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VIP Workshop: Maximize Your Dental School ApplicationAdrien Lewis, Houston ’16Chair, Council on Membership

Desseree Lysne, Midwestern-Arizona ’17Chapter President

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Your application is the most important component to getting an interview at the dental school of your choice.Goals:•Get tips on how to develop and enhance your dental school application.•Learn how you can demonstrate to dental schools that you are the well-rounded applicant they need.

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How to prepare for the application:• Keep a good record:

– Coursework & grades– Shadowing/volunteer activities (date, location, what did you learn?)– Work or job-related history

• Letters of recommendation• School’s committee packet• Take the DAT• Professional photo

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ADEA AADSAS & TMDSAS applications

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ADEA AADSAS

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TMDSAS

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Before beginning the application• Register for a DENTPIN• Obtain unofficial transcripts from

college(s) attended• Keep an on-going list of

extracurriculars • Application fee

– TMDSAS - $140.00 flat fee– AADSAS - $244 for 1st dental school + $90 for each additional

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Filling out the application• Applicant Information

– Background– Parent and family Information– Disadvantaged status

• Education Information– All schools attended

• Coursework – Every course completed and grade entered by applicant – GPA verified by ADEA AADSAS, may differ GPA calculated by your

university

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Extracurriculars Matter! - The Professional Experiences Section• Included in the Professional Experiences

Section:– Awards/Honors/Scholarships– Volunteering/Community Service/Extracurricular– Research Experience – Work Experience – Dentistry/Shadowing Experience – Academic Enrichment Programs

• This section is in lieu of physical resume• Select three of your best experiences for

AADSAS coversheet

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Personal Statement & Letters of Evaluation• Personal Statement

– 4,500 characters– Should not be specific to each dental school– Cannot change once submitted

• Letters of Evaluation– 4 individual letters or 1 committee letter – Electronic or paper request – Check with dental schools for letter requirements

• Many require at least one letter from dental professional and a science professor

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Sending your completed application• Check for completeness• Review, review, review

– Many fields can not be changed after submitting application!

• Release statement • Submit early!

– TMDSAS opens May 1– AADSAS opens June 3

• Many schools operate on rolling admissions

• Follow-up with schools

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How to stand out on your application• Put down everything!• Unique activities• Leadership roles• Ongoing commitments to service• Hobbies

Be YOUnique!

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Take the extra step!

• Predental ASDA membership• Undergraduate research• Dental school predental simulation

course– Waxing– Drill Prep

• Predental summer intern• Masters program/Post-bacc

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Career Transitions Center of Chicago• Exclusive ASDA Member Benefit• Services they provide:– Resume Tip Sheet– Resume Creation– Resume & Personal Statement Review

• www.ctcchicago.org/PDP1.asp?MPid=29

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Thank you and good luck!Adrien LewisAdrien.L.Lewis@uth.tmc.edu

Desseree LysneDLysne82@midwestern.edu