when should i apply??? QUESTION!

[dexterraz]

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HEY
when should I apply to d - school...?
I want to be a "traditional applicant" of course...
Major: Nutritional Science
College: University of Florida
GPA: 3.7-ish
Sci GPA: 3.5-ish
No DAT yet...haven't taken organic chems yet and won't be done those until spring of next year (which will be the spring of my junior year). I have been interested in dentistry for quite sometime, and am intent on getting in, in fact I know I will, its just a matter of when to apply...any info is appreciated!

 

[Dentalist]

Take the DAT around the spring of your junior year and apply to dental schools at the end of spring.
Good luck,

Dentalist

 

[init4damoney]

Most people apply the end of their junior year. I plan on applying next year the first day possible. I've finished my year of biology, and started chemistry this semester. I'll start o-chem this fall and finish up general chem. I plan on taking the DAT sometime in spring around the same time I apply. So here's to class of 2010!!! (unless you go to UOP, then 2009!!!)

 

[UFStudent]

What pre-reqs have you completed?

 

[dexterraz]

Pre-reqs completed consist of biology 1 (currently in biology 2), english 1, enlglish 2, college algebra, pre calc, trig (just all my maths), chem 1, chem 2, and just for fun (and kicks...) I took psych, econ, intro to business, sociology...oh man, there are alot. But those are all my pre-reqs, and then some. Thanks for the replies all, its good to know this forum can help a brother out.

 

[busupshot83]

Big Dex,

Yeah, this forum is invaluable... as you will soon find out. Where do you plan on applying? And when (if all things prove successful) is the earliest you would start dental school?

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

hey busupshot.....

are u still applying dental?? I always see you posting on the caribbean medicine page....or applying to both?

 

[ItsGavinC]

AADSAS opens in late May/first week of June. Plan on applying then. Apply even if you have NOT taken the DAT yet. The DAT scores are sent to the schools via another method, so although most schools won't review your appliation without your DAT scores, you can at least get them the application ASAP.

 

[woohoo]

Originally posted by ItsGavinC
AADSAS opens in late May/first week of June. Plan on applying then. Apply even if you have NOT taken the DAT yet. The DAT scores are sent to the schools via another method, so although most schools won't review your appliation without your DAT scores, you can at least get them the application ASAP.

just curious, but what would be the point of sending in the app asap if the dat won't get sent to schools until much later? Do schools make decisions without having dat scores in front of them?

 

[ecdoesit]

You will be surprised how long AADSAS takes to mail your applications to your choice of schools. Usually takes about 4 weeks plus 1 week to get to the school.
And for DAT, most schools accepts fax copy (but later confirm from DAT testing center) so this is like 1 min.
So, that's another month for you to prepare for DAT. Bottomline is that if you have to choose, do your application and your LOR first and worry about DAT later(around August is the best time because you have another chance in November). By the time you get your DAT done, schools will send you secondaries to work on. It is all about timing.

All of you should be asking for LOR now!!! Give your professors plenty of time to finish their letters. I wish I have taken that advice that I might get some info from UOP.

 

[dexterraz]

Just a few schools I have in mind,
- University of Florida (continue on into their dental program)
- possibly NYU
- possibly UMD
- possibly UCONN

I really need to broaden my list here because I know four schools is pretty selective. In fact, I don't really know specifically what is of value in the selection process (funding/facilities/curriculum/faculty?). I just met with the dental clinic dentist on campus and he is a major ass, telling me they never hire volunteers and so now I need to volunteer at an office, which is perfectly fine, just a little out of my way. Thanks for the help guys, I'll be applying next year around this time, or maybe May/June of 2005, prior to my senior year. Its really interesting, of the 40 people in my biology 2 class, only 2 people and yes that includes me, are interested in pursuing a career in dentistry...with the majority being pre med/pre vet. Better for moi right? I think so. Thanks for the replies...

Oh yeah, one more quick comment...or shall I say question...
I'm only taking 15 credits this semester, because I took 18 last semester and while I got all A's minus a B in speech, I was pretty much not having an outside life...does 15 credits lookl bad? Of course I'll pull straight A's, and Im also acive in some stuff on campus but is 15 really bad? Thanks for the input.

 

[prgr]

No, 15 credits is more than enough. I just got into the University of Florida dental school (Class '04) and I've never taken more than 13 or 14 credits in a semester. Don't sweat it so much. They look at you as an all-around applicant....

Good luck.

 

[dprice121]

I even took 12 credits one semester and 14 credits several semesters and no one ever mentioned it at any interviews and I've been accepted to 6 schools already.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by avingupta
hey busupshot.....

are u still applying dental?? I always see you posting on the caribbean medicine page....or applying to both?

