Interview: Asking Questions

The interview is a very important step in the application process. Just think of it this way. If you are invited to an interview this means that you are good enough for their school, or at least on paper you are. The admissions committee wants to see if you are all that you say you are on paper. More than likely you wrote a good personal statement, presented yourself well through out the application, and not to mention your statistics were where they needed to be. However, the question remains; Can you present yourself well in person?

I have already written a few posts that may help you succeed at your interview. These include "Potential Interview Questions for Dental School", and "Dental School Interview: Dressing for the Occasion".

Another important aspect of the interview is asking questions. The admissions committee wants to see that you are genuinely interested in being admitted into the right dental school for you. They want to see that you have researched the school and have taken the time to figure out what is important for you to know about their school. With this said, it take time and effort to ask good solid questions. Trust me, you don't want to be the person caught with their pants around their ankle when the interviewer says "Why don't you go read our website and find out about our school?" or "Why don't you read the handout we just went over?". Now that could be embarrassing.

I created a summary outline of things to think about when asking questions.

• Avoid asking questions that can be found on the schools website. This means that you are going to need to go onto the schools website and read as much as you can before the interview. Find out about the schools curriculum, the mission statement, and whatever else you can find. 

• Don't ask questions that have been answered in the presentation. I suggest making a list of questions before the interview. These questions can include anything that is not located on the website. If you talked with a current student you can create questions based on your conversation. Have this list handy for the presentation and cross out any question that is answered. At this point you can create follow up questions to ask the presenter, the tour guide, or your interviewer. This will help you stay awake during the presentations and show that you are attentive to what is being said. 

• Ask questions that help you to know if the school is right for you! This is going to take even more effort on your part because you need to know what you want out of a dental school. You may want to know what types of aides that they provide for students in order to help them excel . 

Asking the right questions can be difficult. You do not want to ask questions just to ask questions. However, when you do ask questions you want it to be well thought out. Questions that require the person on the other end (interviewer or presenter) to repeatedly say that they don't understand what you are trying to ask them, is not a good way of leaving a good impression on them. 

Below I have come up with a list of possible questions that you may want to ask during your interview. For some schools these questions may be totally appropriate while other schools may provide the information on their website or during the presentation. 

1. What types of thing does the school do in order to keep students involved in community service?
2. When does clinical experience begin? How soon is patient contact?
3. What types of clinical experience will I have as a first year dental student?
4. When do students generally take boards? 
5. Is there time set aside for students to study for the boards?
6. How do students get patients for clinic? 
7. Does the school schedule patients for you or are the students responsible for finding and scheduling their own patients?
8. One of the goals of Specific Dental School is to attract qualified professors. What does the school do to get the professors they do and how will they continue to draw such professors to the schools?
9. As a professor/faculty member what aspects of this school made you want to teach/work here? If there is something you would change about the school what would it be?

There are a lot more questions that you can ask. These are examples, and by no means are they perfect examples, but they are here to try and get you to think outside the box. Feel free to comment and add any questions that you have come up with.

*I will be adding more as time permits!

Potential Interview Questions for Dental School

Whether you have one interview or seven interviews it is important to be prepared for each one. Each school has slightly different interviewing styles and favors certain types of questions, whether that be ethical, critical thinking, or "get to know you" questions. While preparing for your interviews take the time to go to the schools website and read the information given about the school. You do not want to be "caught with your pants down" when you ask a question to one of the faculty and they say "why don't you go read our website?". In the same instance one of your interviewers may ask a question that is easily answerable if you do a little research about the school. If for nothing else, being prepared will put your mind at ease and make the interview that much less stressful!

There are a few things that you need to be able to do well at the interview in order to be successful. Some of these include, but are not limited to:

• Present yourself with professional appearance
• Be courteous/professional 
• Be on time
• Use please and thank you
• Use correct title (Mr., Mrs., Ms, Dr. etc...) 
• Avoid yawning/sleeping during presentations
• Avoid removing yourself from a presentation (unless medical emergency). Time is generally given for bathroom breaks or go before you get there!
• Do not interrupt others while they are speaking  
• The list goes on...
• Ask genuine questions ("Interview: Asking Questions")
•  Don't ask questions that have been answered in the presentations
• Create a list of questions before the interview and check them off as the presentations are given. 
• Avoid asking questions that can be found on the schools website
• Ask questions that help you to know if the school is right for you!
• Be prepared to answer questions
• Be aware of time when answering questions
• Give a 2-4 minute answer on detailed questions such as tell me about yourself or why this school? The interviewer will prompt you if they want more than what you have given them.
• 1 word or 1 sentence answer usually we be inadequate to answer questions effectively
• You do not have to answer immediately!
• Don't rush into answering a question immediately. 
• If you are not prepared for the question use a small amount of time to think and formulate a response (5-30 seconds should be plenty). 
• Practice answering questions
• Create a list of common questions and formulate answers to these questions (list is presented below)
• Be sure to practice answering the questions out loud! Find a spouse, sibling, friend, pet or mirror to practice answering the questions to. This will help you to answer the questions smoothly and with confidence
• There maybe some questions that you want to have "canned" or in other words memorized. However, practice answering these questions in a way that it does not appear to be a memorized answer. The interviewer wants to know that you are human!

