Advice

[crocko13]

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Hello Everyone,
I'm new to this site and find it tremendously helpful. I'm looking for advice on my situation. Currently I'm persuing a B.S. in Biology and have a year left. I will graduate with a sub-3.0 GPA and plan on studying /taking the DAT at the end of this summer since I'm now finishing O-Chem. Also, I'm doing extensive observation between 5 practices owned by my family dentist. I'm confident that if I spend a few hours a day this summer studying (Kaplan book, Barrons DAT book, an MCAT book, and topscore cd) that I'll perform well on the DAT. My GPA is lacking and my question is: what are my options and what can I do to strengthen my application? Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

Enter post bac or masters program.

 

[DesiDentist]

Well crocko13,

You got a year ahead of you and you can do a ton to your application. I would focus more on your numbers, keep on raising them higher.

I sent you an email and a PM with ideas.

DesiDentist

 

[gradM.S.]

Crocko13!
I was pretty much in the same position as you when I graduated from undergrad. Unfortunately, and this is my opinion only, as great as your DAT scores may be your GPA will always remain a black cloud over your head. After all you are competing against the majority of students that have above 3.0 GPAs and at least average DAT scores (volunteering aside). What I did was after college was I went into a post-bac program for a year at a local university. But what I saw was that even though I aced my classes my GPA was sub stellar. It is really hard to bring up a poor GPA and it takes many years. I then went into a master program in biology (and I loved it a lot). After two years of the masters I applied to Dental school with fairly good DAT scores. I ended up with interviews (5) but no acceptance. I think that may have been a little my fault because I applied a little later in the process. My interviews were all after January and because of my undergrad GPA I wasn't considered that seriously, eventhough my grad gpa is above a 3.8 and my DAT was over 90%. Anyway I reapplied early this year and got into a handful of schools. The moral of the story is be a realistic applicant. Don't waste your money. I would go into a masters program and do some research. I remember at my interviews my interviewers were all impressed with my research and how well I did in my grad program. And when ever you apply do it early. Just my 2 cens. Good luck and I hope that helped.