What's the latest I can apply to D-school & still have a realistic chance to get in?

[Slash]

Hello, I'm a pre-dent and am wondering what is the latest a person can apply to dental school and still have a realistic chance to get in? For example, if you apply in August or even early September do you have a chance to get in? Or do you absolutely need to be the early bird and apply in June?

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[JRogoff]

The question is why would you not apply now knowing that applying early gives you the best chances?

 

[NCSMILES]

I am with JRogoff, why wait? It is known fact that that the later you apply the harder it is to get in. Dental admissions are getting more competitive all the time, so don't wait, get it in.

The pre-dent advisor at my school advises yo have the application in by July 15th at the latest--even if you haven't taken the DAT. Although I have heard of folks applying in September (and later) and still getting in.

However, if you do wait to apply, make sure your stats are good b/c it will be very competitive.

 

[Mithridates]

I didn't submit my application until mid-August and didn't have my file complete at schools until mid september when they received my DAT scores (i wrote the DAT early sept). Everything ended up really good for me. But from my experience, if you want to go to Case, you might be in trouble applying as late as I did. When I got an interview there (notified in early oct.) I was initially on some secondary interview list with an interview mid jan! I talked it up with the secretary and she called me a few weeks later when someone cancelled -I was pretty lucky. Also, Tufts. I didn't get an interview invite for that school until like mid-january. But whatever, you wouldn't want to go to that pompous school anyway. But I also think things depend on how strong of an applicant you are. You could apply in late november, and if you have DAT scores of like 23/24 or higher, schools will go out of their way to make sure you get interviewed quick and accepted. Good luck!!

 

[Bickle]

Also, Tufts. I didn't get an interview invite for that school until like mid-january. But whatever, you wouldn't want to go to that pompous school anyway. !

YEah, You're clearly not tufts material.

 

[stp27]

I applied super late this last year, but would not rec. it. I took the DAT on the 30th of December and submitted my app on the 15th of January. I only applied to 3 schools and they were all private. I got into two and turned down the interview at the third. Applying late made things really stressful and I had to keep on the schools to make sure that things were getting proccessed. My number one choice put me on the waitlist and I just got my acceptance 4 weeks ago. If you have any control over it I would submit ASAP. (I applied late because at the last minute I decided to go to dental school instead of Med school and didn't want to get behind if I could help it). Best of luck. A letter from the schools on Dec. 1 is a lot better than late in the summer because you are on waitlists.

 

[HBomb]

The answer to this question depends on what type of applicant you are. If you're a very well qualified candidate, you can get away with applying late...but if you're average Joe, you can't afford to wait.

If you will allow me to vent for just a minute, I really, really hate this question. What do you want to hear...that it's okay for you to apply late? Well, if you're the average applicant, let me say this: IT IS NOT OKAY. The right question is, "When will AADSAS allow me to start applying?" Why be the person applying in Dec for 10% of the open slots when you can be applying now for 100%? So please, I urge you to apply as soon as possible.

 

[aphistis]

If it's any solace, I turned my AADSAS in roughly a week before the final cutoff, only applied to one school, interviewed in mid-March, and was accepted a week after the interview. There's always hope. 😉

 

[Slash]

The question is why would you not apply now knowing that applying early gives you the best chances?

Well, I'm not ready to apply now (as in this summer). This question is more in preparation for NEXT summer, at which point I will have finished my pre-req's. I'm a 27-year-old nontraditional student. The reason I ask about applying a little late is because there is a pre-dental summer program that I would like to apply for next summer. The program runs from late-May through mid-July. If accepted into the dental summer program, I would like my dental school applications to reflect my participation in such a program, and I would like to get as much out of the program as possible for my DAT prep and take the DAT shortly after the program, perhaps in early August. Because of this, I'm asking if applying for dental school in mid-August is so detrimental to your chances of getting in that it's not a good idea. Ideally, I would apply in June, but if accepted into this program for next summer I will be in the midst of the program during that time. Also, I wasn't able to apply to the dental summer program this summer because I haven't yet taken Organic I and Organic II. I'll be taking those classes this coming fall and spring semester. As far as my GPA, it's solid....and I'd estimate it to be at a 3.5+ I haven't yet taken the DAT or any practice tests so I don't know how I would fare on the test yet.

