SOS Presents:Dental SeminarBy: Becky Zendel and Alan Ko

Outline of SeminarDAT informationOntario School Requirements: UofT and WesternOut of Province SchoolsApplicationsSample Interview Questions

Dental Aptitude Test

http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/dental_profession/dat/

SECTIONS•Carving•Natural Sciences

–Chemistry–Biology

• See website for detailed information regarding each subject

•Perceptual Ability•Verbal Reasoning

DURATION• Carving Dexterity Test

– 30 minutes • Survey of Natural Sciences Test

– 60 minutes• Perceptual Ability Test

– 60 minutes• Reading Comprehension

– 50 minutes

GRADING•Standardized

•Each section is scored out of 30

SCORES• Each section is scored individually• Also scores Academic Average

(Biology, Chemistry, Verbal Reasoning)

• Often this is what the Universities look at Scientific average (Biology and Chemistry)

American vs. Canadian DAT• No manual dexterity/carving

• NOT accepted for entry into Canadian Schools

• Canadian version IS accepted by American Schools

FEES• Registration $230 • Test Prep Materials

– Carving Kit $65 + GST/HST– Additional Soap $35 + GST/HST

Kaplan Test Prep Book $81 (Book List Price)

TESTING DATESHeld in November and December

November 2009 test date• Registration closed

February 2010 test date• Registration deadline: 15th of January

U of T Dental School

• Largest dental school in Canada – 70 dentists graduate each year

UofT

• Applicants must have completed three years of university education (i.e. at least 15 full year courses or equivalent)

• The earliest time at which applicants may apply is during the third year of their program

• Any courses completed after May 31, 2008 will not be considered for admission to the 2008-2009 session.

UofT - Prerequisites• 3 years of university studies

• a full course in general biochemistry.

• a full course in general mammalian (human or animal) physiology.

• two additional full courses in Life Sciences (For example: anatomy, biochemistry, biology, botany, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular genetics, biol- ogy, neuroscience, nutritional Sciences, pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, zoology)

• one full course in a Humanities or Social Science

UofT• A minimum current grade point average of

2.7* (4.0 scale) is required.• Interview cut-offs

– GPA : 3.83– DAT: 20 (AA)

• The worst academic year will be dropped from the calculation of an applicant's cumulative grade point average provided that (a) the applicant has completed four or more years of university education by May 31st of the proposed year of entry, and (b) the year with the lowest grades is not the applicant's most recently completed year of study.

Cost:

Annual Fees (domestic students): Tuition $ 24,421.00 Non-academic incidental fees $907.30Dental instruments $5482.00 TOTAL $ 30,810.30

UofT - DAT

• The DAT must have been taken within two calendar years prior to the application deadline.

• If the test is written more than once, the highest set of DAT scores will be used.

UofT

• December APPLICATION DEADLINE. Application forms accompanied by the non-refundable application service fee of $230 must be received in the Admissions Office.

• Official transcripts and certificates covering all previous university and other post-secondary education must be received in the Admissions Office.

UofT

• Criteria for selection:

– academic achievement– DAT scores– the interview process– personality test scores

Schulich Medicine and Dentistry at Western

• Does not require a full course load every year but a penalty is applied to the applicant’s score

Western

• The average achieved in an academic year in which fewer than four full-course equivalents (24 credits) are taken will not be considered in entrance decisions.

• Courses taken during the Summer sessions will not normally be counted as part of the five courses.

Western

• To be eligible for admission to Dentistry, applicants must complete a minimum of 2 years of an accredited undergraduate university program, and have taken specific science course prerequisites.

Western - Prerequisites

• All candidates must complete approved physiology, biochemistry and organic chemistry courses

• If a candidate applies to enter prior to completing an undergraduate degree, approved introductory biology, chemistry and physics courses are also mandatory

Western - Prerequisites

• Recommended Prerequisites:– AS/SC/KINE 3011 + 3012 (both)OR– SC/BIOL 3060 + 3070 (both)

Western

• Should a prerequisite course be successfully completed during the summer term, the course requirement is considered fulfilled.

Western

• In order to be considered competitive, candidates must have achieved at least 80% or higher in two undergraduate level years by the end of the application cycle in which the candidates are registered.

