3.5 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA - Chances next cycle? Advice?

[lrm28]

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I'm a senior in undergrad applying next cycle. Retaking my DAT in January and will be taking a full year of post-bacc science classes after I apply to dental schools.
Wondering what my chances are next cycle and what I can do to improve. What should I aim for when I retake the DAT? And would my extracurricular involvement do anything to offset my GPA?

Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Business Admin
cGPA: 3.5
sGPA: 3.3
BCP GPA: 3.2
First DAT: 19AA, 18TS, 20PAT
Shadowing : ~150 hours
Medical/Dental Volunteering: 200+ hours (includes 2 dental mission trips)
Research: 3 semesters (neuroscience)
Other: held 6 total leadership positions within last two years (in Pre-Dental Society, Greek life, & a philanthropic organization); academic mentor to 2 freshmen; member of one honor society; tutored high school biology; recipient of a full ride to my university; worked 1-2 part-time jobs a few semesters

All insight appreciated!

 

[ajj70]

I'd save the money and skip the post-bacc. I'd probably skip retaking the DAT as well. Your app looks good if you have good LOR's and a good PS. I don't know that adding a point or two to your DAT or taking more classes would make any difference to your application.

 

[pgex2t]

It really depends on what you're aiming for. If you're looking to get into any dental school (no preference), then yes, ajj70 is correct. If you're looking to get into a particularly selective one/have the largest selection you can, the best method to make yourself an even more competitive applicant is to retake the DAT and aim for as high as you feel you can achieve (don't retake if you aren't confident you can do better). The post-bacc will help, but the benefit to cost ratio is extremely low when compared to retaking the DAT and say, getting a 22+ Given that your gpa is already within an acceptable range. As I've said, it really depends on what you're aiming for and the resources you have at your disposal. Either way, good LORs and an excellent PS can only help.

 

[ajj70]

Average GPA for admitted students last year was 3.56 with a sGPA of 3.49. AA average was 19.9. pgex2t's scores show that it's not about stats alone. The rest of your app will get someone's attention and you will save yourself 40,000 in the process.

 

[pgex2t]

Average GPA for admitted students last year was 3.56 with a sGPA of 3.49. AA average was 19.9. pgex2t's scores show that it's not about stats alone. The rest of your app will get someone's attention and you will save yourself 40,000 in the process.

Woah, not quite sure if you tried to insult me (or why if you did) based purely on my DAT scores...I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope you factored in both my gpa and dat before making that comment about me. For OP's reference, I am by no means somebody who has high stats across the board and my scores alone aren't representative of my entire application. My situation is abysmal gpa (part of sub-3.0 club at the end of undergrad), late batch (13), and decent DAT. My DAT is my only saving grace stats-wise. I have taken a post-bacc so I know where you're coming from-but I still think that a post-bacc is unnecessary for you.

Tldr: A good DAT can offset a terribad GPA to some extent, but your ECs, LORs, and PS must still be decent. Your GPA is by no means terribad, but it's unquestionable that a higher DAT score couldn't hurt you.

 

[ajj70]

Woah, not quite sure if you tried to insult me (or why if you did) based purely on my DAT scores...I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and hope you factored in both my gpa and dat before making that comment about me. For OP's reference, I am by no means somebody who has high stats across the board and my scores alone aren't representative of my entire application. My situation is abysmal gpa (part of sub-3.0 club at the end of undergrad), late batch (13), and decent DAT. My DAT is my only saving grace stats-wise. I have taken a post-bacc so I know where you're coming from-but I still think that a post-bacc is unnecessary for you.

Tldr: A good DAT can offset a terribad GPA to some extent, but your ECs, LORs, and PS must still be decent. Your GPA is by no means terribad, but it's unquestionable that a higher DAT score couldn't hurt you.

I was just pointing out that stats are not the only factor considered and pointing out that the OP's GPA is not low compared to accepted students. It is "slightly" below the average but not really that much at all and the rest of the app looks really good.

 

[pgex2t]

I was just pointing out that stats are not the only factor considered and pointing out that the OP's GPA is not low compared to accepted students. It is "slightly" below the average but not really that much at all and the rest of the app looks really good.

I see. I feel pretty lucky to receive the number of interviews I have so far, given my stats. In any case, I stand with my original opinion that OP should try to get a higher DAT score if he can-if he was asking how to make himself a more competitive applicant. While it is true that stats aren't the only things considered, no school disregards them. As you seem golden in the EC department, I feel that the DAT is where you can make the most impact if you were looking to make yourself a more competitive applicant, based on my own personal experience this cycle.

 

[lrm28]

It really depends on what you're aiming for. If you're looking to get into any dental school (no preference), then yes, ajj70 is correct. If you're looking to get into a particularly selective one/have the largest selection you can, the best method to make yourself an even more competitive applicant is to retake the DAT and aim for as high as you feel you can achieve (don't retake if you aren't confident you can do better). The post-bacc will help, but the benefit to cost ratio is extremely low when compared to retaking the DAT and say, getting a 22+ Given that your gpa is already within an acceptable range. As I've said, it really depends on what you're aiming for and the resources you have at your disposal. Either way, good LORs and an excellent PS can only help.

Thank you so much for the advice! I'm pretty confident that I could raise my DAT to at least a 22 this time around, so I think that is where I will focus my energy. I'm also feeling confident in my personal statement, but am worried about my LORs as I don't really have any professors who know me well enough to write a particularly excellent letter.

 

[pgex2t]

Thank you so much for the advice! I'm pretty confident that I could raise my DAT to at least a 22 this time around, so I think that is where I will focus my energy. I'm also feeling confident in my personal statement, but am worried about my LORs as I don't really have any professors who know me well enough to write a particularly excellent letter.

You can proactively ask them if they would write you one and ask if they would like to meet with you to discuss it. Some professors are open to getting to know you better before they write your recommendations.