All Hope Is Indeed Lost

[thegame2388]

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I'm pretty sure many of you have read my past postings about my horrible grades

Well, quarter grades are in.


First Quarter: GPA = [SIZE=-1] 2.666

Second Quarter: GPA = [/SIZE][SIZE=-1] 2.714

Third Quarter: GPA = 2.717

Total Units Taken: 43 units


Now, obviously, I want to get into dental school. In fact, I want to get into a dental school in California (anyone for that matter, I'm a current UCSD student so that helps I guess cause I'm in-state). Anyway, I do not know how to feel.

I mean, I've doe the math and I have to get a 4.08 GPA for the rest of my years (up until third quarter of Junior Year) for me to raise that sucked up to a 3.3 GPA. A 3.3!!! How am I going to even think about doing this? That's literally impossible. I mean, I just keep lowering and lowering the goal post for myself. At first, I wanted a 3.7, then a 3.5, then a 3.3 and now I'm totally lost.

Help me.

PS - I am currently taking 4 classes (4.5 units each) at my local CC and they're a breeze. I'm assured A's in all of them. They will surely raise my AADSAS GPA tremendosly. I plan to do the same next summer as well (maybe even take some classes at UCSD over the summer too). Still, am I totally done?
[/SIZE]

 

[La Dentista]

One word.

Study.

Second word.

Focus.

Goodluck

 

[DGDDS]

You're not totally done. No one ever is. It might however take you a few more years in a post-bacc or master's program to continue to raise your GPA. Don't give up hope!

 

[Selso2109]

Taking easier classes at a CC is not the correct answer here. If anything, that would just be a red flag to adcoms that you are trying to pull the wool over their eyes by taking easier classes. You need to tough it out at your current school, change study habits, get tutors, ETC. You can always do a masters as well. Good luck.

 

[blankguy]

You only have one year under your belt. There is plenty of time to improve for you don't lose hope. Next year commit yourself to hitting the books. Use all the resources available to you at your school to get extra help(tutoring,etc...). I agree with the above poster that CC is not necessarily a good way to go about it. Some schools will not accept CC credits for your prereqs. The worst thing that could happen to you at this point is taking an extra year to improve to boost your GPA a little, especially your science GPA.

 

[rollredroll]

in the words of senator blutarsky, "i suggest you start drinking heavily."

but seriously, don't let this get you down. let it be a kick in the pants to get you going. an upward trend in your grades can only help you.

 

[SugarNaCl]

From reading your post alone, I do not believe you are incapable of achieving high grades... and no, you aren't done...but with your GPA I doubt you would get into dental school without a bunch of work... like years more. Buckle down. Either you have shoddy study techniques or you aren't trying hard enough.

Do NOT take CC classes as above poster stated to raise your GPA. Everyone knows CC classes are easy. That is why it is frowned upon to take your sci reqs at a CC. Most can get an easy A at most CCs if they try and ADCOMs knows that. You are taking the wrong approach and it may look to ADCOMs like you are taking the VERY easy way out. That won't help your case.

 

[Albuterol]

it is still very early in your UG career that you have time to make up for your mistakes. but like everyone stated u need to revise your study habits and work your butt off to get good grades. you may have to stay 1more yr doing an informal postbac to boost the ugpa if needed.check the under 3.0club for encouraging stories...dont lose the faith and it can be done! good luck 👍

to the OP, i graduated with a 2.998cum/2.75sci and after 4yrs of avg grades with a slight upward trend starting my sophmore year, i was able to pull off a 3.87 in my first semester of post-bacc. i revised my study habits so that i read before lecture, rewrote my notes after lecture and read the chapter one more time. I also gave myself 1 week to study for an exam so that by test day i knew the material inside and out.

 

[jigabodo]

Your first year GPA is better than mine. 😉

 

[Aceofspades]

Do you know how GPA's work? They are weighted averages. Even if you got a 2.0 during your first year of college it wouldn't be game over. You still have 3 more years, or even 4 if you stay in college for 5 years.