Avin,

Yes I am still applying to dental. If you see me posting on the carribbean medical page, it's because I from the caribbean, and I enjoy reading and posting there; I don't intend on going there to study dentistry. As for applying to both, why would I? I can't stand people that use one as the backup for the other.

Pce,

Bus.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by dprice121
I even took 12 credits one semester and 14 credits several semesters and no one ever mentioned it at any interviews and I've been accepted to 6 schools already.

In my school, 12 is the minimum full time, so why would they question you? Your grades you posted are great, that's all that matters, doesn't?

 

[dprice121]

Originally posted by busupshot83
In my school, 12 is the minimum full time, so why would they question you? Your grades you posted are great, that's all that matters, doesn't?

12 is the minimum at my school too. That was my point. You don't have to be some superhuman freak and take tons of credits each semester to get in to dental school. In fact, since I was a business major, there were several semesters I didn't take any science courses. Again, no one brought this up in any of my interviews.

 

[mmapcpro]

I'm taking bio1 and chem1 now...bio2 and chem2 this summer.

Then in the fall, i'm taking organic1, and then organic 2 the following spring (1 year from now).

Do you think it's worth applying for entering class of 2005, or just hold off till 2006?

Either way, I'm planning on studying for and taking the DAT during the january-april spring semester in 2005. I have 90 credits thus far with a 3.9overall/4.0science gpa (physics, math, engineering, etc).

So I'm wondering if I actually complete the AADSAS application this June/July 2004 WITHOUT the dat scores (just submit whatever transcripts I have up to that point) and then send my DAT scores 8 months later (around March 2005), would I still have a shot at them considering my application for Fall 2005 entering class?

I had pretty much figured on starting DS in Fall 2006, but I was just wondering if this was possible, or am I shooting myself in the foot in any way?

 

[dprice121]

I would wait until 2006 if you won't be taking the DAT until March. By then there will hardly be any spots left and most schools won't even interview you without DAT scores.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by dprice121
12 is the minimum at my school too. That was my point. You don't have to be some superhuman freak and take tons of credits each semester to get in to dental school. In fact, since I was a business major, there were several semesters I didn't take any science courses. Again, no one brought this up in any of my interviews.

You took the words out of my mouth. Being an English major, I too have had several semesters without science courses. I wouldnt sweat it, just keep your grades up.

 

[busupshot83]

Originally posted by mmapcpro
I'm taking bio1 and chem1 now...bio2 and chem2 this summer.

Then in the fall, i'm taking organic1, and then organic 2 the following spring (1 year from now).

Do you think it's worth applying for entering class of 2005, or just hold off till 2006?

Either way, I'm planning on studying for and taking the DAT during the january-april spring semester in 2005. I have 90 credits thus far with a 3.9overall/4.0science gpa (physics, math, engineering, etc).

So I'm wondering if I actually complete the AADSAS application this June/July 2004 WITHOUT the dat scores (just submit whatever transcripts I have up to that point) and then send my DAT scores 8 months later (around March 2005), would I still have a shot at them considering my application for Fall 2005 entering class?

I had pretty much figured on starting DS in Fall 2006, but I was just wondering if this was possible, or am I shooting myself in the foot in any way?

This all comes down to you of course:

Apply for 2005, then simply apply to 2006 if that doesn't work.

But that would cost more money... so you would have to evaluate it.

Again, I would aply for 2005. Thats my opinon.

 

[mmapcpro]

I think I'm going to give it a shot.

The expense of applying really starts to come into play when you have to add in the secondaries and then travel for interviews. So, if I don't get any positive responses, it'll only cost me the AADSAS fees.

There are two opposing forces to this plan. One being that I would be 1-2 classes short of a B.S. degree by the time Fall 2005 dental school classes start. This MIGHT not be the issue if my university offers the classes I'll need during that summer (biochem and molecular bio). The other of course, would be the limited number of seats available after I send my DAT scores in March. I don't know how much of of the DAT is taught in Organic 2, so I'm not sure how early I can take the DAT during that last spring semester.

On a positive note, at least the schools will have a file on me if I need to apply again for 2006.

 

[mmapcpro]

anybody else have any input?

 

[accidental]

Originally posted by dexterraz
HEY
when should I apply to d - school...?
I want to be a "traditional applicant" of course...
Major: Nutritional Science
College: University of Florida
GPA: 3.7-ish
Sci GPA: 3.5-ish
No DAT yet...haven't taken organic chems yet and won't be done those until spring of next year (which will be the spring of my junior year). I have been interested in dentistry for quite sometime, and am intent on getting in, in fact I know I will, its just a matter of when to apply...any info is appreciated!

This helped me some - UNLV has a great timeline on their website (click here). Even if you aren't applying there it sums up the whole process. The year isn't up to date but just replace the year with 2004/2005 or 2005/2006 and it will give you an idea of what you need to do and when to do it.