Here we go...

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

Been ghosting for a minute now, but this forum is a goldmine of advice.
My stats:
bio 1 - b
bio 2 - b
humant - c
humphy - c
microbio - b
histo - a
immun - b
chem 1 - b
chem 2 - a
ochem 1 - b
ochem 2 - a
biochem 1 - b
biochem 2 - b
physc 1 - c
physc 2 - d
cal 1 - f (repeat=a)
cal 2 - a
CGPA = 2.83

Future plans:
Start shadowing May till August 6 hours/day M-F
Take DAT late July
Applying in August
Retake humant, humaphy, and physc 2 in fall

I'm an URM (African-American) and live in a state that has a dental school. So, am i headed in the right direction? Or, should I consider doing a full postbacc or masters.

Thanks in advance🙂!

dentalWorks · May 1, 2011

to SDN

You have 2 things going against you:
1) low cGPA, and
2) Too many B's in sciences with a sprinkle of Cs... Normally this isn't bad, but it drags down the science-GPA.... By the way, whats the s-GPA?

I don't like to discourage you from your initial planning, but if money is tight, I wouldn't apply this cycle. Use that $$$ to fix your application (post-bacc is a great option if your undergrad institute still has biology classes that you haven't taken).

How many schools were you looking to apply to?

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

Glad to see you again dentalworks! LOL @ "Too many B's in sciences with a sprinkle of Cs..." Tell me about it... Been a long time since i calculated my scigpa. if i remember it was 2.96. My undergrad has virology and medical micro, but in chem (my minor) there's physical chem 1&2, Quant & instrumental analysis. I'm a patient person and i wouldn't mind waiting ONE more year to apply to ensure a better app. do you think taking them chem courses would be ok while doing postbacc?

thanks

mr24 · May 1, 2011

Get an 18 on the dat and you are golden! Make sure to apply to meherry and Howard.

dentalWorks · May 1, 2011

Rxotic said:
Glad to see you again dentalworks! LOL @ "Too many B's in sciences with a sprinkle of Cs..." Tell me about it... Been a long time since i calculated my scigpa. if i remember it was 2.96. My undergrad has virology and medical micro, but in chem (my minor) there's physical chem 1&2, Quant & instrumental analysis. I'm a patient person and i wouldn't mind waiting ONE more year to apply to ensure a better app. do you think taking them chem courses would be ok while doing postbacc?

thanks

I am assuming the chemistry courses your talking about are part of your graduation requirement... right? So its physically impossible to take them while doing post-bacc lol..... Post-bacc means taking classes AFTER obtaining a bachelors degree.....

When do you graduate? and when are you planning to start post-bacc (or masters)?

The only advice I have for you (and I think you know what Im about to say) is to literally get an A in every class from now on. You need to start GPA dmg-control.

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

I've graduated with a BS in Bio and a minor in chem. Planning on starting it (postbacc) this fall. that way i can continue to study and prepare for DAT over the next 2 months.

dentalWorks said:
I am assuming the chemistry courses your talking about are part of your graduation requirement... right? So its physically impossible to take them while doing post-bacc lol..... Post-bacc means taking classes AFTER obtaining a bachelors degree.....

When do you graduate? and when are you planning to start post-bacc (or masters)?

The only advice I have for you (and I think you know what Im about to say) is to literally get an A in every class from now on. You need to start GPA dmg-control.

4thMolar · May 1, 2011

You're heading in the right direction by starting a post-bacc, but it's hard to give advice on whether or not you should apply this cycle without seeing any DAT scores. If you score well on the DAT, I'd say apply to a few schools and see how it goes, b/c you already have a low GPA and that's going against you. BTW, if you haven't even started shadowing yet, how do you know dentistry is the field you want to go in?

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

actually started last year but ended up taking a 10 month contract job. The only other field i was interested in is pharmacy. Worked as a tech while in undergrad and realized it wasn't my fit. Trust me dentistry is it.

4thMolar said:
You're heading in the right direction by starting a post-bacc, but it's hard to give advice on whether or not you should apply this cycle without seeing any DAT scores. If you score well on the DAT, I'd say apply to a few schools and see how it goes, b/c you already have a low GPA and that's going against you. BTW, if you haven't even started shadowing yet, how do you know dentistry is the field you want to go in?

AwesomeTeeth · May 1, 2011

You're an URM. You have some upper level biology's. You have a state dental school.

Ace the DAT, get some shadowing experience in, and I think you'll be solid for some interviews. IMO, you should take a shot and apply this cycle. You never know what can happen.

I wouldn't go all out with 20 schools just yet. Maybe just your state school and Howard/Meharry + a few others. It comes out to average $150 per school so it shouldn't be TOO much money.

I would push up that DAT date until early July if possible and submit your app around mid June. You can do post-bac in the fall to prepare for next cycle just in case.

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

You make a good point👍. One that I've been considering as well. The only thing that I question going that route is how it will affect my reapp cycle if i dont get in this cycle.

AwesomeTeeth said:
You're an URM. You have some upper level biology's. You have a state dental school.

Ace the DAT, get some shadowing experience in, and I think you'll be solid for some interviews. IMO, you should take a shot and apply this cycle. You never know what can happen.

I wouldn't go all out with 20 schools just yet. Maybe just your state school and Howard/Meharry + a few others. It comes out to average $150 per school so it shouldn't be TOO much money.

