1 Dental Application Workshop Entering Class 2012 WELCOME

1 Dental Application Workshop Entering Class 2012

WELCOME • Office of Health and Legal Professions • 204 Farrior Hall • M-F 8 -4: 30 • prehealth@advising. ufl. edu • Pre-health Professions Advisors/Staff ▫ ▫ Naz Erenguc Bobbi Knickerbocker Christine Richmond Becky Sandbach

Overview • • • About AADSAS Application Process Timeline The Application Monitoring your status Verification Process

Dental Application Service AADSAS Centralized Application Service • The Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS) lets you apply to multiple participating dental schools with one online application. • ADEA AADSAS simplifies the application process by providing one standardized form, relieving applicants of the need to complete multiple applications. • Dental schools benefit by receiving uniform information on all applicants. Currently 60 U. S. dental schools and one Canadian dental school participate in ADEA AADSAS. • ADEA AADSAS Fees: The processing fee for the 2012 ADEA AADSAS application is $235 for the first dental school plus $75 for each additional school. • ADEA AADSAS offers a fee assistance program for applicants who demonstrate extreme financial need.

Centralized Application Service • Centralized application serves as the primary application to the schools you select. ▫ Provides demographic, academic, activities and testing information ▫ Personal statement is required ▫ Letters of recommendation are submitted with the primary application. • Each school will then ask you to complete a secondary application to the school. ▫ Complete additional essays providing more personal information

Timeline • April/May ▫ ▫ ▫ Research schools Take the DAT test Order transcripts (After spring grades post) – one for you and one for AADSAS Ensure you have letters of reference or recommendation as required by each school Complete personal statement • Beginning June 1 (Earlier the better) Applicant submits to ADEA AADSAS Online Application, http: //portal. aadsasweb. org along with: (1) Application Fee Payment (2) All Official Transcripts (3) Letters of Evaluation (4) Application is considered complete and processing begins • Transcript Verification – 4 -6 weeks - Application distributed to designated dental schools in electronic format *Application processing time varies based on volume of applications being processed. **ADEA AADSAS does not delay the processing of your application if letters of evaluation have not been received. Letters of evaluation received after your application has been processed are forwarded to schools in the next mailing. *** ADEA AADSAS processes all applications received by a school’s deadline, but applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their application, official transcripts, and fee payment well in advance of application deadlines.

Timeline • July – August ▫ Complete secondary applications ▫ Request to have your letters transmitted (upon request) • ▫ ▫ Fall term Complete secondary applications & transmit letters Interviews beginning in September (UF starts in July) Offers of acceptance or notice of denials - December Retake standardized test if needed • ▫ ▫ ▫ Spring term Complete secondary applications & transmit letters (until Feb) Interviews end in April – depends on school Offers of acceptance or notice of denials • Summer term ▫ Offers of acceptance or notice of denials

Preparing for the ADEA AADSAS Application • Read the ADEA AADSAS Application Instructions ▫ You will need a DENTPIN -If you registered for the DAT you will have one. If not you will be prompted to register for one when you create your 2012 application. To register for one or if you forgot your DENTPIN go to: www. ada. org/goto/dentpin ▫ Learn about the Fee Assistance Program ▫ Are you re-applying? See Information for Re-applicants ▫ Review ADEA AADSAS Fees ▫ Find Contact info for: ADEA AADSAS Customer Service • • • Register and take the Dental Admission Test (DAT) Write your Personal Statement Develop a Resume of Activities and Accomplishments Request your transcripts (after spring grades post) Arrange Letters of Evaluation

9 Applicant Responsibilities • • Knowing the application process and admission pre-reqs Arrange for all official transcripts to be sent to ADEA AADSAS Transcript Processing Dept. by the school’s application deadline. Print Transcript Matching form for each institution attended Complete application accurately and in timely manner Respond to ALL notices, comments, instructions and questions received from ADEA AADSAS and each school to which you apply - CHECK your personal EMAIL and application accounts Print and retain your application Submit correct application fee. Use ADEA AADSAS payment form if you submit by check. Credit card payment preferred Make sure evaluator list is current and accurate at all times. • • • Update coursework and submit updated transcripts during the Academic Update period. Check Calendar of Events for dates Provide all information requested Respond promptly to either accept or decline interview invitations and offers of admission Monitor your application online Update ADEA AADSAS application of change in contact information by deadline date - notify schools directly after this date Log off ADEA AADSAS after each entry to protect unauthorized access to your application

Elements of the Application ▫ ▫ ▫ Personal Data - Separate Email address Secondary School DAT scores* Ethnicity Colleges Attended - all whether earned credits or not - degree or non-degree Parent Information Background Information* Disadvantaged Status Transcripts* Coursework* Resume Components - entered to application in separate categories Awards, Honors, Scholarships Dentistry Experience Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Service (8) Work Experience Research Experience Academic Enrichment ▫ Personal Statement* ▫ Letters of Reference *

DAT • Administered on computer. • Can take any time of the year, offered up to 5 times. ▫ Permitted to take a total of 3 times in a LIFETIME. • Recommend take exam in May/June. • Maximum score of 30. • Academic portion. ▫ Survey of Natural Sciences Biology General Chemistry Organic Chemistry ▫ Reading Comprehension ▫ Quantitative Reasoning • Perceptual Ability. • Competitive Score ~ 19 -22 (Academic Portion).

