College Freshman
College Freshman
Protect your GPA and explore.
Academic focus
- Crush General Chemistry I and Biology I.
- Don't overload — 14–15 credits is plenty first semester.
- Meet your pre-health advisor in the first month.
Dental exposure
- Begin shadowing a general dentist (5–10 hours this year).
- Sit in on a pre-dental society meeting.
Service & volunteering
- Start one small recurring volunteering role.
- Look for clinical exposure: hospital volunteer, hospice, free clinic.
Leadership & projects
- Join 1–2 clubs (pre-dental society + a service org).
- Just be a member this year — leadership comes later.
Common mistakes
- Don't take Gen Chem + Bio + Calc + heavy load all at once.
- Don't skip office hours — relationships start now.
College Sophomore
College Sophomore
Deepen experiences and stack pre-reqs.
Academic focus
- Take Organic Chemistry I with full focus.
- Plan Physics and Biochem for junior year.
- Keep science GPA above 3.7.
Dental exposure
- Reach 25+ shadowing hours across 2 specialties.
- Try a dental assistant job or pre-clinical lab.
Service & volunteering
- Start a long-term clinical volunteering role.
- Stay in your service commitment from freshman year.
Leadership & projects
- Take a leadership role in pre-dental society or a service org.
- Add a research position or lab assistantship.
Common mistakes
- Don't take Organic + Physics + heavy load in the same term.
- Don't chase 'cool' specialties before seeing general dentistry.
College Junior
College Junior
Prep DAT and prepare to apply.
Academic focus
- Finish remaining pre-reqs (Physics, Biochem).
- Maintain GPA while studying for the DAT.
- Draft a balanced school list (reach / target / safety).
Dental exposure
- Hit 100+ shadowing hours with diverse specialties.
- Visit 4–6 dental schools (virtual or in-person).
Service & volunteering
- Continue your long-term service commitment — don't drop it pre-app.
- Add one signature service story you can write about.
Leadership & projects
- Hold a real leadership title with measurable impact.
- Request letters of recommendation early (science prof + dentist).
Common mistakes
- Don't take the DAT without a diagnostic + study plan.
- Don't submit a rushed, weak application just to hit early June — aim for June through late July with a strong application; August can still work if it's solid.
College Senior
College Senior
Apply, interview, and finish strong.
Academic focus
- Maintain GPA — schools see senior grades.
- Don't drop a hard science just because you applied.
Dental exposure
- Keep shadowing through interview season.
- Be ready to talk about specific cases you observed.
Service & volunteering
- Stay in your service roles — don't ghost after applying.
- Add senior-year reflection to your AADSAS update letters.
Leadership & projects
- Mentor an underclassman pre-dental student.
- Practice MMI and traditional interview formats weekly.
Common mistakes
- Don't ghost activities after applying.
- Don't compare timelines — cycles vary by 6+ months.