When should I take the DAT + when to apply?

[xkc9126x]

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A little about me:

• nontraditional student
• I am a Web design major for my bachelor's but am also trying to complete my pre-dental courses.
• I wanted to get in Fall 2018 for DS, but at this point, I don't think that's possible. Maybe Fall 2019 would be the earliest for me.
• I will be taking 6 courses in my last two semesters for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.
• I also work part time at a dental office during the school year, and full time during our winter/summer breaks. I've been working at the dental office for 3 years since 2014.

I had a passion for web design since high school and I also wanted to become a dentist at the time, but I was scared of my abilities until I started working at the dental office. So I finally got the courage and talked myself into it, why not both? But Idk if this was a good idea for me or whether I dug myself into a hole .. bc I'm turning 26 this month and idk if i'm wasting my time doing this.

I currently have Bio 1,2 and Chem 1 completed so far. Because of time and schedule conflicts, here's what I'm thinking about my timeline:

• Physics 1 - June 2017 - Summer session 1, M-Fri (6-10pm class, 3 days work)
  - or JULY 2017 - Summer session 2, M-Th (8:30-2pm class, work Sat+Sun)
• Chem 2 - July 2017 - Summer Session 2, M-Th (6-10pm class, 3days work)
  - or JUNE 2017 - Summer session 1, M-Th (8:30-2pm class, work Sat+Sun)
  
• Web Design - Fall 2017 - 6 courses, 17 credits
• Web Design - Spring 2018 - 6 courses, 18 credits (Graduation in May)

Physics1/Chem2 are interchangeable in time... just that I'm not a morning person so I don't want to risk my grade with my attendance .. I know ds starts really early, so please don't yell at me for not being a morning person. I just work really late into the night, but if I start getting used to waking up early and getting out on time, it shouldn't be a problem.

In this case, I would have Physics 2, Orgo1/2 + BioChem left to complete and those would have to wait until after Graduation, which would be a year after Chem 2 if I follow the summer session plan ..... Can someone tell me if this is a good take on what I should do? Or should I hold off all of the remaining pre-reqs until AFTER graduation even Phys1 and Chem2 so all information is fresh? How dependent is Physics, Orgo and Biochem dependent on Bio/Chem information? Should I be taking Physics before Orgo + Biochem or leave it last?

Recap:
Summer 2017 = Chem 2 / Physics 1 (?)
[set] Fall 2017 = 6 courses for degree, 17 credits
[set] Spring 2018 = 6 courses for degree, 18 credits
[set] May 2018 = Graduation
Summer 2018 = Orgo 1/Orgo 2 (?) - if courses are offered
Fall 2018 = Physics 2 / BioChem (?)
** will continue working at the dental office all throughout until admitted into DS **
Should I change my timeline?

When should I be taking the DAT within that list? and when should I be applying for dental school?

Thank you,
Much appreciated

 

[8_man]

Take the DAT after your 2nd semester of Organic, or you can opt to take it after Biochem.

Apply as soon as possible on/after June 1st.

 

[xkc9126x]

Take the DAT after your 2nd semester of Organic, or you can opt to take it after Biochem.

Apply as soon as possible on/after June 1st.

Thank you for your advice! So essentially if I want to get into DS for Fall 2019, I would have to take the DAT early 2018 next year and apply during the summer of 2018? Should I change my timeline of when to take my pre-reqs?

 

[8_man]

What I would actually do is...
take Chem 2 during summer session 1
and Organic 1 during summer session 2.

Then take Organic 2 during Fall 2017 semester.
Then take the DAT over winter break.

You can finish all the other prereqs before you matriculate in 2019 for dental school.

 

[670206]

I would practice the PAT section at least a few months leading up to your exam. Don't put it off and give yourself only a few weeks (like just over winter break).

 

[tyjacobs]

A little about me:

• nontraditional student
• I am a Web design major for my bachelor's but am also trying to complete my pre-dental courses.
• I wanted to get in Fall 2018 for DS, but at this point, I don't think that's possible. Maybe Fall 2019 would be the earliest for me.
• I will be taking 6 courses in my last two semesters for Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.
• I also work part time at a dental office during the school year, and full time during our winter/summer breaks. I've been working at the dental office for 3 years since 2014.

