Take a year off?

[ohohitsmagic08]

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Hi,
I am strongly considering taking a year off as I think that would really help me prepare better for the DAT. I have a light course load planned for my second semester of senior year, and I think I could do significantly better on my DAT. Moreover, I started off my freshman year quite poorly grade-wise, and though I've brought it up to a 3.4 entering my sophomore year this fall, I believe that I could really, realistically bring it up to at least a 3.7 by the end of my senior year, which would look a lot better on my apps. I am wondering what people usually do during their year off... Wouldn't it screw up with insurance and stuff, as you're not a student anymore?

Also, I want to make sure that I am correct that aadsas includes transfer credits when calculating your GPA? So if I took physics over the summer at Western Michigan University, but I attend the University of Michigan, although my physics grade is not included in my GPA at UofM, it is still included in the GPA that dental schools see.

 

[nze82]

Hi,
I am strongly considering taking a year off as I think that would really help me prepare better for the DAT. I have a light course load planned for my second semester of senior year, and I think I could do significantly better on my DAT. Moreover, I started off my freshman year quite poorly grade-wise, and though I've brought it up to a 3.4 entering my sophomore year this fall, I believe that I could really, realistically bring it up to at least a 3.7 by the end of my senior year, which would look a lot better on my apps. I am wondering what people usually do during their year off... Wouldn't it screw up with insurance and stuff, as you're not a student anymore?

Also, I want to make sure that I am correct that aadsas includes transfer credits when calculating your GPA? So if I took physics over the summer at Western Michigan University, but I attend the University of Michigan, although my physics grade is not included in my GPA at UofM, it is still included in the GPA that dental schools see.

You really don't need to take a year off. 2-3 months would be sufficient to prepare for the DAT.
Yes! taking a year off will definitely mess up your insurance, because you will no longer be insured through your school.
And yes, AADSAS collects transcripts from all the schools you've attended and calculates your GPA.

 

[joonkimdds]

I used to think exactly like how you think.
I was thinking that spending a whole year will almost guarantee me to get 24 or above on DAT and that almost guarantees my admission.

However, I think 2~3 months should be enough although I haven't taken the DAT yet and thus can't really tell if what I have been studying for 2 months are enough or not.

If I spend extra months let's say 8 more months, I am not sure if I can learn anything new unless I want to cover the broad topic of biology which might require over 10 years of bio, lol.

I will let you know if 2 months were enough or not very soon. My DAT is on Aug 1st.

But this is how I think now. If both of us agree that studying for 1 year can guarantee our DAT, we can still do that after we bomb the 1st one(not necessarily bombing, lol).

If you really want to spend a whole year, I recommend you to work on personal statement first before you study for DAT. That thing took me a whole month, that's why i said I studied 2 months instead of 3 months of summer.

 

[MTD52]

Don't take a year off. I mean, if you have other reasons, don't let me stop you, but you certainy don't need a year to study. You're already farther along than I was. I didn't even decide I wanted to go to dental school until midway into my Junior year.

That being said, I studied for about 6 weeks and I did just fine 😀 (scores will be posted soon). For now, make sure you're taking the right classes to get the best background information you can for the DAT, and buy the books that you need ahead of time. I recommend Destroyer, Cliff's or Barron's AP Bio, and Kaplan. I went with topscore for practice tests.

Like june said, you can always retake it, but don't plan for that, just make it an option. You'll get out of school in the 1st or 2nd week of May I presume? So you can plan to take the test in early July. That should give you plenty of time, and worst case scenario, you can retake in September.

 

[ohohitsmagic08]

Great! thanks guys.. So is the generally ideal way to study all of May, June, and July and then take the exam around late July/August? When, usually, is the best time (in terms of getting enough study time but early enough for rolling admissions) to take the DAT? I heard that its good to submit your applications before taking the DAT and just sending your scores after?

 

[joonkimdds]

The best time would be late July. August is late for an early admission. I was gonna take it on July 31st but there wasn't a date so I am taking it on August 1st.