Before running to a Community College learn how GPA's are calculated and calculate the highest GPA you would attain after spending 4 or 5 YEARS, not quarters, at your university. I guarantee you it will be way more than a 3.3. You could even take summer classes for extra credits and opportunities to increase your GPA.

Please, do the math. It clearly isn't over.

 

[sl2obel2ts]

better than mine too. mine was 0

 

[thegame2388]

To those who say the negatives about CC classes, NONE of them are for prereqs (I know prereqs @ CC looks bad) so I wasn't dumb enough to do that.


Anyway, I figured, let's say next year turns out to be:

3.3, 3.5, 3.4

then that becomes

2.7+2.7+2.7+3.3+3.4+3.5

which averages out to 3.05 which isn't atrocious (let alone all of the time I have junior year to get things done)

I HATE predicting grades. I predicted a 3.3 before the quarter even began and I ended up with a 2.7. Great. LOL. The thing that sucks about junior year is that third quarter (spring) doesn't count cause that's when you APPLY to d-school (may) and I would assume that I need the early applying cycle anyway. Thanks to all

 

[lemoncurry]

besides, 4 years for undergrad is really just a recommendation. It's not going to ruin your chances at dental school to take a 5th year so you can up your GPA.

 

[UCSF2012]

try easier classes or an easier school

 

[thegame2388]

Next year:

I have Organic Chem, some really easy science class (easy A+), some history class, some physics w/ lab

UGH!

 

[ucla2134]

I'm pretty sure many of you have read my past postings about my horrible grades

Well, quarter grades are in.


First Quarter: GPA = [SIZE=-1] 2.666

Second Quarter: GPA = [/SIZE][SIZE=-1] 2.714

Third Quarter: GPA = 2.717

Total Units Taken: 43 units


Now, obviously, I want to get into dental school. In fact, I want to get into a dental school in California (anyone for that matter, I'm a current UCSD student so that helps I guess cause I'm in-state). Anyway, I do not know how to feel.

I mean, I've doe the math and I have to get a 4.08 GPA for the rest of my years (up until third quarter of Junior Year) for me to raise that sucked up to a 3.3 GPA. A 3.3!!! How am I going to even think about doing this? That's literally impossible. I mean, I just keep lowering and lowering the goal post for myself. At first, I wanted a 3.7, then a 3.5, then a 3.3 and now I'm totally lost.

Help me.

PS - I am currently taking 4 classes (4.5 units each) at my local CC and they're a breeze. I'm assured A's in all of them. They will surely raise my AADSAS GPA tremendosly. I plan to do the same next summer as well (maybe even take some classes at UCSD over the summer too). Still, am I totally done?
[/SIZE]

A lot of CC students got a perfect A; however some of them GPA are suffered tremendously when they go to UC. I just take this example from my 2 friends who went to CC.
I think dental school look favor on students can still maintain a good grade when they transfered compare to students who screw up in UC.
Thus, in your case, because you are not transferring, if you do that school will know that the grade you earned is just an easy grade. I think you can do well at UCSD just study 3 times harder and prove to them that i am not just a loser who went back to CC just to get an easy grade.
Good luck

 

[blankguy]

Next year:

I have Organic Chem, some really easy science class (easy A+), some history class, some physics w/ lab

UGH!

Since you didn't do so well, I recommend pushing physics to your Junior year so that you can concentrate on Organic Chemistry. You can always take heavier science course load later when you become more comfortable with the science classes. You may even take physics over next summer if you want.

 

[thegame2388]

I don't think organic chemistry will BE THAT DEMANDING, forcing me to push courses around. Pushing it to junior would then mean I would less time on my upper division human biology courses

 

[blankguy]

I don't think organic chemistry will BE THAT DEMANDING, forcing me to push courses around. Pushing it to junior would then mean I would less time on my upper division human biology courses

Have you taken introductory biology? If so you can take upper level Bio course instead of Physics.

 

[thegame2388]

I tested out of the first two quarters of the general biology series. I just need the third quarter (which is schedule for winter quarter for me).