12 Background Information • Questions 1 -8 (600 character each question) ▫ Describe activities requiring manual dexterity ▫ Do you have any relatives who are dentists, are in dental school, or who have studied or are studying Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, Dental Laboratory Technology or related dental fields? ▫ Have you ever been disqualified, suspended, dismissed or otherwise subject to a disciplinary action at an college or university in connection with your academic performance? ▫ Have you ever been found to have violated a school rule, policy or procedure, or an honor code; or have yo otherwise been disqualified, put on probation, suspended, dismissed, expelled or otherwise been subject to disciplinary action at any college/university in connection with misconduct? ▫ Have you ever applied to dental school prior to the present application cycle? ▫ Have you previously or are you currently applying to a health professions school other than dental school? ▫ Has your education ever been interrupted or affected adversely for reasons other than deficiencies in conduct or academic performance? ▫ Indicate languages other than English you feel comfortable conversing with native speakers

Institutional actions/Felonies • Must be reported ▫ Institutional actions should be reported regardless if there is an existing record on file. • Opportunity to accept responsibility for mistakes and errors in judgment • Better they find out from students and not others

14 Transcripts • Read Instruction carefully for specified types of coursework - US, Study Abroad, Overseas US institution or International • Need sealed official transcript with a Transcript Matching Form to be sent directly to ADEA AADSAS from every US/Canadian institution attended - AADSAS will NOT accept student transcripts or transcripts sent by applicant • Transcript Matching Form - Print one form for each institution, take to Registrar’s offices and ask that the matching form accompany the transcript. The barcode on the form allows AADSAS to match your transcript to your application. • Transfer credits on a transcript are not accepted in lieu of an original transcript • Be sure all transcripts are received by ADEA AADSAS Transcript Processing Dept by the application deadline set by your designated dental schools. AADSAS will verify coursework even if received late however dental schools may choose NOT to consider your application if transcripts are late. • Obtain a personal copy of your official transcript for you to complete the Coursework section of your application • Verify that AADSAS has received all of your transcripts - log in to your application, select status and then transcripts

15 Coursework • Enter in chronological order exactly as listed on your official transcript • Course Subject - Use the AADSAS guidelines in the Instructions even if a non -science class might have strong science content (PSB) these will not be used to calculate your BCP • Review ‘Special Classification’ for courses - repeated, incomplete, honors, study abroad, etc • Coursework planned or in progress - list courses in progress or planned in future semesters - during Academic Update period (typically mid November - Feb 1) students will be granted access to enter grades, indicate course changes, etc. These will be sent to designated schools. You will need to print the Transcript Matching Form and arrange for a new transcript to be sent to AADSAS.

Grades • Grade point average ▫ AADSAS calculates and reports: BCP = Biology, Chemistry and Physics as identified by AADSAS Science GPA = BCP plus math and all other sciences Non-Science GPA = all undergraduate courses not used in calculating science GPA Undergraduate GPA = all courses taken for undergrad credits Graduate GPA = all courses for grad credits Overall GPA = all courses – both undergraduate and graduate College/University GPA = GPAs reported for each college/university attended • Grades (UF pre/post – summer 2009) • • Standardized by AADSAS to help dental schools evaluate applicants using uniform and consistent criteria, regardless of institutional policies. Done on 4. 0 scale using semester hours. Includes all initial and repeated coursework No grade forgiveness, all attempts are calculated into the GPA calculation All punitive I and N grades count as E (F) A+ 4. 33 A 4 A- 3. 667 ADEA AADSAS Grade Conversions AB B+ B B- 3. 5 3. 333 3 2. 667 C 2 1. 667 C- 1. 5 CD 1. 333 D+ 1 D 0. 667 D- 0. 5 DE 0. 333 BC C+ 2. 5 2. 333 F+ 0. 000 F

All grades are standardized to the AADSAS scale, regardless of the individual school system • • • A = 4. 0 A- = 3. 67 B+ = 3. 33 B = 3. 0 B- = 2. 67 C+ = 2. 33 • • • C = 2. 0 C- = 1. 67 D+ = 1. 33 D = 1. 0 D- = 0. 67 E/F = 0. 0

Extra Curricular Components Post-secondary experiences: ▫ Awards/honors/Scholarships (5): name, organization, dates ▫ Dentistry Experience (4): Supervisor, position title, position type, description, total hours, dates ▫ Extracurricular/Volunteer/Community Service (8): Organization, position title, description, total hours, avg. weekly hour, dates ▫ Work Experience (3): Employer, position title, city/state, description, total hours, dates ▫ Research Experience (3): Investigator, position title, city/state, description, total hours, dates ▫ Academic Enrichment (4) (SMDEP): Name of Program, dates, description, total hours

