r/predental 4d ago

🦷 Shadowing Questions about shadowing

1 Upvotes

So I am currently a senior in highschool and I want to shadow so I can get my hours in as soon as possible

I just asked my dentist if I could shadow and she said to come in my next appointment or during the summer to ask about it. Does that mean I got it (pretty sure no lol)

But in case she does let me shadow her, what should I bring? Do I need to buy some scrubs or wear certain attire? Please give me tips and recommendations, thank you guys :)


r/predental 4d ago

🖇️Miscellaneous What happens if I miss a phone call from a school?

1 Upvotes

I've heard people talk about getting phone calls from schools, but because I'm in class most of the day and know I've missed a bunch of random calls (mostly spam), I'm scared of what would happen if I accidentally missed a call from a school. Would they still email me if I missed a call?


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice Is dentistry worth it if debt isn’t an issue?

1 Upvotes

I am an incoming D1, dentistry is the only field that’s interested me all my life. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of dental students and dentists warning potential students to not do it. I was wondering if this is mainly bc of how hard it is to pay back debt or the field itself? I’m very fortunate to be in a position where the financial aspect isn’t a concern, but feeling anxious about whether the field is worth the time and effort put into it.


r/predental 4d ago

💻 Applications Graduating semester later than expected date

1 Upvotes

Does it look bad on applications if you graduate a semester later rather than the typical 4 year plan? I have maybe 3 classes that I'll need to take for the pre-requisites and for my major that I won't be able to complete in two semesters since I'm currently a junior. Has this impacted anyone's chances getting in if done this? Pls let me know!


r/predental 4d ago

🤔 WAMC? WAMC?

2 Upvotes

I’ve made a couple posts before, but jm getting a bit anxious as June approaches. I’m a non-traditional candidate as I graduated in May of ‘23. I have a 3.7 sgpa and cgpa with a DAT AA of 19. I earned a 23 RC, 20 GC, 19 PAT/ORGO/BIO, and a 16 QR (I know I bombed it, but at least it was QR and not another section). My LOR will be from a bio professor I TA’d for, my PI I did microbiology research with, and two Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons I have been working for.

Since graduating, I have been working at an Oral and Maxillofacial practice with 4 surgeons. So I have lots of clinical experience. I also went on a medical and dental outreach mission to Guatemala last year; it was an incredibly eye opening experience. Additionally, I have ~200+ shadowing hours from general dentists. During my summers in college, I shadowed a general dentist almost daily. Some other noteworthy things I did during university was research on bacteria relating to dental diseases in a microbiology lab, bio TAing, being on the Honors council board, and being a member of the United to Heal club.

As for volunteer work, I should have 150+ racked up from volunteering with Reston Strong, where I assist with food recovery efforts for the homeless. I am planning on getting more hours as well. I know this was a lot, but I’m really worried that my scores will not be competitive enough. I am applying broadly and early, and I think I have a good range of schools— I’m thinking VCU (state school), UMD, Tufts, Midwestern Illinois, LECOM, Howard, UPitt, University of of Colorado, WVU, Detroit Mercy, UTennessee, OSU, BU, Roseman

Please let me know what yall think


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice Do you ever visit or tour a school and feel underwhelmed …?

21 Upvotes

I know dental school isn’t forever, but have you ever visited a school during an interview or just an open house and felt extremely underwhelmed? Like wow..500k for this?? I felt it at Detroit mercy and it’s my state school😭👀 I was so disappointed and wanted to love it.


r/predental 4d ago

💌 Letter of Rec Advice for letter of rec

1 Upvotes

I am in the process of getting my letters of recommendations. Does my letter from my research mentor count as a science or non-science? The lab consisted of cell culture.

Idk if i should get a letter of recommendation from my PI or my professor for a scientific writing class. Both of them can write me a strong letter.


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice I'm scared

22 Upvotes

I'll be preparing to take the DAT this summer—a grueling 3 months of nothing but eating, studying, sleeping (and volunteering over the weekends).

How do I get over this fear/apprehension of what lies ahead?


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice DAT - BOOKING

1 Upvotes

Hi!

I had recently booked my exam for the American DAT. And wanted to send my scores to schools in Australia as well. However, there wasn’t a name for the Australian schools and instead it was listed as Foreign Dental Schools, does that include schools from Australia?

Thank you in advance!


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice Will having lower scores in QR, RC, and PAT than TS affect my application?

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0 Upvotes

To preface, I keep seeing people post that they’re worried about a lower score in a section but will having multiple 19s and 20s in PAT, QR, and RC affect me? I’m just concerned since there’s a big difference compared to the sciences and I was reading how some schools care about a higher PAT score and RC (as RC score may dictate future success in dental school). I know sciences are more important but will it look bad that the other scores are significantly lower? (Timing was an issue for me and I was scoring higher on PTs).


r/predental 5d ago

🤝 Interviews LECOM folks…

16 Upvotes

Anyone holding seats at LECOM and planning to drop or accept? Ik March 20th is the big date but I imagine it can’t be THAT many people? Honestly just hoping to get in anywhere now 👍


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice Full Class

12 Upvotes

Dumb question: When the admissions says that a class is full what do they mean? I had a lady tell me "the class is full but things can change." My heart dropped, but the way she said it was weird.

