Looking for a quick pre-dental guide? Look no further! In this blog post, I'll cover some common areas where pre-dental students have questions about process and application value.
Typical timeline
Freshman and sophomore year
- focus on foundational science courses and general education requirements
- join clubs and organizations
Junior year
- take the DAT
- start drafting the personal statement
- gather recommendation letters
Senior year
- apply to dental schools
- participate in interviews
- finish the requirements of your degree in progress
Academics
Choosing a major
There is no required major for dental school. Choose a major that aligns with your interests.
Pre-dental requirements
Keep in mind that dental schools require certain key courses, such as general chemistry and lab, organic chemistry and lab, general biology and lab, physics and lab, and biochemistry.
Extracurricular activities
Dental shadowing and assisting
This is a necessary part of preparing for a strong dental application. Shadowing and assisting provides first hand experience in a dental practice, and helps you understand the workflow, dental procedures, and the interactions between the patient and dentist.
Volunteering
Volunteering illustrates your commitment to serving the community and understanding the needs of a diverse population.
Research
This is also a necessary part of preparing for a strong dental application. Research opportunities allow you to develop analytical and organizational skills.
Leadership Roles
Having leadership roles on your resume demonstrates your ability to work in teams and handle responsibilities.
Preparing for the DAT
The DAT is a standardized exam that assesses your knowledge in natural sciences, reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, and perceptual ability. It is ideal to develop a study plan with a timeline, which would allow you to learn the content, take practice tests, and review practice tests. Most students tend to use DAT Bootcamp and private tutoring when preparing for the DAT, and start studying at least 3 months before the exam date. It is important to practice different time management strategies while taking full length practice tests to ensure that you complete each section within the time limit.
Applying to dental school
It is important to start the application process a year before you plan to enroll in dental school, and submit the application through the ADEA AADSAS. You will need to draft a strong personal statement that highlights your passion for dentistry, experiences in the dental field, and your future goals for dental school and career. Strong letters of recommendation need to be acquired from professors, dentists, or mentors who can speak about your growth and strengths as a pre-dental student. After submitting your application, you will receive the supplemental essays that are required to submit, in order for your application to be considered complete. Not all dental schools require you to submit supplemental essays, but it is important to take note of the dental schools that require them. After submitting your application, you receive interview requests. This is the last step of the admission process, and it is important to prepare for interviews by researching dental schools that you applied to and looking into certain programs and activities offered at that dental school, which would allow you to become a well-rounded dentist. Common questions asked are "why dentistry" and "what experiences lead to confirming your interest in dentistry," though the interviewers will also ask about your hobbies and interests because they are trying to learn about your personality, passions, and social skills. After interviews, you can send a thank you email or note to thank the admissions committee for taking their time to interview you and giving you the opportunity to learn about their school.
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