ADEA AADSAS Quick Start Guide and FAQs

What is ADEA AADSAS?

The ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (ADEA AADSAS®) simplifies the process of applying to dental programs. You start by selecting the programs you wish to apply to, then you submit one application that includes all necessary materials. Once received by ADEA AADSAS, your application and materials go through a verification process before being transmitted to all of your selected programs.

Start your 2023-2024 application.

How long does the application process take?

It's important you apply as early as possible since completing your application can be a lengthy process, and since application processing times vary throughout the cycle. Below is a suggested timeline that includes key actions to keep the application process on track. This timeline may need to be adjusted based on your programs' deadlines and requirements.

Timeline	Key Actions
Prior to the Start of the Application Process	Research programs you wish to apply to. Pay special attention to: Cycle dates and deadline requirements. Application fees. Evaluation requirements. Minimum requirements, including prerequisites, standardized test scores, supplemental applications, foreign evaluations, etc. Ask your schools to send you the official transcripts you'll need to enter your coursework. Begin contacting potential evaluators to confirm their participation. Begin drafting your personal statement. Review the instructions in this Help Center.
At Least 3 Months Prior to Deadline	Create your account. Complete the Colleges Attended section. Complete the Evaluations section.
At Least 10-12 Weeks Prior to Deadline	Ask your schools to send official transcripts directly to ADEA AADSAS. If there are any holds on your account at a school, resolve them now to avoid delays in sending transcripts. Begin entering coursework into your application. If you want to use the Professional Transcript Entry (PTE) service, sign up and submit your payment. Check in with your evaluators to confirm that they received the evaluation request via email.
At Least 6-8 Weeks Prior to Deadline	Complete and submit your application. Review the verification process. If you paid for PTE, monitor your emails for information on the review process and be sure to approve your coursework in a timely manner. Monitor your application for receipt of transcripts and letters of evaluation and follow up on any missing items.
At Least 4-6 Weeks Prior to Deadline	Continue monitoring your application until your status is Verified.
After Deadline	Download a copy of your application for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Coursework, Transcripts, and GPAs	Programs and Statuses	Fees and Payments	Canadian Applicants
Which official documents do I need to send? All official college and university transcripts are required to complete the application. Many schools also require standardized test scores and evaluations. Contact each school for more details about requirements. Do I need to send transcripts? Yes, you must submit all official transcripts to ADEA AADSAS. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines on each type of transcript. Where do I find the Transcript ID Form? The Transcript ID Form is found in the Colleges Attended section, after you submit a college or university entry. Should I send my high school transcripts? No. My transfer credits are listed on my primary transcript. Do I still need to send all transcripts? You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines. How do I know what my primary institution is? Your primary institution is the college or university where you earned or will earn your first undergraduate college degree. Do I really have to enter all coursework? Yes, you must enter all US and English Canadian coursework into the Transcript Entry section of the application. You can also opt to pay for Professional Transcript Entry (PTE). How do I list my repeated courses? ADEA AADSAS considers a course to be repeated if you enrolled in the same course (with the same course title and prefix) again at the same college or university. Report all attempts of repeated coursework (including those that are currently in-progress or planned) and be sure to mark them as repeated during Transcript Review. Enter the number of credit hours attempted for each course, regardless of how many credits were actually earned. Should I include foreign coursework in the Transcript Entry section? No. Why is my ADEA AADSAS GPA different from the GPA on my transcripts? The ADEA AADSAS GPAs factor in all coursework taken, regardless of the college or university and any academic forgiveness policies. See Calculating Your ADEA AADSAS GPAs for more information. I don't agree with the GPA. How do I change it? The ADEA AADSAS GPAs factor in all coursework taken, regardless of the college or university and any academic forgiveness policies. If after reviewing your calculated coursework you find an error with your GPA, review Disputing and Correcting ADEA AADSAS Course Subjects and GPAs.	