Hey Folks,

As crazy as it seems, the 2017 cycle is just around the corner, only a month away! SDN has
helped me tremendously, and I figured it would be a grave sin on my part to not return the favor.
So in the spirit of altruism that dentists should but may not have, I decided to make a concise
(lol sort of), clear guide to answer all of the common questions applicants may have. Anybody
who has helpful advice is certainly welcome to contribute.

Is there such a thing as a stupid question?

Absolutely​. Your situation is not "unique", as much as you'd like to think so. The search function
of SDN will do wonders for you, as most of the "unique" issues you face have faced countless
other applicants in cycles past. Learn from their mistakes. If you have the personality where
every life issue or decision is a crisis for which you need immediate personal attention, rethink
your career plans.

How do I decide which schools in include on my application?

This is a common dilemma that students face. The answer is personal and specific to each
applicant, but there are ways to ensure you're at least on the right track. First and foremost, ​you
need to be honest with yourself​. This works both ways. I've seen people with 3.8 GPAs ,26
AAs, and above average EC's who get nervous and apply to more than ten schools, which is the
definition of overkill and a fantastic way to waste money. At the same time, some people will
apply with sub 3.0 GPAs, 18 AAs, and expectto have interviews without making improvements
to their applications. If you feel like you don't have the ability to honestly and objectively assess
your candidacy for dental school, or think that you can but want to be as smart as possible in
your school decisions, take the following steps:

1. Look over ​@doc toothache​ 's guide, which is linked at the bottom of this post. It
has each school's average DAT and GPA. Keep in mind that averages mean that
there are students with stats higher and lower that get accepted every year. Just
because you have a 3.48 and their average is a 3.51 does not mean you are not a
qualified applicant at their school. While numbers aren't everything, this is a good
place to start. If you're worrying about specific quirks of schools, like "MWU-AZ
needs 500 volunteering hours" or "Tufts doesn't take CC credits", then the search
function and school specific threads are you friends.
2. In the very same guide, there is the extremely helpful section where it tells you the
% of applicants interviewed, and the % of interviewees that are accepted, both for
in state and out of state applicants (which doesn't quite matter as much as private
schools but you can still see it anyway). For each school, determine whether or
not you're in state or out of state. Then, take your residency's % of applicants
interviewed, and multiply it by the % of interviewees that get accepted. This is the
 best way to get a "chance" estimate at your school. ​THIS IS ALSO THE BEST
WAY TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS ARE "OOS FRIENDLY". DO NOT
CREATE A NEW THREAD TO ASK. THE GUIDE WILL TELL YOU
3. Shout out to ​@kimball​ for including a nice file about the percentage of applicants
get accepted to all dental schools in general based on their DAT score. It's
attached below.
4. This thread is the most comprehensive listing of schools that give IS tuition to OOS
students after the first year.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/schools-and-changing-residency-the-list.11
13135/​ Keep in mind it is less common for schools to do this than it is for them to
offer it, so check out the list and definitely keep it in mind when applying.
5. Search SDN threads to find applicants who are similar to you and how they fared,
especially school specific discussions from past cycles
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/school-specific-discussions.713/
6. Consider cost. Each school's website will have their cost listed. Google is your
friend
7. DO NOT​ start a chance me thread. Execute steps 1-6 and don't be lazy.

Other IMPORTANT factors include cost, curriculum, quality, location, prestige, atmosphere, etc
etc. Cost, location, and curriculum are quantitative factors for which google can do wonders in
the road to enlightenment. Quality, prestige, atmosphere and "chances of specializing"
anecdotes abound here on SDN. Use the search function, and don't post a new thread asking
what has been asked every cycle for the past ten years.

How many schools should I include on my application?

Again, there is no one correct answer, but your financial situation and quality of your candidacy
should be considered. For instance, rock-star applicants need not apply to more than 5-6
schools. These 5-6 schools will include "safety" schools, and schools where the applicant could
really see themselves attending. Most applicants (those who have not saved thousands of lives,
won a Nobel Prize, gotten above a 27 AA, or were Olympic athletes) should apply to anywhere
from 6-10 schools. Include at least two "less competitive" private schools to guard against bad
luck and poor interviewing skills. Include other schools that you would actually be happy to
attend. Applicants who are a bit weaker should apply to about 10-15 schools, and carefully select
the schools at which they have the best chance of acceptance based on the ​@doc toothache
guide. If you are not competitive at 15 schools, you are not competitive at 20, 25, etc. You are
spending money past the point of diminishing returns. Anyone who applies to 20 schools is
throwing their money away; plain and simple.