For those of you really wanna see my four year plan, go here:

http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=26830282pa2.jpg

 

[AReynolds04]

I go to UCSD as well and my first year was similar as well. I got a 2.9 GPA my first year but I am graduating this sunday with a 3.5. Just work hard and study and you'll be fine!

 

[thegame2388]

Yeah graduating GPA is much much different than the GPA you apply with for medical or dental school. In your case, you had A WHOLE YEAR to improve. My time is limited to only sophmore and 2/3 of junior year.

 

[JamieMac]

Since you didn't do so well, I recommend pushing physics to your Junior year so that you can concentrate on Organic Chemistry. You can always take heavier science course load later when you become more comfortable with the science classes. You may even take physics over next summer if you want.

I think this is great advice. I had Orgo I/Phy I, then Orgo II/Phy II, and found it to be very time consuming. Learning Orgo is like learning a new language, and Physics was filled with a ton of online homework assignments (that were very challenging). Don't set yourself up for another sub-3.0 semester. I met a few kids that were so stubborn about taking certain classes together only to find their GPA suffered as a result. Given your track record, I would give this serious consideration prior to doing it. Good luck.

 

[harjay]

I have a SWEET IDEA:

Get involved with the UCSD predental club and come enjoy some of the enriching dental experiences they have to offer. Getting some hands on dental assisting and opportunities to do things dental related will certainly help.

Hey, maybe you can even find a study partner.
Basically, what you are doing now isn't working... You need to totally turn it around when you face O-chem next year because it'll be more work than the classes you've already taken. Basically you need to start going through all the material in your classes until you understand it better and you seriously need to analyze your study habits; they obviously aren't working.

Get in gear and put some serious effort in next quarter. Find something that you're doing that draws away from your studies and drop it. You will need to put more time in if you are going to get what you want.
GL!
Harjay 🙂

 

[alanan84]

I think this is great advice. I had Orgo I/Phy I, then Orgo II/Phy II, and found it to be very time consuming. Learning Orgo is like learning a new language, and Physics was filled with a ton of online homework assignments (that were very challenging). Don't set yourself up for another sub-3.0 semester. I met a few kids that were so stubborn about taking certain classes together only to find their GPA suffered as a result. Given your track record, I would give this serious consideration prior to doing it. Good luck.

I agree 100% here, I'm taking orgo right now over the summer and it's ridiculous! I don't have time for anything! And it is the only class I'm taking. It's a VERY demanding class that requires tons of studying to do well. I've already taken Physics and that's tough too! If you're struggling now, you really need to think about softening up your schedule because you have no idea!

 

[Montserrat]

This is what stuck out to me, more than the GPA.

I[SIZE=-1]
Total Units Taken: 43 units
[/SIZE]

Unless your credit unit system was different than my own, that is one incredible courseload. Granted, intro courses aren't as taxing but still, that's pretty intensive.

My GPA absolutely sucked my first THREE years (lower than your GPA), but I nailed my upper division coursework. Ask yourself honestly if you tried your absolute best - if you didn't, it's time to get serious. If you did try your best however, you have to roll with your cards and either try a different method of learning or search for another career path. It certainly is possible to be rebound - but only you know for certain if you have more to give.

 

[babyeater]

hope isn't lost....if you can really commit to yourself to step up your game.

 

[thegame2388]

Silly old me thought college would be easier than high school. Ah..

 

[D.D.S.]

Dude you are not done.... i had a 2.7 my first year, and i graduated with a 3.71.. no more parties, no more girls (lol sike!) but you get the point... study study study and dont aim for A's, go for A+'s. I applied a little late last year, and thats why i am still not in dental school, but atleast i am waitlisted at 4 schools... dont give up... peace..

 

[blankguy]

Silly old me thought college would be easier than high school. Ah..

What in the world made you think that??😱
Friends that tell you school was one big party??

 

[Matty44]

Yeah graduating GPA is much much different than the GPA you apply with for medical or dental school. In your case, you had A WHOLE YEAR to improve. My time is limited to only sophmore and 2/3 of junior year.

