Dental application timeline (junior year to acceptance)

Good morning! My breakfast today is a yogurt pancake with a side of oranges and chocolate. Let’s get started with the dental school application timeline.

Although my undergraduate institution only had a few pre-dental students, we had Dr. McD, the most amazing advisor to walk the humble roads of this planet. I adapted my timeline from the Predental Timeline at American Student Dental Association and our pre-health advising guide. This timeline is for those applying the summer between junior and senior year.  If you are taking a gap year like I did, add a year.

Junior year is really the toughest. If everything goes as planned, you will be done with most of the application process by the start of senior year.

Junior Year Fall
-Inform Letter of Reference writers about intent
-Find a dentist to shadow and establish a weekly schedule (Aim for 20+ hours)
-Study for and take the DAT during winter break (This gives you time to take it again if needed)
-Think about where to apply
-Write your personal statement

Junior Year Spring
-Submit necessary information to the health advising office
-Drop off a personal files folder to your Letter of Reference writers
-Continue shadowing your dentist
-Finalize your dental school list
-Make final polishes on your personal statement

The Summer
-Apply through AADSAS (ASAP when it opens early June)
-Study for the DAT and take again if needed (you can apply through AADSAS without a DAT score)
-Send in supplemental applications
-Check pre-requisites to take senior year as needed

Senior Year
-Check application status
-Wow them at interviews
-Hear back from schools on December 1st
-Graduate!

Whew! Then hopefully you can look forward to starting dental school in the fall. Until then, you have the entire summer to celebrate and relax.