Gap Year Before Dental School: When to Take the DAT and How to Plan It

Taking a gap year before dental school can be one of the smartest decisions for your future. Whether you need time to strengthen your application, boost your GPA, gain experience, or simply recharge, knowing when to take the DAT during that year can make all the difference. This guide will walk you through how to plan your timeline, when to schedule your test date, and how to leverage your gap year to set yourself up for success on the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and the dental school admissions process. 

I. What Is a Gap Year Before Dental School?

A gap year before dental school is a period of time, typically one to two years, taken after completing your undergraduate degree and before starting dental school. During this time, pre-dental students often focus on professional and academic development to become stronger applicants.

Common reasons for taking a gap year include:

• Improving your academic profile, such as raising your GPA or retaking difficult prerequisite science courses like organic chemistry or general chemistry.
• Preparing for or retaking the Dental Admission Test (DAT) to achieve higher DAT scores.
• Gaining clinical and research experience, such as working as a research assistant, shadowing dentists, volunteering in community clinics, or working as a dental assistant.
• Saving money for application and test fees or travel costs for interviews.
• Developing personally and professionally before committing to years of intensive dental education.
• Taking time to rest and recharge from burnout caused by challenging undergraduate courses, taking the DAT, and other stressors.

In short, a gap year offers flexibility. Instead of rushing to apply right after your junior year, you can slow down, plan strategically, and ensure your application is competitive for most dental schools.

During this time, most students focus on strengthening their academic foundation in the basic sciences, gaining experience, and navigating the early stages of the dental school application process. 

II. Should You Take a Gap Year?

Deciding whether to take a gap year depends on your individual circumstances. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons to help you decide. 

Pros

• Time to strengthen your DAT scores. A gap year gives you months of focused time to study and improve your performance across challenging sections of the DAT, such as natural sciences, quantitative reasoning, and organic chemistry.
• Boost your GPA. You can retake tough courses or complete post-baccalaureate classes to bolster your academic record and show persistence.
• Gain meaningful experiences. You can shadow, research, work in a dental clinic, or volunteer. These activities enrich your dental school application and interview conversations.
• Less stress. Without juggling college coursework, you can focus solely on your test date preparation and application materials.
• Enhanced perspective. A year of maturity and professional experience can help you refine your motivation for pursuing dental school.
• Renewed energy. The demands of preparing a dental school application can easily lead to fatigue and burnout. Taking a gap year provides valuable time to recharge, restore balance, and return with greater focus and enthusiasm.

Cons

• Delay in starting dental school. You’ll enter your program a year or two later than some of your peers, extending your overall timeline.
• Possible loss of study momentum. If you’re not disciplined, time away from academics could make it harder to return to the rigorous pace of dental school.
• Financial considerations. Taking a gap year can affect your access to financial aid and other resources.

If you’re unsure, ask yourself: “Would I be a stronger, more confident applicant with an extra year to prepare?” If the answer is yes, a gap year may be the right choice for you. 

III. When Should I Take the DAT?

A question every pre-dental student eventually faces is, “When should I take the DAT?”

The ideal time to take the DAT is typically about one to two years before you plan to start dental school. If you want to prepare and take it early, the spring semester before your application year can be an excellent opportunity to “get it out of the way”. If you need more time to finish prerequisites or gain experience during the summer, taking it in the fall semester is another great choice. The advantage to both of these timelines is that they allow you to retake the DAT if necessary.

The Dental Admissions Test is offered year-round, giving applicants flexibility to choose a test date that aligns with coursework completion, readiness, and application timing. 

Example timeline

If you plan to start dental school in Fall 2028, you should take the DAT between May 2026 and September 2027. This allows you time to receive your official scores early and apply in the first wave of the application cycle through ADEA AADSAS (which opens in early June each year).

For example, taking the test too early, before you’ve completed organic chemistry or general chemistry, can leave you underprepared. On the other hand, waiting too long risks missing dental school deadlines. Your ideal date to take the DAT should balance your academic readiness and application timing.

For more on the DAT format and what it covers, read our full guide: What is the DAT?

IV. Factors to Consider When Choosing Your DAT Date

When selecting your desired test date, you’ll want to think beyond your schedule. Here are the most important factors to consider when scheduling to take the DAT at Prometric test centers: 

1. Academic Readiness

You’ll perform best on the DAT when your foundational science courses, such as organic chemistry, general chemistry, and biology, are fresh in your mind. If you need to review this essential pre-dental science material, give yourself time to rebuild that knowledge base before your test date.

DATBooster is specifically designed to fill in any gaps in understanding of the highest-yield science content on the DAT. 

2. Test Center Availability

Seats at Prometric test centers can fill up months in advance, especially during peak seasons (May through August). Schedule your testing appointment early to secure your preferred testing center and test day. 

3. Application Deadlines

Most schools review applications on a rolling basis. The earlier you take the DAT, the sooner you can submit your dental school application with official DAT scores. Most dental schools' deadlines for applications fall between late October and January. However, taking it by late June or July will make you the most competitive in the current application cycle. 

4. Mental and Emotional Preparation

Don’t overlook how you’re feeling mentally and emotionally. Studying for the Dental Admission Test requires a significant amount of time, energy, and focus. Choose a period when you can dedicate your full attention to studying without major distractions like school finals, work transitions, or family events. 

5. Logistics and Cost

Register early through the American Dental Association (ADA) website to choose your testing center and avoid paying late test fees. Remember that cancellations or rescheduling also come with costs, so plan ahead.

When registering, you’ll need your Dental Personal Identification Number, and you should budget carefully for the DAT fee, which can be reduced for eligible applicants through a partial fee waiver. 

V. How to Plan Your Gap Year Around the DAT

Your gap year can be your most productive year if you structure it properly. Below is a sample month-by-month timeline showing how to plan your DAT prep for the best possible score.  

