Too early to apply?

[anonymuz]

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Hello, everyone, first off I would like to thanks everyone for such useful information... I have a real quick, question about applying to dental school.

I'm currently a Junior and I have been studying for the DATs for the past 2 months, but after taking the KAPLAN mock, i dont think I'm ready to take the exam yet, and I will continue studying until I get it all down.. Is it too early to be applying to Dental School this spring/summer as a Junior undergrad? Or should I be getting everything togehter now and get my commitee letter of recommendation and DAT scores and apply asap?

1 final, very noob question is what does AA/TA/PA stand for? I took the Kaplan DAT mocktest and it basically gave me a score for each section I did, so I have results for 6 sections but i dunno what AA/TA/PA is??! 😳

please help..

 

[duh?]

Hello, everyone, first off I would like to thanks everyone for such useful information... I have a real quick, question about applying to dental school.

I'm currently a Junior and I have been studying for the DATs for the past 2 months, but after taking the KAPLAN mock, i dont think I'm ready to take the exam yet, and I will continue studying until I get it all down.. Is it too early to be applying to Dental School this spring/summer as a Junior undergrad? Or should I be getting everything togehter now and get my commitee letter of recommendation and DAT scores and apply asap?

1 final, very noob question is what does AA/TA/PA stand for? I took the Kaplan DAT mocktest and it basically gave me a score for each section I did, so I have results for 6 sections but i dunno what AA/TA/PA is??! 😳

please help..

Most people (in undergrad) apply in the spring/summer of their junior year. The application becomes available in May. So you should be fine applying then.
AA= Academic Average
TS= Total Science (Average of Bio, GChem, OChem)
PA= Perceptual Ability (I think 😀 )

 

[Jeppedo]

The AADSAS application service will not start accepting any part of 2007 applications until May (I believe). You are definitely on track, If I were you I would go ahead and get the recommendations and collect everything that you can so that you will be ready to apply when the 2007 application becomes available.

AA - Academic Average, includes reading, math, bio, g-chem, and o-chem
TS - Total Science, includes bio, g-chem, and o-chem
PA - Perceptual Ability

Good luck


Edit: Damn, someone beat me to the second post, I guess we are all too eager to help.

 

[anonymuz]

thanks so much you guys, i thought i was gonna get flamed for asking a dumb question 😳 i just recently took the kaplan dat and to my disapointment, i was shocked that i couldnt answer a lot of the chem questions at all.. they all LOOKED familar to me, just a lot of things didnt click in my mind... so basically, I SUCK at the science section, so I decided to take advanced organic chem this semester, and for PA, i scored 18, which isnt bad for a first try (sucked at keyholes, TFE, and folding). QR, i did 18, but I didnt know how to manage my time.. I will be purchasing the DAT achiever.. do you guys recommend anything else I can do to brush up on the chem and bio? thanks

oh, one more question.... I will be getting a letter of recommendation from the health commitee at my school, so I will be interviewed by them, but the problem is, I wont be able to get the interview unless I have my DAT scores and as of now, i dont htink I will know when I will be confident enough to take the DAT's, can I still apply without having a letter of recommendation (which will come shortly after i take DATs)

 

[duh?]

thanks so much you guys, i thought i was gonna get flamed for asking a dumb question 😳 i just recently took the kaplan dat and to my disapointment, i was shocked that i couldnt answer a lot of the chem questions at all.. they all LOOKED familar to me, just a lot of things didnt click in my mind... so basically, I SUCK at the science section, so I decided to take advanced organic chem this semester, and for PA, i scored 18, which isnt bad for a first try (sucked at keyholes, TFE, and folding). QR, i did 18, but I didnt know how to manage my time.. I will be purchasing the DAT achiever.. do you guys recommend anything else I can do to brush up on the chem and bio? thanks

oh, one more question.... I will be getting a letter of recommendation from the health commitee at my school, so I will be interviewed by them, but the problem is, I wont be able to get the interview unless I have my DAT scores and as of now, i dont htink I will know when I will be confident enough to take the DAT's, can I still apply without having a letter of recommendation (which will come shortly after i take DATs)

Sure you can apply BUT, most schools cannot do much without you DATs (invite you for interview and stuff like that). So, yeah go ahead and apply and make sure your DATs and LORs get there early enough. AADSAS will send your application to the schools and if you send your LORs later they'll mail it to the schools. Most schools will not consider your application till it's complete. For some schools, complete = Everything with LORs and DATs. Some schools will consider you if your LORs are not there yet. Call the schools you're thinking of and ask them. Good luck.

