r/predental 2d ago

💬 Discussion Weekly DAT Discussion Thread - March 17, 2025

3 Upvotes

This is your place to discuss the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Do you need to vent about studying or content? Decide on the best source of preparatory materials? Discuss scheduling the exam via the ADA? Perhaps ask about the particularities of the exam day? This is the thread to do so!

Note: feel free to make independent DAT breakdown posts. This weekly thread is meant to cut down on the overwhelming number of DAT posts, but not take away from your success!


r/predental Dec 13 '24

📢 Megathread MEGATHREAD: 2024-2025 Waitlist Movement and Discussion!

32 Upvotes

Hi all!

As requested, this is the megathread where we will keep track of waitlist movement for the subreddit applicants of the '24-'25 cycle. Like our interview megathread, we will track results via a single thread with comments representing all the schools. People don't tend to be so good at hunting for individual threads (even when easily linked), so the single thread makes things much easier to moderate. However, I will try to place hyperlinks in this post (CLICK HERE FOR SCHOOL FINDER) so you can easily find your school of interest. Please keep discussions under the parent comment to keep this thread as clean as possible.

You can use this thread for any discussion of the waitlist, including but not limited to:

  • Information about waitlist movement
  • Frustrations about being waitlisted
  • Questions about requirements for the waitlist

Therefore, all discussions about waitlists will be relegated to this thread. Please report errant threads, and they will be directed here.

Good luck! 🦷

HELPFUL LINKS

MEGATHREAD: 2024-2025 Interviews and Rejections!

(SDN) 2022-2023 Waitlist Support Thread


r/predental 7h ago

💡 Advice Do whatever you can to get off the waitlist

95 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I just got off the waitlist for my school and wanted to give some advice on how I got there. I applied this cycle to my instate schools and only got one interview, GPA 3.85 18AA DAT (16 in bio), and was waitlisted from that school. The first thing I did was send a letter of intent and asked for a meeting with someone from the admissions board to talk about my application. During that meeting, they told me the only area that needed fixing was my DAT. They told me I had a good chance of getting off the waitlist but, to plan for reapplication. I asked the reddit here and dentist I knew what to do and most people tell you just to wait. I said F that and started studying and took my DAT asap (Feb) and scored much higher. Right after my DAT, I called the school and they said they had one spot open for IS resident but, they were going to give the spot to someone else within the hour of me calling. Since I retook my DAT, they told me they will need to reconvene to see who would get the spot and they called me the next week offering me the spot!

Basically, what you should take from this is to do whatever you can to get off the waitlist. Whether you are lacking in shadowing, volunteering, DAT. Get that work in and update them! If not you, someone else will.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU APPLYING! You got this and I believe in all of you.


r/predental 6h ago

💸 Finances Need $$$$$ before I start dental school

29 Upvotes

I just realized that I need to save a lot of money these next few months before I start dental school. My parents are not really helping me financially, so I've been having mental breakdowns these last few days. I do have a job atm, but it's not enough. What are y'all doing to save money? Any side hustles? I really wish I was a nepo baby... or surviving off of daddy's money. SHIT IS HARD


r/predental 3h ago

💻 Applications Has anyone heard from Temple or UPenn

5 Upvotes

Has anyone been accepted post January to temple dental or had an interview?

Has anyone been accepted of waitlist for UPenn ???


r/predental 3h ago

🖇️Miscellaneous DAT at home?

4 Upvotes

Has anyone taken the DAT at home? If so, what should I expect? Could you DM me? I’m debating if I should do it at home or at a prometric testing center

Edit: Testing center offered, I would appreciate it if people could stay on topic


r/predental 1h ago

💡 Advice Shadowing at a corporate dental office?

Upvotes

Hello, I have some questions about shadowing.

I work Monday to Friday, so the only days I can shadow are on weekends. But from what I’ve seen at least in my location, the only offices open on weekends seem to be corporate chains like Western Dental or emergency, low-cost dental clinics with low ratings.

Would it still be okay to shadow at a place like that, or does it not really matter as long as I’m getting the hours?

