Advice needed for a failed dentist dreamer

[dentistdreamer123]

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Hi everyone.

I'm currently in my last semester of my undergrads (4.5 years). I have a terrible cum gpa (2.66) & science gpa (2.0). My gpa was so bad that I had to change to a bachelor of arts major. However, I do have bio as my minor. I did not complete all of the pre-reqs for dental school. I've always wanted to become a dentist, however there have been some really tough circumstances I had to endure. I know that I should've studied harder. I know that I should've done so many things to excel. Yes, I know I failed at my life, I'm not expecting any sympathy.

I'm just wondering what options I have at the moment. Should I stay in school for an extra year to boost up by GPA? Go back to undergrad school? Graduate? Continue post-bacc? I have explored other careers and it was not suitable for me. After shadowing numerous dentists and my orthodontist, it really drives my motivation to become one.

 

[Blapo]

You are NOT lost. Go back to school and really try to nail those prerequisite courses. I would then consider a post-bacc, or take the DAT and apply if you can get your gpa up. Dental school is much harder than undergrad, so just prove to yourself that you can do it by really focusing on what lies ahead. Good luck!


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[DentalAptitude]

You're never going to be written off from dental school completely, but being honest it will not be easy with the gpa. There are many options for you to get into dental school, and they all will take time and effort.
-Post-Bacc: the most commonly given advice around this forum. I don't think it will serve your immediate needs, unless you have very extensive extra-curriculars. Remember, this will be competitive to apply for as well, with other people looking to boost grades. You will run into more debt this way (if that applies to you), and you have to succeed. There's no other option than doing very well.
-Working your way up the totem pole. Get a job at a practice in the front, transition to the back and compliment that with training as assistant/hygienist. Work for a few years, attend school to re-take pre-requisites and DAT. I think this is the most realistic option for you.

 

[DentalAptitude]

And, you did not fail at life. Everybody has their roadblocks, and its very easy to feel that way about life. It's how you bounce back that really matters. Attitude > Experience.

You will see this in a dental practice. I work in the front of one right now as marketing manager, and dentistry in theory is very different than in practice. Getting experience in one will benefit you far more than more schooling. You will determine not only if it's really right for you, because you will certainly know after a full 9-5, but you will also gain invaluable experience that will help on your endeavors. Best of luck.

 

[MahiMahi]

Analyze what you're doing wrong, and make an effort to turn it around. It IS possible, but you will need to work harder than you ever have in your life. Retaking those pre-reqs, and doing a post-bac or grad degree, you can make it if the rest of your application is strong.

 

[dentistdreamer123]

You are NOT lost. Go back to school and really try to nail those prerequisite courses. I would then consider a post-bacc, or take the DAT and apply if you can get your gpa up. Dental school is much harder than undergrad, so just prove to yourself that you can do it by really focusing on what lies ahead. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

You are NOT lost. Go back to school and really try to nail those prerequisite courses. I would then consider a post-bacc, or take the DAT and apply if you can get your gpa up. Dental school is much harder than undergrad, so just prove to yourself that you can do it by really focusing on what lies ahead. Good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.

 

[dentistdreamer123]

And, you did not fail at life. Everybody has their roadblocks, and its very easy to feel that way about life. It's how you bounce back that really matters. Attitude > Experience.

You will see this in a dental practice. I work in the front of one right now as marketing manager, and dentistry in theory is very different than in practice. Getting experience in one will benefit you far more than more schooling. You will determine not only if it's really right for you, because you will certainly know after a full 9-5, but you will also gain invaluable experience that will help on your endeavors. Best of luck.

Thank you for all of your tips! I'll try and contact a few schools to see my options.

 

[dentistdreamer123]

Analyze what you're doing wrong, and make an effort to turn it around. It IS possible, but you will need to work harder than you ever have in your life. Retaking those pre-reqs, and doing a post-bac or grad degree, you can make it if the rest of your application is strong.

I'm definitely determined to do well in the last bit of my semester and onto furthering my career. Thanks for the positivity.

