Applying to Dental School: AADSAS 2018 Is Now Open!

As of June 1st the 2017 – 2018 cycle of the AADSAS is officially open!

The time has arrived. So you’ve been working to keep up that GPA, right? Got gleaming DAT scores? How about all that extra stuff like volunteer work, research projects, and extracurriculars? Well now it’s time to lay it all on the line! The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has officially opened the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service aka the AADSAS for the 2018 cycle!

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*Now just because the application is open until February doesn’t mean this gets to go on the back burner. It is highly suggested by literally everyone (schools, advisors, DAT Cracker, and me) that you get your completed application in the summer time!

 

Check out the full & official ADEA AADSAS Application Instructions here.

For now we’ll focus on the highlights…

Getting Started…

Firstly you’ll need to create an ADEA AADSAS account, here, and receive an identification number for the application process. This account/number is different from you DENTPIN you created for taking the Dental Admission Test (DAT). But have your DENTPIN handy too because you’ll need it submit your DAT scores along to dental schools through the AADSAS.

The application is dense and filling it out all the required information is a task not to be taken lightly. Take your time to insure all the detailed information is correct. Some of the sections you’ll see include Personal Information, Academic History,Relevant Experiences, and your Personal Statement to name a few.

Check out this video from ADEA on filling out the big Academic History section:

In addition to the filling out all the sections of the AADSAS you will also submit official transcripts and your letters of evaluation in order to completely complete your AADSAS 2018 application.

 

$ Cost $

The total application cost truly lies in the number of dental programs you are planning on applying to. Upon completely the AADSAS the fee is $245 and it includes submission to one school then it’s an additional $98 for each additional school. The application process as a whole can quickly become expensive with the cost of taking the DAT, completely the AADSAS, then individual schools secondary application fees, traveling to interviews, etc. so you really want to do your research and narrow down the programs you really want to apply to!

The Fee Assistance Program (FAP) is available to assist students who demonstrate extreme financial need while completing the AADSAS 2018 process. The FAP covers the initial AADSAS 2018 submission cost as well two additional dental school designations. Availability of these funds is limited and submission of additional paperwork is required so if you’re interested I’d suggest to get on this post haste! All the info: Fee Assistance Program.

 

TMDSAS

If you are a Texas resident applying to a Texas school then you need the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service aka the TMDSAS, which already opened up May 1st! Applicants from Texas MUST use this application while non-Texas residents can apply with either the TMDSAS or the AADSAS! FYI the $150 app fee covers you to apply to all three dental schools! This application deadline is a whole lot sooner than the AADSAS 2018; the TMDSAS closes on 5:00 pm (central time) on September 29th!

 

Check out the Blog!

Be sure to take a gander at the other DAT Cracker blog posts covering the big application such as Letters of Recommendation, The Interview, and stay tuned for much more!

HAPPY APPLYING! 🙂

Applying to Dental School: AADSAS 2017 Is Now Open!

As of June 1st the 2016 – 2017 cycle of the AADSAS is officially open!

The time has arrived. You’ve been working hard keeping up that GPA, getting gleaming DAT scores, and all those extracurriculars, well now it’s time to put it all on the line! The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has officially opened the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service aka the AADSAS for the 2017 cycle!

 

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*Now just because the application is open until February doesn’t mean it goes on the back burner. It is highly suggested by everyone (schools, advisors, DAT Cracker, and me) that you get your completed application in the summer time aka ASAP!

 

Check out the full official ADEA AADSAS Application Instructions here.

For now we’ll focus on the highlights…

 

DENTPIN®

First thing’s first you need a DENTPIN, a unique identification number assigned to each applicant. You’ll use the same DENTPIN login info you used when signing up for the DAT. If you have applied using the AADSAS before you use the same DENTPIN login and good news is most of the application fields are saved and ready to use again. But not everything transfers so be sure review, add, and update as needed.

So if you need to register for a DENTPIN go here.

 

Application Sections

This application is dense and filling it out is a task not to be taken lightly. 

Take your time and get it right.

Here’s a glimpse at the big sections of the AADSAS you’ll soon be completing:

  1. Fee Assistance Program (if applicable)
  2. Applicant information
  3. Education
  4. Professional experience
  5. Personal statement
  6. Evaluators
  7. Release statements
  8. Dental school designations

 

$ Cost $

The total application cost truly lies in the number of dental programs you are planning on applying to. Upon completely the AADSAS the fee is $245 and includes submission to one school then it’s an additional $98 for each additional school. The application process as a whole can quickly become expensive with the cost of taking the DAT, completely the AADSAS, then individual schools secondary application fees, traveling to interviews, etc. so you really want to do your research and narrow down the programs you really want to apply to!