I did not follow the advice that I gave here. I applied to 13 schools and regret doing so. 6-8 would
have been fine had I been honest with myself and more judicious in my selection.

How much is it going this whole thing going to cost?

A lot​. The Fee Assistance Program from AADSAS has pretty strict requirements, and chances
are you aren't as poor as you think you are and won't get it. I've known one person who has
gotten it, and they said it covered the costs to apply to four schools, and that they had to foot the
bill for additional schools. Their words, not mine, but they are trustworthy and I would take them
at their word but don't want to make any promises that I'm remembering this correctly, but I'm
almost sure I am.

EDIT: Thanks ​@MolarBear11​ for the info that the FAP guidelines are 300% of the poverty level. I
stand corrected. Apply people!

DAT- $400
AADSAS Fee- $245
Each additional dental school- $93.

So, assuming $500 for DAT prep materials and applying to ten schools, you are looking at
$1,982. Each school generally charges secondary fees from $50-$100 (with some exceptions on
either end of the price range), so that's roughly another $750, putting you at $2,732.

Please, for the love of God crash with a friend if you can for interviews, and do AirBnB if you
can't. I didn't learn of AirBnB until I was almost done with my cycle. Instead of paying $80-$100
or more for a hotel room in cities, stay AirBnB for about half that. If possible, and if you're
comfortable with it, room with another SDNer to split a room. It saves costs, gives you a friend,
and is just a great option. Also, I drove to all of my interviews, so I can't really be of any help in
terms of flights and trains, but do your best to find the cheapest tickets, but not at the expense of
having to risk not arriving on time, or missing your flight on the way out. Interviews generally last
until at least 2pm and you need to plan your exit from the city accordingly.

Hypothetically, let's say you get 5 interviews applying to ten schools. If you fly to two of them at
$250 round trip, drive to the rest at $80 in gas round trip, that's an additional $740 in travel costs.
If you're smart and do AirBnB for $50 a night at 4 schools, and stay with a friend at one, that's
$940.

So, not including food during travel, the "average" person applying to ten schools and
interviewing at five will spend $3,672 on the application process. So you either need to start
saving well before you apply, or be born rich. A little bit of both is the best combination. My
parents paid for the DAT and my suit, and I was left to cover the rest. I managed to do it a lot
cheaper than the average applicant due to a fuel efficient car and staying with friends 3/8
interviews, but splurged on $700 on multiple DAT prep materials and I still spent around $2,500.
You need to prepare for this if money will be an issue, and apply to as few schools as is safe for
your application strength in order to save money.
Side note: I would shy away from taking a DAT course. You should be able to study using DAT
Bootcamp and the prescribed materials on your own. It is cheaper and better. I know many of
you have already taken the DAT but for those who haven't; heed these words!

When should I apply?

As early as possible, with no exceptions. The only questionable scenario that seems to pop up
on SDN from time to time is the whole, "what if I don't have my DAT yet?" thing. This is how to
address that situation. Apply without your DAT scores. Transcript and LOR verification, and
AADSAS GPA calculations take 2-3 weeks, as does the official copy of your DAT scores to come
in. There is a reason that the "first batch" is mailed almost a month before the application cycle
starts (each subsequent batch is mailed out a week after the preceding batch, but batches don't
mean jack **** and if you get your application in before August you're fine). The process takes
time. So if you're going to be taking your DAT in June or July, submit your application without the
DAT scores. Schools will generally acknowledge the receipt of your application, and not consider
your candidacy until the scores come in. So while you're waiting for the DAT scores, the rest of
the process is set in motion and by the time your DAT scores come in, your entire application is
complete. If you wait until the DAT scores come in before applying, you are shooting yourself in
the foot.

@fogorvostan​ brought up a good point in that you should definitely try to get an official copy of
your transcript ahead of time to check it for mistakes. Not only will this help catch errors, you
need at least an unofficial copy of your transcript in front of you to enter your grades correctly on
AADSAS, so might as well kill two birds with one stone and get the official in the first place.
Unforeseen errors, now matter how small or if they're on the part of your undergrad and not you,
can delay your application. The only part of the application process which you should be anal
retentive and paranoid about it making sure these little details are right, rather than parts of the
process you can't control.

Thank you ​@SableFire​ for mentioning that some schools will accept faxes of the unofficial copy
of your DAT scores if the situation above is applicable to your scenario. This can save you some
valuable time in the application process if that particular school accepts the unofficial copy.

What will be on my application?

Obviously LORs, personal statement, grades, DAT scores etc. If you would like to start
organizing you EC's into the format in which you'll have to enter it on AADSAS, take a look at
what will be on there.

● Academic Enrichment Programs

● Awards/Honors/Scholarships
● Shadowing
 ● Extra Curricular/Volunteer/Community Service
● Research Experience
● Work Experience

Everything will have to be classified as one of these activities. There are limits (for instance, you
can only include like ten or so volunteering activities). Each section has an opportunity for you to
describe your shadowing, research, work, or volunteer experience, and I believe the limit on
space is 120 characters (which is shorter than you think). If you can organize all of your EC's into
this format and have the descriptions meet the space limits, you can copy and paste the day that
AADSAS 2017 opens up and it will make your life much easier.

The manual dexterity prompt is open ended and has more space, the same for if you have to
explain and academic issues/run ins with the law.

When should I hear from schools regarding interviews?

The schools specific discussion threads will tell you everything you need to know. The dates of
notification in previous cycles are generally pretty close to the dates of notification for the current
cycle give or take a few days.

How should I dress for my interview?

Thank you ​@fogorvostan​ for bringing this one up. I can't really speak for girls but again, like most
other things, there are plenty of threads at your fingertips with the search function. I saw a wide
range of stuff girls were wearing at interviews, and I can give the advice of a horribly uninformed
and not stylish male contemporary, I just don't know it it's worth following.

You don't need a Hillary Clinton suit. Wear a skirt that is well below mid thigh, and those
stocking/legging things that people wear so that they don't have bare legs. You can wear
conservative heels if you are comfortable walking around in them on the tours, and if you can't
handle them flats seemed pretty acceptable. Basically be a more modest version of Rachel Zane
from Suits. She is a goddess, but I digress.

For guys, dark or light gray, navy (wear brown shoes if you pick navy!), or black (as long as it's
not shiny, and thin pinstripes are a good idea to make it not too formal) suits. You don't need a
$500 suit; we will need them later. Adcoms don't expect it to be hand made and tailored. You just
need to follow obvious rules, like matching (saw kids with blue suits and black shoes, and make
sure your shoes and belt match), you need long socks of appropriate color (saw a kid in a black
suit with ankle socks), you need a normal tie without novelty patterns, and your suit needs to at
least fit close to properly and not be wrinkled. Don't wear any overwhelming colors. Make sure
your tie is tied properly. Don't be that kid who wears a bow tie, unless you're interviewing at a
school in the South where it isn't as noticeable. Pretty much any suit that doesn't draw attention
to you is perfectly acceptable. It's not too difficult to find stuff at Men's Wearhouse for around
$200 that will be perfectly acceptable.

How do interviews work?

Invitation, turn around time, and scheduling varies widely from school to school. School specific
discussion threads will, again, be crucial to answering your questions. Generally, schools will
give you a few weeks to a month's notice to pick from a selection of dates where they're offering
you a spot to interview. You're almost always notified via email, and school can have you email
or call during to schedule your spot. Try to get Monday or Friday interviews if you can; you'll miss
fewer classes/days of work when traveling.

Interview formats vary from school to school, but almost all include a presentation, tour, lunch,
chance to speak with students, and the actual interview portion. The interview portion can be
one-on-one with faculty, you talking to multiple faculty at once, you talking to a student and
faculty, multiple chances to speak with different faculty members, or MMI (more on that later).
Typically, interviews are very low stress, conversational, and relatively informal. It's a chance for
the admissions committee to get to know who you are, talk about your accomplishments and/or
red flags, and determine whether or not they want to spend the next four years spending time
around you. Don't be afraid to stray from talk about your grades and EC's; that's what you should
be doing. You should be engaging in small talk, discussing hobbies, sports, and family, and
being a well-rounded person who isn't a robot born to study. Interviews definitely favor the
extroverts, so introverts should at least be polite and as outgoing and friendly as their personality
allows.

When you get the chance to talk to current students, take it and run with it. They are almost
always very honest, friendly, helpful, and willing to answer all of your questions. They provide
invaluable insight into the atmosphere of the school and what your life for the next four years will
entail if you choose that school. As ​@fogorvostan​ mentioned, treat your student interviewers with
respect. Just because they're closet to being your "peer" than the Dean, it doesn't mean you can
say whatever you want around them. Just use common sense, and don't do anything that would
reflect poorly. The students' thoughts on the school during your interview day will be a major
factor in your decision to choose from multiple acceptances of similar cost if you're lucky enough
to have them.

Do not ask people "what are they going to ask at my interview?" It makes you sound desperate
and insecure. You're going to be asked why you decided to become a dentist and why you
applied to a particular school at just about every interview, so think out a well-formulated
response to those questions that you'll have at the tip of your tongue when you need it. Also,
know your application, in terms of why you are passionate about your ECs and what you did.
Other than this, interviews require no preparation and you don't want to regurgitate stale,
rehearsed responses. Adcoms want to see you relaxed and able to discuss anything; they rarely
want to grill you. If they bring up a blemish on your application, be honest and for the love of God
be accountable and take responsibility for your own actions. Nobody will think you are a mature
young adult if you blame your C in Orgo II on your professor.

Also, you need to prepare specific questions about the school. You can do this before you go to
your interview, but you will probably be able to formulate a few good questions just by paying
attention during the school's presentation. You can ask for clarification on some of the
information they gave you, which shows that you're seriously interested in the school and
interested in the information they're providing. It may be a good idea to come in with one or two
questions already prepared, as some interview schedules will have some students speaking with
faculty before the info presentation, but there's no need to have a bunch prepared; interviews
generally aren't long enough to get to all of them and are easily susceptible to small talk tangents
that last twenty minutes.

Most importantly, be yourself. I know it sounds cliche, but it's the best advice. There is absolutely
no reason to be stressed out. Excited nerves are one thing, but these will be the strongest at
your first interview and wane for subsequent ones. You should be really excited and enjoying
yourself; if you view interviews with flat out fear or dread, you aren't in the right mindset.

As promised, a little thing on MMI. I had 2/8 interviews be MMI and they both generally followed
the following format: You get a certain amount of time to read a prompt. It can be an ethical
situation, a question about your application, or issues in dentistry. After you read it, you discuss
the prompt with a faculty member or student. Time runs out, and you go on to the next prompt
and faculty member. Anyone with any sort of common sense and the ability to communicate with
other humans need not fear the MMI; it is not nearly bad as some of the stories I've heard about
them. They are no more or less "stressful" or "difficult" than any other interviews.

Any words of wisdom?

I'm a hypocrite for suggesting this, but don't check your email, AADSAS Portal, and SDN
constantly throughout the day. Check it in the morning when you wake up, at noon, and before
you go to bed. Anything else is overkill and will stress you out. Just because other people on
SDN are receiving interviews at a certain school doesn't mean that all the interview slots have
been handed out. This especially holds true prior to November. Chill out, the world isn't ending.
Be patient. ​@fogorvostan​ gives good advice in that one rejection, or even silence from a school,
should be taken with a grain of salt. You have to understand this process is many months long
and while at the end of the day I believe the process truly gets applicants into the schools they
deserve, there are some individual circumstances where it doesn't seem to have a rhyme or
reason.

Other applicants are not your enemies or the competition; they are friends you haven't met yet.
You'll find that the other interviewees are people with whom you have a ton of common, and
people that you will definitely be able to make small talk with around the table before the
presentations start. If you know of someone on SDN going to an interview the same day as you
are, PM them and meet up! Or better yet, share a room to save money! People are generally way
too uptight about the whole process. Traveling to different cities and meeting other like-minded
people in a world where not a lot of people are nerds like us and aspire to be dentists is a really
exciting time in your life! I've met quite a few SDNers in real life, and remain friends with a good
number of them! It's always an asset to have friends at different places across the country, for
couch surfing, interview season, and being able to return the favor when they need to stay in
your neck of the woods. Also, the more acquaintances and friends you have in the field of
dentistry, the more perspectives you'll get. It's cool to know what goes on in other dental schools
and other parts of the country.

Dental school admissions is ​not ​a zero sum game. Treat your fellow interviewees like friends,
because there's a good chance they could easily become one. Adcoms aren't out to get you. You
don't have to fight the person next to your for a seat. Be yourself, be polite, be respectful, be
friendly, and be articulate, and you won't run into any problems.

I remember all of my interviews like they were yesterday. The application cycle was a really fun
and eye opening experience in my life, and it's easy to let it pass by without appreciating it for
what it really is. You'll never forget that feeling you get in your stomach when you receive your
first interview invite in your inbox, when you shake the faculty members hand, when you walk out
knowing you aced it, when you get to meet someone on SDN in real life, when you exchange
numbers with someone at the end of the day, and on the morning of December 1st when your life
changes forever. If you're not enjoying yourself, then you need to take a moment to realize just
how far you've come and how far you need to go, and enjoy the moment for what it is!

If there are any other topics you feel I didn't cover, and aren't adequately explained in the ​@doc
toothache​ guide linked below, just let me know and I'll be happy to help. Also, other people who
are incoming or current dental schools are generally very helpful and knowledgeable so I
welcome all of them to contribute!