5 Months Before – Diagnostic Test and Study Plan

Start your gap year by taking a diagnostic DAT exam to evaluate your current level. This baseline helps identify strengths and weaknesses across sections like organic chemistry, perceptual ability, and quantitative reasoning.

Once you’ve identified areas to improve, create a structured study schedule. Use a trusted program like DATBooster, which offers 8, 10, and 12-week study schedules that incorporate high-yield practice tests, question banks, and videos modeled after the real DAT.

At this stage, focus on:

• Reviewing pre-dental science content from your undergrad classes.
• Setting goals for each subject (e.g., aiming for 22+ in General Chemistry).
• Building habits: daily review, spaced repetition, and effective note-taking. 

3–4 Months Before – Full-Time Study and Practice Tests

Now’s the time to commit to full-time study. Follow your chosen study schedule and treat your DAT prep like a full-time job: 5–8 hours per day, five to six days per week.

• Begin taking weekly full-length practice tests under real test day conditions.
• Analyze each practice test to identify patterns and weak areas.
• Rotate subjects daily: biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning.
• Simulate Prometric test center conditions to build stamina and familiarity with the format.

This phase is where your academic readiness will start to pay off. You’ll feel your question accuracy and timing improve as your confidence grows. 

1 Month Before – Review and Simulations

With one month left, shift into refinement mode.

• Focus on reviewing mistakes and revisiting weak topics.
• Take 2–3 simulated tests each week, replicating the full testing appointment length and timing.
• Practice mindfulness and time management; mental endurance is key for this exam.

Aim to take your final full-length practice test about two weeks before your desired test date to allow for flexibility in case of unforeseen events.

For a deep dive into how long to study, check out our guide: How Long Should You Study for the DAT?

After the Test – Application Preparation and Submission

Once you’ve taken the DAT, use the remaining months of your gap year to finalize your dental school application.

• Request letters of recommendation.
• Write and edit your personal statement.
• Submit transcripts and update your resume.
• Organize shadowing hours and clinical experiences.

When your DAT scores arrive (typically within 3–4 weeks), update AADSAS and make sure they’ve been sent to your target schools. Once your scores have been received and your application is submitted, begin preparing for interviews and final school selections.

Once official DAT scores are received, dental schools require applicants to submit complete files before they are fully reviewed in the dental school application process. 

VI. What If You Need to Retake the DAT?

Not everyone reaches their target score on the first attempt, and that’s okay. The American Dental Association allows applicants to take the DAT up to three times without special permission, with at least 90 days between attempts.

If your first DAT exam didn’t meet your expectations:

• Review your score breakdown to pinpoint weaknesses.
• Spend at least two months rebuilding your foundation and redoing practice tests.
• Choose a new desired test date that gives you adequate prep time, ideally before the next application cycle opens.

If you plan to take the DAT early in your gap year, you’ll have ample time to retake if needed. Remember, dental schools want to see improvement. A strong second attempt can demonstrate persistence and growth.

For detailed retake strategies, see: How to Prep for a DAT Retake?

VII. Useful Tips to Maximize Your Gap Year

Your gap year isn’t just about studying, it’s about holistic preparation for dental school. Here are some ways to make the most of it:

• Shadow dentists from multiple specialties.
  Exposure to fields like endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery shows initiative and helps you understand what area of dentistry interests you most.
• Engage in research or community outreach.
  Projects related to dental education, public health, or microbiology can strengthen your application narrative.
• Volunteer or work in a dental setting.
  Roles such as dental assistant, scribe, or sterilization tech help you gain firsthand patient-care experience.
• Manage your finances wisely.
  Save for your test fee, secondary applications, and travel. Most students underestimate the DAT fee, though a partial fee waiver may be available to qualifying applicants.
• Prioritize wellness and balance.
  Take care of your mental health, exercise regularly, and spend time with family and friends. Successful DAT takers often credit work-life balance as a key to their success.
• Cross something off your bucket list.
  Take advantage of your free time, as it will be very limited in dental school. Go on your dream vacation, learn a new hobby, or start a project you’ve always wanted to take on. 

IX. FAQ

Q: Can I apply before taking the DAT?

A: Yes, you can submit your dental school application before taking the DAT. However, your file won’t be reviewed until official DAT scores are received by AADSAS. Many students apply in early June and take the test later that summer to be considered early in the application cycle.

Q: Can I take the DAT right after graduation?

A: Absolutely. Many students finish their degree in May and immediately transition into focused DAT prep, taking the exam in June or July. This schedule works well if you’re not planning multiple gap years and want to start dental school the following fall.

Q: What’s the latest I can take the DAT?

A: You can technically take the DAT anytime, but most dental school admissions committees prefer to receive scores by late summer of the application year. Because the exam is offered year-round, most students aim to take it early enough to ensure their DAT scores are available before priority deadlines.

Q: How does a gap year affect dental school applications?

A: A gap year can greatly strengthen your application if used wisely. It allows you to refine academics, gain experience, and submit an early, well-prepared application. Admissions committees value applicants who show growth, self-awareness, and readiness for the rigor of dental school curriculum.

By the time you start dental school, you’ll feel more confident, experienced, and mentally prepared for the journey ahead. 

X. Final Thoughts

Taking a gap year before dental school is the perfect opportunity to design your ideal path toward your goals. Whether you use it to take the DAT for the first time, raise your DAT scores, or gain clinical experience, what matters most is that your plan aligns with your individual goals and timeline.

Use this year intentionally, schedule your testing appointment early at a convenient Prometric testing center, and prepare strategically. By the time test day comes around, you’ll feel confident and prepared as you intentionally used your gap year to lay the foundation for your future as a dentist.