Pre-Dental Timeline

Get to know your Health Professions Advisor(s)
Go to science professors’ office hours (you will need at least 2 science professors to write your recommendations!)
Start taking basic science courses (BSC 114/115, BSC 116/117, CH 101, CH 102, etc.)
Think about possible majors
Begin getting involved in your interests (campus and community)
- https://ua.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations
Start shadowing to make sure dentistry is what you want to pursue
Join student organizations
- https://ua.campuslabs.com/engage/organizations
- Honors Societies, Ambassador Programs
Begin putting together a resume
Go to any “Pre-Dental Days” a school of interest may offer
- LSU, UAB dental school tour, Colorado, etc. and applies for each year you are in undergrad to learn about different schools and build a relationship

Get more involved in organizations/begin looking for potential leadership positions in these organizations
Find a dentist to shadow in the area
Start/continue building relationships with your professors
- Office hours, stay after class to ask questions, email chains
Schedule an advising appointment with a Pre-Health advisor to make sure you are on track
- You can go to the one you are assigned from your alphabet split or Ms. Lanna Johnson is our societal advisor so you can go see her as well!
Sign up for mock interviews when they are available in the spring
Plan when you want to take the DAT
- Many study plans and materials available to purchase (Kaplan, DAT Bootcamp, DAT Destroyer, etc.)
Apply for research opportunities if you’re interested!
- You can find research labs available on each subject’s home page (biology, chemistry, nutrition, chemical engineering, psychology, etc.)
- Not required for dental school applications but can’t hurt you if you are truly interested!

Continue to be involved
Apply for leadership positions, since at this point you have been involved and are an upperclassman
Shadow dentists (local/back home)
Meet with your advisor or Lanna Johnson
If you haven’t already, take the DAT or study/plan to take it
Reach out to professors and dentists for letters of recommendation
- 2 science and 1 dentist at least; due to advisors usually in March so ask early!
Look into dental schools
- Check out the Blue Book and Dental School Explorer here https://www.adea.org/officialguide/
Continue forming relationships with old and new professors
Pre-Application with Pre-Health advisors
- Be sure to attend the appointment in the Fall as this is required for a committee interview
Committee interviews in the Spring
Start your personal statement
Take AS 299 if you can, preferably in the Fall
- Taught by a pre-health advisor, 1 credit hour, pass/fail
Work on interview skills

Work on secondary applications and pay fees
Wait to be contacted for an interview from dental programs and start practicing with friends or make an appointment for a mock interview at the Career Center
- https://career.sa.ua.edu/resources/mock-interviews/
- https://career.sa.ua.edu/develop/interview-skills/
Update your application
- Supplement your application by filling in any gaps like shadowing, volunteering, extracurricular activities and then update your schools
Send in your grades/transcripts at the end of each semester
Finish degree requirements
Notified by schools starting in December
Talk with your pre-health advisor or Ms. Johnson about Plan B if necessary
Graduate!

NOT a year-long vacation
Explore options that will make your application more competitive
- Research what your desired dental school looks for in applicants and build up that area
Work in a dental office/lab
Pursue further education
- MBA, Ph.D., Specialized MS programs
Get involved in full-time research
Don’t be discouraged! Dental schools typically accept less than 5% of the total applicants for their program so many people will have to be re-applicants