Would like advice for upcoming year

Started by Xo1991
DATBooster | The Ultimate DAT Resource
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

Browse articles Compare schools My application plan Read Interview Feedback
Practice for interviews Ask an Advisor
X

Xo1991

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Hey SDN,

I've got my goals set on dentistry, a goal I established just a couple months ago while on summer break. I never intended on going on this path but here I am now, so I guess I surprised myself.

I'm a rising junior just starting the pre-reqs this coming year. I'm actually not enrolled in the classes because drop/add courses are closed for the summer; I've e-mailed professors and I'm pretty much a shoe-in for the waitlist.

I'm a bit behind on the pre-reqs, in fact it turns out I have none of the required courses done. This year I'm taking biology and gen chem, but I plan on taking Orgo at a university next summer (that is Orgo I and Orgo II). How do you all feel about that? I will take the DAT next winter, and next year (School Year 2012-2013) I will work on getting the math and physics requirements out of the way..but with that route I will have an empty year :\ or a year where I take a few classes as a part-time student. In terms of the DAT I've already started studying for the non-science sections and so far it seems as though the PAT is one of my strengths, scoring 21/22 mostly but I will continue with that for the next year.

Anyway I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement for the upcoming year because it's gonna be a tough load. I've never been too good with the sciences, but I've picked up the books again this summer and have gotten the hang of it. I'm also looking for some advice as to ways to be able to remember the things I learn, as to make it "easier" for me in the long run when I have to retain information while preparing for the DAT. I'm a sociology major, so I suspect I'll have to take a few upper-level sciences to prove my competency as well.

This forum has been a big help the past few weeks and I've learned a lot about the pre-dental process and good study materials. Also sorry for the wall of text, and I know it just sounds like a lot of planning but I really want to get this right

THANKS!!
 
Xo1991 said:
Hey SDN,

I've got my goals set on dentistry, a goal I established just a couple months ago while on summer break. I never intended on going on this path but here I am now, so I guess I surprised myself.

I'm a rising junior just starting the pre-reqs this coming year. I'm actually not enrolled in the classes because drop/add courses are closed for the summer; I've e-mailed professors and I'm pretty much a shoe-in for the waitlist.

I'm a bit behind on the pre-reqs, in fact it turns out I have none of the required courses done. This year I'm taking biology and gen chem, but I plan on taking Orgo at a university next summer (that is Orgo I and Orgo II). How do you all feel about that? I will take the DAT next winter, and next year (School Year 2012-2013) I will work on getting the math and physics requirements out of the way..but with that route I will have an empty year :\ or a year where I take a few classes as a part-time student. In terms of the DAT I've already started studying for the non-science sections and so far it seems as though the PAT is one of my strengths, scoring 21/22 mostly but I will continue with that for the next year.

Anyway I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement for the upcoming year because it's gonna be a tough load. I've never been too good with the sciences, but I've picked up the books again this summer and have gotten the hang of it. I'm also looking for some advice as to ways to be able to remember the things I learn, as to make it "easier" for me in the long run when I have to retain information while preparing for the DAT. I'm a sociology major, so I suspect I'll have to take a few upper-level sciences to prove my competency as well.

This forum has been a big help the past few weeks and I've learned a lot about the pre-dental process and good study materials. Also sorry for the wall of text, and I know it just sounds like a lot of planning but I really want to get this right

THANKS!!
Click to expand...

you also need one year of enlgish, and be careful, some schools require anatomy. so junior year is chem and bio, summer orgo1/2, and then senior winter DAT. sounds good. Dont take a kaplan class, just pick up some books on your own. id really reccomend spending 3 hard days right now and read through all of genchem and bio in a kaplan blue book or something, 3 full days you can read through everything once and have a vague idea of what to expect.

sound like a good plan, study hard and shoot for A's! you may want to consider taking the DAT early senior year summer as opposed to winter, just a thought. winter break is ~one month, and summer you can take it early july and have a bit more time. make sure to work on getting your LOR's in order, most schools require some from science professors. have that all done before senior year application summer.
 
crax said:
you also need one year of enlgish, and be careful, some schools require anatomy. so junior year is chem and bio, summer orgo1/2, and then senior winter DAT. sounds good. Dont take a kaplan class, just pick up some books on your own. id really reccomend spending 3 hard days right now and read through all of genchem and bio in a kaplan blue book or something, 3 full days you can read through everything once and have a vague idea of what to expect.

sound like a good plan, study hard and shoot for A's! you may want to consider taking the DAT early senior year summer as opposed to winter, just a thought. winter break is ~one month, and summer you can take it early july and have a bit more time. make sure to work on getting your LOR's in order, most schools require some from science professors. have that all done before senior year application summer.
Click to expand...


It's a good thing I had this "epiphany" during the summer and found this site. Really helped and now I know the ins and outs of studying and classes, etc. so I can really plan ahead.

Thanks for the suggestions, especially since I just received the kaplan blue book in the mail (and done enough research to know I shouldn't take the class) I will read through it before I start classes this monday. And what you mentioned about taking the DAT is a sound suggestion, now that I think of it, two courses end in mid summer anyway
 
what do you mean about summer, youre thinking about taking it after orgo at the end of summer after junior year?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.