If you can do the four things listed above you WILL have a successful interview! In order to further help you to prepare I have come up with a list of common interview questions. These questions should help get you started but I would also recommend trying to find questions that are asked at the specific school you will be interviewing at. 

Potential Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why should we choose you? What do you bring to the incoming class?
3. Why School that you are interviewing at ? 
4. What are your strengths/weaknesses?
5. Why are you interested in dentistry? Why are you a good fit for dentistry?
6. Are you a people person? How do I know?
7. Why did you choose to get a _Biology___ degree?
8. Tell me about your academic background and explain the gaps in your education. (Do not voluntarily talk about negative academic history during interview, only if they bring it up.)
9. How do you handle constructive criticism?
10. Talk about your shadowing/dental experiences.
11. Can you explain the leadership positions you listed?
12. What will you be doing in 5 or 10 years? Where do yo see yourself in 10 years?
13. What will you do if you do not get in this year?
14. Where does ____ fall in your dental decision (1st, 2nd, etc) and what do we need to do to entice you here over other schools?
15. Are you organized? How is your time management?
16. Why did you become interested in dentistry?
17. What makes you stand out from other candidates?
18. What do you see as some of the negative aspects of dentistry?
19. What can you tell us about the curriculum at this school?
20. What qualities make a good dentist?
21. Talk to us about __(manual dexterity activities listed on application)__.
22. How do you know you will succeed in dental school?
23. Would you consider yourself to be "good" with your hands?
24. Given that you have a wife and 2 kids do you think you can be successful in dental school?
25. What do you do in your spare time?
26. What activities do you do for fun?
27. Why did you change your career from ____ to dentistry?
28. If you are working in a group and some one is not doing their part, what do you do?
29. What did you not like about your shadowing experience?
30. Do you think that current technology is absolutely essential to practice effective dentistry?
31. What are some current issues that exist in dentistry today?
32. What is something you have done that shows you have compassion for others?
33. What are your study habits like? How do you study?
34. What is a cavity (or other things related to dentistry)?
35. What leadership positions have you held? What did you learn from that position?
36. If there is a weakness in your application what would you say it is?
37. What leadership qualities do you have? Please give an example.
38. What do you like best about dentistry?
39. Would you offer free dental work to someone who couldn't pay for it? 
40. What sets you apart from other dental school applicants?
41. How many other schools have you interviewed at and which one have you liked most?
42. How many schools did you apply to? Follow up: Why did you decide to apply to so many schools?
43. Why did you decide to apply so late in the cycle? (I was asked this question in one of my interviews. I applied early June but did not complete my DAT until August 28, thus making my application complete sometime early September. Let them know that I wanted to do well on the DAT the first time around so I took the time that I thought I would need)
44. Please explain any poor grades that you received. (Don't offer to talk about them unless they ask you.)
45. We see that you took a ceramics class. Tell us about it. 
46. What types of books do you enjoy reading? 
47. What was the last book that you read?

*** Questions in blue were added as of July 29th ***

These are just a handful of potential interview questions that I came across while preparing for my interviews. I will continue to add to the list as time permits. With that said, if you have additional questions that you came across on the Internet or in your interviews feel free to post them in the comments section and I will add them to the list!

By sharing additional questions everyone can be that much more prepared. Also, if you are struggling to come up with an answer feel free to voice the concern. It is not a great idea, nor ethical,  to copy someone else's answer but I will be able to give some ideas in order get you rolling!

Dental School Interview: Dressing for the Occasion

The interview is a very important part of making it into dental school. Depending on one's statistics, application essays, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and number of dental schools that they applied to will determine the number of interviews that they receive.

Once you have obtained an interview it is very important to make the best of it. Perhaps, the simplest part of all is coming to the interview prepared to make a good first impression. The schools know that once you are in dental school you will come "casually" dressed sometimes scraggly hair, wrinkly clothes, and all the other things that come along with staying up late and waking up early. However, admissions wants to know that you put forth an effort to look your best for the occasion and that you actually care about getting into dental school. Remember, if you are not prepared someone else will be.

1. Haircut
For some this is a no brainer but for others (first hand experience on my interview outings) they simply forget that their hair affects the way they look. I know I am not speaking to any of the ladies out there, so for you men, if you wear your hair longer be sure to at least get a trim and make it look good. The bedhead look just does not cut it at important interviews.

These would be two examples of acceptable hair styles. Of course, you are not limited to these two hair styles but I think you get the point, clean, nicely styled haircuts.

Hairstyles that resemble this in any way shape or form would be considered unacceptable for an interview!

