What is the best step?

[smile matters]

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Hi guys,
So far, I have not heard back from any of the schools I applied to (no interviews but no rejections as well). I am thinking about retaking the DAT and a gap year since I just graduated last week (A semester early). I was wondering what would be the best plan? Also I am planning on going out of the country for 3 weeks in feb-march for a wedding.

1. Focus only on the DAT for the next couple months and take it and then do assisting while I reapply.
2. Do dental assisting and study for the DAT and take it around april/may.
-I haven't contacted any offices yet but will do soon if that's the way people think I should go.
3. Wait to hear back from schools before I start studying again?

Also, does the academic update help? My grades are not in the system yet and once they are, I am planning on doing the update.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Dogtreats]

Hi guys,
So far, I have not heard back from any of the schools I applied to (no interviews but no rejections as well). I am thinking about retaking the DAT and a gap year since I just graduated last week (A semester early). I was wondering what would be the best plan? Also I am planning on going out of the country for 3 weeks in feb-march for a wedding.

1. Focus only on the DAT for the next couple months and take it and then do assisting while I reapply.
2. Do dental assisting and study for the DAT and take it around april/may.
-I haven't contacted any offices yet but will do soon if that's the way people think I should go.
3. Wait to hear back from schools before I start studying again?

Thank you in advance!

I graduated a semester early too but I didn’t apply until technically the summer after I should have graduated. I didn’t get in that year, but I worked as a dental assistant from July until now currently (over one year, I accepted the position after submitting my apps). I applied again this year and got in and the only thing I had changed from last year to this year was my dental assisting experience. I got in this year. I think dental assisting was really helpful for me getting accepted this cycle! Definitely retake that DAT if you think you need to but I think it would be great to look into dental assisting!

 

[smile matters]

I graduated a semester early too but I didn’t apply until technically the summer after I should have graduated. I didn’t get in that year, but I worked as a dental assistant from July until now currently (over one year, I accepted the position after submitting my apps). I applied again this year and got in and the only thing I had changed from last year to this year was my dental assisting experience. I got in this year. I think dental assisting was really helpful for me getting accepted this cycle! Definitely retake that DAT if you think you need to but I think it would be great to look into dental assisting!

Thank you! Did you take a course to do assisting? Do you think studying for DAT while assisting is doable?

 

[Dogtreats]

Thank you! Did you take a course to do assisting? Do you think studying for DAT while assisting is doable?

depends on the state you live in. In mine, they just hired me and trained me on the job. After having a certain amount of hours they sent me to a radiology course and a coronal polishing course. I think it’s doable to study and work! I worked full time and studied for like 5 weeks and bumped my score by 3 points. As long as you put the effort in, I think that would be fine.

 

[smile matters]

Any other opinions would be great as well.