 

[jes1ca]

Applying in Mid-August would be quite fine. I got several acceptances from turning my application in late September with a lower GPA than yours. It's better to apply early if you can. Try to take the DAT as early as possible in August and have your essays already written. It took me a long time to get my essays in a good state after taking the DAT. Good luck!
Jessica

 

[sxr71]

Well, I'm not ready to apply now (as in this summer). This question is more in preparation for NEXT summer, at which point I will have finished my pre-req's. I'm a 27-year-old nontraditional student. The reason I ask about applying a little late is because there is a pre-dental summer program that I would like to apply for next summer. The program runs from late-May through mid-July. If accepted into the dental summer program, I would like my dental school applications to reflect my participation in such a program, and I would like to get as much out of the program as possible for my DAT prep and take the DAT shortly after the program, perhaps in early August. Because of this, I'm asking if applying for dental school in mid-August is so detrimental to your chances of getting in that it's not a good idea. Ideally, I would apply in June, but if accepted into this program for next summer I will be in the midst of the program during that time. Also, I wasn't able to apply to the dental summer program this summer because I haven't yet taken Organic I and Organic II. I'll be taking those classes this coming fall and spring semester. As far as my GPA, it's solid....and I'd estimate it to be at a 3.5+ I haven't yet taken the DAT or any practice tests so I don't know how I would fare on the test yet.

If I understand you correctly you are delaying your matriculation into dental by a full year over some sort of summer program? Are there other factors that necessitate your delaying.

I realize that you haven't taken OChem yet, but you could try to take Ochem I over this summer or even find an accelerated summer Ochem program that lets you finish all of Ochem in one summer. Also, keep in mind that you can update your AADSAS application with new grades in January. Since you are a non-traditional student you probably already have an undergrad degree so graduation requirements won't hold you back from a successful matriculation next fall.

As an aside, let me tell you that the DAT is an easy test. It features only the most basic concepts in the subjects that it tests.

 

[Slash]

If I understand you correctly you are delaying your matriculation into dental by a full year over some sort of summer program? Are there other factors that necessitate your delaying.

I realize that you haven't taken OChem yet, but you could try to take Ochem I over this summer or even find an accelerated summer Ochem program that lets you finish all of Ochem in one summer.

My college does not offer Organic Chemistry in the summer, and I'm not in a position to move to another city just for the summer so that I can take O-Chem. There are no colleges nearby that I could commute to either for an O-Chem summer class.

I'm also not delaying my admissions process over a year for a summer program as you suggest...I think Organic Chemistry has taken care of that already. I do have interest in the summer program NEXT summer as it would offer additional exposure to the field of dentistry and serve as a great prep for the DAT. Doing the summer program next summer would only delay my application until mid-August as opposed to June. And my initial question was what's the latest a person can submit their application and still stand a realistic chance to get in? If my chances are significantly diminished applying in mid-August as opposed to applying in June, then obviously I may not do the summer program after all. However, if my chances are not significantly diminished applying in mid-August, I'd rather do the summer program, get some more dental field exposure (and have my application reflect that), utilize the DAT prep sessions the program offers, and turn in my application in mid-August.

 

[SonOfBush]

I took the DAT in February and got accepted in late April. I was extremely lucky but I don't suggest you do that. Apply as early as possible.

 

[Thaxil]

A lot of schools have Dead lines for taking the DAT. Uconn dead line is Oct 1 and UCSF is like Dec 15. There are others, but I don?t keep a list to give to you. Just be aware of these Dead lines. You GPA is great, and if you excel on the DAT (21+) then you can apply any time you want. My friend have 3.6 GPA and 23 DAT. He submitted applied AADSAS late Dec to 7 school, and receive five interviews and two declines due to missed dead lines. The five schools he interviewed at all accepted him.

So, for some people an early submission is critical, but for other it does not matter.

 

[Slash]

Thank you everybody for replying to my thread. This is a learning process for me. Thanks.

 

[HangOnSloopy]

i bet I win (or lose?) this one

I decided very late that I wanted to apply, and took the DAT on Halloween, and then applied in mid november, and I got waitlisted at 2 schools but no acceptances. This time around, I applied on June 1st 🙂

 

[claudiadent]

Guess it all depends on your stats. I didn't take the DAT till early december, and I didn't send my application in until January 30th. I only applied to five schools, got an interview at 3, only went to two, cause I got into my number one choice. Like everyone's advice, mine owuld be to do it as early as possible, to have the best possible chance of getting in!

 

[Mithridates]

YEah, You're clearly not tufts material.

