Getting into dental school takes a lot of hard work, time and dedication. If you want to become a dentist, you should start planning for dental school as an undergraduate student. The more time you have, the better you can prepare for the application process.
Subjects to Study as an Undergraduate
The classes that you take as an undergraduate can help you earn a high score on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and let schools know you have the right knowledge to start your training. Some of the subjects you should study include:
- Biology
- Cell biology
- General chemistry
- Genetics
- Organic chemistry
- Calculus
Take these classes seriously, and learn as much as possible. You need to keep your grades up while taking these challenges classes. Some schools will only admit students with GPAs of 3.5 or above.
Get a Good Score on the DAT
Enrolling in a test prep program may help you get an excellent score on the DAT. Competitive schools may not even consider your application unless you get a 20 or above on the DAT.
A test prep course will introduce you to the exam, tell you what types of questions to expect and teach you how to answer questions that students often miss.
Write an Awesome Application and Resume
Each school that you apply to has a slightly different way of measuring students and deciding whether they can successfully complete its dental program. More often than not, though, you will need to provide a resume and a personal letter that says why you want to attend the school.
If the personal letter comes with a prompt, try to take a unique, but honest, approach to the assignment. Students with excellent writing skills often stand out during this part of the application process. Even if your GPA or DAT scores are lower than you want, a terrific essay could earn you a spot in a dental program.
If you’re not a good writer, visit your school’s writing lab to get help from someone who has experience writing applications, resumes and statements.
Make a Calendar of the Application Timeline
Dedicate a calendar to your dental school applications. Mark each school’s application deadline so a careless mistake won’t keep you out of school. You should also mark application deadlines for financial aid.
Submitting applications, application payments and financial aid forms can get complicated. Keep everything in order so you can do your best without running out of time.
Not everyone has the work ethic that it takes to succeed in dental school. Start learning important skills as soon as possible so you will have a head start on the program.