How do I remove a program? Your application must always have at least one program selected. To remove a program, click the checkmark next to the program name on the Add Program tab or click the trash icon on the Submit Application tab. Can I apply to more programs after I submit my application? Yes, if the program's deadline date has not yet passed and the application cycle is open. Should I submit my application if I'm still waiting on transcripts, evaluations, and/or official test scores? Yes. You can submit your application before your transcripts, evaluations, and/or official test scores are received by ADEA AADSAS. Will ADEA AADSAS update me on the status of my application? Your application status for each program is listed in the Check Status section of the application, along with the status of transcripts, test scores, and evaluations. ADEA AADSAS will notify you when official transcripts, evaluations, and official test scores are received, and when you are verified. When will I learn about admissions decisions? Did I get in!? Decision information will be available in the Check Status section of the application beginning on December 15, 2023. Note that some programs will not post decisions until later. You must reach out to your program(s) for any additional information on a school's admissions decisions.	Is there any other way to pay other than by credit card? We currently only accept payments by credit card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. I want a refund. What do I need to do? Refunds are not given for any reason. Review Refunding/Withdrawing Your ADEA AADSAS Application for more information. Do fee waivers expire? If you qualified for and were awarded a ADEA AADSAS fee waiver, your fee waiver expires in 14 days, including weekends and holidays. See ADEA AADSAS Application Fees and Fee Assistance Program for more information. Why don’t I see the option for a fee waiver? ADEA AADSAS has a limited amount of fee waivers to award over a cycle. If you do not see the option to apply for a fee waiver, then all fee waivers have been awarded and none are left to be dispersed.	Which Canadian dental schools use the ADEA AADSAS application? The following Canadian dental schools use ADEA AADSAS for all applicants applying to their programs: Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry McGill University School of Dentistry University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry Do I only need to submit the ADEA AADSAS application to the participating Canadian dental schools? Each dental school may require additional materials. Refer to the ADEA GoDental supplemental materials list for more information. Questions about supplemental materials should be directed to each individual school. Can I apply to both Canadian and US schools? Yes, you are welcome to apply to any school that participates in ADEA AADSAS. Why do I need a DENTPIN^®? The DENTPIN^® (DENTal Personal Identifier Number), a unique personal identifier for applicants and students involved with the US dental education system and standardized testing programs, is used for the confidential, secure reporting, transmission, and tracking of test scores and academic data. The DAT, ADEA AADSAS and Texas application systems, ADEA PASS, ADEA CAAPID, and the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam programs all use the DENTPIN^®. Which transcripts are required? All post-secondary (college and university) transcripts are required. English-Canadian transcripts can be sent directly to ADEA AADSAS, but French-Canadian transcripts must be evaluated by WES or ECE. See Sending Official Transcripts to ADEA AADSAS for more information. Are fees listed in US or Canadian dollars? ADEA AADSAS charges US $264 for the first program you apply to and US $115 for each additional program. Applicants applying to an ADEA AADSAS-participating Canadian dental school will receive a 25% discount on each Canadian dental school application to account for the exchange rate difference. Applicants will first pay the full fee amount in US dollars to submit the application. The 25% discount will be processed separately and issued in March 2024. Are Canadian applicants eligible for the Fee Assistance Program? Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program.