2. Clothing

Being dressed properly is another big part of looking good. I am not here to advocate the $1,000 suits or $500 dresses. Many of you may already have suits/dresses that are interview appropriate. If not, don't worry about buying the most expensive or nicest suit you can find . In fact, look for a cheep suit/dress that fits your budget but still looks nice (Easily find a suit around $100 or less, I know I did). Remember, they are not judging you on how much your clothing cost but they do want to see that you are put together and look professional.

What do men generally wear to the interview?
The large majority of men are wearing suits to their interviews. It seems like occasionally you will see someone with a nice pair of slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie but if you want to look like you are at the top of your game then wear a suit. It doesn't really matter what color the suit is (within reasonable limits of course). If you want to make it easy on yourself find a dark navy blue, or black suite. Other colors such as different shades of brown, blue, charcoal, and greens are also acceptable.

The following suits would be perfectly acceptable for an interview

In my humble opinion suits that were popular back in the 70s are probably not all that acceptable at an interview. If you want to try it because that is who you are then I guess that is up to you. I would also avoid other flashy suits as shown in the following pictures.

Also note that just because you have a $200 pair of jeans, it does not mean they are interview appropriate. Everything has its place but I would stick with a suit, dress shirt, and a tie. 

What do the women generally wear to an interview?

This is a little bit more of a complex question, at least for me. However, the majority of the ladies at my interviews were wearing either a dress, skirt and blouse, or dress suit. It seems like there is an unlimited number of acceptable combinations for women and that is probably why they take so long to choose an outfit.   I am no expert on women's clothing, however, I would recommend something that is conservative in colors and modest in cut. Also, remember that many of the schools give tours so you will want to wear shoes that are comfortable enough to walk/stand in for at least an hour. 

These are only a few examples. I know that you ladies are more than capable of finding appropriate attire for your interviews. If I say much more than I already have concerning womens clothing, I am afraid I will be speaking beyond my limits. 

NOTE: Mainly for all of you men out there. Remember to iron your clothing, polish your shoes, and brush your hair for your interviews. As competitive as dental school is becoming you cannot afford to not get accepted because you did not put the effort in to look good. Just because you have a DAT of 22 and a 3.8 GPA, does not guarantee you a spot. The interview can make or break your application. Your first impression could be the deal breaker. Good luck!

What you should read the summer before dental school!

Now that is a vacation!

"What should I read the summer before dental school?" I am not sure why I get asked this question all of the time but it is probably because pre-dental students hear how much work dental school is and they want to get the "edge" on the class.

What should a pre-dental student read before dental school? I would read any and all instructions sent to you by the dental school you were accepted by, especially information sent to you by the financial aid office. I would also read the contract for your new house, or apartment.

I would NOT read anything pertaining to your upcoming classes! First off, each teacher is very diverse in the way that they teach and test. It is difficult to study for a subject without any kind of direction. Secondly, the amount of material covered in a few weeks will be more than you will want to cover during your summer break (Check my post out about material on a single test and see for yourself ). The class will be caught up with you in no time. The only difference is that you are now going over a fourth of the material, for your first test, for a second time and they are going over it for the first time with memories of the best summer vacation ever!

Does this mean you shouldn't do anything. No, like I said make sure you have all your paperwork turned in, immunizations done, housing set up and anything else you need to do before you get too busy. I would also recommend getting yourself organized. Figure out your schedule and contact an upper classman or two that can give you some advice (someone at the school should be able to hook you up if your class does not have a Facebook group). Maybe he/she will even give you some notes on a thumb drive that you can download and get organized. I wouldn't spend a lot of time on this but maybe just a few hours.

Spend as much time as you can golfing, water skiing, wake boarding, relaxing, and having fun as possible. There is going to be time for some fun in dental school but not quite to the extent of a summer vacation.

Cliffs AP Biology: The Rave

If you have done any kind of research about what to use for the biology section of the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) then you probably have come across several sources saying to use CliffsAP Biology book. What is the rave all about?

First off, CliffsAP Biology book was not written for the DAT but for high school students taking the Advanced Placement (AP) Biology test for college credit. This means that it is broken down so simply that even a high school student can understand it!

Why use CliffsAP Biology for studying for the DAT? Easy, the book is broken down in to 13 subsections which coincidentally mirror the outline of the DAT. It teaches nearly all the material needed for the DAT in less than 254 pages (including practice problems). This may sound like quite a few pages but when you consider the 6 pages of multiple choice questions and essays between each chapter, it is not much at all.

CliffsAP Biology is by no means a fancy book but it does include some helpful pictures and some easy to memorize charts.

Take a look here at the ADA outline for biology:

Click image to enlarge

The outline of CliffsAP Biology:

You can get a feel for what is covered and what is not covered. One thing that I would have to advise against is strictly using CliffsAP Biology. You might ask, why? The real reason is that Cliffs does not cover EVERYTHING. If yo notice it lacks in some of the physiology areas and possibly a few smaller areas. My recommendation would be to take the ADA Outline and go through Cliffs filling it out. When you finish filling out the ADA Outline, look at what sections are lacking and then go to another resource (Campbell's, Kaplan, Internet, etc...) and fill in the missing pieces. I would do this for you but lack the time! However, if anyone has done this and would like to forward it I would be glad to post it for everyones benefit. 

