Dental School Admissions Application
The remainder of this handbook will focus on the medical school
application process itself. At first glance, applying to medical
school will appear to be extremely complicated, but our aim in
working with you will be to help you organize yourself in such a way
that the process can be visualized step by step. We cannot emphasize
enough how important it will be for you to be organized as you go
through the application process. Later in this handbook we have
included a checklist that you might wish to use as a record-keeping
system.
Most medical schools have application deadlines in the fall.
However, if you wait until then to send your application, you will
have diminished your chances for acceptance. You should submit your
application as soon after July 1 as possible.
On a typical application you list extracurricular activities,
work experience, and the like and expand upon your background and
career goals in one or more essays. You cannot be too careful when
preparing your application. Because there is a large, highly
qualified applicant pool, presentation is important. If your typing
skills are not reliable, we recommend that you hire a professional
to prepare your application.
Usually the most difficult part of the application is the
narrative, and we advise students not to put off writing it. Think
of the narrative as an opportunity to personalize your application,
to distinguish it from the many other applications that the
committee will review. Explain the value and meaning of your
experience, emphasizing the positive, but dealing realistically with
the negative. Your essay should be neither a long apology nor an
unqualified boast. Be sure to organize your narrative logically,
omitting any extraneous material. It is best to write out your
statement on a separate piece of paper, perhaps several times,
before transcribing it to the application. Always remember the
audience, and your purpose in writing the statement. You are trying
to convince the admissions committee to accept you.
The pre-med adviser can give you constructive criticism of your
final draft. Be sure to avail yourself of this service, as well as
asking other people you respect for their insight on your statement.
The application process can be long and grueling, and at times
you may become discouraged, frustrated, and anxious. During this
time your peer group will be particularly important in offering
support and understanding. We pride ourselves in having a largely
supportive group of pre-medical students who work well together and
are sensitive to the pressures of this year-long process.
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