MY Journey to Dental School // AADSAS Application, College GPA, DAT Score, Post-baccalaureate & Cost

In this video, you will get to see all the hurdles I had to jump through to get to where I am today. From my dental stats to my dental acceptances, I speak about my rejections, the financial and time investments, but also my growth in this LONG journey. It is my hope this video can change how you perceive rejection/failure-to see that is merely one step closer to success.
I am 100% confident that I continue to endure failures in the next 3 years of my life as a dental student. However, I am also confident that my past experiences have made me more resilient and grittier than ever before. More importantly, I am excited to document and share with everyone the highs and lows as a dental student!
As always, good luck :)
-RZ
Check out my Instagram:@Bob_TheDentist for more dental content!

[@GorgeousGorgeous-kr3wj]

I finally passed my DAT exam after all the stress.I thank God for the great opportunity and my tutor Thomas 🎊🎊🎉🎉 All my prayers to those struggling to pass through DAT cause it hasn't been easy.I hope y'all make it some day too Amen🙏

[@ValentineValentine-ng6fx]

I failed 3 times, i lost money to reviews that never helped but the major thing is that I've not lost hope

[@SimoySimon]

i'm sorry for your plight my friend but i was once in your shoes before i was recommended to Mr Thomas and thats how i passed DAT

[@ValentineValentine-ng6fx]

I had interest in working with him but I was discouraged by my friends out of ignorance 😔

[@AngelaAngela-re8dc]

I have a cousin who never studied much,we studied together but she gives most of her time to her phone than studies after writing the DAT test she passed and I failed😣, I asked her how she did it, just found out she got her help from Mr Thomas ..

[@SimoySimon]

Sometimes hard work doesn’t pay you have to back it up with smartness🤓, I think your cousin understood that perfectly

[@shiadanimontiel2766]

“it’s not a competition, it’s how well you do it” - I cried 🥺❤️

[@robertzhouDDS]

Aww don't cry! I believe in you! You've got this! Feel free to message me if you have any questions :)

[@paoHF]

This is an amazing and humbling journey! You deserve to be a dentist!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you so much for your kind words :)

[@SmilesPending]

Wow! What a journey you’ve been on. So proud of you and congrats on finally getting into a great school!

[@myshellv5590]

Ahh your story made me tear up ! Thank you for sharing your story 🥺❤️ It helps people see that with resilience anything is possible!

[@andrewlybbert9527]

Thank you for sharing your experience! It contains many great lessons related to pursuing a worthwhile goal. I am a biology professor and always try to remind my students that there are MANY ways to achieve your professional goals, that things likely won’t go exactly how they have planned and that OK! There is learning and experience in the journey! Wishing you all the best with your career!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you for the kind words! :)

[@lfg235]

You are so resilient. Congratulations bro!

[@bpparkinson]

I’m so glad you shared your story with us. It’s truly inspiring. You aimed for what you wanted and got it. Even though you got discouraged, you pushed through. So awesome 👏🏾. Best wishes to you as you continue your dental journey 😊!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you so much! :) This means a lot to me!

[@bpparkinson]

@Robert Zhou You’re very welcome!

[@MrChoiwonjoon]

Hi Robert, also an incoming D1 at UOP here:) Congratulations and thanks for sharing your journey. Can't wait to meet you this July!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thanks for the comment! Congrats to you as well! I am very excited in meeting you soon! :)

[@user-mk7df1xo8o]

Three years of your life got you to where you are.

[@smiliesshiny7381]

Amazing,such an inspiring journey. This is my first cycle and rejections from everywhere! You boosted my confidence🙏

[@robertzhouDDS]

So glad I you found this helpful! Rejections are always hard but keep your head up! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions! :)

[@Travis-lf9lv]

congratulations! you have amazing perseverance and will make a great dentist!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thanks Travis! I will strive to be the best dentist I can be :)

[@angbop5192]

Thank you for sharing your story and congrats on getting into UOP! :)

[@robertzhouDDS]

This means so much to me! Thank you Angela :)

[@user-mk7df1xo8o]

Thank God you made it thus far!

[@appealingalex3825]

Congrats! Perseverance is a great trait to have.

[@Fashiongurru56]

Wow I love how transparent you were in this video it was truly inspiring!💕 Do you think you will make a video going over how you prepared for the DAT, especially for the PAT part?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hiii- thank so much! Transparency is important to me as I continue to grow my channel and future videos! I will definitely make a video on how I prepared for the DAT. It is an essential part of the application and I know there are others who want a some of guidance on how to study for it!. Stay tuned :)

[@charisfasoldt3869]

Wow such an inspiring story!! Def wanna hear about Cornell :)

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you Charis! I have to make a video about that now!

