General Advice
There are numerous tips available for getting into and through dental school, which can be found for free online and through networking.
The information below provides my advice on some of the key subjects that contribute to getting accepted into dental school. If you are interested in customized advice for your situation, please email: zack.bracket@gmail.com
Is Dentistry Right For You?
It can be a difficult task to find out "what do you want to be when you grow up?" If you want to be a dentist, you MUST know why you feel that way. At every dental school interview, you will be asked, "Why do you want to be a dentist?" They're asking you this because becoming and then working as a dentist is not an easy task.
First, decide if you want to be a general dentist. There are many opportunities in the dental field beyond general dentistry, including teaching, research, public health, and specialties. But dental school primarily trains you to become a general dentist. If you won't be happy working as a general dentist, you're taking a significant risk that you may go through 4 difficult, expensive years of dental school to possibly not be accepted into your dream career.
Shadowing and/or assisting is very different from actually working as a dentist. There's no great way to experience being a dentist until you do it, but the more exposure you get to the dental field, the more you will learn if it is correct career for you. The reason dental schools consider shadowing hours isn't so you have a "check box" that you've completed your time, but rather because they hope you have enough experience to understand what you're getting yourself into. Getting into dental school is more challenging than completing it (although it's not a walk in the park). Before viewing the application process as a game where you win by getting accepted, first, do everything in your power to ensure that dentistry is the correct field for you.
What Do I Need to Do to Become a Dentist?
Once you've decided that dentistry is right for you, you need to follow a general path to become a dentist. The first step is to go to college.
Once you get into a college, you have to take the courses required for the dental program that you plan on applying to. Your major isn't crucial as long as you perform well in the required courses and the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). There was a cello major in my dental class! If you major in the sciences, then you're going to have an easier time taking the required courses and learn more material that is going to be relevant to your career. Your grade point average (GPA) is critical, which is one reason I recommend excelling at a standard school rather than having a mediocre performance at an elite school. If you have a bad semester or a poor start to college, it can be salvaged by showing improvement and achieving a good DAT score. I had a poor start to college. There are numerous websites available that list the average accepted DAT score and GPA at various dental programs. Once you have completed the required courses, obtained a college degree, and taken the DAT, it's time to start working on the application process.
What Dental Schools Should I Apply to?
When deciding which dental schools to apply to, I recommend determining your long-term career goals. You can get into any field of dentistry from any accredited dental school, but different schools make the path to specific careers easier. All schools will teach you how to become a general dentist, but each school has its unique approach. Some schools offer more exposure to research, public health, various specialties, molar endodontics, partial bone extractions, pediatrics, etc. First, decide what you’re looking for in a school, and then we can determine which schools may best fit your goals. Once you've chosen the schools you're interested in applying to, it's time to start on the application.
How Do I Apply?
Most dental schools participate in the American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), which can be found at the following link: https://aadsas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
I believe that the generalized application process has its pros and cons. It makes it easier for you to apply to more schools, but everyone’s application has the same format, so the only ways you stand out are your numbers (GPA and DAT score) and your words (the application and interview).
I'm here to offer my personalized advice on the best path for you to secure an interview and then excel in it.
If you're interested, please send an email to zack.bracket@gmail.com to discuss how I can assist you.