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As a predent who had to figure out a lot on my own, I thought this thread would be helpful for future predents.
What do you wish you had known as a predent (DAT, resources, shadowing, etc)?
- Thread starter chickenlover21
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Doing hella DAT practice problems >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> taking very detailed notes on Chad's Videos/AP Bio/other DAT Books/etc
You don't need a bunch of random volunteer experiences and E.Cs.
Have a genuine volunteer effort you believe in and stick with it. I would say, don't be ashamed of your random hobbies. They can be unique talking points at interviews. Also, if you go deep into your volunteer effort it is easier to talk about than a bunch of random things you did.
Shadowing - see if you can assist while you shadow.
DAT- become a geek about the material. It'll pay off!
Have a genuine volunteer effort you believe in and stick with it. I would say, don't be ashamed of your random hobbies. They can be unique talking points at interviews. Also, if you go deep into your volunteer effort it is easier to talk about than a bunch of random things you did.
Shadowing - see if you can assist while you shadow.
DAT- become a geek about the material. It'll pay off!
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This isn't something I wish I had known, but something I wish I had thought of and done at the time.
Keep a word document on your computer (or google doc) where you update anything that is relevant to your application. Officer positions and years held, Volunteer activities with the date and times, etc. Update it as you are going through undergrad whenever you have something new to add.
I spent so much time during my application trying to remember things I had done in undergrad and then looking up dates to different volunteer events. I kept a word document that I was constantly updating while I was in dental school so that I would be ready to apply to residency. When I applied this year it was a breeze! I already had all my experiences in one place and it allowed me to get everything done very efficiently.
Keep a word document on your computer (or google doc) where you update anything that is relevant to your application. Officer positions and years held, Volunteer activities with the date and times, etc. Update it as you are going through undergrad whenever you have something new to add.
I spent so much time during my application trying to remember things I had done in undergrad and then looking up dates to different volunteer events. I kept a word document that I was constantly updating while I was in dental school so that I would be ready to apply to residency. When I applied this year it was a breeze! I already had all my experiences in one place and it allowed me to get everything done very efficiently.
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I wish I knew about LoL
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I would tell others to go to an easier 4 year undergrad that does not have weed out classes and snatch that 4.0.
University/College name Barely matters for dental school admissions. Proof? Me, I go to a small state college and I have interviewed with people from Yale, Princeton , Upenn, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard you name it.
University/College name Barely matters for dental school admissions. Proof? Me, I go to a small state college and I have interviewed with people from Yale, Princeton , Upenn, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard you name it.
THIS IS THE GOLDEN ADVICE.
prestigious schools don't know anything more in their pre-req courses than small schools. I went to an "easy" big 10 school found it was a harder to get good grades cause the mandatory curve.
Good grades are good grades and if you do well you will have your pickings!!
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Apply early. Attend community college and get good grades. Shadow for at least 100 hours. Research is not important. Work as dental assistant.
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Not to belabor the point, but APPLY EARLY. I didn't get my application submitted until September and even with competitive stats I only received one pre-December interview.
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This is what I came into this thread to post, so I'm glad you already did it for me. I went to a name SEC school and it was the dumbest mistake I made. I shot my GPA to hell and it cost me having a strong chance at my in-state dental school which would have been 120K. I had no idea I wanted to pursue dentistry at the point in time though. I chose my university based on a football team lmao.
I would most certainly urge any high school student reading this forum, and particularly this thread, to go to a university with smaller class sizes so you can take advantage of it. It's easier to do well, it's easier to communicate with a professor if you have problems or struggle in a course, and it's easier to get involved and get great LORs. If I had an issue in a class at my larger university I'd go to office hours for a professor and never even see the professor due to the other 20 students being lined up for an hour long office hour. The advisers at larger universities kind of suck as well, but it's not their fault. They just have so many students under them they're obligated to help with curricula/semester schedules. I transferred from the large university to a D-II and my GPA at my new university was 3.6+, it was easier to get involved on campus and within volunteer activities and honor socities and hold officer positions, and it was easier to get good LORs.
If you're determined to become a dentist, do yourself a service and go to the school that will give you the best chance to succeed well academically and to mold yourself into a well-rounded applicant.
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1) Make sure you are CERTAIN about pursuing dentistry! To do this make sure you're shadowing, asking dental professionals the right questions about ALL aspects of the career, and do not be afraid to explore other healthcare professions to make sure your interests don't lye elsewhere.
