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[molarfull.DDS]

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

170 credit hours is a ton of hours (it only takes about 120 to get a bachelor's degree). Year-to-year GPA's would be better if you are arguing for an upward trend, or better performance in more recent advanced courses.

Why did you apply to Hofstra's program if you are interested in dental school? What assurances have they given you about their program meeting your expectations and plans?

Being 24 isn't old. How long have you been a dental assistant?

 

[molarfull.DDS]

Thanks for the honest feedback! You’re right—with ~170 undergraduate credit hours, my cumulative GPA won't shift dramatically, so my strategy focuses on demonstrating recent mastery rather than relying on the cumulative number alone.
I applied to Hofstra’s Natural Sciences post-bac specifically for their courses across 32 credits. Taking upper-division science coursework (Biochemistry, Advanced Physiology, etc.) allows those credits to count directly into my undergraduate science/BCPM GPA line rather than sitting on a separate graduate transcript. I have set up a meeting to meet with the program advisor to see what they can do for me. Hofstra’s program serves students taking upper-level sciences, and their Pre-Health Advisory Committee writes letters for dental applicants (AADSAS) as well as medical applicants. Hofstra has an active Pre-Dental Society and tracks placements into dental schools like NYU Dentistry and Columbia. While I know their general pipeline skews pre-med, my goal isn't pre-med advising—it's taking rigorous, upper-level science courses, getting straight A's, and securing an institutional committee letter.

I was a dental assistant for a year at the same clinic I was shadowing. But I took a break to study for the DAT and focus purely on my studies; I will definitely accumulate more hours throughout my journey.

 

[macsak]

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some blunt, realistic advice from people who have navigated serious GPA repair or non-traditional paths into dental school.
Where I’m at right now:
Undergrad: ~169 credits total (BA in Neuroscience & Behavior, Major GPA: 3.3).

The Bad: Cumulative undergrad GPA is ~2.51, and my (science) GPA sits at 2.46 overall due to early struggles freshman and sophomore year of undergrad. My biology GPA overall is a 3.1 across 111 credits.

The Recent Upswing: I just pulled a B+ in Organic Chemistry II and an A in Orgo Lab. Besides that, I have really changed my study habits.
Experience: Extensive hands-on dental assisting experience in actual clinics. 70+ hours; can get more. I also have work experience besides clinical, showing good leadership.

Current Status: I’m in limbo—got denied from Barry’s program, still waiting on other Master’s programs like Touro or EMU, but I have an acceptance to Hofstra’s premedical post-bacc certificate program. I’ve finished all the pre-reqs needed besides biochem.

My Core Questions:
1. The Hofstra Pre-Med/Health Trap: I’m accepted to Hofstra, but I know their advising and hospital pipeline heavily leans toward medical school (MD/DO). Since I want to do dentistry, will doing a structured pre-med post-bacc hurt me or keep me isolated from proper dental advising? Or do schools just care that I’m taking heavy upper-level sciences and getting straight A's?

2. The GPA Math vs. Reality: Because I have 169 prior credits, even if I crush 32 credits at Hofstra with a 3.9, my AADSAS cumulative/science GPA, Will automated screeners instantly trash me before a human ever looks at my file?

3. The DAT Factor: I am taking the DAT soon and I am very confident I will score very high (aiming for a 21+/450 equivalent). Combined with my 3.3 Neuroscience major GPA, recent Orgo success, and dental assisting background, will a killer DAT + Hofstra post-bacc be enough to get human admissions committees to look past the historical 2.5?

If anyone has gotten into dental school with a heavy, low-GPA legacy background and used a post-bacc or high DAT to break through automated filters, I would seriously appreciate your advice. How do I play this hand right? I am also 24. I dont care how long it will take, but I surely want to become a dentist.

you need to take graduate level classes rather than a post bacc
you will get a separate graduate gpa with an SMP
postbacc counts for your undergraduate gpa...

 

[molarfull.DDS]

you need to take graduate level classes rather than a post bacc
you will get a separate graduate gpa with an SMP
postbacc counts for your undergraduate gpa..

you need to take graduate level classes rather than a post bacc
you will get a separate graduate gpa with an SMP
postbacc counts for your undergraduate gpa...

yup thats what i aiming to do. Barry Unversity masters program said no. I've applied to the Touro MS in medical sciences and also waiting on couple others like EMU, Larkin, Nova, and WesternU. I am afraid for example Touro's program who I would love to attend wont get back in time and I dont want to be stuck with doing a postbacc even though it would raise my undergrad gpa if I peform well.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Let us know what your thoughts are after you meet with them. Where do they think you can make the strongest impression? As macsak points out, undergrad postbac courses count to your undergraduate GPA which won't budge after 170 credit hours. Also, who will write your letters of recommendation and fill out the AADSAS evaluation forms?