I had a passion for web design since high school and I also wanted to become a dentist at the time, but I was scared of my abilities until I started working at the dental office. So I finally got the courage and talked myself into it, why not both? But Idk if this was a good idea for me or whether I dug myself into a hole .. bc I'm turning 26 this month and idk if i'm wasting my time doing this.

I currently have Bio 1,2 and Chem 1 completed so far. Because of time and schedule conflicts, here's what I'm thinking about my timeline:

• Physics 1 - June 2017 - Summer session 1, M-Fri (6-10pm class, 3 days work)
  - or JULY 2017 - Summer session 2, M-Th (8:30-2pm class, work Sat+Sun)
• Chem 2 - July 2017 - Summer Session 2, M-Th (6-10pm class, 3days work)
  - or JUNE 2017 - Summer session 1, M-Th (8:30-2pm class, work Sat+Sun)
  
• Web Design - Fall 2017 - 6 courses, 17 credits
• Web Design - Spring 2018 - 6 courses, 18 credits (Graduation in May)

Physics1/Chem2 are interchangeable in time... just that I'm not a morning person so I don't want to risk my grade with my attendance .. I know ds starts really early, so please don't yell at me for not being a morning person. I just work really late into the night, but if I start getting used to waking up early and getting out on time, it shouldn't be a problem.

In this case, I would have Physics 2, Orgo1/2 + BioChem left to complete and those would have to wait until after Graduation, which would be a year after Chem 2 if I follow the summer session plan ..... Can someone tell me if this is a good take on what I should do? Or should I hold off all of the remaining pre-reqs until AFTER graduation even Phys1 and Chem2 so all information is fresh? How dependent is Physics, Orgo and Biochem dependent on Bio/Chem information? Should I be taking Physics before Orgo + Biochem or leave it last?

Recap:
Summer 2017 = Chem 2 / Physics 1 (?)
[set] Fall 2017 = 6 courses for degree, 17 credits
[set] Spring 2018 = 6 courses for degree, 18 credits
[set] May 2018 = Graduation
Summer 2018 = Orgo 1/Orgo 2 (?) - if courses are offered
Fall 2018 = Physics 2 / BioChem (?)
** will continue working at the dental office all throughout until admitted into DS **
Should I change my timeline?

When should I be taking the DAT within that list? and when should I be applying for dental school?

Thank you,
Much appreciated

I'd take a gap year TBH. You are taking a lot of credits + summer courses --> you don't want to take DAT and get a crap score and then have to re-take

 

[xkc9126x]

I'd take a gap year TBH. You are taking a lot of credits + summer courses --> you don't want to take DAT and get a crap score and then have to re-take

So if i take the gap year after graduation, i would be applying in 2018 to enroll fall 2019 (i will be 28)or did u mean to get in by fall 2020 @ 29?


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[Faefly]

What I would actually do is...
take Chem 2 during summer session 1
and Organic 1 during summer session 2.

Then take Organic 2 during Fall 2017 semester.
Then take the DAT over winter break.

You can finish all the other prereqs before you matriculate in 2019 for dental school.

Organic Chemistry is not easy
It's easier in summer, yes, but it's not easy to take A in it.
Him or her, taking it in summer, might grant op 2 B's or worse.

Which is really bad for his GPA and for his prospect in getting accepted later on.

I mean why does he/she need to hurry. Why not take your time, get good grades.

and keep in mind I did very well in Both Orgo 1 and Orgo 2, but they weren't easy at all. They require time and commitment and a lot of practice, taking them in summer is not ideal for everyone, especially if the professor is strict which is always the case.

At least Op can take orgo in spring semester, then orgo 2 in summer.



28 or 29, what's the difference? They should not discriminate against you based on your age, but they can be pretty picky if your gpa or dat are bad!

if you get more B's because you wanted to cram everything in order to hurry up, you might lose the chance to even get in.

keep in mind, you are not their ideal age, so you must give them something else so they say, the hell with it, this student is awesome! Let's have him/her in our school!

But hey, if you are real smart, and you can get decent grades, then by all means, cram all you want.

My final advice would be if you take only orgos without the labs in summer it can be done

Best of luck!!!!!

Age is just a number!