Just started junior year of undergrad, taking DAT in December, by then end of this year my GPA will be where I want it, won't have as many volunteer/shadow hours as I would like, question is should I go ahead and apply assuming that I get a DAT score that I like, or wait till the end of the summer when I have more than enough shadow/volunteer hours?
When to apply
- Thread starter rhealey11
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we need more info, perhaps you could fill out a full WAMC template...
thrivingthroughlyf
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u cant really apply until next summer (June) now so you have time to get more volunteering and shadowing hours
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Have you talked with your prehealth advisor on campus? Will you need a committee letter?
Applying to medical/dental school is not like setting a timer to see if your turkey is ready to be served on Thanksgiving. Not everyone "has" to apply their junior year, and many more applicants take the time to get shadowing and volunteer hours before they submit an application. (If you want a numeric goal to have on your application, at least 50 hours of dental shadowing/experience and another 100 hours of community service to avoid getting screened out, but those with gap years may push these numbers up more.)
Furthermore, how confident are your letters of recommendation? If you have been struggling in science classes, who do you have to vouch for your abilities as a student?
Also, what do you know about dentistry? What are your plans as a dentist, especially in paying off hundreds of thousands of debt that will trail you for at least 10 years? Why should patients who are in pain want to see you as a dentist?