Western - DAT

• Only the score of the most recent DAT completed within the TWO years prior to the application deadline of December 1 will be used.

Western• Deadline for completion (for graduation in

2014) of the application is December 1, 2009. There will be no time extensions.

• Application will be available early October• There is a $250 non-refundable

application fee.• Contact Admissions Coordinator - Dentistry• Telephone: (519) 661-3744 | FAX: (519) 850-2958• Email: admissions.dentistry@schulich.uwo.ca

Western

• Admission to Dentistry is based on academic ability and personal qualities, as evidenced by – 1) Academics (GPA)– 2) Dental Aptitude Test (DAT)– 3) An interview

Western - Last Year

• Applications: 671• Gender:

– Female: 378– Male: 293Class Size: 54– Females: 30– Males: 24

Western - Last Year

• Qualifications of Admitted Applicants:Class average based on best 2 years preceding admission: 84.75%

• Interview: 81.85%

Western – Last Year

• Dental Aptitude Test: Average Scores• Reading – 20• Biology – 20• Chemistry – 20• Perception – 19• Carving – 19• Composite Score over 5 Sections - 98

Western – Last Year

• Age range: 20-30• Median: 23• Average: 23

Dental Schools Outside of Ontario

• Dalhousie• McGill• University of Alberta• University of British Columbia• University of Manitoba

Dalhousie• accepts up to 36 candidates to the first year of the D.D.S. program (preference

is given to Canadian applicants who are from the Atlantic Provinces)• Admission to the four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery program requires the

completion of a minimum of 10 full-year (2 years) academic classes at the undergraduate level.

Academic requirements: • One full-year academic class in each of biology, general chemistry, physics,

organic chemistry (each of these courses must include laboratory instruction) an approved one-term Bio-organic Chemistry course may be substituted for the full year Organic Chemistry class

• Two full-year academic courses (or four one-term courses) chosen from the humanities and/or social sciences

• One full year (or two one-term) writing course

• One university course (full year or one term) in each of the following: Introductory Biochemistry, Introductory Microbiology, and Vertebrate Physiology. These courses should be at the second year level or higher and applicants are encouraged to contact the Faculty of Dentistry for approval of selected courses.

Applicants with the best academic record have the greatest chance of admissionThe Admissions Committee makes significant use of non-academic factors in deciding which applicants are admitted. These include the Dental Aptitude Test, interview, a personality-factors test, and references Applicants must complete the Dental Aptitude Test no later than February to be considered for admission to the following academic year (it is recommended that you complete the November DAT in the event you wish to retake the DAT in February) Applicants must complete the DAT within two years of applying for the program. Most successful applicants have achieved a score of 15 or better on each of the components of the DAT.

• Admissions Profile

• Number of applicants:237• Number accepted: 36• Average in required science subjects: A-• Average in Higher science subjects

(biochemistry, microbiology, physiology): A-• Average in final 60 University hours: A- 

McGillMcGill

A Bachelor’s degree. A Bachelor’s degree. Applicants must have received an Applicants must have received an

undergraduate degree or be in the final year of undergraduate degree or be in the final year of a course of study at a recognized college or a course of study at a recognized college or university in a program leading to an university in a program leading to an undergraduate degree consisting of undergraduate degree consisting of 120 credits120 credits over eight semesters following completion of over eight semesters following completion of high school. high school.

McGillMcGill A cumulative A cumulative GPA of 3.5GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) is or higher (on a 4.0 scale) is

considered competitive considered competitive Specific course requirements. Specific course requirements. One year – full course load (2 semesters) in each of One year – full course load (2 semesters) in each of

the following courses, with laboratory the following courses, with laboratory General BiologyGeneral Biology General ChemistryGeneral Chemistry Organic ChemistryOrganic Chemistry PhysicsPhysics

University-level courses in Biochemistry, Cell and University-level courses in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology are strongly recommended. Molecular Biology are strongly recommended.

Students applying for admission to the four-year Students applying for admission to the four-year program must complete the DAT no later than the Fall program must complete the DAT no later than the Fall of the year in which they are submitting applications.of the year in which they are submitting applications.