[@bigblackblock7385]

Hey man, I think recognized you from Cluster 3 at Temple last year when I was a D3. I think we spoke once or twice. I'm glad you made it man. Congrats!!! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey! Wow what a small world that you would stumble on my video haha. Thanks for the comment and I wish you the best in last year at Temple! Please find me on Instagram so we can connect!

[@tokenjoy]

Damn. You deserve it. I graduated from Temple Dental in '82. Never worked so hard in my life. Lots of clinical experience though. Much more than crosstown Penn Dental. At least that's how it used to be.

[@robertzhouDDS]

Sounds like your hard work has paid off! I really liked Temple's dental program as well. I could tell how strong their clinical training is when I was assisting the dental students during my post-bacc! Thank you comment :)

[@ErikaCorrea]

Congratulations on UOP!! That’s a great school!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you!! :)

[@vitorsilveirafigueiredo4306]

Wow king congrats on not giving up

[@robertzhouDDS]

Appreciate the comment Vitor!

[@nassimazer1608]

This is truly an inspirational video 💖

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you so much!

[@joshsamaniego6548]

Glad I found this video. Super motivating and I also have the same dream school! Hopefully I would be able to see you there in the future!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thanks for the comment Josh! Let me know if have any questions or concerns about the process. Hope to see you part of the Dugoni family soon. Best of luck!

[@janettemireles6731]

Thank you wow I’m crying rn

[@robertzhouDDS]

Of course! I'm happy to share my story with you :)

[@henylor2813]

wow this is eye opening thank you!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@nairababakhanianstudent2704]

Thank you for this video, we (my husband) is going through the same thing. For three years he has been trying to get into dental school but due to COVID he was unable to take any DAT tests, his appointment to take the test got canceled twice. When he finally took the DAT in October, it was his first try and received score of 19. sadly he did not get any acceptance letters to any schools. We are trying again this year, we are very scared for the same thing to happen again.... it feels discouraging and makes you stop and think if this is the right career but knowing him this is the only career he loves and is passionate about. we are not sure what to do if we don't get it but this video helps a lot. We are not sure what Committee letter you were speaking about, We have never heard of that. If you can clarify what that is we would be grateful. Again we are on the same path that you have been on, year after year getting rejected and its beginning to look like its faith. we refuse to give up but it is heart breaking to consider the same outcome. if there are any resources or websites you can share with us to help us know better about how the applications for dental schools work, what they are looking for or whatever we would appreciate it!!!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hi Naira thank you for this thoughtful post! I happy to hear that your husband (and you) can relate to this video. The journey to dental school is not an easy thing, that's for sure. But if this is what he really wants I think, in time, it will happen! Sit down to understand what the areas of weakness are in his application and try to bolster them in the best way possible. Sometimes it is best to not apply cycle after cycle unless there are substantial improvements or changes from the previous cycle. A committee letter is a letter from the institution (usually the college or university) that the prospective applicant applies for and is used for the AADSAS application. This letter is different from LOR (letters of recommendations) because it is written in a more neutral tone and impartial. Not all colleges or undergrads offer this committee letter - therefore its not necessary to have this but is highly recommended to use it if your institution does offer it. If you have more questions, feel free to reach me personally and perhaps we can set up a time to discuss how to improve the application process for your spouse! Feel free to reach me via Instagram or email!

[@hey-ef9is]

Hi, I'm thinking of applying to post bacc or dental schools. I ahve some questions after watching you videos: Is it possible to apply for dental schools and post bacc at the same time? I was wondering if I can apply to both type of programs to ultimately get into dental schools. Also, do you need to retake DAT when you finish post bacc program? Are there any programs that does not require dat scores when you're applying for dental schools after post bacc?

[@Thoughtlesamaira]

Doc you are amazing 🤩you will be an amazing artist plus dentist

[@amandap7332]

Hi Robert! I’m kind of on the same boat as you and this was a really helpful and motivational video for me 😭How did you find dental internship opportunities? And what did you do to get an dental x-ray certificate? Also, what did you do as a dental coordinator?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey Amanda :) Sorry for the delayed reply! But I am so glad this video was able to provide you some motivation! The dental internship I had was through a facebook connection. I had a mutation friend with this one pediatric dentist who was posting on his facebook wall that he was looking for interns. If you are in the bay area, I would be happy to connect you with him. I had got my X-ray certification because I was assisting in his pediatric clinic and wanted to do more than help with sterilization. It completed my X-ray certification through a third party that was close by! As a dental coordinator, or treatment coordinator, I was responsible for taking in patients, helping them understand that product that we were offering (clear aligners), scribing for the orthodontists, helping them with insurance and payment options, and was in the direct line of communications with the patient before they decided to start treatment. Feel free to message me on instagram if you have anymore questions :) -Robert

[@user-mz3fc5wj7v]

Why did you need another postbac program even after taking uc berkeley extension courses?

