So Confused...

[ToothFairy88]

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How did you guys get the information of what to do to prepare for applying to dental school? I don't know if I am just looking through the wrong sites, or if I just have a mental block from the apprehension of taking the leap, but I am SO confused...

I went to a Student Graduation Association panel the other day, hoping that the things they said would help point me in the right direction, but none of them were really pre-professional, so I couldn't really gleen much from that.

Am I supposed to take a GRE before I take the DAT? When should I take the DAT? Is there a time limit for the DAT scores to remain valid?

There really isn't anyone at my current school that knows much about the pathways toward dentistry, so I feel like I don't even have an advisor. I THINK I am considered a Junior now (it's complicated).

If anybody has any tips or advice for me I would be SO grateful to hear from you!

 

[Polarmolardmd]

How did you guys get the information of what to do to prepare for applying to dental school? I don't know if I am just looking through the wrong sites, or if I just have a mental block from the apprehension of taking the leap, but I am SO confused...

I went to a Student Graduation Association panel the other day, hoping that the things they said would help point me in the right direction, but none of them were really pre-professional, so I couldn't really gleen much from that.

Am I supposed to take a GRE before I take the DAT? When should I take the DAT? Is there a time limit for the DAT scores to remain valid?

There really isn't anyone at my current school that knows much about the pathways toward dentistry, so I feel like I don't even have an advisor. I THINK I am considered a Junior now (it's complicated).

If anybody has any tips or advice for me I would be SO grateful to hear from you!

Before i answer ur questions, I just wanted to say that this forum is a valuble source to get more info. so if you do a little search, you will find ur answer to every questions you have.
but basically, to get in to dental school you need to take DAT, and there is not a specific time to take that test. most people tend to take it in their senior year. But again, that varies btw applicants. There is no need to take GRE.

DAT score is valid for three years and you could take it three times. more than three times, you need some sort of permision.
hope it helps. but if you have more questions, feel free to ask

 

[psi169]

You don't need the DAT and GRE. If you think you do, call up your schools and ask them specifically.

1. Take your DAT from Feb-May. You have to wait 3 months between testing. If you take your DAT in June and are unhappy with your scores, then you will be holding up your app until you can take it again in September (LATE!). Best to take it in Feb/March if you think there might be a possibility you will want to take it again.

2. In March, start asking for letters of Rec. Open an Interfolio* account. Ask for as many letters from science professors, non-science professors, and research profs as you can. You can never have too many letters (not like you have to submit them all). You will probably need a LOR from a dentist.

3. Work on your personal statement. When AADSAS opens in June, you will be asked to "paste personal statement here." This is an opportunity for you to basically say what experiences you have had have made you realize you want to be a dentist. You want it to be creative, well-written, and demonstates who you are. Admissions comittees read THOUSANDS of these, so try not to be so boring. They will just chuck it if they think its awful. I believe its a 5000 character limit. Take it to your school's writing center and ask for their opinion. They are usually pretty aware of what a good and bad personal statement is. And don't skimp on this part of the application-- its important! Its the only part of the app that asks about YOU! Everything else is stats about you.

4. AADSAS opens in June. AADSAS is a centralized application for almost all dental schools (Texas kinda does their own thing). For the most part, it asks your name, school info, test scores, course work etc. You will fill out the info, send your LOR to AADSAS, and send your transcripts to AADSAS. Then, you can submit your app and AADSAS will send your app to your designated schools. If you have been to multiple universities, stay onto of sending your transcripts in on a timely manner (or that will hold up your app). Ideally, you want to submit AADSAS as soon as you can.

5. Secondary Apps. Some schools have them, some schools don't. They will email/mail you the secondary once your AADSAS app is received by them. Secondary apps might just be a form saying you aren't a felon, have never been on academic probation, etc. I have heard of some that are essays.

6. Pray. Hope for some interviews.

7. If you get an interview invite, do some research on the interview format and the school. Be familiar with your application and personal statment.

