[kinetic]

- What are some prominent undergrad schools for pre-dental students? In California please~

- What majors are preferred or most frequent among pre-dental students? Ie: Biology to Medical students

Personally, I don't think undergrad schools matter too much, unless you're in a hurry (then do a really short program like uop).

Prominent? UOP is notorious for their 5 year dental program, although I think they crank out terrible dentists. Loma Linda is supposedly known for implants. UCLA if you want to specialize (highest rate of specialization, everyone gets into what they want (ortho, OS, endo, pedo, whatever)), UCSF if you want to practice in northern CA (brand name recognition), USC if you couldn't get anywhere else. Western University of Health Sciences is still unknown.

Preferred major? Most people do bio.

Ki, seems like you don't know what you want to do yet. Undergrad doesn't matter too much. If you want to do OS or ortho, Columbia or UCLA is a good bet.

[trammytranx3]

i have a question.

I'm at ucsd right now and about to being the organic chemistry series which consists of 3 class.
Do you know if we only have to take the first 2 or all 3?
I'm a biology major and the major only requires me to take the first 2, but I want to know if dental schools require just 2 or all 3.
Thanks!

[ickboo]

^ most dent schools require 2 ochem courses with labs, i believe, along with a semester/quarter of biochem (no lab required).

[Illicit]

I've been looking into undergrad schools w/ a good pre-dental program..
- UCLA
- UOP, either 3+3 or 3+4
- UCSC

What other schools offer a strong pre-dental program?
Taking into consideration the: (1) dental acceptance chances (2) costs, financial aid, scholarships available (3) opportunities.

[kinetic]

i have a question.

I'm at ucsd right now and about to being the organic chemistry series which consists of 3 class.
Do you know if we only have to take the first 2 or all 3?
I'm a biology major and the major only requires me to take the first 2, but I want to know if dental schools require just 2 or all 3.
Thanks!

Tram,

Some schools base it on # of courses, some do it by units. It all depends on the units. Also, there can be "easy" ochem for health professions majors -- you may want to try that.


---

Illicit:

UOP can be a hit or miss. If you don't get in the first time, you may end up in a rut with a semi-useless degree and no acceptance.
UCLA is ok. A lot of students, can be hard to differentiate yourself.

You do not need to be in a predental program to have high acceptances. Although I'll admit, there are feeder schools, I'm not too sure. UCLA has great scholarships if you are an undergrad and you choose to go to UCLA dental.

For opportunities, you may want to go to a smaller school (less competition).

[Illicit]

Hmm, what do you mean? So it's either I get accepted into UOP's 3+3 or 3+4 dental program or not?

I guess it's not necessarily 'pre-dental programs' but undergrad schools with strong courses that'll later help me in Dental School or getting accepted into Dental School. As for smaller schools, I'm not sure.

[aznpridefolife441]

i need ur guys help!! it is my 3rd year at university and i am thinking about applying the end of next year may around. When i apply to dental school can i apply first then take the DAT exam later?
For example i would apply dental school in may and take the DAT in september or something or perhaps the spring? Since i am abit behind on the ochem classes and i wont finish until that time.

Thanks

[kinetic]

Getting into the pre-dental program at uop is easy. The hard part is the follow through and getting into the school. Some people get stuck in the "rut" of the predental program at uop and its best to get in the first time..

As for the post directly above:
You can take the dat after you apply. You need to finish ochem before you get into dental school. Ask your respective schools if you need to have taken it before you apply. Varies between schools.

[Junebug88]

Hey Kinetics,

I've been reading your posts and you sure know what you're talking about, thanks for all the really good advice =). So, my concern is when to take my DAT.

I turned in my application June 30th, but I know that schools won't look at your application without your DAT scores. I plan to take my test July 23rd. My Gpa is not that high and I want to really make sure I do well on the DAT to make up for it, so that's why I've waited to take the test later, but do you think this is too late? Would I have a better chance taking it earlier with a lower score? When did you take your DAT?

[ZaVanT]

I'am in the first year of Dentistry
It is quite difficult for me
In class, teacher teach very quick
that is ours problem now
so, we bring some recorder for record their teaching

Anybody in the 1 year of this faculty?

[kinetic]

Jbug:

I took the DAT late july/early august. I do not remember. All I can really say is take the DAT when you are ready. No more, no less. approximate when you feel you are ready. The reason is that there's a peak performance period where you are truly ready and that window can be within a few days of when you are ready. If you take it too early, you risk being unprepared. If you take it too late, you risk forgetting everything and getting your application considered later. It is not too late. You have the advantage that you applied early, whereas I applied earlier. However, if schools really want you, they will call you(I got my first interview call 2 weeks after I took my DAT). So... short answer: find that "peak" period and take it. Since you mention that your GPA is not high (I don't really know what your definition of high and low is), you want to compensate with high DAT's.

Zavant:

The trick is to form groups. Form a group of ppl who will take notes for a specific class and record classes (via webcam). For example, if you have 12 classes and you have 6 people in the group, each person takes 2 classes, takes notes, makes recordings. That way, you do not have to attend all of the classes, or anything beyond your own classes. Exchange notes.