Personal Statement The ADEA AADSAS application requires a reflective essay on why you wish to pursue a dental • • education. 500 words or 4500 characters including spaces Prepare in Word and paste to Notepad. - Check formatting after pasting into application Admission committees are looking for individuals who are motivated, academically prepared, articulate, socially conscious, and knowledgeable about the profession. Include: ▫ ▫ The skills, attitudes, knowledge and strengths you feel you possess A description of where, when and how you developed these attributes Reflection on how your attributes are meaningful and related to the role of a dentist Provide examples of how you know you are making the right decision Reflection questions: What are your strongest skills? Major accomplishment? Greatest strengths and challenges? How do your skills and strengths relate to becoming a dentist? What three words best describe you? What sparked your interest in dentistry? Have you observed or worked in dental offices? Explain what you've done to demonstrate your interest in dentistry. Talk to practicing dentists to increase your understanding of general dental practices. Express your commitment to helping others and mention any efforts made that enforce that commitment. Did you have to work to pay for your education? How has that made you a stronger applicant? TIPS: Be honest about how you became interested in studying dentistry. If becoming a dentist wasn't a childhood dream, that's fine, but explain how you discovered dentistry as a career possibility and what you have done to research the career. Illustrate your motivation, commitment and passion for the profession. Opportunity to explain anomalies in academic record or personal challenges. Don’t make excuses! First personal item before an interview is granted NEW: Some CODs are asking students to submit PSs to www. turnitin. com. You will need to check by COD – NOT UF for 2012

Have someone review your personal statement. • Ask a close friend or family member • Career Resource Center ▫ Reitz Union • Broward Reading & Writing Center • Pre-health advisor ▫ One read ▫ Submit typed essay to OHLPA assistant along with Personal Statement Checklist found on website under ‘Forms/Handouts’ ▫ Students notified via e-mail once essay is read.

Letters of Evaluation Watch the Letter of Recommendation Workshop online at http: //www. advising. ufl. edu/prehealth/workshops. html • Number required varies school – max of four individual letters; • On application student will indicate individuals and email address, format (electronic/paper) and indicate NOT a committee letter • Electronic = Evaluator is sent email from ADEA AADSAS directing to Evaluators Portal and recommenders follow step-by step process • Paper = Print LOR matching form with bar code and evaluator send both form and letter to AADSAS at the address on the form • In Evaluators section students must agree to waive or not waive rights to access to letters • Evaluate applicant ▫ ▫ ▫ ▫ academic ability motivation for the profession maturity intellectual curiosity empathy service personal experience and knowledge of the profession UF Two science One from Dentist or other character letter

Dentistry Letters Covers most schools • Four total • Academic letters ▫ 2 science letters from faculty ▫ 1 non-science letter from faculty • Non-academic letters ▫ 1 healthcare related letter shadowing experience volunteer experience related employment

23 Dental School Designation • Choosing schools – see video at http: //www. advising. ufl. edu/prehealth/worksho ps. html • Designation not complete until fees are paid • Be aware of each school’s deadline • Apply early!!!!!!

Interviews • Applicants are given 5 - 15 days notice on average • Vary from 30 - 60 minutes in length • 2 -3 individual interview sessions ▫ UF-COD gives 1 group interview – ½ day lunch/tout/timelines/fin aid and 20 minutes with 2 -4 members of the committee – open file • Include tour and a meal ▫ Opportunity to speak to current students ▫ Orientation to student and financial resources • Not all dental schools require an interview • Watch How to Prepare for Interview at: http: //www. advising. ufl. edu/prehealth/workshops. html • Question for interview: Why a Dentist? • Be PREPARED to state why you are choosing that particular school • Be WELL-INFORMED about current issues, trends, controversies associated with the profession and have a meaningful discussion about those topics

Interview Tips • Watch the Interview workshop on the Pre-Health website • Schedule a mock interview • Dress professionally. ▫ Wear comfortable shoes • Behave professionally at all times. • Budget enough money to and from the interview. • Make preparation plans as early as possible. ▫ Know your travel schedule ▫ Know exactly how to get to the interview and back.

What are the Admissions Committee looking for? Source of motivation Examples of how you explored the profession (Extremely important!!) Actions speak much louder than words Sense of passion for the profession Evidence of maturity Compassion for others Dedication to service Value lifelong learning

Resources • American Dental Education Association Official Guide to Dental Schools • Pre-Health Professions Advising at Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising (OHLPA) – Farrior Hall • “Choosing Schools” and other workshops on the Pre-Health website http: //www. advising. ufl. edu/prehealth/workshops. html • ADEA AADSAS Customer Service Contact Info: ADEA AADSAS Customer Service Representatives are available: Monday through Friday, 9: 00 a. m. to 4: 30 p. m. Eastern Time, except federal holidays Email: aadsasinfo@aadsasweb. org Phone: 617 -612 -2045