Submitting your CAAPID application?
The last check-offs before you hit “final submit” on your CAAPID or supplemental applications, from character limits to score reporting.
Key takeaways
- Re-check contact details and visa/immigration status for anything that changed.
- Stay within the SOP limit. Character limits often count spaces; word limits don’t.
- Keep your general personal statement and school-specific SOPs separate.
- Submit each school as soon as its questions are done instead of waiting for all of them.
- Scores (INBDE, TOEFL, ECE, ADAT) can be updated even after you submit.
Hi there! If you are looking for the last check-offs before you hit that submit button, you are in the right place. This blog covers some pointers to remember before you “final submit” your CAAPID or supplemental applications.
Personal details
Now would be a good time to check your details, like contact information and visa/immigration status, for any updates since you started the application.
Statement of purpose
Although you would like to make more edits to your SOP and you are forcing yourself to get over it, stay within the character or word limit! I remember having to edit for a few more days because I went over the character limit. Word versus character limits make a huge difference; the latter (sometimes!) counts spaces as characters. Add any recent experiences that are significant to you as an applicant and dentist and that showcase your interest in DDS.
There are two different places where you can enter your SOP or Personal Statement (PS). The PS is a general document, not specific to any school. Keep them separate and add your documents accordingly.
Letters of recommendation
Make sure you have sent requests to your recommenders. It’s a good idea to remind evaluators if you are waiting on them. Check the deadline in the request you sent; if it has already expired, send another request with an updated deadline.
Additional questions
Some schools ask questions within CAAPID that need to be answered before you submit. Some might be tough and need extra time. Take your time, and in the meantime, if you have answered all the questions for a particular school, go ahead and submit just that school. Don’t wait until every application is ready. You need to be fast at turning these in!
Additional documents
This section is an opportunity to showcase any additional information or proof of knowledge you have gathered over the years. Here you can submit a CV or resume, additional letters of recommendation, certificates, experience letters, etc. If you have a fourth or fifth evaluator who is willing to open their letter and scan it for you, you can submit those scanned letters here. Don’t hesitate to add extra letters, but remember that a variety of evaluators adds more value to your profile.
Read my Profile Building Guide for CV writing and competitive profile strategies.
Reporting scores
Submitting scores for the INBDE (or NBDE Parts I & II), TOEFL, ECE or other evaluations, the ADAT, or any other exam a school requires can be a grueling yet important task. The one thing to remember: you can always update these even after you have submitted your application!
That’s all I have for you to keep track of while submitting your CAAPID applications. Once you are done with this step, read what to do while you wait for schools to respond. Follow me on Instagram @apurvadabak, where I share the latest about Dental Pathways, dental school and my life. Take care!
Frequently asked questions
Can I update my test scores after submitting CAAPID?
Yes. Scores such as INBDE/NBDE, TOEFL, ECE evaluations and ADAT can be reported or updated after you have submitted your application.
Should I wait to submit until every school's questions are finished?
No. If you have answered all of the questions for one school, submit that school. Turning applications in quickly matters.
Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation?
Yes. Extra letters can go in the Additional Documents section as scanned copies. A variety of evaluators adds more value than several similar letters.