Advice?

[texasgirl2011]

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Hi everyone

This is my first post on SDN. I am not a non traditional applicant. I am a senior graduating next May 🙂 and am super excited! But I just needed some advice..I have been pre dental ever since high school and its something I've always wanted. I have done numerous programs with dental schools (SPEP,SMDEP, etc) and have tons of community service (not because I want to make my application better but I actually enjoy it). Anyways I have pretty much everything on my application perfect (comm service,interest, shadowing, rec letters) except one thing. I just dont have the right GPA. My GPA has been highlighted with B+ but when you apply to the Texas dental schools they count as only B's so my GPA is closer to a 3.0 🙁 Most of my upper level sciences are also B+ and I know they like to see A's. Well, I only had one interview this round (to Baylor) ...so I was just wondering is there any advice that anyone can give me? What I plan on doing is just more undergraduate courses and just try try try to get those A's? Also my DAT wasn't horrible and it wasn't awesome...it was just a 20AA and 20TS...well anyways any advice anyone can give would be awesome...thanks so much guys! 😛

 

[doc toothache]

Baylor is in a better position to give you advice than anyone on this forum.

 

[nze82]

-An amazing DAT score usually compensates for the lower GPA. So, if you want, you could retake the exam and shoot for something like 22+ (It's doable).
-If you don't get in this cycle, do a masters program or something. That usually helps with your overall GPA and shows the adcoms you haven't been sitting on your ass doing nothing for a whole year.
-Apply to more schools (Specially private ones).
-Working in a dental LAB is very helpful as well, because:
1) It'll make a huge difference in your performance in SIM LAB, when you actually get into dental school.
2) It strengthens your application by showing that you have had some additional exposure to the dental field.

Good luck👍

 

[slm266]

Hi everyone

This is my first post on SDN. I am not a non traditional applicant. I am a senior graduating next May 🙂 and am super excited! But I just needed some advice..I have been pre dental ever since high school and its something I've always wanted. I have done numerous programs with dental schools (SPEP,SMDEP, etc) and have tons of community service (not because I want to make my application better but I actually enjoy it). Anyways I have pretty much everything on my application perfect (comm service,interest, shadowing, rec letters) except one thing. I just dont have the right GPA. My GPA has been highlighted with B+ but when you apply to the Texas dental schools they count as only B's so my GPA is closer to a 3.0 🙁 Most of my upper level sciences are also B+ and I know they like to see A's. Well, I only had one interview this round (to Baylor) ...so I was just wondering is there any advice that anyone can give me? What I plan on doing is just more undergraduate courses and just try try try to get those A's? Also my DAT wasn't horrible and it wasn't awesome...it was just a 20AA and 20TS...well anyways any advice anyone can give would be awesome...thanks so much guys! 😛

Since youre a texas resident, with your stats your best chance will be at baylor next round. Around feb I imagine baylor admissions will not be as busy and will have more time to give you solid feedback on things that you can improve to better your chances for next cycle. Baylor loves community service (which you have), and TONS of upper division science classes. I would probably cut down this yr on the EC's, and just stick to the books. Read up on ratemyprofessor.com and make sure that your professors this year arent over-the-top hard.

I got into baylor this cycle with 3.29 sGPA 3.48 cGPA 21 AA 22 TS 22 PA. They told me my GPA was obviously on the low side, but I had solid DAT scores with plenty of service, research, experience, + killer LORs. It was pretty nerve racking to only apply to the 3 tx schools with low-average stats and only get 1 interview at baylor, but I guess it was all that I needed. If I were to do it all over, I would apply to some private schools outside of TX.

In 1 year it's hard to raise a GPA significantly, so retaking DAT to bump up to 22AA 22TS may help a lower GPA. Many may not agree with this because 20AA 20TS is solid, but what else do you have to improve besides your GPA?

Also, how did the interview go? Were you nervous or awkward? How socially competent would you rate yourself compared to those who were in the interview wait room with you?

 

[texasgirl2011]

Since youre a texas resident, with your stats your best chance will be at baylor next round. Around feb I imagine baylor admissions will not be as busy and will have more time to give you solid feedback on things that you can improve to better your chances for next cycle. Baylor loves community service (which you have), and TONS of upper division science classes. I would probably cut down this yr on the EC's, and just stick to the books. Read up on ratemyprofessor.com and make sure that your professors this year arent over-the-top hard.

I got into baylor this cycle with 3.29 sGPA 3.48 cGPA 21 AA 22 TS 22 PA. They told me my GPA was obviously on the low side, but I had solid DAT scores with plenty of service, research, experience, + killer LORs. It was pretty nerve racking to only apply to the 3 tx schools with low-average stats and only get 1 interview at baylor, but I guess it was all that I needed. If I were to do it all over, I would apply to some private schools outside of TX.

In 1 year it's hard to raise a GPA significantly, so retaking DAT to bump up to 22AA 22TS may help a lower GPA. Many may not agree with this because 20AA 20TS is solid, but what else do you have to improve besides your GPA?

Also, how did the interview go? Were you nervous or awkward? How socially competent would you rate yourself compared to those who were in the interview wait room with you?

Yes, this semester I took A&P and NSC, and got a B plus...AGAIN! But I did cut down on my EC and quit working...I was working the last three years but not this one...for some reason it's just that I keep getting B+'s!! 🙁 Well, my interview skills are SOLID...like during my programs I've gotten Miss Congeniality, Funniest female etc so I know it wasn't that...I always told myself that if I ever got an interview I would definitely get in but I didn't so I have been kinda down...I even had one of the interviewers laughing so hard my sister (who was with me) said she heard us in the waiting room...but anywho I'll do as doctoothache says and definitely ask Baylor what went wrong? But maybe considering retaking the DAT and with my year off do undergrad courses and tryyyyy for those A's! if anyone has any other advice I'd really appreciate it! And thanks everyone for the advice! 🙂

 

[Maygyver]

Like Doc said, talk to Baylor and see what went wrong. You got an interview there, so your application must be good in paper, but maybe your interview went badly. I think as far as improvement, you could take some more undergrad classes if you want, but also work on EC involvement. If you are constantly getting B+s, it means you are close to A-s, so just put in a little more effort and you should get there. Good luck!