******

With that said, start doing research on schools NOW. You may have good stats, but some schools take 7 out of state students. And, let's face it, they are going to have amazing stats. You need to seriously evaluate the following (in whatever order is important to you):

1. Your chances of getting in (by GPA/DAT and number of out-of-state seats available)
2. Cost (i.e. your in-state school or private university)
3. Distance from home/family
4. The school's strengths and weaknesses
5. Your long term career (what school can help you be [x] kind of dentist)

(* What is interfolio? I wrote a long response in this forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=695332)

Hope that helps.

 

[Tommy43087]

psi your forgetting some of the biggest factors in an application.

OP, i cannot stress how important volunteering is. Also your personal statement and the quality of LOR's.

Good Luck

 

[ToothFairy88]

Wow this is a lot of help, thank you so much!!

For volunteering, does it matter where? Should it be something within the dental field? I am currently a dental assistant, so I am sure I could find ways to volunteer for it, but I never really hear much about volunteer work from our dental society.

 

[psi169]

Any volunteering (dental related or otherwise) and job shadowing. Any academic tutoring, joining your pre-dental club, and maybe some other EC. You just want to be as well rounded as possible. Oh, and research! If you can do research (ANY kind of research, paid research is even better), do it! If you have the opportunity for a paper publication, even better. And its a good idea to keep a spreadsheet of all of your hours. AADSAS is going to ask you for the approximate number of hours you spent doing the activities you are going to list.

 

[ToothFairy88]

With job shadowing you just go to a practice to watch how the practice works, right? Would I still have to do that even if I work for one? I have been there since I was 17 and can pretty much tell what decisions the doctors are going to make before they even see the patients.

 

[psi169]

You can chalk that up to lots of job shadowing. Instead of accumulating 500+ hours at one dental office, its a good idea to go look at other dental offices. Perhaps some specialists to get a feel for other areas of dentistry. That can only strength your application as well.

 

[ToothFairy88]

Ohh ok. What sucks is I don't think we have a Pre-Dental club in my school 🙁
People think I am weird for having such an interest in dentistry... it's like they've never heard of such an interest! Then again, you should see the oral hygiene here...

 

[psi169]

Yeah, well, my school HAS a predental club and I wasn't in it. Oh well. Just stick to some job shadowing, some EC, a good DAT (the higher the perceptual part, the better; you want 19 or better in all areas), and a good GPA (3.5+). That and a few LOR that vouch for your character, you should be relatively solid. (No guarantees in this business though.)

I will be sending my consulting bill in the mail. Expect arrival in 3-5 days. You're welcome. 🙂

 

[ToothFairy88]

LOL you rock, I like you.

I think my major challenge will be finding the time to volunteer and growing the balls to study for the DAT lol.

This may be a stupid question- what does EC stand for?

 

[psi169]

Extra cirriculars. I had 0 volunteering hours and I got in (whew!!!). Not the best idea though. Probably could have gotten a lot more interviews and acceptances if I had volunteering. I was planning on getting my PhD right up until Feb when I took the DAT. And grad programs don't stress volunteering as much as they stress research (which I have ~500 hours). Oh well. Live and learn. And YOU learn from what I have told you.

 

[spud daddy]

extracurricular activities

 

[ToothFairy88]

Research confuses me... how do you go about doing that? Is it just researching as in learning what you can from everyone, or is it actually hypothesizing and trying to find breakthroughs in dentistry? Because I don't think I have a good enough imagination for the latter lol.

Ugh... Extra curriculars?? I barely have time to sleep as it is!! How do you people do it!?

 

[psi169]

Its easier to do research if you go to a large university. I'd say that out of job shadowing, volunteering, and research, research is the lowest priority to dental schools (that's just my opinion, not a fact). I got involved in research by applying for a dishwashing job in a lab. And then I jumped around from lab to lab and eventually started running my own experiments. It was also a great opportunity to get three letters of rec from my research advisors.

My research is in biochemistry, my major. I work with adrenergic drugs, various (whole) receptor sequences, and receptor peptide sequences. My data contributes to the overall hypothesis of autoimmunity of the various diseases my lab studies. What does that mean? ITS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO DENTAL RELATED. I think what's important about research is the lab structure and general thought process formation-- just good, general scientific traits.