Remember, Cliffs is short, in outline form, and costs less than $10. Hope this gives you a little better feel for what CliffsAP Biology is all about.  

New! DentalDat Forum

I know most of  us use Studentdoctor.net but I went ahead and built a forum for this site. The forum is not meant to replace the plethora of posts on SDN but is meant to be a place where you can ask me and other visitors questions without getting too many sarcastic or extreme answers. I know for some of you this is important because if you have anything less than a 20, they will rip you to shreds ;)...

You can post pretty much anything dental related in the forum since there are a handful of subtopics to choose from. If you want to request that I read over your personal statement, look over your DAT study plan, or get advice on other aspects of the application go ahead and post it on the forum and I will respond in a timely manner.

If there is anything else you would like to see added to the blog simply leave a comment and I will see what I can do.

Enjoy

DentalDat
http://dentaldat.blogspot.com/p/dentaldat-forum_17.html

Electronic Flashcards for Upcoming Exam (7);Cardiovascular and GI Systems

These are flashcards for my upcoming exam. They cover the GI system and the Cardiovascular system. By no means are they perfect (wasn't planning on posting them) but this is what I do for studying. I actually imported them from www.flashcardexchange.com (lifetime fee of $20) into Quizlet in order to embed them on the blog. Flashcard exchange has a really good Cardfile study system that I like to use. If you get the card correct it moves to the next stack (choose how many you want but I usually do 4 stacks). If you miss the card it goes all the way back to the first stack. The goal is to get all the cards to the last stack before you take the exam.
NOTE: Any Pictures that were on flashcardexchange is are posted (ex: the electrocardiogram). I was lazy and did not upload them since they did not directly copy to Quizlet. However, the text is still there in order to explain the concept.

**Content on the cards is not to be used for diagnosing or treating medical concerns. They are for the sole purpose of passing this semesters Exam #7.**

Choose a Study ModeScatterLearnFlashcards

Study these flash cards

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Study these flash cards | Study histology flash cards

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Study these flash cards | Study physiology flash cards

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Study these flash cards | Study anatomy flash cards

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Study these flash cards | Study diseases flash cards

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Study these flash cards

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Study these flash cards | Study physiology flash cards

A Busy Week At Dental School!

You may have seen a typical dental school schedule or been given a summary of what a week of dental school is like but now you get to see how much material is tested over during an exam. This coming week I have 2 major tests. Some of my classmates have 3 because of an additional caries risk test (mine is the next tuesday). Nonetheless it is a busy and stressful week for the entire class. About 2-3 weeks ago we had a test that involved over 20 power points with a grand total of 1,200+ slides. I did not count the slides for this exam but it is a lot (don't forget all the reading)

 

Exam 3 (Single Tooth Indirect)

Monday, May 16th

Book Readings

Dental Luting Cements

O'Brien: 134-149
Sturdevant: 224-228

Soldering
O'Brien: 253-256

Gold Onlay
Sturdevant:872-76; 885-890

Casting Failures
O'Brien: 250

Resin Inlay Restorations
Sturdevant:228-31; 614-21

Gold Foil
Sturdevant: 919-926

Porcelain Laminate Veneers
Sturdevant: 648-50; 658-662

Manual Readings

Soldering a contact point: 383-384

Gold Onlay: 349-355
Resin Inlay Restorations: 341-343
Gold Foil: 402-413
Porcelain Laminate Veneers: 401

Lectures

Solder

Gold Onlay
Resin Inlay Restoration (2 parts)
Gold Foil
Porcelain Laminate Veneers

Online Lectures

Dental Luting Cements

Casting Failures

The following is for the Triweekly which includes all classes except for our lab class.

Exam 7

Friday, May 20th

SABS -- CV

I. Cardiovascualr Conditions of Concern to the Dental Professional Part I/II-Schaaf

II. Electrocardio - Gould

III. Myocardial Tissue - Gould

IV. Vascular Physiology Part I/II - Miller

V. Diseases of the Myocardium, Pericardium, and Aorta - Schaaf

SABS -- GI

I.Embryology Intro-Babler

II. Embryology Foregut-Babler

III. Embryology Midgut - Babler

IV. Embryology Hindgut - Babler

V. Anatomy-Babler

VI. Histology-Babler

VII. Physiology-Herring

VIII. GI Pharmacology (monday?)

OFB II

I. Intro to Radiology - Van Dis

II. Technology Based Caries Detection Methods - Ando

III. Caries Classification - zandona

 

A total of 18 power points for this test. If you add the two tests together there is a total of 25 power points being tested over this week. That is a lot of material! I am sure I will survive but there are going to be a lot of late nights starting... now.

