Some questions from a next yr applicant

[samurai361]

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Dear all,
Just basically, I'm in a sort of odd situation where I'm transferring in with 59 credits and graduating in Spring 09 however these credits were kind of gathered haphazardly. So I do plan to apply next yr however I'll be taking Organic Chemistry & Physics next summer as well. Regarding the DAT . . . I've already decided to go and do a full study regime with every other subject aside from Orgo because there is a lot to review. For Orgo though, I'm kinda planning to teach myself/possibly get a tutor since I won't have the yr of Orgo done until mid August '08, at the soonest. So my question is, can I still apply to AADSAS without an initial DAT score? If I take it and presumably do well and only have to do it once in August, will this still make me a competitive applicant? (GPA is excellent)

Thank you all,
Sarah

Also - regarding the DAT Kaplan book, should I use the Third Edition or new 07-08 edition? I'm asking because sometimes new editions have more errors.

 

[Dentisting]

Dear all,
Just basically, I'm in a sort of odd situation where I'm transferring in with 59 credits and graduating in Spring 09 however these credits were kind of gathered haphazardly. So I do plan to apply next yr however I'll be taking Organic Chemistry & Physics next summer as well. Regarding the DAT . . . I've already decided to go and do a full study regime with every other subject aside from Orgo because there is a lot to review. For Orgo though, I'm kinda planning to teach myself/possibly get a tutor since I won't have the yr of Orgo done until mid August '08, at the soonest. So my question is, can I still apply to AADSAS without an initial DAT score? If I take it and presumably do well and only have to do it once in August, will this still make me a competitive applicant? (GPA is excellent)

Thank you all,
Sarah

To answer your question... Yes... You will still be a competitive applicant considering your GPA is excellent, and your DAT score is good. You just have to keep in mind that they will put your application on hold until your score arrives... which isnt necessarily a bad thing. My friend didnt apply until November, and she was still accepted last year, with only post december interviews.


One other thing to note about organic... I have no idea how you could teach it to yourself. The only advice I have for you is to look over a practice section to see what types of questions they ask... Usually its synthesis, as well as nomenclature, and some other conceptual questions. I guess that wouldnt be too hard, but you need someone to show you how synthesis is done, so you can figure out how to practice on your own.

 

[StayinNCali]

So my question is, can I still apply to AADSAS without an initial DAT score? If I take it and presumably do well and only have to do it once in August, will this still make me a competitive applicant? (GPA is excellent)

Thank you all,
Sarah[/quote]

Many applicants do exactly that and most of them get right into dental school. Just don't let your DAT date go past the first week in Sept or you will no longer be an early applicant- and then the competition is much more rigorous. With rolling admissions your chances decrease every week after August.

 

[samurai361]

Thanks guys, great advice!

 

[cherr1pop]

but i'd say whatever you do, DONT TRY TO TEACH YOURSELF OCHEM.
it's not the easiest thing there and you're gonna end up hating yourself during the process & after when you find out from a professor everything you taught yourself was WRONG.
cause that's what i was tempted to do with an ochem book & DAT material this summer but i decided against it cause i've heard that ochem is so much detail and stuff that are important... and you tend to skip over them you try to teach yourself... and i'm taking it right now and i'm glad that i didn't try cause i would have been more confused...

 

[xdianaax]

I had 2 friends that taught themselves ochem...one of them got a 16, the other a 20...I guess it's all about how self-motivated you are...good luck.

 

[samurai361]

Alright well what would be a good textbook to use to study orgo? Is the one mentioned on the DAT Reference page sufficient?

And is there a sample DAT test directly from ADA (anyone know?)?

Thanks guys again for all your help!!

 

[StayinNCali]

The ADA has an easy sample test on their website. AFTER you learn OCHEM you will find it helpful to know that all of the OCHEM on the DAT is covered in the Kaplan book. Destroyer and others go above and beyond. Choose accordingly.