[@slumbermaster6932]

Congrats Robert.

[@robertzhouDDS]

Thank you for the kind words Jaanu! :)

[@harvestingseason2725]

Ur voice is very calming bruh

[@robertzhouDDS]

haha thank you!

[@mblackops2]

Man, I thought this would encourage me but all it did was get me more nervous lol. I’m in the 4th week of my senior year, I took the DAT two days ago and I totally bombed it, I got a 17 AA and 16 PAT, I was going to apply this cycle but ended up not doing so cuz of the bad DAT lol. I’m gonna retake it in July 2023. You think I have a shot if I get at least a 20 on the DAT? I have a 3.7 GPA, 150 Shadowing and Volunteering hours. I really hope I can get I’m next cycle

[@robertzhouDDS]

I think it really depends! while the DAT is a factor many dental schools look, it's not the only factor. I would definitely consider retaking the DAT and aiming for a minimum of 20AA. Since there is an increase in DAT scores over the years, I would say 20AA is now the minimum to be competitive. Great job on your GPA though! that's not easily to achieve!

[@roseie464444]

Yes can you share how you transferred into Cornell from community college?

[@robertzhouDDS]

I'll be happy to! Stay tuned!

[@erikak8187]

I’ve been to Cornell. A couple generations

[@kvgolfa]

I also did the 3/3/1 haha. Graduating from dental school next month!

[@robertzhouDDS]

Congrats! Best on your life as a DENTIST or specialist!

[@nonellechin9412]

Wow ‼️ UOP is a great school 🤍

[@jk3029]

god I am so scared to apply to dental schools! I have no experience for shadowing/volunteering/internships/research nothing! idk where and how do I start! my anxiety doesn't let me do anything

[@robertzhouDDS]

Don't worry too hard about it! It is definitely a stressful time but I believe that there are multiple ways one can get into a dental school. Start with the foundations! Focus on your academics courses and doing well in school. From there, you might start to pick up a couple extracurricular activities and shadowing in your free time! If you have any more questions - feel free to personally reach out to me via social media!

[@bigtime911]

If you were a dental assist a Hygentist does it help you get into dental school? Good video thanks

[@robertzhouDDS]

I think it definitely doesn't hurt to have another unique experience, like being a dental hygienist or even dental assist. However, it is not required to have these experiences unless some schools actually requires a certain amount of shadowing hours!

[@molouslife536]

Wow. Great job.

[@robertzhouDDS]

Many many thanks :)

[@danielryu8261]

What schools have you applied to the first two times?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hello! I can't recall all of the schools, but here are the majority of schools that I do remember: UOP, UCSF, UCLA, USC, UMichigan, Columbia, Penn, Harvard, Western University, Rutgers, University of Buffalo, Stony Brook, Temple University, University of Connecticut, Boston University, Tufts, and the University of Washington. I applied to some of these schools multiple times and others once (like UW). Hope this answers your question! :)

[@alieabutt492]

Any Canadians in your program?

[@alexandrarodriguez4343]

What is the post back program called?

[@robertzhouDDS]

I did my post-bac at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry! You can check the program out here: dentistry.temple.edu/academics-and-admissions/postbaccalaureate Feel free to message me if you have any more questions about the program! :)

[@novarattu6696]

So I basically need a 3.8ish or better and a high DAT. I barley passed high school. I want nothing more than to go to dental school

[@robertzhouDDS]

It depends! I think if you have a 3.5 GPA in your undergrad then you are a strong applicant! 3.8 GPA will surely put you in a spot for more interviews! Having a lower GPA but also higher DAT can also be a great combo that may show dental school admissions that you are able to handle the curriculum

[@d.k.4217]

Hi, could you go into more detail about your internship on another future video?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Yes! I'll try to make another video about my dental internship and things I did during my gap years. Dental school is definitely consuming much of my time, but I'll try to release more YT videos in the future! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me on my instagram! I respond pretty often in the messages there!

[@d.k.4217]

@@robertzhouDDS Sounds great and I totally understand. Thanks!