 

[doc toothache]

And, you did not fail at life. Everybody has their roadblocks, and its very easy to feel that way about life. It's how you bounce back that really matters. Attitude > Experience.You will see this in a dental practice. I work in the front of one right now as marketing manager, and dentistry in theory is very different than in practice. Getting experience in one will benefit you far more than more schooling. You will determine not only if it's really right for you, because you will certainly know after a full 9-5, but you will also gain invaluable experience that will help on your endeavors. Best of luck.

Really?

 

[DentalAptitude]

Although this is subjective to individuals on an admissions committee, yes I believe so. A post-bacc even with top notch grades won't erase the past. Dental experience with increasingly demanding responsibilities and advancement demonstrates more of a commitment to the field than retaking classes alone. I didn't discount the post-bacc completely, I suggested the dental experience in tandem with retaking classes. Either way, a few years of substantial dental-related work combined with more schooling is stronger than just the post-bacc.

 

[Faefly]

You need to declare another major. Choose an easy major. Yes! An easy major ( no not chemistry or Biology!)
And focus on studying only, no volunteering, no shadowing, no girlfriends no boyfriends, no social life, no friends drama, no family drama, no full-time job!...... Nothing.
Just study! And you will reap what you sow. And if you choose a major your love, studying won't be a job, it will be a passion!
You will get great grades. Then when you graduate, you can at that time starting doing volunteering and stuff.
Just imagine 2 more years of an easier major will with straight A will make your GPA fly!
I mean nothing is lost when someone shows sincere change and determination
You transformation story could be a story to admire and love, and chances are you will get accepted and if you don't get accepted you can always take a master degree then a Ph.D. I mean nothing is lost yet.. You are still alive, don't you?
You are not lost! You are not a failure.
Not now, not ever!
You are only lost and a failure when you believe it.
Don't believe in that. The dream will come true after many hours of dedication and real work.

 

[BeaverLover]

You need to declare another major. Choose an easy major. Yes! An easy major ( no not chemistry or Biology!)
And focus on studying only, no volunteering, no shadowing, no girlfriends no boyfriends, no social life, no friends drama, no family drama, no full-time job!...... Nothing.
Just study! And you will reap what you sow. And if you choose a major your love, studying won't be a job, it will be a passion!
You will get great grades. Then when you graduate, you can at that time starting doing volunteering and stuff.
Just imagine 2 more years of an easier major will with straight A will make your GPA fly!
I mean nothing is lost when someone shows sincere change and determination
You transformation story could be a story to admire and love, and chances are you will get accepted and if you don't get accepted you can always take a master degree then a Ph.D. I mean nothing is lost yet.. You are still alive, don't you?
You are not lost! You are not a failure.
Not now, not ever!
You are only lost and a failure when you believe it.
Don't believe in that. The dream will come true after many hours of dedication and real work.

Non-science classes won't help OP's 2.0sGPA

 

[Faefly]

Non-science classes won't help OP's 2.0sGPA

He can take math classes and some intro level physics later. Astronomy, for example, energy class! He can take some classes in environmental sciences
. I mean he wants to improve his GPA, he can start now with non-science somewhat easy courses once he gets some A's he'll feel better, he will feel he is smarter and can do harder classes.

 

[dentistdreamer123]

Really?

I'm consider post-bacc. I just applied to a couple programs. Is this a good route to take given my circumstances, as I see that you're dentist (in status)?

 

[Onyxxx7]

I wrote this post to someone else when they were considering dental school but was older like me and had poor grades. One thing I forgot to mention is I had not taken many science courses UG before I began this journey (only 1 year of bio and 1 semester of physics, both which I did poorly and had to redo) and my oGPA was a 2.26 (yes, you read that right).

"Don't listen to anyone trying to discourage you. Is it tough? yes. Can it be done? yes. Is it worth it? depends on the person. You just have to pull the trigger and go. Everything looks hard from the base of a mountain, just climb and don't look down. I would call up a dental school in your area and ask about the prereqs and if they need to be taken over.

