reply. I was graduated with double cohort, so I was grade 12. I did have 92% in english for that matter.

I am not sure if that would count tho. Highly doubt it?
That being said, I am trying really hard for DAT. Everyday 6-8 hours of hardcore studying. I know this is my last chance only!

aggie.teacher...one more thing

lets say I boost my average my last year and I do score great in my last year. And apply then, I still wont be able to start school until fall 2008... what would you recommend me doing in between. I am thinkin I rather stay in and take more science courses to boost my gpa?

I heard from someone that its harder to get in from grad school, cuz they consider you a grad kid and pool is smaller. Tobe honest, I have no desire to goto grad school... other than a dental.

Please advice

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

Once again thanks a lot for your prompt reply. I was graduated with double cohort, so I was grade 12. I did have 92% in english for that matter.

I am not sure if that would count tho. Highly doubt it?
That being said, I am trying really hard for DAT. Everyday 6-8 hours of hardcore studying. I know this is my last chance only!

aggie.teacher...one more thing

lets say I boost my average my last year and I do score great in my last year. And apply then, I still wont be able to start school until fall 2008... what would you recommend me doing in between. I am thinkin I rather stay in and take more science courses to boost my gpa?

I heard from someone that its harder to get in from grad school, cuz they consider you a grad kid and pool is smaller. Tobe honest, I have no desire to goto grad school... other than a dental.

Please advice

No one is gonna be able to give you solid advice until you write the DAT....and Im telling you right now, you better rock that test.

As far as Grade 12 english goes, thats a no go....only OAC english is accepted, which is a bummer, because I got like 95% in OAC english.....would never get that at the university level.

 

[Clovers]

Where can I get the ADA sample test? I heard a lot of members talk about that but I was oblivious that there is a sample test from the ADA. Thanks

 

[aggie.teacher]

Here's the DAT sample test. It's under Preparation Materials on the DAT section of the ADA website.

http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/dat_candidate_sampletest.pdf

And Dr. BadVibes is right. Focus on the DAT and not what classes you're going to take. After the DAT you'll have a better idea of what you need to do. Good luck!

 

[prez_al]

Yo Dr. Badvibes, I assume you're a fellow canuck. Anyway, temple is on my hot list and I'm wondering how much emphasis they put on the DAT because some schools gave me mixed responses about my scores. Like Pacific told me not to apply cuz I'll get waitlisted with those scores, while Indiana said my scores were "great". Wow, congrats on your OAC english mark, that's really awesome!

Secondly, in response to the grad school thing. Well I'm coming back for a semester before taking off for grad school or travel / prepping for the Canadian interviews (depending whether I get in somewhere in the states) and I was told that grad school looks better if you're borderline because it looks like you're doing something with your life, instead of treading water.

 

[puncho]

prez, I think you should be fine with those scores. I got into temple w/ a 20/21/20. I also agree that going to grad school would seem better than just doing nothing or a job unrelated to dentistry.

Just curious tho prez, why not try for canadian schools? From your scores, it'd seem that you'd be a competitive applicant.

Crowdpuller, I think you need to do well with the DATs...are you thinking of doing the cdn or american one? Good luck, I just graduated from Queen's and will be going to dschool in the states.

 

[prez_al]

prez, I think you should be fine with those scores. I got into temple w/ a 20/21/20. I also agree that going to grad school would seem better than just doing nothing or a job unrelated to dentistry.

Just curious tho prez, why not try for canadian schools? From your scores, it'd seem that you'd be a competitive applicant.

Crowdpuller, I think you need to do well with the DATs...are you thinking of doing the cdn or american one? Good luck, I just graduated from Queen's and will be going to dschool in the states.

I did apply this year, I got waitlisted... therefore I'm applying to the states

 

[crowdpuller]

prez, I think you should be fine with those scores. I got into temple w/ a 20/21/20. I also agree that going to grad school would seem better than just doing nothing or a job unrelated to dentistry.

Just curious tho prez, why not try for canadian schools? From your scores, it'd seem that you'd be a competitive applicant.

Crowdpuller, I think you need to do well with the DATs...are you thinking of doing the cdn or american one? Good luck, I just graduated from Queen's and will be going to dschool in the states.

I am taking the american one. Since thre is no chance in hell i am getting in here. What class were you? nice to find someone from queen's here!!! hahah

what do you recommend me to apply for schools? obviously I'll apply before my dat.

so far I know i am applying to boston, nyu, tufts, temple, nova

 

[puncho]

Prez: I see...well hopefully you'll get off the waitlist since I'm sure some ppl are waiting for med school acceptances still.

crowdpuller: Yeah, not many Queen's ppl here...06 class. As for your list, add Case (apply early). If you have a lotta community service, add Arizona. If you do well on your DATs (like 20s across the board), add UOP and I hear Columbia likes high DATs as well.

If I think of any more, I'll let you know.

 

[prez_al]

Prez: I see...well hopefully you'll get off the waitlist since I'm sure some ppl are waiting for med school acceptances still.

crowdpuller: Yeah, not many Queen's ppl here...06 class. As for your list, add Case (apply early). If you have a lotta community service, add Arizona. If you do well on your DATs (like 20s across the board), add UOP and I hear Columbia likes high DATs as well.

If I think of any more, I'll let you know.

Thanks for the optimism, but I dunno... this year has been crazy for both med and dental, I can see a lot of med rejects settling for dental (damn double cohort + only two dschools!). I figure my DAT from before (crappier than these scores) won't hold up for those schools since ppl who got in had 20/20 DAT/PAT.

crowdpuller: I heard Arizona has some messed up req's, like the interview process is unlike any other school. But my dentist told me to apply to case as well since he went there... although not a big fan of ohio 🙁. But for Case, you need 18+ across the board to be solid. Good luck! Also for some schools, they like Canadian applicants more because our grading system is more strict and harder to achieve those As... do you agree?

 

[puncho]

yeah, cleveland seems a bit boring compared to t.o. or NYC but I figured 4 years of solid training would be better. NYU and BU are pretty expensive as well...
It's only 4 hours away from t.o. and close to family so that was another reason as well.

I'm not sure about the schools looking differently at cdn applicants...I've heard rumours about it but I doubt they're true.

 

[ObviousGuy]

I don't think you should apply. J/k

why not? What do you have to lose? Rock the DAT like I rocked yo momma and you'll have a btter shot. A degree helps alot too now-a-days.

good luck