Coursework, Transcripts, and GPAs

Programs and Statuses

Fees and Payments

Canadian Applicants

Which official documents do I need to send?: All official college and university transcripts are required to complete the application. Many schools also require standardized test scores and evaluations. Contact each school for more details about requirements.

Do I need to send transcripts?: Yes, you must submit all official transcripts to ADEA AADSAS. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines on each type of transcript.

Where do I find the Transcript ID Form?: The Transcript ID Form is found in the Colleges Attended section, after you submit a college or university entry.

Should I send my high school transcripts?: No.

My transfer credits are listed on my primary transcript. Do I still need to send all transcripts?: You must report all colleges and universities attended and submit official transcripts, even if your transfer credits are listed on your primary transcript. See Sending Official Transcripts for more guidelines.

How do I know what my primary institution is?: Your primary institution is the college or university where you earned or will earn your first undergraduate college degree.

Do I really have to enter all coursework?: Yes, you must enter all US and English Canadian coursework into the Transcript Entry section of the application. You can also opt to pay for Professional Transcript Entry (PTE).

How do I list my repeated courses?

ADEA AADSAS considers a course to be repeated if you enrolled in the same course (with the same course title and prefix) again at the same college or university.

Report all attempts of repeated coursework (including those that are currently in-progress or planned) and be sure to mark them as repeated during Transcript Review. Enter the number of credit hours attempted for each course, regardless of how many credits were actually earned.

Should I include foreign coursework in the Transcript Entry section?: No.

Why is my ADEA AADSAS GPA different from the GPA on my transcripts?: The ADEA AADSAS GPAs factor in all coursework taken, regardless of the college or university and any academic forgiveness policies. See Calculating Your ADEA AADSAS GPAs for more information.

I don't agree with the GPA. How do I change it?: The ADEA AADSAS GPAs factor in all coursework taken, regardless of the college or university and any academic forgiveness policies. If after reviewing your calculated coursework you find an error with your GPA, review Disputing and Correcting ADEA AADSAS Course Subjects and GPAs.

How do I remove a program?: Your application must always have at least one program selected. To remove a program, click the checkmark next to the program name on the Add Program tab or click the trash icon on the Submit Application tab.

Can I apply to more programs after I submit my application?: Yes, if the program's deadline date has not yet passed and the application cycle is open.

Should I submit my application if I'm still waiting on transcripts, evaluations, and/or official test scores?: Yes. You can submit your application before your transcripts, evaluations, and/or official test scores are received by ADEA AADSAS.

Will ADEA AADSAS update me on the status of my application?: Your application status for each program is listed in the Check Status section of the application, along with the status of transcripts, test scores, and evaluations. ADEA AADSAS will notify you when official transcripts, evaluations, and official test scores are received, and when you are verified.

When will I learn about admissions decisions? Did I get in!?: Decision information will be available in the Check Status section of the application beginning on December 15, 2023. Note that some programs will not post decisions until later. You must reach out to your program(s) for any additional information on a school's admissions decisions.

Is there any other way to pay other than by credit card?: We currently only accept payments by credit card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

I want a refund. What do I need to do?: Refunds are not given for any reason. Review Refunding/Withdrawing Your ADEA AADSAS Application for more information.

Do fee waivers expire?: If you qualified for and were awarded a ADEA AADSAS fee waiver, your fee waiver expires in 14 days, including weekends and holidays. See ADEA AADSAS Application Fees and Fee Assistance Program for more information.

Why don’t I see the option for a fee waiver?: ADEA AADSAS has a limited amount of fee waivers to award over a cycle. If you do not see the option to apply for a fee waiver, then all fee waivers have been awarded and none are left to be dispersed.

Which Canadian dental schools use the ADEA AADSAS application?

The following Canadian dental schools use ADEA AADSAS for all applicants applying to their programs:

Dalhousie University Faculty of Dentistry
McGill University School of Dentistry
University of British Columbia Faculty of Dentistry
University of Saskatchewan College of Dentistry
University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry

Do I only need to submit the ADEA AADSAS application to the participating Canadian dental schools?: Each dental school may require additional materials. Refer to the ADEA GoDental supplemental materials list for more information. Questions about supplemental materials should be directed to each individual school.

Can I apply to both Canadian and US schools?: Yes, you are welcome to apply to any school that participates in ADEA AADSAS.

Why do I need a DENTPIN^®?: The DENTPIN^® (DENTal Personal Identifier Number), a unique personal identifier for applicants and students involved with the US dental education system and standardized testing programs, is used for the confidential, secure reporting, transmission, and tracking of test scores and academic data. The DAT, ADEA AADSAS and Texas application systems, ADEA PASS, ADEA CAAPID, and the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam programs all use the DENTPIN^®.

Which transcripts are required?: All post-secondary (college and university) transcripts are required. English-Canadian transcripts can be sent directly to ADEA AADSAS, but French-Canadian transcripts must be evaluated by WES or ECE. See Sending Official Transcripts to ADEA AADSAS for more information.

Are fees listed in US or Canadian dollars?: ADEA AADSAS charges US $264 for the first program you apply to and US $115 for each additional program. Applicants applying to an ADEA AADSAS-participating Canadian dental school will receive a 25% discount on each Canadian dental school application to account for the exchange rate difference. Applicants will first pay the full fee amount in US dollars to submit the application. The 25% discount will be processed separately and issued in March 2024.

Are Canadian applicants eligible for the Fee Assistance Program?: Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program.