The rush to June 1; the myth of the early bird advantage.

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doc toothache

doc toothache

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With June 2 approaching, the predent community is acting like Africanized bees ready to pounce on AADSAS. While applying early may, under certain and limited circumstance, offer an advantage, it is unlikely that any dean of admission would award extra points for an earlier postmark and settle for an otherwise less qualified applicant. Weather or not the early applicant has an advantage may debatable; what is not debatable is that an incomplete application, if anything, may be a major disadvantage. Some deans will discard incomplete applications and will not review them once the application is “complete”. Let’s keep in mind that there are only 7 schools that will review an application without DAT scores. What may be early for some school (application deadlines in Jan/Feb) may be quite late for others (application deadlines in Sept/Oct.).
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...ian-consideration-without-dat-scores.1074519/
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2013-guide-mini-guide-to-dental-school-admission.942453/
 
Hi doc.

What is your opinion on using last years LOR's? For this years AADSAS application
 
doc toothache said:
It may be as stale as a week old bread.
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Hmmm.

Funny.

But if the overall app is good like

Super dental exposure almost 20 years
100 + volunteer hours at hospital
3.2 gpa for science and non
And a 7 out of 10 personal statement

Would that stale bread, still be stale?
 
Conventional wisdom would be to get new lors and rewrite your personal statement. It looks very lazy if they are the same as last cycle. I watched a predental panel video on YouTube where a lot of adcoms spoke, and they all felt the same way. Why chance having any regrets
 
Racquetball3r said:
Conventional wisdom would be to get new lors and rewrite your personal statement. It looks very lazy if they are the same as last cycle. I watched a predental panel video on YouTube where a lot of adcoms spoke, and they all felt the same way. Why chance having any regrets
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I did rewrite PS.

It is the LORS that will be a bit difficult to get by June
 
@tooth knockn Would strongly advise against using old LORs from previous cycles.

Should've planned ahead for this.
 
Racquetball3r said:
Conventional wisdom would be to get new lors and rewrite your personal statement. It looks very lazy if they are the same as last cycle. I watched a predental panel video on YouTube where a lot of adcoms spoke, and they all felt the same way. Why chance having any regrets
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Do you have a link to the video you're referring to? Please share 🙂
 
is it these from UCD PreHealth?


 
uhds said:
is it these from UCD PreHealth?


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I believe those are the one, the reps do mention that they expect you to submit new PS and LORs because you should've have gained something (experience wise or knowledge wise) since your last application and should therefore update your documents.
 
wheezelaugh said:
I believe those are the one, the reps do mention that they expect you to submit new PS and LORs because you should've have gained something (experience wise or knowledge wise) since your last application and should therefore update your documents.
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I completely understand PS. But why LOR? If the previous yearsyouI had good LOR from your professors, why would you want to get new LOR from a professor that you only knew for one semester? (Since you wouldn't know you didnt get into dental school until after Dec 1st, which only leaves one semester/summer sessoion before new season opens.)
 
cacajuate said:
I completely understand PS. But why LOR? If the previous yearsyouI had good LOR from your professors, why would you want to get new LOR from a professor that you only knew for one semester? (Since you wouldn't know you didnt get into dental school until after Dec 1st, which only leaves one semester/summer sessoion before new season opens.)
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Alot of things can happen in a year. I'd want my LORs' to reflect as such.

To add on, you can still get your previous writers to write your LOR's. Just ask them to rewrite it with the updated information.
 
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You need "updated" LORs. If I used an old one, I would have the professors add a paragraph about how great/dedicated I am blah blah blah because of what I've done the past year and how it's made me a stronger person etc.

If you've taken classes and been close to a new teacher, then get some completely new ones. It could be a mix of both, but if I am spending thousands of dollars applying, I would make sure every one has updated information.
 
Don't let this thread deter you - apply early if you can and like mentioned, only if everything is complete. If your stats are in the mid to lower "tier", applying early CAN be very beneficial. They will see less applications before they get to yours and potentially be more open to granting you an interview. I'm not pulling this out of my a s s either. I have a 20AA/TS and a 3.3 gpa, and when I did not get any interviews my first time applying (applied end of July), many of them told me to apply earlier (specifically schools with smaller class sizes or schools that do most of their interviews early in the application cycle). This time around I applied the second week of June and received 4 interviews, and got in to my top choice school on Dec. 1st (after which I withdrew from the schools I hadn't yet hear from). With that said, I also improved other aspects of my application (mainly shadowing hours), but I truly believe that applying early definitely helped in some way.

While I understand doc toothache is trying to stress that a complete application is better than an early one, take that with a grain of salt and really try to finish you application and APPLY AS EARLY AS YOU CAN.
 
predental75 said:
Don't let this thread deter you - apply early if you can and like mentioned, only if everything is complete. If your stats are in the mid to lower "tier", applying early CAN be very beneficial. They will see less applications before they get to yours and potentially be more open to granting you an interview. I'm not pulling this out of my a s s either. I have a 20AA/TS and a 3.3 gpa, and when I did not get any interviews my first time applying (applied end of July), many of them told me to apply earlier (specifically schools with smaller class sizes or schools that do most of their interviews early in the application cycle). This time around I applied the second week of June and received 4 interviews, and got in to my top choice school on Dec. 1st (after which I withdrew from the schools I hadn't yet hear from). With that said, I also improved other aspects of my application (mainly shadowing hours), but I truly believe that applying early definitely helped in some way.

While I understand doc toothache is trying to stress that a complete application is better than an early one, take that with a grain of salt and really try to finish you application and APPLY AS EARLY AS YOU CAN.
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As early as you can meaning anywhere before Aug will be just fine.
 
There are plenty of anecdotal accounts of applicants with "low" stats that gain acceptance. In fact, those with sci gpa of 3.0-3.24 have a 40% rate of acceptance and represent 17.5% of the enrollees. The number of applicants with gpa at 3.25-3.75+ for the class entering 2013, was barely enough to satisfy the enrollees for the entire country (post pending). It is unlikely that applying mid June vs late July had any bearing on the acceptance.
 
Since neither you or I are the admissions staff, I guess we'll never know. However, like I mentioned, when I called admissions to ask what I could improve, several schools said to apply earlier. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I don't really care for any of your statistics, but when you apply can make a difference so why not just apply early if you can?
 
predental75 said:
Since neither you or I are the admissions staff, I guess we'll never know. However, like I mentioned, when I called admissions to ask what I could improve, several schools said to apply earlier. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I don't really care for any of your statistics, but when you apply can make a difference so why not just apply early if you can?
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Nothing would make deans happier than to have all applications received the next day. It would certainly make their task a heck of a lot easier.
 
predental75 said:
Since neither you or I are the admissions staff, I guess we'll never know. However, like I mentioned, when I called admissions to ask what I could improve, several schools said to apply earlier. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I don't really care for any of your statistics, but when you apply can make a difference so why not just apply early if you can?
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I never understood this attitude of "the statistics say one thing, but it worked for me so I guess it works for everybody!" You even mentioned how you improved your app in other ways earlier.

Every adviser, etc. that I've ever talked to told me that as long as you have your application in before the first or second week of August, you're considered "early." I really don't think applying slightly earlier helped you much the second go around, instead it was probably the work you put forth to strengthen your application.

Should you get your stuff in as soon as possible? Yeah, probably. I submitted my stuff in the second week of July and never ran into any issues, so it's not like you'll run into any trouble if you don't apply super early. If you don't think you can have your stuff in by June, then don't worry too much. Make sure you aren't submitting everything in September/October and everything will be fine.
 
predental75 said:
Since neither you or I are the admissions staff, I guess we'll never know. However, like I mentioned, when I called admissions to ask what I could improve, several schools said to apply earlier. That's the only point I'm trying to make. I don't really care for any of your statistics, but when you apply can make a difference so why not just apply early if you can?
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It might make a difference if you want to maximize the pre-Dec interviews. My app was sent out in the 3rd week of August and I received 1 pre-Dec (end of November) and 2 post-Dec interviews (January and February). But it could also be that my app was not competitive enough for pre-Dec interview spots? Not sure...only adcom will know.
 
So for those of you saying to wait to apply until taking the DAT, how long does it take for ones DAT scores to be uploaded to the application after taking the exam and how do you do so?

Also would you recommend filling in all other parts of the application like transcripts, LORs, PS, etc... earlier and then waiting for the DAT scores before finally hitting submit?
 
SCDP said:
So for those of you saying to wait to apply until taking the DAT, how long does it take for ones DAT scores to be uploaded to the application after taking the exam and how do you do so?

Also would you recommend filling in all other parts of the application like transcripts, LORs, PS, etc... earlier and then waiting for the DAT scores before finally hitting submit?
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I believe it took about 2 weeks for my DAT to be uploaded. I took it on May 29th and I e-submitted before they were visible, but it took until late June for my LORs to be uploaded so it didn't mail out to schools yet.
 
rendal said:
I believe it took about 2 weeks for my DAT to be uploaded. I took it on May 29th and I e-submitted before they were visible, but it took until late June for my LORs to be uploaded so it didn't mail out to schools yet.
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To be clear, there is no "mail out". Once AADSAS inputs/verifies the information it is electronically available to the schools that have been listed by the applicant.
 