[azngurljadejewl]

Hi im planning to become a dentist too! =D
I'm majoring in chemistry as a freshman this year however

[Junebug88]

Thanks kinetics, that makes sense. I just really need to do well on this test, to compensate for my low gpa. It's below average, I had a 3.5 and above gpa every semester except one, which really really pulled my gpa down. It's forever haunting me =/. I'm just going to cram like crazy and hopefully feel ready soon, within the next week and half haha. So you applied later, after you took the DAT? I read in one of your posts that the admissions told you that you were one of the last ones, because you applied late. btw, if you don't mind me asking, what was your AA on the DAT?

[kinetic]

Thanks kinetics, that makes sense. I just really need to do well on this test, to compensate for my low gpa. It's below average, I had a 3.5 and above gpa every semester except one, which really really pulled my gpa down. It's forever haunting me =/. I'm just going to cram like crazy and hopefully feel ready soon, within the next week and half haha. So you applied later, after you took the DAT? I read in one of your posts that the admissions told you that you were one of the last ones, because you applied late. btw, if you don't mind me asking, what was your AA on the DAT?

I don't remember anymore: I either got a 23 or 24 AA (my TS was equal to AA). I think I applied and took the DAT at around the same time (again, not sure).

[Junebug88]

I don't remember anymore: I either got a 23 or 24 AA (my TS was equal to AA). I think I applied and took the DAT at around the same time (again, not sure).

oo very nicee~ props to you, hope i can come out the testing center satisfied as well...i'm sure u were satisfied with those scores

[dekchampu]

Okay so I need HELP. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things to be a dentist.

I'm going to Everest Institute to become a Dental Assistant, but then after that what do I do? I've read a bunch of stuff that says you're supposed to go to a school and enroll in a pre-dental program, but if I already became a Dental Assistant at Everest, what do I do then?

[wendo]

Okay so I need HELP. I'm not sure if I'm doing the right things to be a dentist.

I'm going to Everest Institute to become a Dental Assistant, but then after that what do I do? I've read a bunch of stuff that says you're supposed to go to a school and enroll in a pre-dental program, but if I already became a Dental Assistant at Everest, what do I do then?

In order to apply to dental school you need to take all the prereq courses (gen bio, gen chem, o chem, physics, biochem, english, others (depending on the school)) preferably at a 4 year institution and a Bachelor's degree is suggested. You also need to take the DAT, get dentistry experience by shadowing or working with a dentist (so becoming a dental assistant comes in handy), and extra-curriculars to jazz up your apps. I would research some dental schools and look at their admissions requirement to see what is needed. Also SAVE MONEY. I am applying to 11 schools right not and it cost me around $1200 not including air fare and hotel when I get interviews (wishful thinking) and deposits for spots when you get accepted.

[wendo]

i need ur guys help!! it is my 3rd year at university and i am thinking about applying the end of next year may around. When i apply to dental school can i apply first then take the DAT exam later?
For example i would apply dental school in may and take the DAT in september or something or perhaps the spring? Since i am abit behind on the ochem classes and i wont finish until that time.

Thanks

I've been told the best time to take it is in Jan or Feb of the year you're applying. So since you're applying in 2010 I would take it in Jan or Feb of 2010, that way if you don't get the score that you want you still have time to take it again in 3 months and be considered an early applicant. In your situation though I wouldn't take it until you finished all your o chem classes since that subject is on the DAT and you need to know everything cold to get a good score. Trust me I just skimmed over one section of O chem (NMR,IR spect section) and I ended up getting around 5 questions on that particular topic! So that resulted to my score being dropped down 3 points from my practice scores.

It's ultimately up to what you think is best. If you can be ready earlier I would prepare for the worst and allow yourself some time to have a chance of retaking it. But if you think you only need to take it once then take it when you're ready. Some schools give out interviews as early as July and some won't start until Aug or Oct and on. The first formal acceptances start on Dec 1st and I believe the deadline to apply to some schools is Dec-Feb, I'm not sure you're going to have to look that up. It took me I guess 3 months to study a couple times a week with the last 2 weeks studying from 1pm-10pm.

Also since you're applying next year I would recommend going to AADSAS and make a username and copy and paste all the questions into word or something so you can prepare your answers. You can't save it in AADSAS because they clear everything once the 2010 application cycle is over and you're applying to 2011 cycle.

https://portal.aadsasweb.org/ Good luck!

I don't remember anymore: I either got a 23 or 24 AA (my TS was equal to AA). I think I applied and took the DAT at around the same time (again, not sure).

geez.. nice scores! No wonder you got into UCLA. I ended up applying to UCSF but not UCLA but my prehealth advisor told me to count it as a rejected LOL.

Did you ever go through a committee interview at your undgrad to get a letter? And if you did was it similar to the real d school interviews? I just finished my secondaries and am just sitting here waiting to hear from schools but most of them won't give out interviews until August or October. Any interview tips just in case I get an interview or two?

[jamesxxx]

im in 6 year predental at university of the pacific.

[kimmi_chan]

hi all.im dental hygienist student at healthty polytechnic in yogyakarta. i will start my lesson next month..
i hope someday i will get job in japan.nice to meet u all