<p>im interested in both pharmacy and dental school. i was wondering if anyone knows if the two admissions exams (pcat and dat) covered similar topics. also, does anyone actually apply to both schools, or is it better to juut apply to one. And is it a good idea to apply to apply to both pharmacy and dental school at the same university? thanks</p>
<p>yes the PCAT and DAT are very similar. The PCAT has an additional verbal section and its quantitative reasoning section has calculus, but it does not have the perceptual ability test the DAT has.</p>
<p>All in total here are the sections for each exam:
DAT
Perceptual Ability Test
Survey of Natural Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Orgo)
Reading Comprehension
Quantitative Reasoning</p>
<p>PCAT
Verbal
Biology
Reading Comprehension
Quantiative Ability (Calculus required)
Chemistry
Writing</p>
<p>thanks. but i still want to know if people actually apply to both schools. or is it better to just stick with one.</p>
<p>I'm sure that there are people who apply to both. The problem is that, both schools want to see a dedicated interest in their fields from the people they admit. I'm sure that both types of schools receive plenty of applications from failed med school applicants thinking that they can sail into an "easier" school (which is a false assumption to begin with) and then at least be something like a doctor. Therefore, you need to show that you've had experience in the settings and really are dedicated to the profession.</p>
<p>If you are truly undecided, then the shadowing/volunteering/work experiences in either field are even more important b/c they give you a chance to see if you really like either field more. Use those experiences constructively and you won't have to apply to both.</p>
<p>the problem is that it is hard to get into both, so i want to apply to both schools so i have a better chance to be accepted into atleast one of them. i mean won't the admissions people understand this?</p>
<p>If I'm correct, BRM isn't saying that applying to both will hurt you in and of itself. He's simply saying that you may find yourself short on time when trying to acquire the background for both applications, since you'd want to be shadowing both pharmacists and dentists, and maybe assisting in some research in those fields.</p>
<p>Yes, BDM, as usual gets what I'm saying.</p>
<p>The admissions people are looking out for students who are going to succeed at their school and then in the working world. Students who have taken the time to really experience what it is like to be a dentist or pharmacist are (at least I assume) much more likely to do well as students and professionals, reflecting back well on the institution. Both schools are difficult and don't want to invest time and money into training individuals who won't make it through the schooling. </p>
<p>I actually believe that your odds are probably higher if you focus on one profession and try to make it there. If you don't know which one to choose (which is completely okay), then spending time with practicing professionals will likely show you which you prefer, and thusly can devote your time to. Think of something to do and see that task to completion (translation: Git-R-Done!) rather than half-assing your way through to fields. You can also use the money you would have otherwise spent on applications to the other set of schools to send out more applications to a broader selection of schools in your chosen field which can also help your odds.</p>