[@kamyabvaline3060]

Thanks for the video..Is 3.5 gpa low for an international student

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey Kamyab - international students may have different criteria that I'm not familiar with. However, generally speaking, if you have a 3.5 GPA (both science and overall) you are competitive as a dental school applicant! I wish you the best! Feel free to reach out to me if you have any more questions!

[@grantjohnson1908]

What should you do if your school has no committee letter?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey Grant! I would look on AADSAS to ensure you meet the requirements of each school- or the schools you wish to apply to. Usually they require at least 2 science professors, and a dentist that you have shadowed/worked with. You can opt out to submit individual letters even if your school offered a committee letter, however, I believe dental school prefer you to use a committee letter if your college offers it!

[@LegendarSky8]

nice video, what college did you go to for undergraduate btw

[@robertzhouDDS]

I went to a community college for two years and then transferred to Cornell University where I got my B.S!

[@LegendarSky8]

@@robertzhouDDS thank you for sharing your experience, what was your GPA of your undergraduate ?

[@excavers1610]

Did you pay out of pocket for the post Bach?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Most students pay out of pocket or take out student loans for this program. Since its a graduate program, you would have take out federal grad loans!

[@maryou3821]

I am very interested in dentistry and was wondering what majors would be best to apply for in undergrad to have all the prerequisites for dental school, plz help! 😭

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hi Mary thanks for the comment! While there isn't really a specific major that you need for dental school- I think majors in the physical sciences or biological sciences would be best for any pre-health professions. The reason being is that the classes that you take in those majors will overlap with most, if not all, of the prerequisites required for dental school. Make sure you do well in your undergrad classes and study hard on the DAT! Hope this helps! Feel free to message me if you have any more questions :)

[@maryou3821]

@@robertzhouDDS Thank you for replying! I’m thinking of biochemistry or biomedical engineering what are your thoughts? And what is the best way to contact you?

[@samskidaddle5699]

Hi ,what schools did you apply to ?

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey Sam- Someone asked a similar question from my other video. Here is the answer to that! I can't recall all of the schools, but here are the majority of schools that I do remember: UOP, UCSF, UCLA, USC, UMichigan, Columbia, Penn, Harvard, Western University, Rutgers, University of Buffalo, Stony Brook, Temple University, University of Connecticut, Boston University, Tufts, and the University of Washington. I applied to some of these schools multiple times and others once (like UW). Hope this answers your question! :)

[@samskidaddle5699]

@@robertzhouDDS By chance do you have an email please I can email you please?

[@robertzhouDDS]

@@samskidaddle5699 Sure! [e-mail]

[@golfertex]

Like I say in my jeremiad, dental school didactic is easy, you just have to memorize the crap out of everything. Dental lab & clinical are very difficult, because grading is extremely subjective. Don’t shadow a dentist, she has already “made it.” Shadow a dental student.

[@kowsarzannat3896]

R u Doing BDS ??

[@TheDedloc]

Im so screwed... I am never getting in.

[@robertzhouDDS]

If this is what you really want to do- you will find a way to make it happen :)

[@andressmith1414]

I thought a 3.5 Cumulative gpa was somewhat competitive. I guess I’m in trouble

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hey Andres! 3.5 GPA is strong, don't worry too much! I think you have a great shot with a strong DAT score.

[@cynthiamartinez6583]

This is like saying high school rejected you

[@UriValdez]

Wow, 3.4 GPA is low? I have zero chance then

[@robertzhouDDS]

Hi Uriel- it all really depends on which schools you apply to! 3.4 GPA can be really competitive for some school and just competitive enough for others. I would say if you have a 3.4 GPA apply! Dental schools definitely look at other factors beyond your GPA and DAT scores. However, I would say that those two metrics are heavily considered when admissions are looking at your applicant to assess how ready you are at handling the rigorous circulumn in dental school! Hope this was insightful :)

[@UriValdez]

@@robertzhouDDS im nowhere near a 3.4 GPA, but I also just started my school at 33 yrs old, I have been in the dental field for 12 yrs as an assistant. I have time to get a better GPA for sure. But this whole thing is intimidating, sometimes I really doubt myself. Im very strong when It comes to hands on dentistry but with the books a different game.

[@abrahamlincoln7912]

@@UriValdez Keep going! I know you can make it.

[@UriValdez]

@@abrahamlincoln7912 thanks, I wont give up

[@golfertex]

Here is what happened to me. I wish I had been rejected, then I would not have wasted 7 years of my life. docs.google.com/file/d/1xtTabOJBFYvT1xgl6exeoQdfucTzzDB4/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword