The dental school admissions process: Your guide to becoming a competitive applicant
This pre-dental blog is brought to you by Crack the DAT. Crack the DAT offers all the resources you need to ace your Dental Admission Test, all in one place! Try it today: CrackDAT.com
It’s no secret that the dental school admissions process is an extremely competitive one. Thousands of students compete for a limited number of seats at the 67 dental schools in the U.S. How can you increase your likelihood of acceptance? How can you make your application as competitive as possible? We’ve compiled a list of 10 tips to make your dental school application stand out, so read on!
1. Do your best academically.
Dental school is academically rigorous. As a dental student, you’ll be challenged in your classes and will need good study habits to excel. Your undergraduate grades are an indicator of how well you will be able to handle the rigor of dental school, so grades do matter. Aim to do as well as possible in your classes and to have an upwards trend (earning better grades over time rather than increasingly lower ones). If your grades aren’t so stellar, that’s okay — some applicants complete additional degrees (ie., Master’s degrees) to raise their GPAs, or focus extra effort into the other components of the application.
Also be sure that you’re on track to complete the prerequisites of the programs you are applying to. Remember, you absolutely don’t need to be a science major to go to dental school, but you do need to complete the prerequisites! Prerequisites vary from school to school, but most dental schools will at a minimum require you to take biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry with their corresponding labs. Taking other advanced courses, such as biochemistry, calculus, microbiology, and cell biology, can give you a strong science foundation that will help you stand out. Taking non-science courses with possible applications to dental careers, such as English, business, foreign language, psychology, or sociology, is also great if possible, because doing so shows the diversity of your interests and skill sets.
Most dental schools will post the average undergraduate GPA of the students in their most recent matriculated class. You can compare these stats with your own to get a sense of roughly where you stand — but remember, these stats are averages, so plenty of students are accepted with higher and lower GPAs!
2. Ace the DAT.
Acing the DAT is one of the best ways to distinguish yourself as an applicant! It can also be a good way to compensate (at least partly) for lower grades. To give yourself the best chance of being admitted, aim to get scores of at least 20 on each of the DAT sections.
Two factors are critically important in setting yourself up for success on the DAT. First, make a plan! Know when you’re going to take your test and how much time you have to study. Know what resources you will use to help yourself prepare. Second, practice and review as much as possible. The DAT is probably unlike any test you will have taken in the past, but practicing often will help you feel comfortable and confident with the types of questions you will face on test day.
If you want more tips for acing the DAT, check out some of our past articles:
Beginning your DAT journey: how to apply, register, and get started
Deciding on a DAT date: five tips for determining when to take the DAT
Pre-Dental Talk Episode #3: 10 steps to a 25+ on the DAT (or listen to the podcast: anchor.fm/predental)
For DAT study resources, check out CrackDAT, which has all the resources needed to prepare for the DAT (practice tests, in-depth explanations, PAT generators, notes, flashcards, and more)!
3. Find letter writers who know you well.
When you apply to dental school, you will have the option to submit up to four letters of recommendation. Think carefully about who you ask to write you a letter. First, check out the requirements of the schools you’re applying to. These requirements vary — some schools aren’t very particular about who these letters should be from, while others are specific (ie., one letter from a dentist you shadowed, one from a science professor, and one from a non-science professor or advisor). Alternatively, instead of sending separate letters, you can submit a pre-health committee letter, if your university offers this option.
Having solid letters of recommendation from dentists, professors, and advisors who can speak to your character is extremely important. When deciding who should write your letters of recommendation, ask yourself: Who knows me well as a person? Who do I think would vouch for me? Who can add valuable information that isn’t already on my application? Strong letters give the admissions committees a glimpse into who you are as a person and show what kinds of connections you’ve made. Once you’ve decided who you hope to receive letters from, reach out to these individuals early to give them plenty of time to write and submit. If you’re reaching out to someone who doesn’t know you very deeply, you can offer to provide some context (like a copy of your personal statement, your resume, or specific anecdotes from their class).
4. Immerse yourself in the field of dentistry.
Shadowing is key! Admissions committees want to be sure that you’ve had adequate exposure to the field of dentistry and are confident that this is the path you want to follow. It is best to shadow for a longer period of time (say, over the course of a year rather than a brief two-month period) and to expose yourself to different offices. You’ll want to be sure you have plenty of hours shadowing a general dentist, since general dentistry is the foundation of the profession, but if you’re interested in specializing, you can also get hours shadowing one or more specialists. Be sure to keep track of your hours when you shadow. Using an online spreadsheet makes this easy. Take notes on what you observe. Ask questions of the dentist, dental assistants, and other office staff. Pay attention to the differences in the practices you shadow — some are large and modern, while others are smaller and more traditional. Not sure how to get started with shadowing? Ask a dentist you know if they’d be willing to let you shadow them, or call dental offices in your area. Not every dentist will be willing to let you shadow, but if you are persistent, you’ll be sure to find at least one who is happy to have you!
Keep in mind that shadowing isn’t the only way to get dental experience. You can also work as a dental assistant (which is a fantastic way to get hands-on experience), volunteer at events (like Mission of Mercy events), and go on service trips abroad. If your school has a pre-dental society, you can participate in their events. Stay curious about dentistry and learn as much as you can, and your passion for the field will shine through on your application!
