Your checklist for the ADEA AADSAS application

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The dental school application process is rapidly approaching. Are you ready?

In Mid-May, the 2022–2023 ADEA AADSAS application will open. Now is the time to start thinking about what you will need to make sure your application is as strong as possible and that you’ll be ready to submit as soon as possible (remember, dental school admissions occur on a rolling basis). If you’re planning to apply to dental school this cycle, here’s a quick checklist for you!

☐ Secure writers for your letters of recommendation.

By this point, it’s a good idea to know who your letter writers will be and to make sure they know when you’re planning on submitting your application. Asking your letter writers far in advance ensures that they will be able to write you a strong, personal letter (and also gives you time to find an alternative, if anyone you ask says no). Plus, you don’t want a delayed letter of recommendation be the reason you can’t submit your application as early as you’d like. Your letter writers won’t be able to officially submit their letters until the application opens (since they’ll need to submit via ADEA AADSAS directly), but they can have their letter ready to go until then!

For specific information about how many and what types of letters you’ll need, check the websites of the schools you plan to apply to. In general, you will want a letter from a dentist you’ve shadowed and at least two letters from science professors.

☐ Know when you’re taking the DAT.

If you’re planning to apply this cycle, you’ve hopefully secured a DAT test date. It’s best to take your DAT sooner rather than later, since you’ll know your scores right away (which can help you gauge how competitive your scores are for different programs) and will also have time to re-take the exam (only if necessary — expect to do great the first time!) The DAT is a key part of the application process, so make sure you have a solid DAT plan!

For reference, if you haven’t done so already, you can check out our blog posts on applying for and registering for the DAT and on deciding on a DAT date.

☐ Start brainstorming and drafting your personal statement.

Your personal statement isn’t something you want to rush. It’s your chance to tell your story — to show your personality, to explain your path to dentistry, and to give your application readers a sense of who you are and what you will contribute. At this point, start brainstorming by jotting down potential themes, anecdotes, or frameworks for your personal statement. Then, when you’re ready, start writing. Give yourself plenty of time to edit. Have someone you trust read over your statement and offer feedback. If you allow yourself ample time to work on your personal statement, you’ll be sure to have a statement you’re proud of by the time the application opens.

☐ Compile a list of extracurriculars, shadowing hours, and accomplishments.

When you fill out your application, you will need to list your extracurricular activities and shadowing experiences, and include the dates, hours, and a brief description for each of these activities. If you’d like, you can get a head start on this now by starting your activity list. (By the way, if you haven’t done so already, we highly recommend keeping track of all of your shadowing dates on and hours on a document — it’s tough to remember later how many hours you shadowed in total if you aren’t keeping track throughout.)

Starting your dental school application is a huge and exciting step! We know this process can be overwhelming, but taking the time to prepare and get organized now will definitely pay off.

Stay tuned for more articles and advice from CrackDAT.com as the application process gets closer!

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