 

TMDSAS

If you are applying to any of the three dental programs in Texas AND you are a state of Texas resident then you need the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service aka the TMDSAS, which already opened up May 2nd! Applicants from Texas MUST use this application while non-Texas residents can apply with either the TMDSAS or the AADSAS! FYI the $150 app fee covers you to apply to all three dental schools! Get on it because the TMDSAS closes September 30th!

 

Check out the Blog!

Be sure to take a gander at the other DAT Cracker blog posts covering the big application such as Letters of Recommendation, The Interview, and stay tuned for much more!

 

HAPPY APPLYING! 🙂

The Benefits of Joining a Pre-Dental Organization!

You may have seen a Pre-Dental table at a student organization fair and thought something along the lines of…

“Hey I know all about applying for dental school and I got a pretty good handle on the DAT so I don’t need those meetings and membership fees”

…but let’s take a closer look, shall we?

 

peacelovedentistry3sm

 

Gaining Relevant Experience

Simply putting down on your resume that you were a part of a pre-dental society isn’t much help but there are plenty of ways to get involved in events and programs put on by the organization. Pre-dental clubs offer a wide range of opportunities to be proactive in bettering yourself through things like for instance mentoring programs or gaining experience volunteering in the dental health world.

 

Leadership Opportunities

Within the ranks of the organization you can lead peers and drive the club to success.

Taking on a leadership role can be challenging but you gain the very valuable skills for a future in dentistry in communication, negotiating, and problem solving just name a few. Besides leadership positions always look great on a resume.

 

Access to Resources

These organizations have resources you may not even be aware exist and in order to take advantage of them you have to be in the know! One of the perks of a pre-dental organization is that school representatives from the different dental programs will schedule more visits should they anticipate an audience of pre-dental students. That means many clubs will host these representatives to come and talk to the group and answer any specific questions or even host a whole panel of representatives to speak!

 

Figure Out Exactly What You’re Doing

Orthodontists, pedodontists, and periodontists OH MY!
So what exactly is the difference and what exactly do you really want to do? Student orgs may bring in a wide range of people in the dental profession to talk on what they do and offer advice and help you discover exactly what you’d like to do someday!

 

Misery Loves Company

You’ll meet other pre-dental hopefuls to share the woes of preparing for dental school. With everything from the AADSAS, the DAT, letters of recommendation, etc making connections with fellow students that know exactly what you’re going through can be both comforting and helpful! You can even share your wisdom about how great DAT Cracker is ☺

 

Your school may have a pre-dental society/club/organization of its own but there’s also the option of joining the American Student Dental Association! Learn more here.

 

In review, pre-dental clubs both spread awareness of the dental profession as well as help members stay on the track and offer things like career panels and mentoring programs!

So why would you want to join? The better question is why not?

Changes Coming to the DAT!

*NOTE: ADA decided not implement these changes after all. From the website: “Please note that all DAT content changes indicated in Volumes 4 and 5 of the DAT Newsletters will no longer be implemented. This includes changes to the Biology, Quantitative Reasoning, and Critical Thinking sections.”

 

The American Dental Association aka the ADA announced changes coming to the DAT in 2016. The key words to the upcoming changes are Critical Thinking!

To be clear, these DAT changes will go into effect in 2016

so if you’re taking the test this year, no worries.

 

The ADA will be looking at assessing not only your knowledge of the section subjects like natural sciences and reading comp but soon your critical thinking skills as well. In their own words on the addition the ADA states,

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Instead of adding an entirely new additional content section, critical thinking skills will be assessed by embedding higher cognitive processing requirements within the Quantitative Reasoning Test (QRT) section!

 

Within the QRT section, Critical Thinking will be covered in the following areas…

– Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Sufficiency (NEW)

 

– Quantitative Comparison (NEW)

 

– Probability and Statistics (more items)

 

As stated in our Quantitative Reasoning Section Breakdown post these are the current topics covered in the section…

– Algebra 

– Numeric calculations

– Conversions

– Probability and Statistics

– Geometry

– Trigonometry

 

The ADA will give a further detailed outline in the 2016 DAT Guide so we’ll be sure to cover the QRT changes more in detail when it’s released.

 

The ADA also announced is a new test for advanced dental degrees called the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT). This test will be for current dental students in their 3rd or 4th year or current dentists interested in postgrad training or degrees.

Since we’re more concerned with the Dental Admission Test right now we’ll worry about this test later.

