VIP Workshop: Maximize Your
Dental School Application
Adrien Lewis, Houston ’16
Chair, Council on Membership
Desseree Lysne, Midwestern-Arizona ’17
Chapter President
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Your application is the most important
component to getting an interview at the
dental school of your choice.
Goals:
• Get tips on how to develop and enhance your
dental school application.
• Learn how you can demonstrate to dental
schools that you are the well-rounded applicant
they need.
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How to prepare for the
application:
•
Keep a good record:
– Coursework & grades
– Shadowing/volunteer activities (date, location, what did you learn?)
– Work or job-related history
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Letters of recommendation
School’s committee packet
Take the DAT
Professional photo
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ADEA AADSAS & TMDSAS
applications
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ADEA AADSAS
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TMDSAS
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Before beginning the
application
• Register for a DENTPIN
• Obtain unofficial transcripts from college(s)
attended
• Keep an on-going list of extracurriculars
• Application fee
– TMDSAS - $140.00 flat fee
– AADSAS - $244 for 1st dental school + $90 for each
additional
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Filling out the application
•
Applicant Information
– Background
– Parent and family Information
– Disadvantaged status
•
Education Information
– All schools attended
•
Coursework
– Every course completed and grade entered by applicant
– GPA verified by ADEA AADSAS, may differ GPA calculated by your
university
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Extracurriculars Matter! - The
Professional Experiences Section
•
Included in the Professional Experiences Section:
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Awards/Honors/Scholarships
Volunteering/Community Service/Extracurricular
Research Experience
Work Experience
Dentistry/Shadowing Experience
Academic Enrichment Programs
This section is in lieu of physical resume
Select three of your best experiences for AADSAS
coversheet
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Personal Statement &
Letters of Evaluation
•
Personal Statement
– 4,500 characters
– Should not be specific to each dental school
– Cannot change once submitted
•
Letters of Evaluation
– 4 individual letters or 1 committee letter
– Electronic or paper request
– Check with dental schools for letter requirements
• Many require at least one letter from dental professional and a science
professor
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Sending your completed
application
•
•
Check for completeness
Review, review, review
– Many fields can not be changed after submitting application!
•
•
Release statement
Submit early!
– TMDSAS opens May 1
– AADSAS opens June 3
• Many schools operate on rolling admissions
•
Follow-up with schools
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How to stand out on your
application
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•
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Put down everything!
Unique activities
Leadership roles
Ongoing commitments to service
Hobbies
Be YOUnique!
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Take the extra step!
• Predental ASDA membership
• Undergraduate research
• Dental school predental simulation course
– Waxing
– Drill Prep
• Predental summer intern
• Masters program/Post-bacc
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Career Transitions Center
of Chicago
• Exclusive ASDA Member Benefit
• Services they provide:
– Resume Tip Sheet
– Resume Creation
– Resume & Personal Statement Review
• www.ctcchicago.org/PDP1.asp?MPid=29
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Thank you and good luck!
Adrien Lewis
Adrien.L.Lewis@uth.tmc.edu
Desseree Lysne
DLysne82@midwestern.edu
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