Says who??? There's no reason that you can't wait 'til spring of your senior year (or later) to apply, especially since you need all the time you can get to raise your GPA. I know its typical to apply towards the end of junior year, but if your GPA isn't good or where you think it should be, no one is forcing you to apply then. I'm not too familiar with the quarter system, but it sounds like you had 1 full school year of about 2.7 GPA. If thats the case, and you got a 4.0 the next 3 years, you could get it up around 3.7. Just relax, take a course load that you can handle the next 3 years. Get A's in most, if not all of your classes, and you'll have a decent/great GPA when you apply.

I'm 24, I graduated a little over a year ago, and I'm waiting for my wife to finish her masters before I (hopefully) start Dental school. Just remember what your parents always told you, "If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" Don't worry about what the "crowd" is doing. Just get your GPA up to where it needs to be to be competitive, and THEN apply. GOOD LUCK!

 

[thegame2388]

The whole 'apply end of senior year' scheme would only apply to me if I can't manage to pull my GPA to about a 3.2-3.3

 

[Matty44]

Well, obviously if you can get your GPA up to a point where, with your DAT score, you are comfortable applying junior year, then that's great. It just sounded like you were freaking about about not having enough time to get a good enough GPA to apply to dental school, and I was just pointing out that by no means is ALL HOPE LOST if you can't do that by junior year.

 

[blankguy]

The whole 'apply end of senior year' scheme would only apply to me if I can't manage to pull my GPA to about a 3.2-3.3

It's an alternative plan in case you can't do it. Just focus on studying and see how it plays out. A one year delay is nothing, there a plenty of people who don't get acceptances fresh out of undergrad.

 

[thegame2388]

Alright. hopefull that won't happen and few A+'s wouldn't hurt either lol. thanks y'all

 

[thegame2388]

To update you guys, fall quarter came and went. I dropped Ochem cuz i thought i was gonna fail it. instead, i had 3 classes left: natural science class, history, and education studies. i got A- on all of them.
to a
for a 3.7.

that raised my GPA from a 2.71 to a 2.92. next quarter ought to be around a 3.45 ish to raise it up to a 3.01.

woohoo im on the right track!

 

[Imanee]

Congratulations! Keep it up!👍😉

 

[dent2009]

To update you guys, fall quarter came and went. I dropped Ochem cuz i thought i was gonna fail it. instead, i had 3 classes left: natural science class, history, and education studies. i got A- on all of them.
to a
for a 3.7.

that raised my GPA from a 2.71 to a 2.92. next quarter ought to be around a 3.45 ish to raise it up to a 3.01.

woohoo im on the right track!

The improvement is good and you're on the right track, but not gonna impress the adcoms when they see you dropped ochem and ended up only with 3 courses and 2 of those 3 aren't science classes. Remember, they need to see that you can handle the 20+ credit/semester in dental school. So show'em what you got!

 

[DentalRocks09]

dude ur not done..i had similar scores my first yr and gradually improved..if u show a trend where ur improving...ur 1st yr scores wont really hold u back...just stay headstrong and ull be fine

 

[chober]

Yea UCSD was a killer for me......huge mule on my back. I took 5 years and 220 units and got a 2.3

 

[xhamburgersamx]

Good job, keep taking CC classes in the summer to bring up your aadsas gpa. If you can maintain 3.7 throughout your 3rd year and end up with a 3.2 /w your CC grades, you have a shot /w a good DAT score.

 

[thegame2388]

Thanks for all the encouragement. I figured if I get 3.3's from now on, my GPA will eventually break the 3.2 range which, for me, is content enough for the places I wanna go.

 

[Major Groove]

There's nothing wrong with CC classes, in fact they are usually smaller and better than equivalent State school classes. (University of Oklahoma is a case in point.)

It's what you learn, not how "hard" or "easy" it is. One option is to look for smaller, private colleges instead of football giants. If you can establish a relationship with your profs and find good tutors, it should be no problem to ace the upper division classes.