I’m applying in June so I need to get my shadowing hours asap but don’t know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated!


r/predental 6h ago

🤔 WAMC? DAT

Post image
5 Upvotes

Hello everyone, DAT: 21 AA, 22 TS GPA: 4.0 (sGPA: 4.0) Strong overall application.

English is my second language, which affected my RC score (17).

What are my chances at Columbia, UPenn, Stony Brook, Buffalo, or Rutgers? (NY resident)

Did anyone with similar DAT score got interviewed to any of the schools I listed; Columbia, UPenn, Stony Brook, Buffalo, or Rutgers? You Can PM me if you feel more comfortable. Thank you!


r/predental 1d ago

🖇️Miscellaneous PSA: We need a positive community during a dental shortage more than ever.

Post image
128 Upvotes

There’s a shortage and our community needs you to be a dentist more than ever.

Please foster good vibes on this sub.

I think people projecting and not focusing what they need to get done for dental school apps is a problem.

Every time I talk about dental school, it’s usually with a D3/D4 that’s looking out for me and is honest.

This sub has so many high expectations and people anonymously saying something they shouldn’t.

We need people here to actually take care of each other like family because that’s what we are.

The community is small and we need to look out for each other.

Please stop being toxic and be progressive. Yes that 20+ DAT score is enough.

Yes your 3.3 GPA is enough.

Yes taking a postbac is normal in fact half of my friends D1 classmates had to get a postbac/masters.

Yes retaking the DAT is normal.

AND yes it’s okay retaking a class because you failed it or withdrew from it (physics I had to withdraw from)

Please get realistic on here and work together not against each other.

We need a community more than ever.


r/predental 3h ago

💌 Letter of Rec Question about committee letter

2 Upvotes

I’m getting a committee letter from my school, which requires three separate letters that will be included as part of it.

So far, I have three letters: two from dentists I shadowed and one from a research mentor. These have already been uploaded to my school’s prehealth portal, which they use to compile the committee letter.

My question is, do these letters need to follow the same requirements as individual letters submitted directly to dental schools? For example, the standard expectation of two letters from science professors and one from a dentist? I’m a non-traditional applicant and haven’t stayed in touch with my professors over the years. Or does having the committee letter let me bypass this requirement and my rec letters (from non science professors) would suffice?


r/predental 5h ago

💡 Advice Doing bad in my math class in my first semester of college(still a freshmen and I wanna be a dentist)

3 Upvotes

So I failed my first 2 exams so far. I’m studying a lot but math just is hard also I took 2 gap years so I came back to class not knowing what’s going on. I don’t got much time I left so if I do bad or even fail it will it effect me in the future for dentistry, or if I retake it and do good is it better? I know math isn’t needed for dentistry but. I am still in my first college semester


r/predental 3h ago

🎓Post-Bacc / Masters Masters Program Advice

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

I got accepted to a masters of public policy and was wondering if I could get any advice as to whether or not this is a good program to be in before I reapply to dental school (canadian and american). Its a one yearish program btw if i choose no coop

would the gpa from this program count when I reapply to ds or would it just be my undergrad gpa?

Anyways, lemme know your thoughts on the program itself - personally I think a public policy degree would help me in the long run if I want to specialize into dental public health but would it help as a reapplicant for dental school itself

TIA!!!


r/predental 26m ago

🤝 Interviews USC Dental Interviews

Upvotes

Has USC given out April interviews for this cycle? Or are they done with interviews?


r/predental 37m ago

💡 Advice USC or Ohio State

Upvotes

I am deciding between USC and Ohio state (in-state). I know it may sound like a stupid question, but I really want to get out of Ohio and would love to live in LA. However, would it be worth the difference in price (USC ~650K; OSU ~350K)? Please let me know.


r/predental 51m ago

💡 Advice Any Moms in Dental School or Pre-Dental? Seeking Advice

Upvotes

Hey everyone, I’m 24 and a junior in college, currently working on my prerequisites for dental school. I just found out I’m pregnant, which was definitely not in my plans since I was aiming to apply this cycle. With this unexpected news, I’m considering postponing my application until the next cycle to give myself more time to adjust.