 

[youngdoc88]

Although sounds appealing, taking a year off isn't a great idea. You should take the DAT as soon as you finish all your course work. The longer you wait, the greater your chance of forgetting what you have already learned. 3 months is sufficient time to prepare and do very well.

Best of Luck

youngdoc88

 

[nze82]

The best time would be late July. August is late for an early admission. I was gonna take it on July 31st but there wasn't a date so I am taking it on August 1st.

I kinda disagree. Ideally, it's best if applicants can submit their application with their DAT scores. If an applicant has the time, he/she would be better off taking the exam even before the cycle begins. That way, they can submit their AADSAS application and scores at the same time and they shouldn't worry whether schools will start reviewing their application without DAT scores or not. I'm saying this based on experience. Last year, I took the DAT on July 27th, got rejected from UNLV, and when I called seeking for an explanation, they said that since I'm an out of state applicant I should submit everything (including my DAT scores) as early as possible in order to have a shot at their school. Similarly, I was given an interview for UCSF in Dec, and by that time the class was 60% full. If I had taken my DAT earlier I could have had an earlier interview, which would have increased my chances dramatically.
Conclusion: Take the DAT ASAP, so you have everything ready to go by late June at latest.

I am not suggesting that those of you who are taking the DAT in July and August have no shot at DS (So, no complaints please!). I'm just saying ideally, it's better to take the exam ASAP.

 

[ohohitsmagic08]

I kinda disagree. Ideally, it's best if applicants can submit their application with their DAT scores. If an applicant has the time, he/she would be better off taking the exam even before the cycle begins. That way, they can submit their AADSAS application and scores at the same time and they shouldn't worry whether schools will start reviewing their application without DAT scores or not. I'm saying this based on experience. Last year, I took the DAT on July 27th, got rejected from UNLV, and when I called seeking for an explanation, they said that since I'm an out of state applicant I should submit everything (including my DAT scores) as early as possible in order to have a shot at their school. Similarly, I was given an interview for UCSF in Dec, and by that time the class was 60% full. If I had taken my DAT earlier I could have had an earlier interview, which would have increased my chances dramatically.
Conclusion: Take the DAT ASAP, so you have everything ready to go by late June at latest.

I am not suggesting that those of you who are taking the DAT in July and August have no shot at DS (So, no complaints please!). I'm just saying ideally, it's better to take the exam ASAP.

In an ideal world, I would definitely do this. Nevertheless, we are not, and I am not sure where I could find the 3 months to devote to the DAT. Next summer (after soph year), I am planning to take one of those enrichment courses that will essentially take up the entire summer. The school year is obviously difficult due to classes. This only leaves studying May, June, and July after my junior year to study and probably take it sometime in July or August. How do earlier-takers usually prepare? Do they take it during their summer after sophomore year? ARGGH i wish i knew i was doing dentistry coming into college so I couldve planned better 😡

 

[nze82]

In an ideal world, I would definitely do this. Nevertheless, we are not, and I am not sure where I could find the 3 months to devote to the DAT. Next summer (after soph year), I am planning to take one of those enrichment courses that will essentially take up the entire summer. The school year is obviously difficult due to classes. This only leaves studying May, June, and July after my junior year to study and probably take it sometime in July or August. How do earlier-takers usually prepare? Do they take it during their summer after sophomore year? ARGGH i wish i knew i was doing dentistry coming into college so I couldve planned better 😡

Well I graduated at the end of the winter quarter. That gave me 3 months (March-May) to prepare for the exam and take it before the 2010 cycle even opened. It's frustrating to make time to study for the DAT specially when you're in school.

 

[ohohitsmagic08]

Well I graduated at the end of the winter quarter. That gave me 3 months (March-May) to prepare for the exam and take it before the 2010 cycle even opened. It's frustrating to make time to study for the DAT specially when you're in school.

Lucky! I go to UofMichigan and we run on semesters so I cannot really do that.

What if did a 5-year undergrad? Would dental schools look down on that? Then I could take a lighter course load during the second semester of my 4th year and prepare for the DAT starting maybe march-june and take the test then? I would have extra time to study and complete my graduation requirements while also boosting up my GPA.