Advice on how to answer GPA/DAT discrepancy if asked

[iralex801]

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So Junior year finally ended. When I apply, my BCP GPA will be a 3.18 and overall GPA will be 3.37. On the DAT I got 21AA/23TS/19PA. Whats the best way to explain this discrepancy between my BCP gpa and TS on the DAT if they ask me at an interview? If I say I didn't put 100% effort during undergrad, it will make me look lazy. If I said I tried my best but didn't do well, it makes me look incompetent. Any suggestions on how people answered this question? Thanks in advance.

 

[SeattleRDH]

Think "glass-half-full" & focus on the positive.

Talk more about how you got the 23 TS (focused study skills, etc.) and less about why your GPA is low.

If they press you, say life has it's challenges, and you will certainly be challenged in dental school but no matter what your GPA ends up being, you WILL pass boards.

 

[dentalWorks]

So Junior year finally ended. When I apply, my BCP GPA will be a 3.18 and overall GPA will be 3.37. On the DAT I got 21AA/23TS/19PA. Whats the best way to explain this discrepancy between my BCP gpa and TS on the DAT if they ask me at an interview? If I say I didn't put 100% effort during undergrad, it will make me look lazy. If I said I tried my best but didn't do well, it makes me look incompetent. Any suggestions on how people answered this question? Thanks in advance.

I was thinking honesty is the best approach.

I was flogged a couple times about my initial undergrad years (3.0 GPA). I told them the truth. "I took my education for granted, didn't take care of my grades, a costly mistake, one that I will never repeat again".

 

[molar3]

why is your bcp a 3.1?.....whatever the reason is, you tell them that?
im sure they can tell if someones sincere or not

 

[doc toothache]

A lucky stroke of the pen.

 

[rockclock]

Think "glass-half-full" & focus on the positive.

Talk more about how you got the 23 TS (focused study skills, etc.) and less about why your GPA is low.

If they press you, say life has it's challenges, and you will certainly be challenged in dental school but no matter what your GPA ends up being, you WILL pass boards.

if i were an interviewer and heard the phrase "no matter what my GPA ends up being" come out of your mouth, you'd be soooo dead in the water in my mind.

 

[iralex801]

why is your bcp a 3.1?.....whatever the reason is, you tell them that?
im sure they can tell if someones sincere or not

Well, the real reason is I was lazy. I always did really bad in the beginning of the semester. Then I would study hard and do it big in the clutch like Kobe to pull off B's as my overall course grade lol. I really doubt I should say that I was lazy during an interview.

But maybe I will take dentalworks advice and tell them that I learned from my mistake of being lazy and I won't be lazy in dental school if I get in.

Anyways, thanks to all who provided their input.

BTW if it helps, I haven't received anything below a B in my undergrad career. But on the flip side, I haven't received many A's either. That's why my GPA is low lol.

To Doc toothache: It would be a lucky mouse click because the DAT is computerized lol.

 

[dentalWorks]

Well, the real reason is I was lazy. I always did really bad in the beginning of the semester. Then I would study hard and do it big in the clutch like Kobe to pull off B's as my overall course grade lol. I really doubt I should say that I was lazy during an interview.

But maybe I will take dentalworks advice and tell them that I learned from my mistake of being lazy and I won't be lazy in dental school if I get in.

Anyways, thanks to all who provided their input.

BTW if it helps, I haven't received anything below a B in my undergrad career. But on the flip side, I haven't received many A's either. That's why my GPA is low lol.

To Doc toothache: It would be a lucky mouse click because the DAT is computerized lol.

You weren't lazy....if you were then "clutch" wouldn't have happened.

The more meaningful truth is....you just didn't care about your education