Thank God. I'd be worried if I was! 🙄

Just kidding, and sorry, it was pretty rude to make that blanket statement without explanation. I received an interview at another boston school and had my plane tickets and hotel purchased and reserved, respectively. Then, I get my tufts interview request by email and the series of dates they offered me started 5 days after my other interview. So, I call up to explain my situation and ask if I could tag onto another interview group closer to the time I would be there. I didn't want to miss any more school and hotels are expensive! The response I received was unique; I don't think any other school I interviewed at would have been so unaccomodating and cold. I didn't attend their interview. But hey, I guess they're a great school right (& competetive)?! But it wasn't like I was asking for admission, just scheduling. I understand they can't make exceptions for everyone, but it was only 5 days off - gimme a break.

 

[eric275]

My college does not offer Organic Chemistry in the summer, and I'm not in a position to move to another city just for the summer so that I can take O-Chem. There are no colleges nearby that I could commute to either for an O-Chem summer class.

I'm also not delaying my admissions process over a year for a summer program as you suggest...I think Organic Chemistry has taken care of that already. I do have interest in the summer program NEXT summer as it would offer additional exposure to the field of dentistry and serve as a great prep for the DAT. Doing the summer program next summer would only delay my application until mid-August as opposed to June. And my initial question was what's the latest a person can submit their application and still stand a realistic chance to get in? If my chances are significantly diminished applying in mid-August as opposed to applying in June, then obviously I may not do the summer program after all. However, if my chances are not significantly diminished applying in mid-August, I'd rather do the summer program, get some more dental field exposure (and have my application reflect that), utilize the DAT prep sessions the program offers, and turn in my application in mid-August.

Just an idea here, if you still wanted to attend your summer program...Just print off an AADSAS application during this next year and work on it through the school year so it's complete before you leave for your summer program. Also work on your personal statement, getting LOR's, and official transcripts before your summer program starts. Start your summer program in May as you said and then when the AADSAS applications become available end May/June, submit your application and send off your transcipts and LOR's certified mail from wherever you are. When you submit your application you can put down that you are currently in a summer dental prep program and that you will be taking your DATs in Aug. Application is submitted and all you have to worry about is studying for your DAT.

Just my two cents, but it is the plan I would shoot for if you really want to attend your summer program. That way it's one less thing you have to worry about when you get home from your summer program and you can concentrate on your DAT prep.

 

[dnp123]

i submitted my whole application on august 18th 2014 and im taking my dat next week would i be considered late? or would my scores be uploaded around the same time as my application for reaching the dental schools???

 

[kuef1pet]

i submitted my whole application on august 18th 2014 and im taking my dat next week would i be considered late? or would my scores be uploaded around the same time as my application for reaching the dental schools???

You will be later then most but still very doable depending on grades, dat scores, and other factors. One piece of advice is to contact the schools after you take the dat to see if you can send them unofficial scores to be reviewed. This could put your application a couple weeks ahead of when they would recieve the official dat scores. Every school is different though as I had some that would accept the unofficial scores and some made me wait for the official scores to come in.

 

[PerioDont]

Hello, I'm a pre-dent and am wondering what is the latest a person can apply to dental school and still have a realistic chance to get in? For example, if you apply in August or even early September do you have a chance to get in? Or do you absolutely need to be the early bird and apply in June?

I did october and got in. some of my classmates did november. But I absolutely would NOT recommend doing that. I know I could have lined up more acceptances simply from applying earlier.

 

[dnp123]

You will be later then most but still very doable depending on grades, dat scores, and other factors. One piece of advice is to contact the schools after you take the dat to see if you can send them unofficial scores to be reviewed. This could put your application a couple weeks ahead of when they would recieve the official dat scores. Every school is different though as I had some that would accept the unofficial scores and some made me wait for the official scores to come in.

Can't take advice from someone who confuses then and than.

 

[yihaej12]

I wanna say August/september at the latest for the majority. But of course there are the exceptions of people that can apply later and still get in because of stats. There is someone in my class who had 25AA and didn't submit their app till later in the cycle. So it all depends.

 

[kuef1pet]

Can't take advice from someone who confuses then and than.

Sorry I was practicing for a practical in oral anatomy lab and replying quickly from my phone so didn't take the time to check over my grammar. Next time I'll just not waste my time trying to answer your question as it seems like you are more worried about grammar than advice from someone who went through the same experience as you last year. Good luck on the dat.

 

[deleted740991]

Realistically?

June-July: a whole range of stats, applying early allows for holistic profiles
August-September: 3.6 sGPA/22 AA
October-November: 3.7 sGPA/24 AA
November-December deadline: 3.8 sGPA/25 AA

Notice a trend here? Key trend being non-URM.