University of Alberta• CRITERIA • The minimum requirement for admission to the DDS

Program is the satisfactory completion of *60 of transferable postsecondary work (2 years), of which *30 (5 full year course equivalents or 10 half year course equivalents) must be taken during one Fall/Winter

The preprofessional course requirements are: • (1) General Chemistry (*6) • (2) Organic Chemistry (*6) • (3) Biology(*6) • (4) Physics (*6) • (5) English (*6) • (6) Statistics (*3) • (7) Introductory Biochemistry (*3)

University of Alberta• Applicants must write the Canadian

Dental Aptitude Test (DAT)• if the test is taken more than once, the

best set of scores will be used, (at the latest, the November prior to admission)

• meet minimum requirements a score of 15 or more must be achieved in each of: Reading Comprehension, Perceptual Ability and Manual Dexterity. 

University of British ColumbiaReceive 300-350 applications each year and accept only 40 students Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent ResidentComplete 3 academic years (90 credits) at a recognized faculty at The University of British Columbia, or its equivalentAchieve a minimum overall Grade Point Average of 70% or 2.8 on a 4.0 grading scale for ALL college/university work (including failed courses)Three components of the DAT are used in our calculations: Academic Average, Perceptual Test and the Carving Test minimum score of 12 must be obtained on the carving portion of the exam for your application to be considered

University of British ColumbiaEnglish, Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry (full year)To reduce traveling expenses, out of province applicants may have their interview conducted at another dental school that participates in the revised CDA structured interview and details will be provided upon request.

University of Manitoba number of out-of-province students vary from year

to year. Out-of-province applicants and Manitoba residents compete equally for the first 29 positions in the class (wait list is made up of Manitoba residents)

require 2 years of undergraduate

courses: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, English, non-science course

As guidance for prospective students, successful applicants have recently had an average Adjusted Grade point average (AGPA) of 3.7, had Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) scores averaging from 18-23 and have been within the top 20% of the pool when interviewed

Grades, interview and DAT score equally weighted

Interview Questions:1) Often times board directors, CEOs, etc, like to be kept up to date on the

progress of a project. How would you, as the leader of the project, make sure that these people are kept up to date?

2) One of your close friend’s parents have just gotten a divorce and she's very upset over it. What would you do?

3) Lately you've been noticing that one of your friends has been acting strangely, and you and your other friends often talk about her. What would you do?

4) Have you ever been involved in a group project where one person didn't do their share of the work, but still got the same mark? What did you do? or what would you do if you have never actually experienced that?

5) You have just submitted in a project/proposal, and everyone complements you and says what a great job that you've done. Except for one person, who just criticizes everything you did, and tears the project apart. What would you do?

6) You have just been accepted to a couple of the schools that you've applied to for Dentistry. How would you go about making your decision about which school to go to?

Questions Continued:7) Have you ever been in a situation where you have

disagreed with a decision made by one of your supervisors?

8) Have you ever been in a situation where you have disagreed with the actions of someone very close to you? What did you do?

9) Have you ever had to reassure someone of a decision that you have made but that they do not agree with?

10) Do you play any sports? What's your favorite sport? 11) Why do you want to be a dentist?12) Tell us about a mistake that you have made at some

point in your life.

Advice from a Dental Student:

different universities have different approaches to teaching Dentistry - some are more practical oriented, some more theory oriented, and some are Problem-Based Learning, so you should look into this- what is the curriculum like at the school, and choose the school that suits you best

If you are not very good in art or things like that, then consider taking private classes for the Carving Section for the DAT

For the interview, the questions are almost always from the CDA- sometimes at the end, if they have time, they'll ask you a typical 'why do you want to be a dentist' or 'what do you like to do in your free time' type of question. Other than that, the questions are like, 'Here is a hypothetical situation, what would you do?' or 'Have you ever been in a situation where.... and what did you do?'

Dentistry is not easy!!! There's a lot of work involved! The upper years and teachers are there to help you. No one wants you to do poorly. And it is not competitive anymore like in Undergrad

If you can, you should just apply! Who cares if you don't get in, you should just apply for the experience. That's what I was doing, but somehow I actually got in!! :)

Contact info: Alan Ko – alanko@yorku.ca Becky Zendel- rzendel@yorku.ca