 

That’s all for now DAT testers.

Remember to keep up the hard work with DAT Cracker because with these changes the DAT is only getting exceedingly more strenuous!

Happy Practicing!

 

Applying to Dental School: The Interview!

The admissions process is long, stressful, and at times it feels like a lot of waiting and uncertainty. During this trying time there’s one clear sign in the process before a rejection or a congratulations letter that your doing well… getting the call or email about setting up an interview!

Reaching this point in the admissions process is exciting and promising but don’t blow it now!

You’re not in yet!

You look good enough on paper to make it this far but are you really what dental schools want?…

prove it

 

So let’s talk about the interview and how to ace it!

 

Professional Basics

You know these things but they are important enough to drill into your head some more now…

BE ON TIME. DRESS PROFESSIONALLY. BE POLITE. Easy enough, right? DO IT!

 

Projecting “FOMO”

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out and you basically need to instill in a admissions committee the fear of missing out on what an awesome prospect you are! The interview is a two-way conversation and you not only what to be prepared to answer their questions, you want to be engaging and have questions of your own. You are interviewing them as a potential school as much as they are interviewing you as a potential student and you gotta make them want you. This may be your top choice school… but hey, you’re a catch and half and got other options too so you want them to win YOU over too. Note that this kind of confidence isn’t cocky but reflects a genuine and avid interest in what the program has to offer. You are evaluating the school as much as they are evaluating you.

 

Be Honest

Besides your Personal Statement, the interview is the only place to speak of yourself in your own words. The school is trying to further get to know YOU and understand your motivations towards dentistry. Be prepared for pitfalls and flaws in your application, like a less than stellar GPA or DAT score, to come up in the interview. This is your chance to shine and reassure them of any doubts and reservations they may have about you as a candidate. Speaking openly and honestly in the interview is always to way to go.

 

Be “On” At All Times

Each dental program’s admission interview is unique. Some schools do one-on-one interview while others opt for a committee-style set up. Most include all day visits with tours of the school, meeting professors, etc. and it’s important to understand that the entire you’re there is essentially your interview. While you’re on campus act as if you’re always being watched and examined by the admissions committee because you basically are. Making a good impression all day can lead to another professor mentioning something to the committee for instance like, “hey that candidate seemed great and asked really interesting questions on the tour earlier”; keep in mind that this works vise versa too! So you gotta be on at all times!

 

With these things in mind you can have a winning interview and be one step closer the congratulations acceptance letter! Until then you can work on getting a winning DAT score to get you to the interview step with DAT Cracker. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or advice to add on interviews!

 

Happy Practicing!

Applying to Dental School: Letters of Recommendation!

Applying to dental school is a long, trying process and while the ADEA AADSAS application for the Fall 2016 cycle doesn’t even open until June 1st, it’s time to start thinking about your application now! By the way, if you’re planning on applying to a dental school in Texas the TMDSAS open May 1st!

Summertime and these applications may seem like a ways away but…

RIGHT NOW is the time to be making the connections and developing relationships with future letters of recommendation writers!

 

You can’t just go around asking like this, “I’m great! Write about it!” *self-five*

self5

Anyway here’s the lowdown letters of rec:

 

Who to Ask?

Professors are bombarded with students asking for letters so the key is to ask the people who know you best in order to get the best letters. This is the time to be making nice with future potential letter writers and develop the kind relationships that make for compelling letters.

Basically you are recruiting for your dental school application team, so choose them wisely!

Schools sometimes ask for specific letter writers (like one from a professor, one from an employer, etc.) so research your potential dental schools’ requirements and plan accordingly.

 

Ask In Person.

Everyone really harps on this, as they should! You can set up an initial meeting through email to discuss the possibly of them writing a letter for you but you shouldn’t ask outright over the internet; that’s an in person question! Plus what’s that saying, “it’s harder to say no to someone in person”, right?

 

Ask Early.

As mentioned before professors are getting flooded with requests and you want a good letter not a rushed one! The absolute least amount of time is three weeks to ask for a good letter.

 

Go Asking Prepared.

This last tip will really set you apart from what could be many letter of recommendation a professor has to write. Go to your letter writers with all the materials they may need when writing a beautiful letter about you. These things can include your resume, CV, and at least a draft or bullet points from your personal statement. You want to set them up and make it easy for them to write a great letter so they can get a feel for exactly what you’re going for your application.

 

With these things in mind go forth and prosper setting yourself up for the best letters of recommendation possible. P.S. If you’re stressing about the DAT fast approaching, practice and ace it with DAT Cracker of course and stay tuned for more of our DAT Breakdown series!

