When did you guys take DAT and apply for dental schools?

[ColumbiaOrtho]

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If I'm understanding the general dental application process right, do you take DAT during fall term in your Junior year and apply in June before your senior year starts? If so, how long does it usually take to get yourself prepared for DAT? Approximately 3 to 5 months?

 

[PeachDMD]

If I'm understanding the general dental application process right, do you take DAT during fall term in your Junior year and apply in June before your senior year starts? If so, how long does it usually take to get yourself prepared for DAT? Approximately 3 to 5 months?

The DAT doesn't have to be taken during fall term of your junior year. Just take it when it makes the most sense for you in terms of recently completed science classes and class schedule allowing for max prep time. Everyone is different. I took DAT in May of my junior year and scores were in AADSAS in time for my application to go out 2nd batch. That's the key really, you just want to be complete as early in the cycle as you can be.

 

[Scumbag_Steve]

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[Incis0r]

I took it in Junior Year and I think 4 months of 6 hrs/day will be great prep.

One thing I would recommend is to definitely take it once before March 1 of your junior year. Why? because if you decide you want to retake your DAT, you have to wait 3 months, and by taking it before March 1, you can retake in early June and still have your application in extremely early.

 

[nateriver]

I took it at at the end of last summer, which was summer between junior and senior year, studied all summer, so I could feel confident and prepared for the test, I was gonna try and study last spring and take it early summer, but it was just too much what with my classes at the same time, still, I made sure all the other extraneous parts of my app were ready to go for when I took the test in august, such as shadowing, personal statement, letters of rec, etc, I believe I took it August 20th, my app was out by the end of August, and remember it takes about a month for you're DAT to be verified and such, so plan for that, but I mean if its the difference between an average score early in the summer, or an amazing score in August I think its better to devote the whole summer to studying, thats just me though....

 

[meeshii00]

So I applied last summer in 2015 and took my DATs that same summer at the end of June. So you should really take it when you're prepared. Ideally you would want at least 2-3 months to study. Keep in mind that it takes 3-4 weeks to be processed before it shows up in your aadsas application.

 

[vivalavida22]

I studied for 4 weeks (for like 12 hours a day), took the DAT the winter break of 2nd year. Depends on how good your science foundation is.

 

[ColumbiaOrtho]

Wow in winter break during your 2nd year?? Were you able to complete all the Bio courses and gen + organic chem prior to the DAT? Or did you teach yourself with those DAT prep materials? May I ask what score you had on DAT? You dont have to answer the last question if you mind

 

[doc toothache]

http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Education and Careers/Files/dat_update_adea_2015.ashx
p. 17

 

[SXCoronado]

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[iliketeeth13]

Took DAT late January, studied for ~4 wks over winter break (of junior year). I'm planning on applying in the first batch.