If you want more advice about dental experiences, check out our past article:
Pre-Dental Talk Episode #8: Dental Shadowing, Assisting, the DAT, & More! (or listen to the podcast: anchor.fm/predental)
5. Write a personal statement that tells your story.
The personal statement is an opportunity to let your voice shine. Give yourself plenty of time to write. First, brainstorm what you can write about. When did you first realize dentistry was the path you wanted to pursue? What meaningful experiences have you had? What qualities do you have that will make you a great dentist? Be honest, and really reflect on your path. There are lots of common reasons for pursuing a dental career (loving science and art, wanting to help people, wanting a hands-on career), but think about the parts of your story that are unique to who you are. Once you’ve decided on what you want to write and how to organize your points so they really tell a story, draft your personal statement and send it to a few trusted people. Ask: Does my voice and personality come through in this? Are my motivations for pursuing a career in dentistry clear? Is it clear what I would contribute to my future dental school community?
One last bit of advice for writing your personal statement — try to grab the reader with an interesting hook. Members of the admissions committee will be reading hundreds or thousands of personal statements. Putting lots of effort into your introduction and your conclusion is worthwhile so you can grab the reader right away and leave them excited about you by the end.
6. Find extracurricular activities that you’re passionate about.
Admissions committees want to see that you have passions and interests outside of the classroom. These passions don’t have to be directly related to dentistry — demonstrating passion, leadership, and commitment in any form is valuable. These activities also don’t need to all be service-related, but it’s great if they are — it shows you care about bettering the communities you’re a part of, which is key to being a great future dentist! Keep in mind that you don’t need to spread yourself too thin and take on too many activities. In fact, it’s often better to dedicate yourself more fully to fewer activities over a longer period of time. Growing within an organization, from member to leader, is also valuable and shows your dedication. Whatever you do, be passionate about it, and do it because you enjoy it. Your passion will shine through on your application, and you can also talk about your experiences during your interviews!
7. Think about your strengths and unique life experiences.
Chances are, writing your personal statement will force you to reflect on this, and it’s sure to come up again during your interviews! You may be asked: “Why should the admissions committee admit you?” “What sets you apart from our other highly-qualified applicants?” “What will you contribute to our school’s community?” Delivering a strong, confident response shows that you have taken the time to reflect on these important questions. Be sure to back up your answers with specific examples. For example, if what sets you apart is that you’re a great communicator, give some specific examples. For example: “I’ve worked as a tutor for years, which has given me experience forming relationships rooted in trust and explaining things clearly. Additionally, as a volunteer at both an elementary school and a nursing home, I communicate with people of various ages on a weekly basis, and I’ve come to see how much I enjoy forming these connections. These experiences will benefit me as a future dentist and get me all the more excited about entering this people-focused profession.”
8. Do your research and demonstrate interest throughout the application process.
Research the schools you’re applying to to get a clear sense of what each school values! As you do your research, take notes about aspects of their program that you like, such as their class size, clinical experiences, curriculum, emphasis on service, diverse student body, or technology. Chances are, in your interviews, you will be asked why you are interested in each particular school. Be sure you can clearly articulate why each program is a good match for you.
Demonstrating interest is another great way to make your application stand out. You don’t want to contact a school too often and flood their inbox with messages! Still, asking a few thoughtful question throughout the admissions process and bringing plenty of questions on interview day shows that you are curious and enthusiastic about their program. You can also let the schools you applied to know about any major updates to your application later in the cycle (by doing the Academic Update, for example).
9. Apply as early as possible.
Starting in May, you’ll have the chance to start inputting your information on the ADEA AADSAS application, requesting letters of recommendation, and putting your application together. But you don’t need to wait until May to get started. You can write and edit your personal statement well before then. You can also reach out to your letter writers before May and let them know you’ll send them an official request once the application opens. The next month, in June, you’ll be able to actually submit your application to your programs. The earlier you can submit, the better! If you feel that you’re not ready to submit just yet, that’s okay — it’s fine to wait until you have an application you’re confident in. However, because admissions are rolling, it’s very advantageous to apply as early in the cycle as you can (ideally the same month the application opens).
10. Practice your interview skills.
You are more than just an application — your personality and people skills matter too! Dentistry is such a people-centered profession, so dental schools use the interview as an opportunity to learn more about you as a person and see your communication skills and personality. It’s never too soon to start preparing for your interviews! Look up some common dental school interview questions and think about how you might answer each question (you shouldn’t be rehearsing specific answers, but rather thinking about what you might want to talk about). Get more comfortable talking to people you’ve just met. Learn to curtail your bad habits (like avoiding eye contact, using filler words often, or talking too quickly). All of this practice will pay off during your dental school interviews!
CrackDAT offers interview preparation and a list of 175 dental school interview questions to help you shine during your interviews. If you want more advice about interviews, check out our past article:
Pre-Dental Talk Episode #5: CRACK your VIRTUAL interviews! (or listen to the podcast: anchor.fm/predental)
By investing in strengthening your application, you’re investing in your future. We wish you the best of luck in your dental school application process!
—
Join the Crack the DAT community, connect with other pre-dental students, and ask questions! Join the Facebook group here.
Crack your Dental Admission Test! Visit our website at CrackDAT.com.
