Some tips I’ve learned about applying (and free advice that personally cost me way too much money)
- It’s totally OK to wait on submitting your application. I spoke with an advisor about this and it’s so much better to wait and have everything as perfect as possible than to submit an app just for the sake of being “early”. I’m talking about things like spelling errors, weird spaces in your app, wrong categories for classes, not putting down absolutely everything, etc
- Reschedule that DAT if you need to. That’s what I did. I had my goal on studying for 4 weeks but a week before I was scheduled to take it I knew I wasn’t ready yet so I gave myself another 2 weeks. This was the same summer I was applying but it’s much better to submit “late” (wasn’t even that late TBH it was still the first week of July) and go from that 20 to a 22 than to take it because you think you’re rushed for time.
- If you’ve studying for the DAT and you need some motivation, go find a dentist and shadow them!! I know studying for the DAT is time consuming, but if you just take like 2 hours out of your week to go shadow a dentist, it’ll help so much in keeping everything in perspective and you are able to better visualize your goals. I would always go shadow this awesome dentist on Friday mornings when he would do his cool surgical cases (3rd molar extracts, implants) and it was really what I needed to keep me going.
- San Antonio has literally told me they don’t really care about your PA or QR sections on the DAT. It’s all about that sweet sweet TS score. I mean don’t embarrass yourself with like a 12 but focus on the sciences.
- If you’re getting your app together and you want to add something that’s very easy but very noticeable, go shadow some specialists! Doesn’t require much effort but it’ll help add some spice to your app and show that you’ve really taken the time to give a holistic look to the profession of dentistry as a whole. Plus, if any of the student interviewers are going into a specialty, you can always talk with them about your experience.
- Do the damn “optional” ANYTHING. It’s optional if you don’t want to get in.
- You’re not writing a creative writing class essay. You need to get to the point and get there quick. My first draft of my essays were written like a free flow essay using unnecessary flowery elaborative descriptions and all that annoying stuff. A super basic outline for the essay for “why do you want to be a dentist” would be
- Short Intro with something to engage the reader. Do not mention you love smiles damn it! Thesis statement.
- State reason. Specific example to prove your point.
- State another reason. Specific example.
- Continue until you’re out of good reasons or words.
- VERY short conclusion that wraps everything up but also adds to your story.
- Break up your essays into as many individual paragraphs as you can. It’s easy on the eyes and it helps the reader.
- If you’re not sure what category a class counts as or whatever, call and ask one of the schools! It’s fine and you don’t even have to give them your name if you don’t want to. They probably won’t even ask.
- Get those transcripts in ASAP. It’s insane how slow some school administrations are in sending them out, and the longer you wait, the more backed up the TMDSAS people get too.
- Put as many of your experiences in as many categories as possible, but just make sure it’s appropriate. For example, if you did research, you obviously put that in the research section but you can also put that in leadership if you’ve ever lead meetings, trained another undergrad, or put in charge of a project.
- Don’t leave any of the categories for experiences empty (except for research if you didn’t do any).
- It’s not too late to still add to your application! Do a TMOM event, go volunteer, shadow, etc.
Okay these are all the things I can think of right now but i’ll add some more if I think of any.
😀
