2.97 GPA/21 DAT, what should I do?

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hopingforbetter

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Hi everyone!

Here is the problem (are the problems): I have a very low GPA and a relatively okay DAT (isn't good enough to make up for my GPA). My sophomore year was a complete disaster, but I managed to get my GPA higher after that. I have about 300 hours of shadowing, but those are all in a Chinese public hospital. I did find another opportunity in which I will start shadowing a dentist here in the US this May.

I sent out my application in October 2013 and failed completely (no interviews, 4 rejections). When I check online for some post-bac programs, most of them do not even consider international students. Should I go for a non-degree post-bac program instead? How many years should I do? Or should I finish a Master's degree in Biology?
 
Hi everyone!

. Should I go for a non-degree post-bac program instead? How many years should I do? Or should I finish a Master's degree in Biology?

Any of those will work. Just do them quick since your DAT scores only last 3 years.
 
You could start by checking with the ds where you applied. It is usually a good idea to shadow a profession in the country you plan on studying/practicing.
 
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I shadowed all about 100 hours in my home country while visiting there for the summer..and getting a recommendation from him..I didn't know this was bad??
 
I thinks its good to have some out-of the-country shadowing hours, but correct me if I'm wrong on this, I think majority of the dental schools require at least a certain amount of the hour from a general dentist, which means either from a DDS or DMD.
 
Dentistry from the another country may not operate the same way in the U.S. It is best you shadow in the country where the school is located.
 
Dentistry from the another country may not operate the same way in the U.S. It is best you shadow in the country where the school is located.
yeah...its a little too late for me on that one lol. Can't just find someone and fill hours now with shadowing now =(...am i screwed? i have about 60 hours with prosthodontist in the states, but all my general dentist shadowing is in another country...
 
yeah...its a little too late for me on that one lol. Can't just find someone and fill hours now with shadowing now =(...am i screwed? i have about 60 hours with prosthodontist in the states, but all my general dentist shadowing is in another country...
Your next stop is opening up a google search or if you prefer old school, grabbing a yellow page.
 
Your next stop is opening up a google search or if you prefer old school, grabbing a yellow page.
is it really that bad..? I don't mean to be redundant, but I just can't find sources on if I'm really in a bad situation right now. Just respectfully asking for further opinions T_T ahhhhh
 
Thanks everyone! However when I checked most post bac programs don't accept international students, and I have already missed the application deadline for all graduate degree programs... Would taking a few extra science classes in a community college help?
 
You could start by checking with the ds where you applied. It is usually a good idea to shadow a profession in the country you plan on studying/practicing.
I will be starting one this May so hopefully this will help me. But I am very worried about my GPA. Will 2.97 meet the 3.0 GPA cutoff some schools have?
 
I will be starting one this May so hopefully this will help me. But I am very worried about my GPA. Will 2.97 meet the 3.0 GPA cutoff some schools have?

I think you just answered your own question lol. Unfortunately, close doesn't cut it (punny, I know) - so if you can get that GPA up to a 3.0 somehow, you should do so.
 
see if you can take a couple more classes and boost that to a 3.0, it should all be fine then.
 
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