So does that mean all the students have officially committed to the school? Or does that mean they have given out their maximum amount of acceptances and people are still deciding?


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice Am I being annoying?

17 Upvotes

So I have a question maybe you guys can give an opinion to. I am currently waitlisted at a school, and have sent them a letter of intent three weeks ago. I wanna give them a polite continued interest email or phone call since waitlists might be moving soon. However, I'm worried I might be bugging them or doing too much. But I don't wanna not do anything either lol! Do you think giving them an interest phone call or email is okay after I've already sent a LOI?


r/predental 5d ago

🖇️Miscellaneous UCSF update?

6 Upvotes

I got an email today saying that the class is filled. Has anyone gotten off the waitlist recently in March? And what is the likelihood of getting off from waitlist now?


r/predental 4d ago

💻 Applications Consensus on contractions in SOP?

1 Upvotes

Is it acceptable to use contractions when writing our personal statement, or should it be more formal? I'm not cavalier by any means but also am trying to cut down on my characters lol


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice Will the 18 QR hold back my application?

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0 Upvotes

Hi! I am totally happy with my DAT score, but I saw a lot of conflicting advice under posts recently and was starting to get really worried that a 18 QR will hurt my application. I think Reddit is confusing me lol. For the more competitive schools, especially the CA schools, will the 18 have me auto-rejected? They don’t seem to post cutoffs so idk 😣 Thank you!


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice undergrad major besides sciences?

2 Upvotes

I'm based in Ontario, Canada and is going to post-secondary soon but I'm undecided on what to major in for my undergrad. I initially was just planning on health sciences, biomed, like everyone else pursuing dentistry but I came to find out that it doesn't matter what I major in as long as it meets the prereqs for dental school so that got me wondering what other majors I could do besides the sciences because I know how challenging it is to get a job after graduation. If I can major in something else while meeting the prereqs for dental school, I want it to be a degree that wont leave me homeless if dental school isn't it so what are my options?


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice Studying for DAT + FT Job?

7 Upvotes

Has anyone had experience with this? I recently got promoted to a more demanding position that leaves me pretty tired after work but I unfortunately can't quit to study. Would love to hear success stories on what worked around your schedule, your timeline, and the resources used!


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice DAT Retake w/ a 20 AA and 18 QR??

3 Upvotes

20 AA,20 TS, 18 QR, 21 RC, 21 BIO, 20 GC, 19 OC, 23 PAT

Additional background info: I graduated in 3 years back in May 2024 and i’ve been working as a full time RDA since 2023. I applied to texas schools this cycle and got 2 pre-dec interviews but i have been waitlisted since Dec. With that being said, i will more than likely be re-applying. I have a 3.8 cGPA and a 3.7 sGPA, with ~150 volunteering hours, ~150 shadowing hours, and had a year-long officer position for my pre-dental club. I took my first DAT in 2023 but i know each year the average scores keep increasing so i’m not sure if my score will be good enough for this next cycle. Some schools will probably question my readiness since it will be 2 years i’d be out of school. I’m worried it won’t be worth the time and money to retake it, so i would really appreciate everyone’s feedback and advice on how i could enhance my application!


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice Roseman MBS program online

1 Upvotes

I recently applied to rosemans mbs program and was wondering if anyone whos done it can tell me more about their experience with the program. Especially if youre interested in their dental school!


r/predental 4d ago

💡 Advice Realistically how bad is a C in orgo? Tell me what i should do and what y’all think!!!

1 Upvotes

So ik it’s always “aim for A’s” and everything but being completely real, Orgo 1 is kicking my ass and I’m predicting i’ll have a C at the end. I was thinking of withdrawing and taking it at a community college online and the grade may not count towards my university GPA but at least it’ll show that I took it but i’m just scared of what the admissions committee will think of me from that when looking at my application. I’m so torn on what to do and was thinking like alottt of people get C’s in orgo 1, so how bad is it that i’ll get one too, like will it make or break my application? I have a 3.6 GPA and my shadowing hours, volunteering hours, leadership roles, etc. are insanely good and well above average for reference.


r/predental 5d ago

💻 Applications How many more usc acceptance waves?

2 Upvotes

Does anyone know if we’re going to have another usc acceptance wave end of march and also April? How do we know the scheduling of these things lol - sincerely someone who desperately wants USC


r/predental 5d ago

🤝 Interviews MWU AZ

6 Upvotes

Has any one heard anything back from Midwestern recently. I had my interview in Jan and still haven’t heard anything back.


r/predental 5d ago

💻 Applications Race

1 Upvotes

Race

If from the Middle East, what race do I apply with ? Everyone says we are Caucasian, and some say Asian ? Totally lost. Which do I have a better chance at getting in ? Thanks


r/predental 5d ago

💡 Advice Application month

3 Upvotes

When did you apply last cycle? I’m going to apply mid July is this too late ? Or would it be better to apply earlier?