DAT Study Motivation!

Hey! How’s studying for the DAT going? Great? Just all right? Let’s take a minute to talk about motivation. The Dental Admissions Test is no easy feat and the many (necessary) hours preparing for it can be grueling. The feeling of burning out is a common occurrence for many and can really throw you off track of your path to DAT domination. The ole saying rings true: if you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail. Plus Gandalf shall not let you pass! (In this case, he’s the czar of the DAT exams because why not?)

shall not pass

Here are a few tips for motivation and keeping yourself on track:

– Stop & Take a Practice Test: If you’re in the middle of a studying block and suddenly hit a brick wall: Take full timed practice test. Your score just might give you the kick in the rear to knock you back into focus. With DAT Cracker you’ll even pin point exact weak spots in your preparation thus far.

– Change it up: A swift change in the subject you’re studying or change in normal study location can revive your spirits and give you boost in motivation! But don’t change too often be sure you’re sticking to the 50/10 rule…

– Be strict with yourself: The 50/10 rule of studying really does work! That’s 50minutes of straight focus studying then a 10minute break to refresh your brain! Do it. Discipline. “There are no short cuts to any place worth going.”

– Turn off everything: Echoing the last tip, be hard on yourself and put all things you don’t need to study away, really. It may seem harmless to leave open Facebook open in a tab or have your phone lying there beside you but come test time these things won’t be there. You want to your studying environment to emulate that of the test day. So put away all distractions and save them for your breaks!

Now get out there and get to it! Study study study and practice practice practice (3Xs for emphasis). What are you waiting for? Gandalf will not be pleased! “Fly Study you fools!”

Applying to Dental School: AADSAS Personal Statement Writing

In case you missed the memo, the ADEA AADSAS, aka the big dental school application, for next fall is officially opened! The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) has a general online application called the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) and there is a PERSONAL STATEMENT required **cue the music** Although the essay is about YOU, you still have an agenda: it still needs to be written in a professional manner and highlight your professional skills, experiences, and interests. That doesn’t have to be so scary! Think of it kind of like answering that classic job interview inquiry: “Tell me about yourself.” Oh no. Did I just make it worse? **cue the music again**

tell me about yourself

Your AADSAS Personal Statement is a place for you to “organize your thoughts about why you are seeking a dental education” all under 4,500 characters (including letters, spaces, punctuation (like on twitter)), which is about a page long. Unless you’re applying to a Texas school, then the Texas Dental School Application System (TMDSAS) has a 4,500-character limit. “Why are you seeking a dental education?”, you need to articulate that you motivated, academically prepared, plus knowledgeable and passionate about the profession. This can be a little tricky; the key is balance. You want to sell yourself professional while remaining personable. By no means is this a creative writing piece; you want to be clear, concise, and professional. Keep in mind: dental schools are making first judgments on you based on this AADSAS application, and the AADSAS Personal Statement is the ONLY place to make a case for yourself IN YOUR OWN WORDS!

Remember that you’re selling yourself as a great addition to the dental profession. This is where you talk about your strengths, passion for the field, and all your extra-curricular hard work you’ve done in preparing for dental school (and let’s face it also for this particular essay here).

Three key points to hit:

o   Why Dentistry? – The lifelong childhood dream is all good and fine really but if that’s not the case be candid and honest and talk about your road to discovery, that’s interesting! Your journey to writing this AADSAS Personal Statement may be long and winding. How did you land on dentistry?

o   Shadowing or Assisting Experience – Talk up your observation hours in a dentist’s office setting and how these times increased your knowledge and understanding of the field. These experiences show you really know what’s like in the real world application of the dental school.

o   Volunteerism – show your interest in working with/for the community and commitment to helping other. It’s important to include both volunteer activities that are relevant to the field and even some that isn’t. For example, working at an animal shelters shows your well rounded not just in a pre-dental mode all the time. Also include the volunteer work related to the dentistry profession that you may have done with a pre-dental society (that’s how you work that you were active in the club in the essay too)!

The ole phrase “writing is rewriting” rings true here this case. Have a trusty professor or dental professional read and give you feedback. They know what admissions committees are looking for and have insight on how to relate your experiences to the field. Final piece of advice: you can upgrade your DAT Cracker account and unlock the all the practice tests for $49 instead of the regular $99 sooooo go do that and you’ll have gleaming DAT scores to match this beautiful essay!

If you need any help on your personal statement, we recommend the people over at Grad Personal Statements at www.gradpersonalstatements.com