 

 

The schedule posted is courtesy of http://dentaldaddiary.blogspot.com/2011/05/to-do-next-week-ah.html?showComment=1305347658343#c1249768504554941082 

Best Ways To Take Notes In Dental School

A lot of students struggle when it comes to figuring out a way to take notes in class. I am no exception to the norm. Everyone has different a little different "style" when it comes to taking notes and studying. Most of us want to know, what works best? I am going to rank the top ways to take notes in class! Don't like the rankings? Tell us about it in the comments section!

1. Microsoft One Note

The is the clear winner in my book! If you have not played around with Microsoft One Note then you need to do so now. One Note allows you to "print" the Power Points to folders which can be organized by course, classes, and sections. After the Power Points are "printed" to the folder you can type notes or write notes (If you have a tablet) anywhere on the document. This program allows  you to view your documents with virtually NO load time and search key terms throughout your folders.

It may take slightly longer to get started because you have to have the Power Point loaded so you can "print" it to One Note but it makes studying a breeze. Forget something from last semesters class? Search the term or browse through your old lectures! No need to load 15 Power Points just to see if that is where the correct slide is located.

Now that I have used this for about a year (my first year in dental school) I have found some small disadvantages. I like to make outlines and copy/paste photos from the lectures into the outline. One note will allow you to do so, however, it seems easier to do so from Power Point since I can use the crop option which is not present in One Note. Instead the entire slide is pasted into Word and then the cropping is done from there. Not a big deal but just a small downside. Another down side is if the professor does not post the Power Point before lecture. This can be slightly annoying and happens only every once in a while.

2. Don't Take Notes at all!

This may sound crazy but not taking notes at all is one of the best way of taking notes! What did I just say? I am pretty sure that I just said not taking notes is one of the best ways of taking notes! Yep, that's what I said. How could this be? Easy, when I am franticly typing outlines, things the teacher is saying, or personal revelation about the lecture, I am missing the general picture of the lecture along with some key details for understanding the material.

Not taking notes on paper/computer does not mean that you are not doing anything. It means that your mind is actively engaged in the lecture (some times difficult with super boring professors). I dare you to try this! Put your laptops in your bag and paper and pen in the garbage and then just sit there. If there is a small list that seems important (example: Layers of the GI tract) then try to memorize them quickly. Inevitably the professor is going to talk about each point (layer). Do your best to remember some of the major details about each but keep your focus on the big picture by simply remembering the layers. By keeping engaged in the lecture studying/creating effective outlines will be much much much easier!

What about all the details that you miss out on? For many schools (if not all?) they do what are called verbatims and podcasts. Verbatims is where someone (usually hired by the class) writes word for word what the professor says for each slide. This allows the students to go back and read/listen to exactly what the professor said. This means you won't be missing out on anything!


I will continue to add to the list of BEST WAYS TO TAKE NOTES as time permits. Let me know what you think the ideas and feel free to share your secrets with the rest of us!

Videos: Anything Dental Related

I thought it would be fun to make a post with a whole bunch of dental related videos. The funnier the better! Use the comment box to suggest videos and I will post them here (assuming they are decently appropriate).

Kidstones




Kids and Candy



You would have to admit that if candy is involved then it is dental related!

Leathal Weapon 4 - Uncle Benny



Mr. Bean at the Dentist



David After the Dentist

Are You a Pre-Dental Student Seeking a Scholarship?




Picture Credit to Clemson University

 

If you are either a pre-dental student and you have been looking for a scholarship, then you know how hard it might be to find one. Perhaps, applying for a scholarship from the Navy, Army, or Airforce might be for you. These type of scholarships are a great way to reduce your debt while serving your country. Not interested in joining any of those services? Well, there are not too many more oportunities for scholarships aside from the academic scholarships that a small minority may be offered.

However, today you are in luck! Crack the DAT is offering a scholarship to pre-dental students seeking a career in dentistry. The first thing you might ask yourself is, what do I have to do to get this scholarship? The scholarship application is simple. You will need to write a 500-1000 word essay explaining why you think you deserve the Crack the DAT scholarship. This will probably take some creativity on your part because an answer like "because I want to be a dentist" is just not going to cut it. In addition, you will need to send in a resume/cv, a transcript, and a recent 2x2 photo of yourself. Remember the scholarship is based on scholar merit, service, and financial need.

Next, you might be wondering, how much is the scholarship? The grand prize scholarship is worth $1,000 while the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prize scholarships are $600, $300, and $100 respectively. So, is it worth the effort? Absolutely, it definetily worth the effort! When you are in dental school and loan money is running out this extra $1,000 will be of great help. I know this because I am nearing the end of the semester and could use the extra money for a pair of dental loupes or a handful of other things.

So what I am getting at is, if you are a pre-dental student then apply for this scholarship and any others you can get your hands on. Every little bit helps. More details for the Crack the DAT scholarship can be located at http://www.crackdat.com/scholarship/. The deadline is September 1, 2011.

Check out my article "Scholarship Opportunities for Dental Students". This article contains information and links to government sponsored scholarships. The best time to look into these programs are before you are accepted to dental school.

What should you be aiming for on your DAT?

