Wow! I can not believe it has already been a year! It was such a thrill receiving messages all-day from friends and readers about the good news. If you are still waiting to hear back from your dream school, don’t worry! Many schools take a few days to send out acceptances and interviews often run through March.
Those that have been offered an acceptance have 30 days to reply to the school and place a deposit to reserve their spot. A December deposits is usually $1,000 dollars and non-refundable. Deposits can be paid to multiple schools to hold multiple offers which allows a student plenty of time to figure out the best school for them, both financially and educationally. On April 1st, those holding multiple positions will begin to be contacted to make a final decision. You can read more about the process on this ADEA document from 2011. Please note that you will lose any deposit in the programs you decide to withdraw from.
Some schools have a second deposit that often coincide with the April “Applicants Holding Positions at Multiple Institutions” process. These deposits may cost up to $2,000 dollar, but money from the primary and secondary deposits are counted towards your first year of dental school. Some schools do have refundable secondary deposits in the case you switch programs, so be sure to ask about their policy if you are withdrawing from a school!
If you have received an acceptance from a dental school that you no longer intend to attend, it is important to let the school know ASAP. They have hundreds of other applicants who would love to have your spot. Feel free to call or email the admissions office to let them know you kindly withdraw your application and thank them for considering you as a student at their school. This is VERY IMPORTANT. You DO NOT want to burn any bridges with any dental schools! You never know what can happen!
Here are a few reminders now that you are in:
- For those still in school!
- Maintain your grades! Don’t let senioritis kick in (fully)! Yes, you don’t have to get “A’s” anymore, but aim high for graduation. Your college GPA may still come in handy on your resume. Some dental schools will accept C’s while others may reevaluate your acceptance if you receive a B- or lower. Spare yourself the heartache and continue to succeed as you have managed to do for the past 4+ years.
- Complete any classes listed on your AADSAS application. Your acceptance can be revoked if you do not complete those classes since schools may have factored them in your acceptance. Some schools are not concerned with your future coursework (other than prerequisites), but try not to change your schedule too dramatically. You can always contact the school and see if they would allow you to change your future coursework.
- For all!
- Apply for student housing or look for private housing early to save money!
- Learn about your financial situation in dental school and tips on how to save money
- Apply to scholarships NOW! All of the best scholarships are due in December-March.
- Meet your class mates! Visit The Student Doctor Network School Specific threads to chat with other students who have been accepted and join the Facebook page for your class (ie. class of 2019). Many of the Facebook pages have students or admissions personnel from the school that can help you with any specific questions such as housing tips. Many schools have events for admitted student prior to the first day of school.
- Self-study anatomy or take a community college course! A basic foundation helps a lot!
- Find time to relax and enjoy life! Once you start dental school, you won’t have much free time.
- Start working on a professional resume/CV and your LinkedIn profile.
Kick back, relax, and enjoy your next 6+ months off! You earned it! I would love to hear your story if you haven’t shared it already! Congratulations! YOU ARE GONNA BE A DENTIST!
If you are still waiting to hear back, most schools have only filled half of their class by December 1st so don’t worry! Be sure to send an academic update through AADSAS if you have completed any recent courses. Make sure you let remaining dental schools know you are still interested in their programs and that you are looking forward to an update on your status. If you are still waiting on your dream school post-interview, call the school and ask if they accept a letter of intent.
If you are preparing to reapply for the upcoming cycle, take a look at each component of your application and figure out how you can improve it. If you would like me to take a look at your application and help you figure out what areas need attention, feel free to submit your information on the Ask Elias page!
The cost of education required to become a dentist is astronomical. In fact, it is the most expensive education for any career path! A lot of students tell me they don’t realize how much dental school really costs until it is far too late to back out. This is why it is absolutely essential, in this day and age, to make sure dentistry is the right career path for you. The unfortunate truth is our generation is not expected to be able to finance a home or a private practice until at least a decade into our careers. So what changed? Why is dental school so expensive? I won’t get into any of the grey area reasons related to the cost of education but a big key factor is the cost of dental equipment and workable space. Unlike medical, law, and pharmacy school, dentistry requires an obscene amount of expensive equipment, instruments, and consumable materials. Many dental schools are switching from a purchasable dental kit costing approximately $15K per student per year to a rentable dental kit for approximately $5K. This allows many expensive schools to reduce the overall student fees. Dental students also require more space with D1 and D2 students needing a simulation chair with a mannequin as in the picture to the right, while D3 and D4 students require a clinical chair (pictured below) in order to provide care to the community and complete requirements to graduate. As a result, dental schools often have a smaller class size than medical schools.
In addition to the sticker price you will be paying, expect to pay a hefty sum (upwards of double of the loan amount) during the repayment process. The interest rates given to students are currently hovering around 8% which is well over double the current mortgage loan rates, YIKES! For this reason it is very important to minimize your loans anyway possible. If you find it hard to reduce your reliance on loans be sure to understand the logistics so that you can recover from such a long term investment. Many dental schools push this topic under the rug or attempt to build confidence in students who would be taking out these loans by citing university wide loan default rates. There are a few shining examples such as UCLA School of Dentistry who really push to educate their students in borrowing money and motivate them to to reduce their loan reliance.
