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Timeline for Prospective Dental Students

By: PDS Executive Board

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Reminders

  • Dues
    • Venmo: @Roxana----
    • Due Today: Oct 13th
  • Don’t forget about the required 4 meetings to be an active member

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Choosing a Major

What major do I have to have to be a pre-dental student?

  • ANY MAJOR!
  • Common science majors: Biology, MCB, and PNB
    • Others have done: History, English, Psychology, Finance, etc..
  • If you are not a science major, make sure you meet with your pre-dental advisor at least once a semester to stay on track!
    • Helpful to lay out the classes you are required to take over your 8 semesters here

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Important classes

***Check specific school websites for prerequisite requirements.

***Acceptance of AP credits are school dependent

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Freshman Year

Classes

  • General Biology - Bio 1107/ Bio 1108
  • General Chemistry - Chem 1127 / Chem 1128 (or three credit sequence)
  • English - English 1010/1011 (will need another semester)
  • Calculus 1/2 - 1131Q/1132Q or STAT 1100 (helpful for DATs)
  • 1 Credit First Year Experience Course

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Other

  • Meet with pre-dental advisor (Dr. Abbott)
  • Join Clubs
  • Start Volunteering / Shadow
  • Meet with Professors (potential future letters of recommendation)

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Post-Freshman Year Summer

  • Shadow
  • Work
  • Volunteer
  • Prepare for Sophomore year classes
  • Have fun!

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How to start shadowing?

  • Start with general dentists, find one in your area
  • Call the office and express your interest to shadow, leave name and contact information
    • Might be difficult because of COVID-19, dental schools understand
  • When scheduling initially pick one or two days
  • Dress nice! When you schedule it ask if they want scrubs or professional attire
  • Thank dentist and express further interest to shadow

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Sophomore Year

Classes

  • Organic Chemistry 2443/2444
  • Organic Chemistry Lab - 2445 (optional here)
  • Other Science- MCB 2210 (Cell Bio)/ MCB 2400 or 2410 (Genetics)
  • Calculus 1/2 - 1131Q/1132Q or Stats 1100/1000 (helpful for DAT)

Other

  • Look into undergraduate research
    • Not required
  • Regular volunteering
  • Consider possible leadership positions in clubs

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Post Sophomore Year Summer

  • Schedule and Take the DAT (if completed all classes needed)
    • DAT Bootcamp (a 10 week program) in order to prepare
    • You do NOT need to take your DATs your sophomore summer
      • Reasons
        • Not fully prepared
        • Switched majors
        • Didn’t decide on dentistry until later in your collegiate career
  • Start asking for letters of recommendations
    • It’s never too early to ask
    • Lots of the prof’s have a lot on their plates

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Junior Year

Organic Chemistry Lab- 2445 (optional here)

Biochemistry - MCB 2000 / 3010

Physics - 1201/1202 or 1401/1402

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Register on the Pre-Health Portal (for committee letter): https://forms.prod.uconn.edu/feb/login/org/index.html

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Post Junior Year Summer

Schedule and Take the DAT

-Most students use DAT Bootcamp (a 10 week program) in order to prepare

Application opens in early June (soft open) and can start submitting July (hard open)

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Senior Year

Continue Service/Leadership Positions

Helpful Courses for Dental School

  • Microbio 2610
  • Anatomy 2264/2265 or 2274/2275
  • Immunology MCB

INTERVIEWS IN FALL

ACCEPT IN WINTER/SPRING ---> Cry tears of joy

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Questions???