what are you gonna do until summer? or on summer? and personal statement?

[photopsyche]

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I graduated from undergrade on 2/08/12.
And now I am start pareparing for redating DAT.
so during these times, which is from 2/09/12 - 5/22/2012 (DAT date) do I need to do shawdowing or any volunteering?
meaning if I only study DAT and if I do not participate in shadowing, volunteering activities, or working (at dentist office, at deli) should the admissions comittee think that I am not qulifiyed for dental school?
Beause I really want to foucse on DAT for these 3 months, I do not want to to shadowing, volunteering, or work. at the point.

In addition, when you apply for the next cycle, do you have to rewrite the whole personal statement again? or could you just add a paragraph or revise them?
thanks

 

[kamepan]

I assume you've applied before? (Sorry I was a little confused).
If you're retaking the DAT, I suggest focusing on all of that. You can do all of the shadowing hours you want but at the end of the day, I honestly think it's those stats that will matter---or at least get you noticed first time scanning your app. They're not everything but they are definitely up there. You don't NEED to do the volunteering but you NEED to do well on that DAT.

Here's the thing though: there is never not enough time. If you have no school, there's no way you will be studying 24 hours a day. I suggest volunteering maybe two times a week for say, 4 hours each day (like Tuesday/Thursday). Study for the rest of the week. The days you volunteer, maybe you should take practice tests or quizzes or something. See the shadowing/volunteer as a break from studying- maybe take a practice test staring at 8 AM-1 and volunteer at the dental office from 130-5 as a break. MWF do the harcore stuff. Go home and go over what you got wrong on your test, and call it a night. It's all about setting a schedule for yourself and studying when you say you'll study (discipline). However, if you really can't handle it, then just study because they don't care/won't know that you didn't do well on the DAT because you were shadowing.

And write a new personal statement. That's my suggestion...

 

[luxpb]

I graduated from undergrade on 2/08/12.
And now I am start pareparing for redating DAT.
so during these times, which is from 2/09/12 - 5/22/2012 (DAT date) do I need to do shawdowing or any volunteering?
meaning if I only study DAT and if I do not participate in shadowing, volunteering activities, or working (at dentist office, at deli) should the admissions comittee think that I am not qulifiyed for dental school?
Beause I really want to foucse on DAT for these 3 months, I do not want to to shadowing, volunteering, or work. at the point.

In addition, when you apply for the next cycle, do you have to rewrite the whole personal statement again? or could you just add a paragraph or revise them?
thanks

It is important to focus on DAT. However, it is also important to show the admission committee that you do volunteering or shadowing steadily because it is considered that you still have a strong interest in dentistry. However, you don't have to do a lot. Maybe once or twice a week. I know it's hard to do two things at the same time. but to be competitive, you should do it because there is no exact or certain answers to get accepted. and...DAT? yes, keep working hard and try to get 20 on all of sections. You will be competitive. Good Luck!