The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is an important part of applying to dental school. It does not matter if you have a high GPA or a lot of volunteering experience, if your DAT scores are low you will have difficulty landing an interview and essentially getting into dental school.

According to the ADA statistics the average DAT score of a dental applicant is 17.59 for the academic average, 17.56 total science, and 18.17 perceptual ability. What does this mean to you? As of right now, it does not mean much. Lets first take a look at the average scores of matriculating dental students.

 The average academic score for someone who is accepted into dental school is about a 19. There are several schools with higher averages and some with lower averages. This means that if you want to have a good chance at being accepted into dental school, and you have an average or slightly below average GPA, you will need to score at least a 19 overall. Am I saying that if you score an 18 that you will not get accepted into dental school? No, there are is a great number of dental students who scored an 18 on their DAT and were accepted into school. However, if you only want to apply one cycle and have some choices, I would highly recommend aiming for a 20+ on your DAT.

So, why do I write this? My one purpose in writing this post is to help open the eyes of predental students who do not know what they should be aiming for on their DAT. Do not take the DAT lightly! If the average score is around 17.5, that means that there are many students scoring below this and they will eventually need to retake the DAT if they want to have a fighting chance at getting accepted into dental school. You do not want to put your self in this position! The ADA statistics also show that students who retake the DAT have nearly the same average as that of students taking the DAT for the first time. Does this mean give up if you have already taken it and scored low? Absolutely not because your score will reflect the effort that you put into studying. However, I would highly recommend studying for the DAT like you only have one chance at taking it. This is not a test that you want to prepare for more than one time.

For more statistics and information on the DAT visit the ADA at http://www.ada.org/3746.aspx.

The Hottest DAT Study Material 2011

I would like to present the top 10 most useful study materials for the DAT. The study material was chosen by your peers. Those who participated in choosing the top ten where students who previously studied for and took the DAT. Each of these students knows the time, money and effort that goes into being successful on the test. Like wise, they know which materials did and did not work for them and which ones best prepared them for the DAT. Without further adieu, I present to you the Hottest DAT Study Material for 2011!

**Click Here for 2012 Results**

 #1- DAT Achiever

This was a huge surprise in my book! I suspected that DAT Achiever might make the top 5 on the list but never would have guessed that it would come in at #1. After all, DAT Achiever is demeaning and demoralizing to students who take these tests for the first time, but I guess this is what makes it so great! It is called "Achiever" for a reason. If you look at breakdowns of students who used DAT Achiever and compare their scores to that of their actual DAT scores you will see that, on average, they score 2 to 4 points higher. The questions presented are challenging but not unrealistic. DAT Achiever is preparing students for the difficult questions because those are the questions that can make a difference between getting 18 or a 21 academic average. In order to make DAT Achiever an effective study tool it is essential that you know why each answer given is either correct or incorrect. Feel like you have organic chemistry down? What about general chemistry or perceptual ability? DAT Achiever will challenge you in any section, so if you are looking for an edge over the other dental students this is the program for you. DAT Achiever accelerates in several areas including usability, question clarity, consistent upgrades, and solid customer support. For all these reasons and more DAT Achiever is the #1 Hottest DAT Study Material for 2011!

#2 - Crack DAT PAT

You are going to hear enough about this program on all my other posts and tutorials. Whether you feel that you can succeed or do not have the perceptual ability skills to succeed Crack DAT PAT will help you to improve. There are 10 full length tests along with thousands of bonus practice problems. The problems are unbelievably close to the real DAT. In fact, when I was taking the DAT I felt as if I was just taking another Crack DAT PAT test. This program is more than enough to do well on the PAT and believe it deserves to
be in the #2 Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011.

#3 - DAT Destroyer

Overall, this is an excellent source for the sciences. The problems are difficult and as it states it will "Destroy" you your first time through. It is essential that you don't just memorize the answers but understand everything possible about each answer choice given. The problems are organized according to Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Quantitative Reasoning. However, the problems within each section are not organized by topic but randomized. Because of this and the difficulty of the problems it is important that you have a good base knowledge of the subject before you begin. If you do not have a base knowledge DAT Destroyer will only frustrate you and make studying difficult. Excellent resource if you are looking to score high on your DAT. It includes biology, organic chemistry, general chemistry, and math all of which are an excellent resource and highly recommended by the predental community. This is definitely a top 5 Hottest DAT Study Material in my book!

#4 - Chad's Videos (Organic and General Chemistry)

Were you ever frustrated because your chemistry professors did not seem to be able to make chemistry simple, interesting or easy to understand? I know I was but when I watched Chad's Videos I was amazed at how simple and clear chemistry was. Both the General and Organic Chemistry videos are a great resource especially if its been a few years since you have taken the course. The videos are invaluable and definitely worth the $50 he charges to gain access to the videos. I don't have much to say except, CHECK THEM OUT! You definitely will not be disappointed with your purchase. Chad just came out with the new HD Videos which is an upgrade from the original version that came out about 2 years ago. Ever since the videos came out they have been gaining popularity and I would suspect if I were to do the poll in another year or so that Chad's Videos would definitely be in the top 3 of the Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011.