If you are applying this summer, starting research might be too little too late. Focus on volunteering. And call up some dental specialists.

 

[ToothFairy88]

Oh there's no way I am applying this summer lol. I haven't even taken the DAT. I have been questioning my own integrity with it lately... I really want to be a dentist, and can't see myself ever doing anything but dentistry, but I wonder if I am smart enough. I get too easily bogged down by all the stupid courses that are "required" but have absolutely nothing to do with my interests. For instance, the waste of time I currently have to deal with- "Global Societies"... I am half way through the course and still have absolutely no idea what it's about. Its so stupid.

 

[subdoc]

Hmmmm....after typing "how to apply to dental school" into google, the first site which pops up is the ADEA page which steps you through the whole process.

Toothfairy88, I am reading many replies to comments you made and am befuddled...I think you will have more rewarding experiences if you do some legwork on your own and go to the source of information when it is easy to find:

1. ADEA on applying
2. Your academic adviser on research

Also, if you have identified your target schools, call their admissions advisers and they can walk you through the process.

I guess my point is this...you will get some good information on here, and you will get some bad information on here. Everything posted is just someone's opinion. You best bet is to ALWAYS go to the source for the correct answer. The process in which you find the correct answer will probably enlighten you to other questions which may arise in the future!

Best of luck! 🙂

 

[New2Philly]

You don't need the DAT and GRE. If you think you do, call up your schools and ask them specifically.

1. Take your DAT from Feb-May. You have to wait 3 months between testing. If you take your DAT in June and are unhappy with your scores, then you will be holding up your app until you can take it again in September (LATE!). Best to take it in Feb/March if you think there might be a possibility you will want to take it again.

2. In March, start asking for letters of Rec. Open an Interfolio* account. Ask for as many letters from science professors, non-science professors, and research profs as you can. You can never have too many letters (not like you have to submit them all). You will probably need a LOR from a dentist.

3. Work on your personal statement. When AADSAS opens in June, you will be asked to "paste personal statement here." This is an opportunity for you to basically say what experiences you have had have made you realize you want to be a dentist. You want it to be creative, well-written, and demonstates who you are. Admissions comittees read THOUSANDS of these, so try not to be so boring. They will just chuck it if they think its awful. I believe its a 5000 character limit. Take it to your school's writing center and ask for their opinion. They are usually pretty aware of what a good and bad personal statement is. And don't skimp on this part of the application-- its important! Its the only part of the app that asks about YOU! Everything else is stats about you.

4. AADSAS opens in June. AADSAS is a centralized application for almost all dental schools (Texas kinda does their own thing). For the most part, it asks your name, school info, test scores, course work etc. You will fill out the info, send your LOR to AADSAS, and send your transcripts to AADSAS. Then, you can submit your app and AADSAS will send your app to your designated schools. If you have been to multiple universities, stay onto of sending your transcripts in on a timely manner (or that will hold up your app). Ideally, you want to submit AADSAS as soon as you can.

5. Secondary Apps. Some schools have them, some schools don't. They will email/mail you the secondary once your AADSAS app is received by them. Secondary apps might just be a form saying you aren't a felon, have never been on academic probation, etc. I have heard of some that are essays.

6. Pray. Hope for some interviews.

7. If you get an interview invite, do some research on the interview format and the school. Be familiar with your application and personal statment.

******

With that said, start doing research on schools NOW. You may have good stats, but some schools take 7 out of state students. And, let's face it, they are going to have amazing stats. You need to seriously evaluate the following (in whatever order is important to you):

1. Your chances of getting in (by GPA/DAT and number of out-of-state seats available)
2. Cost (i.e. your in-state school or private university)
3. Distance from home/family
4. The school's strengths and weaknesses
5. Your long term career (what school can help you be [x] kind of dentist)

(* What is interfolio? I wrote a long response in this forum: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=695332)

Hope that helps.

Something to add about the secondaries. Some schools you have to send in money, and/or secondaries shortly after you turn in your aadsas app. There will be a page on aadsas that tells you what to do.