I quit my career after 8 years of hedge fund accounting, good salary, and was a stable job. Had to take ALL the prereqs (full time), took them all and the DATs in one year and applied. Took upper level science courses during my lag year and got a job tutoring. Started dental school and the rest is history, I am now a D2 and I'm 32. I also know many people in my class who have a family and are either living off loan money or have a wife that is supporting them.

Take it one day at a time."

Mind you, I was 29 when I started this journey. I got a 22/23/22 and I had a 4.0+ GPA (our school had A+) in my post bacc (69 credits). I am now 34 yo and in my 3rd year of dental school. If you have taken your prereqs, then a SMP (special masters program) is something to also consider. Goodluck and don't stop if this is your dream.

 

[poanli2017]

You are not a failure, repeat that to yourself every day. I would personally say go back to school, perhaps do a post bacc, and boost up that GPA. Do great on the DAT and it may take you some extra years to get to dental school, but if it's truly your dream, then you can do it. Best of luck to you!!!

 

[workofshart]

I think retaking all prereqs you didn't get at least a C in and getting A's in those and the rest of the prereqs you need to take along with a strong DAT and a masters program could give you a shot

 

[Faefly]

I wrote this post to someone else when they were considering dental school but was older like me and had poor grades. One thing I forgot to mention is I had not taken many science courses UG before I began this journey (only 1 year of bio and 1 semester of physics, both which I did poorly and had to redo) and my oGPA was a 2.26 (yes, you read that right).

"Don't listen to anyone trying to discourage you. Is it tough? yes. Can it be done? yes. Is it worth it? depends on the person. You just have to pull the trigger and go. Everything looks hard from the base of a mountain, just climb and don't look down. I would call up a dental school in your area and ask about the prereqs and if they need to be taken over.

I quit my career after 8 years of hedge fund accounting, good salary, and was a stable job. Had to take ALL the prereqs (full time), took them all and the DATs in one year and applied. Took upper level science courses during my lag year and got a job tutoring. Started dental school and the rest is history, I am now a D2 and I'm 32. I also know many people in my class who have a family and are either living off loan money or have a wife that is supporting them.

Take it one day at a time."

Mind you, I was 28 when I started this journey. I got a 22/23/22 and I had a 4.0+ GPA (our school had A+) in my post bacc (69 credits). I am now 34 yo and in my 3rd year of dental school. If you have taken your prereqs, then a SMP (special masters program) is something to also consider. Goodluck and don't stop if this is your dream.

Great message!
Great acheivements!
I am so proud of you.
I wonder what school did you end up getting to see what schools welcome non-traditional students 🙂

 

[Onyxxx7]

Great message!
Great acheivements!
I am so proud of you.
I wonder what school did you end up getting to see what schools welcome non-traditional students 🙂

Thank you!

I had received interviews at Buffalo, NYU, and LECOM but was waitlisted at all three schools and eventually got into LECOM. It was a fairly new school when I applied so they were probably more able to overlook my past. I'm confident that if nobody took me that cycle that I definitely would have made it next. Not too shabby for someone who is non-trad, only applied once, and had such an egregious past. I was asked about my previous UG grades and was just straight with them, I was a kid who didn't work to my potential (a.k.a partied) and needed to grow up.

All I'm saying is, it IS possible and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Just kick ass.

Goodluck!

 

[Faefly]

I had received interviews at Buffalo, NYU, and LECOM but was waitlisted at all three schools and eventually got into LECOM. It was a fairly new school when I applied so they were probably more able to overlook my past. I'm confident that if nobody took me that cycle that I definitely would have made it next. Not too shabby for someone who is non-trad, only applied once, and had such an egregious past. I was asked about my previous UG grades and was just straight with them, I was a kid who didn't work to my potential (a.k.a partied) and needed to grow up.

All I'm saying is, it IS possible and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Just kick ass.

Goodluck!

I like your approach. I guess being honest in such situations can save you! Rather than giving excuses that might not convince them.
Congratulations LECOM seems like a nice School in a nice place!