I would push up that DAT date until early July if possible and submit your app around mid June. You can do post-bac in the fall to prepare for next cycle just in case.

dentalWorks · May 1, 2011

Rxotic said:
I've graduated with a BS in Bio and a minor in chem. Planning on starting it (postbacc) this fall. that way i can continue to study and prepare for DAT over the next 2 months.

ohhh I see. Well, I am not sure taking upper level chem courses is going to help your cause. You will benefit more from focusing on upper level bios instead.

Rxotic said:
You make a good point👍. One that I've been considering as well. The only thing that I question going that route is how it will affect my reapp cycle if i dont get in this cycle.

Aside from loosing money, I don't see it effecting you negatively. Re-applicants (especially those with improved stats) aren't looked negatively.

Tell us how many credits that 2.9 sGPA is from. We can give you an idea of how many more credits you need to take in post-bacc to bring it up.

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

143 semester credits. do you think the masters would be better? let me remind you there's only 2 maybe 3 more undergrad upper level bio courses i can take at my home university.

dentalWorks said:
ohhh I see. Well, I am not sure taking upper level chem courses is going to help your cause. You will benefit more from focusing on upper level bios instead.

Aside from loosing money, I don't see it effecting you negatively. Re-applicants (especially those with improved stats) aren't looked negatively.

Tell us how many credits that 2.9 sGPA is from. We can give you an idea of how many more credits you need to take in post-bacc to bring it up.

DrRoyal Pains · May 1, 2011

Rxotic said:
Been ghosting for a minute now, but this forum is a goldmine of advice.
My stats:
bio 1 - b
bio 2 - b
humant - c
humphy - c
microbio - b
histo - a
immun - b
chem 1 - b
chem 2 - a
ochem 1 - b
ochem 2 - a
biochem 1 - b
biochem 2 - b
physc 1 - c
physc 2 - d
cal 1 - f (repeat=a)
cal 2 - a
CGPA = 2.83

Future plans:
Start shadowing May till August 6 hours/day M-F
Take DAT late July
Applying in August
Retake humant, humaphy, and physc 2 in fall

I'm an URM (African-American) and live in a state that has a dental school. So, am i headed in the right direction? Or, should I consider doing a full postbacc or masters.

Thanks in advance🙂!

Looking good so far. Just try and keep your sGPA as high as possible. Anyway, what the hell does ghosting mean ha?

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

browsing from time to time not engaging in forum life... lol

DrRoyal Pains said:
Looking good so far. Just try and keep your sGPA as high as possible. Anyway, what the hell does ghosting mean ha?

AwesomeTeeth · May 1, 2011

DrRoyal Pains said:
Anyway, what the hell does ghosting mean ha?

I think it means reading the forums but never posting. Hence, a ghost.

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

I don't see why not, unless you graduated outside the U.S./canada :shrug:

DPizzle said:
are all URM's treated equally?

for example do hispanic applicants have just as much leeway as african american applicants?

TheScienceGuy1 · May 1, 2011

OP, your GPA is a bit too low. Unless, you kill the DAT (i.e get 23+ on all sections) I would NOT appply this year. Do 1 year of masters, 4.0 it and you will have a much higher chance.

Also, I've noticed your going to shadow 6 hours a day, may-aug . I think its way too much shadowing. Once you get 100+ hours your fine, if you want you can do around 200 hrs of shadowing, but more then that is just waste of time.

Also, you did not mention volunterring in your post. Having around 100 hrs of volunteering will also help your application.

mr24 · May 1, 2011

TheScienceGuy1 said:
OP, your GPA is a bit too low. Unless, you kill the DAT (i.e get 23+ on all sections) I would NOT appply this year. Do 1 year of masters, 4.0 it and you will have a much higher chance.

Also, I've noticed your going to shadow 6 hours a day, may-aug . I think its way too much shadowing. Once you get 100+ hours your fine, if you want you can do around 200 hrs of shadowing, but more then that is just waste of time.

Also, you did not mention volunterring in your post. Having around 100 hrs of volunteering will also help your application.

23 in all sections is a little high if you ask me. I know a few minorities that had sub 3.0 gpas and 18s or 19s on the dat and got multiple acceptances. Non urms would definitely need 23+ on all sections.

TheScienceGuy1 · May 1, 2011

mr24 said:
23 in all sections is a little high if you ask me. I know a few minorities that had sub 3.0 gpas and 18s or 19s on the dat and got multiple acceptances. Non urms would definitely need 23+ on all sections.

I forgot that OP is URM. But, still getting a high score on RC or sciences would def help.

Rxotic · May 1, 2011

Thanks for the info. in that may thru aug span i will be shadowing in 3 different settings, general, peds, and ortho. I hope to volunteer at a local state clinic. the first 3 are already scheduled and confirmed.

TheScienceGuy1 said:
OP, your GPA is a bit too low. Unless, you kill the DAT (i.e get 23+ on all sections) I would NOT appply this year. Do 1 year of masters, 4.0 it and you will have a much higher chance.

Also, I've noticed your going to shadow 6 hours a day, may-aug . I think its way too much shadowing. Once you get 100+ hours your fine, if you want you can do around 200 hrs of shadowing, but more then that is just waste of time.

Also, you did not mention volunterring in your post. Having around 100 hrs of volunteering will also help your application.

Here we go...

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