#5 - Cliffnotes AP Biology

Not much to say here, except that the notes are clear, concise, and contains just about everything you need for the DAT in terms of biology. It does lack a little in the physiology portion and a few other small topics. However, for the $10 that you spend on Amazon for this book it is definitely worth the money. It is basically condensed notes ready for memorization. There is not a lot of fluff to sift through and is an easy read, unlike some of the other more boring materials such as Schaum's Outlines (still good, just not as good). Currently, ranked 5th for the Hottest DAT Study Material for 2011 based on value (content & price).

#6 - Math Destroyer

Just like the DAT Destroyer the Math Destroyer will also destroy you. This is an excellent resource for studying the math section. The problems are difficult and much like the real DAT. I was only able to go over the first few tests right before my DAT and I wish I was able to go over more! I saw problems on the DAT that were just like the MATH Destroyer. Need help with the quantitative reasoning section? Get the math destroyer! Not only are the problems good but the solutions are excellent. Like the DAT destroyer the only thing this lacks is structure to the problems (which is intentional). You may want to supplement this with the outline from the ADA, a good textbook, and the internet in order to have a clear understanding of all the material you need to know for the DAT. I am not surprised that Math Destroyer is #6 on the Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011.

#7 - Top Score Pro

If you are looking for the most accurate representation of how you are going to score on the DAT then take the Top Score Pro tests. Throughout the predental community the consensus is that Top Score Pro will give you the most accurate judgment of how you will do on the DAT. However, remember that while some students, like myself, will have nearly identical scores others will have as much as +/- 4 points on the real DAT. Most commonly scores are with in +/- 2 points. With that said Top Score Pro does lack in a few areas. The biggest area is the biology section. Don't get me wrong, the questions in the biology section are great but they add a lot of taxonomy questions (5-7 per test) to the test which causes students to score lower on their practice test. The actual DAT may only have 2-3 taxonomy questions. Also, if you are scoring 17-18 on the quantitative reasoning section you may want to do some extra practice (perhaps with Math Destroyer) because often times students quantitative reasoning scores decrease from what they were getting on Top Score Pro. All in all, this program is well worth the money and I am surprised that it is not in the top 5 Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011!

#8 - Kaplan Blue Book

Kaplan Blue Book has all the subjects with easy to read outlines. Need instructions for the perceptual ability section? They've got it! Need an outline of the quantitative reasoning section? They've got that too! If you are rusty on any subject Kaplan breaks each section down into the basics. It will help you gain a good basis in each of the sections. Want to get a 20+ on the DAT? Perhaps, this is where the Kaplan Book lacks. Although, it has everything some areas are just to simple and not enough detail. The general consensus is that it lacks the details you need to do well on the biology section. So, is this a good book to buy? Yes, but be sure to supplement it with some of the other materials that are up higher on the Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011.


#9 - Studentdoctor.net

If you need to ask questions or advice then Studentdoctor.Net (SDN) is the place to go. There are already thousands of posts answering just about any question a predental student could ask. If for some reason your situation or question is unique or you just want to post then those who join the SDN (free) can post and make comments. Invaluable source for any predental student. SDN is a definite top 10 on the Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011!

#10 - Chad's Practice Material (Quiz)

I never used these materials since they are new within the last year or so. They have made the top 10 on the Hottest DAT Study Materials for 2011, so, they must be good. Don't worry about purchasing these separate because they are included with Chad's Videos (#4) when you purchase them. Sounds like an a good supplement to some excellent videos!

If you have a differing opinion or want to add anything to the above statements feel free to do so by posting a comment in the comments section.

Crack DAT PAT Reviews and Tutorials

I completed the introductory tutorial. You can locate it on the top tool bar menu under Crack DAT PAT Tutorials. The tutorial runs you through the basics of Crack DAT PAT and will orient you to the software. A short demonstration of angle rankings is also included!

What We Wished We Had Known Before Dental School

Since I was accepted into dental school, I have had several predental students ask this very question. What do you wish you would have known before dental school? Getting accepted into dental school is huge and is a big life changer for most of us. There is a lot of excitement in the air leading up to the first semester of dental school, resulting in a small amount of uneasiness and anxiety. The unknown has always been a scary place to walk and all the information we can get will help the unknown become a little more known.


It goes without saying, that each of us have a different background and with that background comes different knowledge. However, my goal today is to present to you things that we, the dental students, wish we would have known before dental school. If you can take just one of the suggestions, and put it to good use, then my duty is done for the day.

The list will continue to grow as more suggestions come. If you are a dental student and have something you would like to add feel free to e-mail me at philippines03j@gmail.com. I cannot guarantee that everyone’s suggestion will make the blog but I will do my best to incorporate as many ideas as possible. With your e-mail, include a brief description, your name (I will give credit to you for suggested idea), and school.

