Against All Odds (Motivational)

[Sea of ASH]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone,

I am living, breathing proof that you can get into dental school; it just requires dedication and hard work.

I had a below 3 GPA coming out of undergrad ages ago. Unmotivated and confused, I started working various and random jobs in search of a spark of interest. I was intrigued with dentistry during a dental visit and I have not turned back since. I started shadowing and I did well on my DAT but unfortunately my GPA was far from competitive so I completed a 2-year masters program at a medical school. With diligence, I started my first semester as a dental student this fall. I put 3 years of blood, sweat and tears into it and it is extremely rewarding. Attending dental classes have solidified my career decision.

I just wanted give you guys a bit of motivation since I understand that some of you may be going through a tough time right now. Just remember: DO NOT give up; continue to defy the odds.

Good luck to all!

 

[Double Bonded]

Congrats dude. I love seeing threads like this. 👍

 

[Parle G]

Congrats dude. I love seeing threads like this. 👍

agreed.

 

[pickmedental]

Hard work pays off!!

Difficult things take a long time, impossible things a little longer.
~André A. Jackson

Great job and good luck in dental school.

 

[full]

PM me...we'll make a youtube documentary of you

 

[Msmouth]

Congrats! Good for being determined! How many acceptances did you get, if you don't mind sharing. Also how did you score on the DAT?

 

[Judgment Dragon]

What was your MS GPA, DAT score, and what school are you heading to?

 

[KittySquared]

What was your MS GPA, DAT score, and what school are you heading to?

Ditto.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😍

 

[atoothdoc]

Sea of ASH Thanks for sharing ! This is the kind of motivation I need !
Which Master did you go ? How did you study to get good DAT score ?

 

[100watt]

🙂

 

[triciameas89]

Reading your post really helped me.
Right now, I'm going through a major confusion as to what i really wanna do with my life in terms of career choice. I never actually knew what I wanted to be ever since I was young. I took different routes and tried to major in different courses. And this is how I got into dentistry. I took a dental assisting program and now I am a dental assistant. But when I was doing my externship, I realized that I wanna be a dentist, an orthodontist to be exact. What worries me is that I am not the best in science or math. In fact, these are my worst subjects. I'm taking my prereq's for dental school right now and I am stressing out just to pass. At this time Im questioning myself whether Im taking the right path. If prereq's are giving me a hard time, I cant imagine what dental school would be like for me. People say that you can do whatever you want as long as you give it your best. And I will surely give it more than my best. Im just hoping that I can do it...

 

[Sea of ASH]

Thank you all.

I had a 20/20/19 DAT score with lowest score of 18, highest of 21 and mainly 19/20 (in other words my individual disciplinary scores did not vary too much). I studied using Kaplan's material, Princeton biology section, Orgo-man's destroyer and many textbooks as references when needed (wiki is also a good resource just for encyclopedia type of usage).

I bought as many practice test as I could afford at the time. Please take these exam seriously since it is a good simulator of the test in terms of gauging your timing. For example solving DAT math problems is very easy, but taking the 1.08 min time allocation makes it very challenging.

I completed my Master's with a 3.3 GPA. Not great, but not bad; considering the program was intended to prepare med students for the USMLE. I also did dental-related research in a prominent lab.

triciameas89 - I will not deny that dental courses require a pretty solid science foundation. This was something I achieved through my graduate program. You may want to consider that option. So far in dental school math will not make or break your grades. However, as far as I know, Ortho is a specialty that requires a great deal of math. There is nothing that one can't learn. If you take your pre-cal books and study them, you should be okay.

Please do not hesitate to ask question. I will respond as soon as I can.

 

[flyingforever]

Thank you all.

I had a 20/20/19 DAT score with lowest score of 18, highest of 21 and mainly 19/20 (in other words my individual disciplinary scores did not vary too much). I studied using Kaplan's material, Princeton biology section, Orgo-man's destroyer and many textbooks as references when needed (wiki is also a good resource just for encyclopedia type of usage).

I bought as many practice test as I could afford at the time. Please take these exam seriously since it is a good simulator of the test in terms of gauging your timing. For example solving DAT math problems is very easy, but taking the 1.08 min time allocation makes it very challenging.

I completed my Master's with a 3.3 GPA. Not great, but not bad; considering the program was intended to prepare med students for the USMLE. I also did dental-related research in a prominent lab.

triciameas89 - I will not deny that dental courses require a pretty solid science foundation. This was something I achieved through my graduate program. You may want to consider that option. So far in dental school math will not make or break your grades. However, as far as I know, Ortho is a specialty that requires a great deal of math. There is nothing that one can't learn. If you take your pre-cal books and study them, you should be okay.

Please do not hesitate to ask question. I will respond as soon as I can.

What courses you took in your Masters program?

 

[little Buddy]

Congrats dude. I love seeing threads like this. 👍

Nice thread to light the fire in the belly! 👍

 

[MrAvicii]

Nice thread to light the fire in the belly! 👍

👍 awesome thread

 

[atoothdoc]

Want to see more threads like this

 

[flyingforever]

to the OP, what master's program did you enroll in?

where are you located? Find something cheap around your area. I did my Masters degree from a cheap university without getting any loans 😀

 

[flyingforever]

I am in NY, but I was thinking more along the lines of a one year SMP, instead of a traditional master's.
Right now my list is:

Tufts
Tulane
BU
Barry
Midwestern
NJ
Drexel
VCU
Temple


Tulane and tufts would be my top choices, but anyone know of any others?
Any personal experience anyone?

Don't do VCU, UMDNJ is pretty good and in some cases a guaranteed spot in dental school.

 

[moler]

noted, what's wrong with VCU?

 

[Msmouth]

Hello everyone,

I am living, breathing proof that you can get into dental school; it just requires dedication and hard work.

I had a below 3 GPA coming out of undergrad ages ago. Unmotivated and confused, I started working various and random jobs in search of a spark of interest. I was intrigued with dentistry during a dental visit and I have not turned back since. I started shadowing and I did well on my DAT but unfortunately my GPA was far from competitive so I completed a 2-year masters program at a medical school. With diligence, I started my first semester as a dental student this fall. I put 3 years of blood, sweat and tears into it and it is extremely rewarding. Attending dental classes have solidified my career decision.

I just wanted give you guys a bit of motivation since I understand that some of you may be going through a tough time right now. Just remember: DO NOT give up; continue to defy the odds.

Good luck to all!

Congratulations! I hope to one day be in your shoes.
I am 39, 2 kids, working part-time as a RDH and going to school now full-time. It's kicking my ass but I'm so determined and stories like yours just give me the fuel to keep going!


EDITED: I looked back and realized I already answered this post. I guess I'm already brain dead from all my studying so far!

 

[Sea of ASH]

I received a Masters of Arts in Medical Sciences. Courses were mainly medical core courses; biochem, physio, endocrinology, pharmacology, immuno, histoloy, and pathology.

Molar, please tell you me you have applied this cycle. Although you GPA is not good, with that DAT score and well-writen personal statement explaining your situation, you might get an interview.

Msmouth, with your vast amount of experience in the field and your unique situation you are a very good candidate. All you have to show them now is that you can handle the course load with numbers (GPA/DAT).

Again, these are my opinions and viewpoints. I am not an advisor so please check with your pre-dent/health staff at your school or get in contact with the individual dental schools you are considering for more advice.

Good luck! Please update us with you success stories as I sporadically check up on SDN.