Best quote from Dental School Prep: The Freshman Blueprint & New DAT Scoring
The DAT isn’t just a test of knowledge—it’s a test of project management. You have to coordinate the classes, the study time, and the application opening date because everything about this process rewards the early bird.
This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member
My kid is at Oregon State University and she is a freshman in her spring quarter. She’s planning to apply to a dental school and I’m trying to find out how she should prep for DAT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginning March 1, 2025, the Dental Admission Test (DAT) moved away from the traditional 1 to 30 scale. It is now scored on a range from 200 to 600. This significant shift was implemented to provide dental schools with a much more precise look at where a student stands. This new precision helps admissions committees better evaluate candidates during the competitive application process.
According to the Dental School Prep: The Freshman Blueprint, it is definitely not too early to start mental preparation during your freshman year. The DAT is a massive five hour and fifteen minute marathon covering biology, perceptual ability, and more. Starting early helps students manage the high stakes of the exam and understand the requirements needed for a successful dental school application in the future.
The path to dental school is well-defined but competitive for students at Oregon State University. Recent data shows that the average overall GPA for admitted OSU students was 3.67. However, for those specifically getting into Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, the average GPA was even higher at 3.8. Maintaining these high GPA standards is a critical part of the freshman blueprint for dental school prep.
The DAT is a comprehensive exam that lasts five hours and fifteen minutes. It is designed to test a wide range of knowledge and skills necessary for dental school. The test covers various subjects, including biology and a unique section on perceptual ability. Because the exam is such a long marathon, understanding the format and the new 200-600 scoring scale is essential for any student planning their dental career.
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