I guess it really depends on people. If you have your applications ready, why not do it early? But I agree with doc toothache, if you rush your application process only because of the "first come, first serve" rule, you will probably have a bad time.
Anyhow I'm applying this year too so I really hope I "get lucky" and some schools will pick me 😛.
 
doc toothache said:
To be clear, there is no "mail out". Once AADSAS inputs/verifies the information it is electronically available to the schools that have been listed by the applicant.
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Correct. They refer to it as "mailing" but it is all electronic.
 
About to apply for this cycle starting June 2 ... I have my PS written, recommendation writers ready to submit, and transcript and DAT score ready to send. How else can I prepare prior to June 2nd in order to apply ASAP? Secondaries come within a couple weeks, correct?
 
Mycoalwin said:
About to apply for this cycle starting June 2 ... I have my PS written, recommendation writers ready to submit, and transcript and DAT score ready to send. How else can I prepare prior to June 2nd in order to apply ASAP? Secondaries come within a couple weeks, correct?
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Order your transcripts , NOW. with updated grades of the most recent courses taken.
 
BobbyBeavis said:
I thought you had to have an AADSAS matching form for your transcripts?
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You do. Order them as soon as the app opens and u can access the form. I will say I applied and got in like the third batch or something, and got a summer interview and 2 really early fall interviews. Therefore I was a lot less worried and felt more confident about my application and got into those schools. I do think there's an advantage to applying early, but don't rush it 🙂
 
tooth knockn said:
Order your transcripts , NOW. with updated grades of the most recent courses taken.
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Sorry, kinda new with this. By ordering transcripts, do you mean sending a copy of my transcript to AADSAS through my school website? If so, do I just send it to the AADSAS address and everything will be taken care of? Or are you talking about sending in the transcript once the application opens June 2?
 
sugarmagnolia91 said:
Do we order them to ourselves? Or have them sent to AADSAS?
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sent to AADSAS, with transcript matching forms (ok technically you can leave out the forms and they'll get sorted-- but trust me you want to make it as easy on them as possible=fast turnaround). AADSAS has rules that they have to be official transcripts sent from the school, not from your own address, as far as I know.
 
Mycoalwin said:
Sorry, kinda new with this. By ordering transcripts, do you mean sending a copy of my transcript to AADSAS through my school website? If so, do I just send it to the AADSAS address and everything will be taken care of? Or are you talking about sending in the transcript once the application opens June 2?
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Yes, ordering an official transcript from your school registrar to be sent to the AADSAS address. However, you need to also give the registrar an AADSAS transcript matching form to send along with your transcript (this is made available to you when the application opens)
 
Mycoalwin said:
Sorry, kinda new with this. By ordering transcripts, do you mean sending a copy of my transcript to AADSAS through my school website? If so, do I just send it to the AADSAS address and everything will be taken care of? Or are you talking about sending in the transcript once the application opens June 2?
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The reason she is telling you to order them now (get then requested from your school for them to send) is that some schools take weeks to get this done. Your transcript needs to be matched with your application and if they both arrive around the same time, your application will be completed sooner.
 
dentalgirl7893 said:
Yes, ordering an official transcript from your school registrar to be sent to the AADSAS address. However, you need to also give the registrar an AADSAS transcript matching form to send along with your transcript (this is made available to you when the application opens)
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So order transcripts to be sent to AADSAS from my registrar today, then when application opens have AADSAS send my registrar a matching form. Got it, thank you!
 
Mycoalwin said:
So order transcripts to be sent to AADSAS from my registrar today, then when application opens have AADSAS send my registrar a matching form. Got it, thank you!
Click to expand...
Wait I am a bit confused, so I can have my transcript sent to AADSAS now without the matching form and then send the matching form in after the application opens?
 
Transcripts:
Ordered online

Or

Ordered at the school

Have the AADSAS address ready in hand.
 
Be sure to make an account by June 2
 
Mycoalwin said:
So order transcripts to be sent to AADSAS from my registrar today, then when application opens have AADSAS send my registrar a matching form. Got it, thank you!
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No, wait until you also have the matching form so they can all be sent together, otherwise there will be nothing for them to match the form with when they receive it
 
bsal1 said:
Wait I am a bit confused, so I can have my transcript sent to AADSAS now without the matching form and then send the matching form in after the application opens?
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No they need to be sent at the same time
 
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