Some profs have even floated me an A just because I was in their office every other day discussing the material, showing interest. (granted I had, like, and 88.6%)

 

[doc3232]

So ya...great advice in this thread and I hope you read and understood it. First of all, your math is wrong.
You have about a 2.7 for 1 year.
If you get all A's your 2nd year then (4.0+2.7)/2 = 3.35
If you get all A's your third year also then (4.0+4.0+2.7)/3 = 3.5ish

So, now that you know there is hope. You need to get committed. I don't know you but I know that you are fully capable of the A's like everyone in this thread has said. What you are doing now is not working, get a new plan.

good luck

 

[Flipper405]

Yeah, you don't have to apply your third year... it may be better to wait until after you graduate to give yourself more time to bring your grades up. The bottom line is you have to earn it - I disagree with people saying to continue at CC. I don't think that will benefit you. Maybe you can do core classes, but I would say you need to go elsewhere for your prereqs.

My GPA absolutely sucked my first THREE years (lower than your GPA), but I nailed my upper division coursework. Ask yourself honestly if you tried your absolute best - if you didn't, it's time to get serious. If you did try your best however, you have to roll with your cards and either try a different method of learning or search for another career path. It certainly is possible to be rebound - but only you know for certain if you have more to give.

+1

 

[dr bojangles]

be consistent with an upward trend.
good luck.

 

[chober]

I got a real strong upward trend. Now I can only hope someone appreciates it.

 

[thegame2388]

So ya...great advice in this thread and I hope you read and understood it. First of all, your math is wrong.
You have about a 2.7 for 1 year.
If you get all A's your 2nd year then (4.0+2.7)/2 = 3.35
If you get all A's your third year also then (4.0+4.0+2.7)/3 = 3.5ish

So, now that you know there is hope. You need to get committed. I don't know you but I know that you are fully capable of the A's like everyone in this thread has said. What you are doing now is not working, get a new plan.
good luck

Yeah and if I win the lotto, I'd buy myself a Ferrari but that's not the way works. You're oversimplifying it. No one can get 4.0. Yes, some can, but it's EXTREMELY hard to get a 4.0 considering A's are usually given from 94%+. That's hard man. I can understand 3.5 but yeah.

 

[verticalbite]

I'm pretty sure many of you have read my past postings about my horrible grades

Well, quarter grades are in.


First Quarter: GPA = [SIZE=-1]2.666[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Second Quarter: GPA = [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]2.714[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Third Quarter: GPA = 2.717[/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Total Units Taken: 43 units[/SIZE]


[SIZE=-1]Now, obviously, I want to get into dental school. In fact, I want to get into a dental school in California (anyone for that matter, I'm a current UCSD student so that helps I guess cause I'm in-state). Anyway, I do not know how to feel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]I mean, I've doe the math and I have to get a 4.08 GPA for the rest of my years (up until third quarter of Junior Year) for me to raise that sucked up to a 3.3 GPA. A 3.3!!! How am I going to even think about doing this? That's literally impossible. I mean, I just keep lowering and lowering the goal post for myself. At first, I wanted a 3.7, then a 3.5, then a 3.3 and now I'm totally lost. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]Help me. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=-1]PS - I am currently taking 4 classes (4.5 units each) at my local CC and they're a breeze. I'm assured A's in all of them. They will surely raise my AADSAS GPA tremendosly. I plan to do the same next summer as well (maybe even take some classes at UCSD over the summer too). Still, am I totally done?[/SIZE]

Well for one you need to be studying instead of being on this website.

Actually, I don't think you have a chance at all of gettin accepted into dental school. With those grades you will never survive a curriculum of 30 hours a semester!!!

A dental school will not even give you an interview in my opinion.

 

[verticalbite]

I also gave myself 1 week to study for an exam so that by test day i knew the material inside and out.

but admissions committes will know that he is totally incapable of surviving a rigorous curriculum in dental school.


For example, at my school we had 8 midterms in 10 days. Now do you think you have all this time to study for these???

Heck no, we are studying the night before, sometimes all night. Now someone that did poorly in undergrad would drown in dental school. You can be positive and disagree but you know I am right!