2) Savor every moment of undergrad because it is time that you will not get back! Don't squander every moment studying. Life is not just about book knowledge. Gain maturity and experiences outside of the classroom - these are the lessons that are most valuable!
3) Only do something if it has meaning to you!!!! Nothing is more of a waste of time than investing yourself in something that has no value to you! If you don't like volunteering at the community dental clinic (for whatever reason) and you are really drawn to volunteering for the local horse clinic --- GO HANG OUT WITH THE PONYS! Follow your passions not what is expected by admissions committees.
4) Make friends who are helping you to reach your full potential - don't waste time with duds.
5) Keep a word document where you organize a living timeline of your involvement. Jot down notes about what you did and include the date.
6) Don't stress the little stuff. I seriously thought my C- in ochem 2 and my C- in calculus would hinder me from pursuing my dreams. I look back and I laugh at myself. I seriously wasted so much energy on hating myself for these two worthless grades. Everyone has unique talents and weak points - embrace them! Ochem ended up being my highest DAT section and my low Ochem2 grade actually provided me an opportunity to show growth in a weak area through my DAT!
7) Ignore annoying pre-dents and pre-meds. Do your own thing!
8) DAT advice: Do practice problems. Trust yourself that you know your strong and weak areas! Spend extra time from the beginning on those weak areas. Study smarter not harder. Study large concepts that will FOR SURE be on the exam. And skimp over small unimportant concepts. Make flashcards for biology and ecology sections and just memorize memorize memorize!!!! Expect to spend a good amount of cash on DAT prep material and the exam - just accept it. Take breaks when you need to. Be prepared to make sacrifices. It is so easy to fall behind your schedule - STAY ON TOP OF IT! if you fall behind one day the next day will be brutal catching up!
9) Seek out mentors! I seriously think this is one of the most important things
2) Savor every moment of undergrad because it is time that you will not get back! Don't squander every moment studying. Life is not just about book knowledge. Gain maturity and experiences outside of the classroom - these are the lessons that are most valuable!
3) Only do something if it has meaning to you!!!! Nothing is more of a waste of time than investing yourself in something that has no value to you! If you don't like volunteering at the community dental clinic (for whatever reason) and you are really drawn to volunteering for the local horse clinic --- GO HANG OUT WITH THE PONYS! Follow your passions not what is expected by admissions committees.
4) Make friends who are helping you to reach your full potential - don't waste time with duds.
5) Keep a word document where you organize a living timeline of your involvement. Jot down notes about what you did and include the date.
6) Don't stress the little stuff. I seriously thought my C- in ochem 2 and my C- in calculus would hinder me from pursuing my dreams. I look back and I laugh at myself. I seriously wasted so much energy on hating myself for these two worthless grades. Everyone has unique talents and weak points - embrace them! Ochem ended up being my highest DAT section and my low Ochem2 grade actually provided me an opportunity to show growth in a weak area through my DAT!
7) Ignore annoying pre-dents and pre-meds. Do your own thing!
8) DAT advice: Do practice problems. Trust yourself that you know your strong and weak areas! Spend extra time from the beginning on those weak areas. Study smarter not harder. Study large concepts that will FOR SURE be on the exam. And skimp over small unimportant concepts. Make flashcards for biology and ecology sections and just memorize memorize memorize!!!! Expect to spend a good amount of cash on DAT prep material and the exam - just accept it. Take breaks when you need to. Be prepared to make sacrifices. It is so easy to fall behind your schedule - STAY ON TOP OF IT! if you fall behind one day the next day will be brutal catching up!
9) Seek out mentors! I seriously think this is one of the most important things
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Same holds up in dental school too.
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This.
I can't tell you how much "fellow" predents (who cheat on exams) boast about doing well in physics and ochem classes while I struggle to pull through. I absolutely despise people who lack integrity. They apply the same time I do.
Pre meds? A whole other story. They make me feel like crap, always telling me how I have it "easier," getting into dental school is "easier," the DAT is "easier." It's funny because I whoop ass compared to them. My academic credentials surpass theirs, but they still do a good job making me feel bad.
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Touché. I'm hoping bringing in Jarrett Stidham changes things, but I think Malzahn is the problem. Although when I chose to go there we won a national championship my freshman year and Cam Newton won a Heisman. The year I left we went 3-9 and fired our coach. I experienced the best and the worst of Auburn football as a student.
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You shouldn't worry because odds are half of them won't even get into MD schools.
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My god if I knew what Khan Academy (and other similar services) were as a Freshman I'd be an experienced practicing dentist by now.