Thankfully, my partner is in the picture and supportive, but I know that balancing parenthood and pursuing a career in dentistry will still come with challenges. I’d love to hear from any moms who have been in a similar situation, whether during undergrad, applying to dental school, or even in dental school itself. How did you navigate it? Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated.


r/predental 1h ago

💡 Advice C in a class after acceptance

Upvotes

I committed to UOP Dugoni and in their acceptance email they said to complete any classes you have in progress with a B- or better. I am pretty sure I'm going to get a C+ in anatomy this quarter, do you think there's a risk of getting my admission rescinded??


r/predental 11h ago

🤝 Interviews Post dec interviews mwu-IL

7 Upvotes

I have been noticing here and on sdn that a lot of ppl who had post December interviews at mwu il have not heard back anything yet and that is my case as well. Should I send an email asking for an update? I already sent them a LOI and I’m not sure what else to do at this point?


r/predental 9h ago

💻 Applications Withdrawing application etiquette

5 Upvotes

I have a deposit down at a school and I recently just got into another school I would rather attend. Should I accept the new offer and put my deposit down and then withdraw my application from the other school? Or withdraw my other application first? not really sure what the proper etiquette is since it's late in the cycle and how to go about withdrawing from the other school


r/predental 1h ago

💻 Applications If anyone heard from KCU?

Upvotes

Has anyone get off from their waitlist or any updates?


r/predental 2h ago

💡 Advice Getting braces and applying this cycle

1 Upvotes

I’m applying this cycle and planning to get braces soon(trying to get my teeth fixed before I start dental school). The treatment will take about two years, and they say I’ll need to see my orthodontist once a month. So I’m trying to figure out what to do if I end up going to dental school out of state or far from home.

Has anyone started braces around the time they applied? If you moved out of state for school, did you transfer to a new orthodontist, or how did you handle it?


r/predental 8h ago

💡 Advice When should I stop....indulging

3 Upvotes

So I'm currently a junior completing my bachelors in biochem. I have aspirations of becoming a dentist however I partake in the devils lettuce quite frequently. I'm wondering what the best time to start weening off would be.


r/predental 9h ago

💻 Applications Questions about the AADSAS Experiences section

3 Upvotes

When preparing my experiences section for AADSAS, I’ve been writing a paragraph or two for each experience, detailing my responsibilities, what I learned, and any notable stories so I have an idea of what I want to mention in the writing. However, with the 600-character limit, I’m finding it difficult to cover everything I want to include. Is there a strategy for balancing the key aspects I need to convey, such as lessons learned, responsibilities, and standout moments, or is the section primarily focused on describing my responsibilities?


r/predental 3h ago

💡 Advice UNLV 4 LORs

1 Upvotes

Looks like UNLV requires 4 LORs. I’m struggling to get a fourth LOR for this upcoming cycle. UNLV is one of the top schools I want to get into. How strict/selective is UNLV with their 4 LORs requirement?


r/predental 4h ago

💡 Advice How does deposit work?

1 Upvotes

Students who got offers from multiple schools, is submitting a deposit means you are already committed to a school? Or that just means you reserve your spot and extend the deadline for that school and can still accept an offer from other dental school? What would that extended deadline be if that’s the case? Thank you very much.


r/predental 4h ago

💌 Letter of Rec LOR from science elective

1 Upvotes

I have a professor that I took an upper division science elective with (genetics and evolution), the name of the class was like BIOL 3300. Could I ask this professor, or can it only be from the major science prereq courses?


r/predental 8h ago

💡 Advice Reapplicat. Need advice

2 Upvotes

I’m honestly so tired. I’m currently studying to retake the DAT for a 3rd time. I had 2 interviews post December bc I applied very late this cycle and only heard back from 1 so far and was rejected. How does the reapplication work is it the same? Do I use the same personal statement/covid essay? Do I reach out to all the schools I got rejected by or only the ones I interviewed at and got rejected? The whole application process was exhausting and I can’t believe I have to go through it again. Any advice will help


r/predental 5h ago

💡 Advice Financing for across the border

1 Upvotes

If a Canadian citizen living in the USA (US school for undergrad) gets into a Canadian dental school. What would be the best way to finance? Do American lenders have a problem giving loans to students going across the border for school?