Thinking of Dental, in middle of M.Sc.

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CANgnome

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Hi everyone, I am new to this forum.

I am currently a Canadian International Student studying M.Sc. Biology in the USA. I am in a 2 year program, and i will be needing 2 more semesters to graduate.

I am wondering if i am able to apply and get accepted into a US dental school if i do my DAT and turn in everything this summer even though am only half way through my M.Sc.?

If it matters, my:
-cGPA undergraduate is 3.12 with major in biochem, specialist in cell/molecular biology
-graduate gpa for my first term is about 4.0, 2nd term should be the same.

also, do extracirriculars weigh heavily in acceptance in dental schools? I have research experience, but no community service, shadowing, etc...

I am hoping to get into Boston.

Ty all ahead of time~

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Well, without commenting about volunteering and shadowing, if you are willing to shell out maybe 1-2 thousand dollars for the summer between taking the DAT, applying to schools, and sending transcripts and letters, you should apply this summer. You can study for the DAT for 1 month and take it. If you do well on the DAT, DAT scores are good for (I think) 3 years. You can apply this summer and hope to get in. You still have a few months of time to do probably 20 hours of shadowing.

If you don't, oh well. You will finish your degree and have a year to do community service, job shadowing, and perhaps retake the DAT if you want a little boost. And if you don't apply this summer, you will end up taking a year to apply to dental school anyway, right? I guess it all comes down to if you are willing to try. You would have to be organized to be able to get all your letters or rec soon, but I bet you could do it. Good luck!
 
well my plan actually had been to take the summer off to take the DAT.

I will for certain go out and shadow a few dentists during this break, and get my letters of recommendation. I imagine i can pull of 2-3 from my M.Sc. and 1-2 from the people i shadow.

I have heard about applying through AADSAS early in late May? and get the package in while completing the DAT to boost chances of getting in to the first wave of interviews. Then do the DAT and send it in asap. Is this true?

Also, this is out of place somewhat, but what may be my chances of getting into Boston with my current standings :D

ty all again~
 
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Well, if you hold up your application to take the DAT, you end up holding up your whole application, essentially. Its ideal to have your DAT scores in hand when you submit to AADSAS so that your application is complete right away.

I think what you are referring to about the AADSAS in May: In the past, AADSAS would open, say, May 1st, but you couldn't actually submit AADSAS until May 15th. For the 2010 cycle, that wasn't the case (as I recall). It opened on May 15th (?) and you could submit right away. Since AADSAS is opening June 3rd this year, you probably can submit right away also. Since you get your DAT scores that day, you can take the DAT as late as end of May. Its alway best to have your DAT scores in hand because some schools consider your application "incomplete" until then.

And I know nothing about BU. The best you can do is look at the ADEA guide for dental school stats. And even then, the best you can do is compare yourself to the average. Committees look at applications as a whole, including extra cirriculars, so its hard to compare two people with a 3.7 and a 3.2 when their DAT scores and EC vary. There are no guarantees in this business. And I wouldn't have your heart set on BU just yet-- you will be happy with whatever school lets you in. And I would shop around from some cheaper alternatives, just to be safe and to keep your options open.
 
AADSAS will be able to be submitted June 1st I think...just check the site.

You will be fine. You can send in your application without taking the DAT. The process is a little slow but most schools don't start looking until mid to late summer (July/August)...some sooner. For example I submitted my Application 1st week of June and DAT was taken Aug 30th. I still received 7 interviews 5 pre Dec. 1st. All worked out for me and I had an unusual case (low undegrad GPA 2.6, Grad 3.7, DAT 20/22). I got into 3 schools still waiting on #1 choice but losing hope. Anyways its a stressful process but getting your app in at end of summer is fine. Good Luck.
 
keep in mind that some schools REQUIRE applicants to finish any program they may be enrolled in...
 
by that i assume you mean that my 'chances of getting accepted' is too hard to figure out due to myself being both an international student, not having taken the DAT and having incomplete M.Sc. grades? :confused: Or do you mean something else.

You are catching on fast. You could add the low gpa and lack of shadowing experience to your list.
 
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