 

[Toothinator]

Don't get bummed out by those Kaplan tests, the general chemistry sections are very hard on them. I was scoring 16-17 AA on Kaplan a few days before my DAT and I pulled out a 21AA. Just read the DAT section on SDN, there are some excellent posts on study material. Good Luck!

 

[BallDontLie]

TS= Total Science (Average of Bio, GChem, OChem)

The TS score isnt a strict average, its a weighted average. Bio has 40 questions, while both chems have 30 each. So the TS score is 40% Bio, 30% GChem and 30% OChem.

And I'd recommend finding another source for PAT practice...Kaplan sucks. On their practice tests I was getting 18/18/21 just prior to taking the real thing, so I was pretty nervous about the academic parts and I wasnt sweatin the PAT at all. On the real thing, I got a 22/22/17 - the science sections are easier than Kaplan as others have said, but the PAT is MUCH harder.

 

[anonymuz]

The TS score isnt a strict average, its a weighted average. Bio has 40 questions, while both chems have 30 each. So the TS score is 40% Bio, 30% GChem and 30% OChem.

And I'd recommend finding another source for PAT practice...Kaplan sucks. On their practice tests I was getting 18/18/21 just prior to taking the real thing, so I was pretty nervous about the academic parts and I wasnt sweatin the PAT at all. On the real thing, I got a 22/22/17 - the science sections are easier than Kaplan as others have said, but the PAT is MUCH harder.

you guys are so helpful.. thanks! im very glad to hear that kaplan chem is harder than the actual DAT chem... i was getting REAL worried. I've read that DAT achiever is good for PAT's so I think I will be purchasing that, unless you guys have anything else you can recommend? once again, thanks so much...

BTW, these are the schools that are of interest to me.. please recommend anything else thats on the east coast 😀 NYU, UPENN, TEMPLE, CASE, UMD, UMDNJ.... i currently hold a 3.6 science and 3.5 cum, so as far as school grades go, im looking ok... still nervous to death though

 

[BallDontLie]

BTW, these are the schools that are of interest to me.. please recommend anything else thats on the east coast 😀 NYU, UPENN, TEMPLE, CASE, UMD, UMDNJ.... i currently hold a 3.6 science and 3.5 cum, so as far as school grades go, im looking ok... still nervous to death though

Your stats are rock solid, so just nail that DAT and you should have your choice of schools..as for schools on the east coast, youve got a good mix already. Also depends on what your looking for...wanna specialize? Check out Harvard and Columbia...wanna be a GP? I hear good things about Tufts. I have a friend that interviewed at UNC and had great things to say about them..but its tough to get in of ur not a NC resident though, so the DAT is pretty important.

Honestly, your opinions about a lot of these schools will change (for better or worse) once you go interview and see the place, talk to studens, faculty, etc....so really, don't worry about that too much right now. Just focus on the DAT, then once u have ur scores u can reevaluate the places you would like to apply.

 

[duh?]

Your stats are rock solid, so just nail that DAT and you should have your choice of schools..as for schools on the east coast, youve got a good mix already. Also depends on what your looking for...wanna specialize? Check out Harvard and Columbia...wanna be a GP? I hear good things about Tufts. I have a friend that interviewed at UNC and had great things to say about them..but its tough to get in of ur not a NC resident though, so the DAT is pretty important.

Honestly, your opinions about a lot of these schools will change (for better or worse) once you go interview and see the place, talk to studens, faculty, etc....so really, don't worry about that too much right now. Just focus on the DAT, then once u have ur scores u can reevaluate the places you would like to apply.

I second most of what nrlee said. As for specializing or not, and getting to know more about the schools, dig up some old threads on this forum that may help you. If you can, visit the schools and talk to the students to get a feel for what their programs are like. You will learn more as you begin to interview. Most people will tell you that you can specialize from ANY school as long as your class rank and Board scores are top notch. I wouldn't worry about those for now. Just rock the DATs and you should get accepted somewhere. Good luck!

