Don't take the DATs till next summer when you finish orgo. Either way, they arent gonna accept you for next cycle if you apply as a sophmore. If you can finish college in 3 years, take the DATs early next summer, make sure your complete application is in by july and you will be wayyyyy ahead of the game. One thing I learned about dental admissions is you need at least one of two things to give yourself the edge to get a seat and even scholarships over your piers (even if they have better stats than you): 1) apply early!!!! (soooo important) 2) be a minority- no joke. Anyway if you have both, your set with a 3.5GPA and a 20 DAT. If you arent a minority, like me, apply early!!!! Everyone told me but I didnt realize how important it was until I saw it for myself. I had all my stuff in by late August which ended up being fine but if I wouldve applied a month earlier it wouldve been that much better. O and also of equal if not greater importance, STAY ON TOP OF YOUR APPLICATION. Dental schools arent doing you any favors. I called NYU 2 months after my apps were in to ask why i didnt hear from them and they were like, O we forgot to process your app, sorry..... Its so frustrating, call every week to make sure things are going smoothly. Anyway, you sound like a devoted pre-dent, dont rush, do things slow and right the first time, you'll be fine.