What We Wished We Had Known Before Dental School

1. Dental School is Awesome!

As a predental student you have probably been told by an advisor, a friend, a dentist, or a dental student that “you are just going to need to get through the first two years” or “The first year is the worst, just get through it” and other such comments. My first year in dental school is almost complete and I still get those comments almost every week. Is it true that dental school is challenging? Of course it is challenging. Is it impossible? Absolutely not! Or there would be no dentists in the world today. With that said, your first year of dental school is something to look forward to. I wish I would have known beforehand that I was actually going to have time to make friends and spend time with family! Plenty of time will be spent doing school work but there is going to be time to make new friends, enjoy hobbies, and spend time with your family. Now that is awesome!

DentalDat, IUSD Class of 2014

2. That I would rarely open a textbook

This may not be the case for everyone or every dental school but it is true for me. After I gained acceptance and the start of the semester grew near, the school began sending important things such as book lists. I spent hours looking for the cheapest way to buy the books. The total for the first semester ended up being right around a thousand dollars. I decided that it was not in our budget at the moment and would by them as each class began. Boy was I grateful I did that. After about a month of school I realized that the professor’s power points were sufficient and if I had a question either the internet or my undergrad textbooks would do the trick. One of the only books that I actually felt like I needed to buy were the anatomy texts. Other than that I have not spent a dime on a textbook. With that said, I do believe that getting the right supplemental books can aid in the study process, as you will read in number three.
Before you go out and start purchasing books call/contact the upperclassman and get their advise on which classes you will need books for.

DentalDat, IUSD Class 2014

3. Spend your money on useful resources

This goes along with number two on the list. Just because you may not be spending hundreds of dollars on the recommended textbooks does not mean you can’t put that money to good use. There are plenty of good resources that can help make studying a little easier. Generally, these books have quick reference charts or condensed easy to understand text, similar to what you used for the Dental Admissions Test. A few suggestions include ADA/PDR Guide to Dental Therapeutics, The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy, Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple, and First Aid for NBDE Part1. Each of these books are reasonably priced and can be a tremendously useful source throughout the first and second year of dental school. Buying these beats buy a textbook any day of the month and makes for a easier and simple study session.

Idea submitted by:
Charli Steiner, IUSD Class of 2014
*All books mentioned are available at DentalDat Store

4. Taking notes

Having good notes and outlines is an important part of dental school but where do you start? Do you save all the PowerPoint's to your computer and open each one in order to hunt down the slide you are looking for? Do you spend precious loan money printing out every sing slide before class? There are a few answers to this and a thousand different suggestions.

I submit that the easiest most efficient way of organizing and taking notes is through Microsoft One Note. Haven't heard of it? Then you should check it out! You will have to open each PowerPoint and then print to One Note. Within One Note, you can organize them into semesters, courses, and modules. If you ever want to quickly check back to a previous lecture while studying just click on the appropriate tab. Don't know which PowerPoint the information is actually in? Do a general term search and One Note will locate all of the slides with that term in them.

I wish I would have known about Microsoft One Note a long time before dental school!

 












Idea submitted by:
Anonymous, Future Dental Student
*A future post will include a tutorial on utilizing the features of Microsoft One Note. Check back in the future weeks for this one...

5. Oh, The Money!

For the majority of dental students, dental school will be too much to handle on the check book. Most of us recognize that we will be taking out serious loans, some more than others. That is not what I am here to talk about. I am here to talk about the hidden fees of dental school.  I wish I would have known about all of these fees and extra expenses! No, it would not have effected my decision to come to dental school but it would have effected the way I handle my money before dental school. While in undergrad I pulled out all the government aid my family qualified for and saved as much money as possible but by the time we were settled here in Indianapolis we did not have any extra money. With a wife and 2 kids, the allotted amount is a little tight. I've made a list of some of the possible extra expenses to be aware of:

1. Moving Expenses: The U-haul alone can wipe out a good $800 + Gas. If you are going some distance, like my family did. Then you may need to spend a couple nights in a hotel which is another $100-200.

2. Housing Deposit: Some apartments may require a deposit along with the first rent.

3. First Grocery Bill: If you just moved some distance you can expect a large grocery bill the first time out. Fill those cupboards!

4. Decorating expenses: You just moved into a new apartment which means that you may need some extra lamps, new table, a study desk, a kitchen table, and possibly a washer and dryer. This all adds up!

5. School Fees: Yes, these are included and they take out the fees before they hand you the loan money. But what about class dues? Or books that you decided to purchase? Anyone want a computer? Need a new backpack or some scrubs? This too all adds up!

6. Loupes: If you are not required to buy them the first semester, you will be looking to get these sometime your first or second year. Loupes can run anywhere from $800-$1500+. Wait, don't you want a light with that? That is going to be another $300-$600 depending on the light.

By knowing these hidden or unknown expenses you are able to budget and prepare properly. I have a family of three and it is difficult to fit in some of costs. I am now saving up for a pair of loupes and will probably have to squeeze them into my second year budget. If I was aware of some of these things and made a budget accordingly, I could have already had them!

Feel free to add to the list of hidden expenses.

More to come!