 

[beezies]

you guys are so helpful.. thanks! im very glad to hear that kaplan chem is harder than the actual DAT chem... i was getting REAL worried. I've read that DAT achiever is good for PAT's so I think I will be purchasing that, unless you guys have anything else you can recommend? once again, thanks so much...

BTW, these are the schools that are of interest to me.. please recommend anything else thats on the east coast 😀 NYU, UPENN, TEMPLE, CASE, UMD, UMDNJ.... i currently hold a 3.6 science and 3.5 cum, so as far as school grades go, im looking ok... still nervous to death though

Did you get Topscore Scholarware? Definately get that, but make sure you're serious about taking it because I'm pretty sure it remembers your answers for when you take it again. Also, what kind of Chem are you having trouble with? For O-Chem get the Kaplan book, it was really helpful.

 

[mochafreak]

Did you get Topscore Scholarware? Definately get that, but make sure you're serious about taking it because I'm pretty sure it remembers your answers for when you take it again. Also, what kind of Chem are you having trouble with? For O-Chem get the Kaplan book, it was really helpful.

If I remember correctly dat achiever also remembers your answers, so don't waste a section before your ready to take it seriously and give your best effort. I thought that there was some way to reset top score though. Can anybody remember?

 

[anonymuz]

If I remember correctly dat achiever also remembers your answers, so don't waste a section before your ready to take it seriously and give your best effort. I thought that there was some way to reset top score though. Can anybody remember?

oooh, taking the exam is only a one time thing? i thought i could go back, review, and just keep trying over and over? i dread studying for chem.. 😴

yes, i am looking to specialize, in what field... i dont know..still way early.. i plan to take babysteps all the way to the top of the mountain

 

[litlmisa]

Also since you can right now-go to the addsas websit and make an account for this year. Then you will be able to see the format of the application and you will have time to fix any areas that you may feel short in, like extracric or volunteering. remember that most schools want to see a well rounded applicant-not just a book smart one.

hey good luck-try not to stress out now, there will be plenty of time for that later 🙂

 

[anonymuz]

hey thanks alot u guys for the advice... my extracurr activities SUCK.. i shold seriosuly join a club or two this semester, maybe even run for office.. lol.. as far a volunteering, i have NOTHING under my belt.. is work a reasonable excuse? cause i really work a lot

 

[BallDontLie]

hey thanks alot u guys for the advice... my extracurr activities SUCK.. i shold seriosuly join a club or two this semester, maybe even run for office.. lol.. as far a volunteering, i have NOTHING under my belt.. is work a reasonable excuse? cause i really work a lot

Well schools like to see well rounded people, so extracirrics and volunteering are pretty important. Since you are working a lot, I think most schools will overlook this as long as you have some dental volunteering/shadowing under your belt. At this point, joining a few club would be kinda pointless because you dont have enough time to show that you made a real committment. IMO, the single most important thing you can do is volunteer at a dental clinic and shadow some dentists.

 

[ias2512]

Hey, you guys are posting real helpful info. I was wondering...im currently shadowing a dentist right now (been doing this for couple weeks), but its starting to get real repetitive...I can practically do the procedures myself...so when u guys were shadowing, did the dentist let u do anything or do I need to go somewhere else to help out...
oh, one more thing...is harvard dent really hard? wat type of sats do u need to get in?

 

[anonymuz]

hey thanks for the info nrlee.. actually ive been shadowing a clinic with senior students since last year and ive gotten a chance to meet the dean of admins already a few times so he knows im pretty interested, this would be my 2nd year shadowing the doctor and the senior students.. and i just recently found a doctor that worked for temple admissions and shes gonna be helping me about with a lot of the interview process and a guarenteed interview at CASE.. i think the preprofessionals club im in is going to go to elementry schools and teach the little ones how to properly brush their teeth.. lol. so hopefully as far as experience, that should be enough.. and i do agree with you IAS, it does get kinda repetitive, but everytime i'm there shadowing, i ALWAYS ALWAYS learn something new.. there are so many terms, drugs, procedures i need to learn.. it basically gives u a feel of what being a dentist is going to be like... i like it.. real laid back and just a nice flow throughout the day without too much stress. 😀