Any Advice Appreciated - Low GPA, Work experience

[Hokie Grad]

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Here's my deal:

- Graduated in 2002 from a top 15 engineering school with BS in Chemical Engineering
- Undergrad GPA: 2.8 (ChE is a b)
-Science GPA: 3.2
-Worked for a pharmaceutical development company in Philly and was promoted from formulation scientist to sr. scientist to group leader within 3 years of working there.
- Had to switch jobs last year, because my wife got her podiatric residency in MA, I now work as a technical account manager for a Pharma ingredient company
-I am currently enrolled in Bio-I, and A&P (for requirements), and plan to take Micro and Bio-Chem in Spring as well as Molecular Bio and Genetics in the summer to boost my GPA (Science and Cum). Also studying for DAT.

My problem is that I am confined to New England. Not a problem because I don't like NE (I grew up here), but all of the dental schools are a bear to get into.

I'm not even going to waste the application fee for Tufts and Harvard, but do I even have a chance for BU or UCONN?

If not, what else can I do to baulster my stats (other than strong DAT score)? (My first article in a trade journal should be published this fall).

Appreciate any advice and sorry to bore you with the life story (I left out all of the interesting parts 😀 )

 

[groundhog]

Here's my deal:

- Graduated in 2002 from a top 15 engineering school with BS in Chemical Engineering
- Undergrad GPA: 2.8 (ChE is a b)
-Science GPA: 3.2
-Worked for a pharmaceutical development company in Philly and was promoted from formulation scientist to sr. scientist to group leader within 3 years of working there.
- Had to switch jobs last year, because my wife got her podiatric residency in MA, I now work as a technical account manager for a Pharma ingredient company
-I am currently enrolled in Bio-I, and A&P (for requirements), and plan to take Micro and Bio-Chem in Spring as well as Molecular Bio and Genetics in the summer to boost my GPA (Science and Cum). Also studying for DAT.

My problem is that I am confined to New England. Not a problem because I don't like NE (I grew up here), but all of the dental schools are a bear to get into.

I'm not even going to waste the application fee for Tufts and Harvard, but do I even have a chance for BU or UCONN?

If not, what else can I do to baulster my stats (other than strong DAT score)? (My first article in a trade journal should be published this fall).

Appreciate any advice and sorry to bore you with the life story (I left out all of the interesting parts 😀 )

Why do you want to get out of chemical engineering? Last time I looked, that field paid the highest average starting salary for new graduates with bachelor degrees. It also seems like a field where a person could hit the jackpot if they happen to get in on developing a new "wonder something."

 

[BirkChick]

Here's my deal:

- Graduated in 2002 from a top 15 engineering school with BS in Chemical Engineering
- Undergrad GPA: 2.8 (ChE is a b)
-Science GPA: 3.2

I would guess that your science GPA is actually lower than a 3.2 if your overall is a 2.8. When you calculated your science GPA, did you include all of your engineering and math courses?

In my opinion, you have a long road ahead of you. It may be in your best interest to enroll in a postbacc program (and get all "A"s) to increase your GPA. Dental admissions are extremely competitive right now and, regardless of major, a 2.8 is not going to cut it. By doing a postbacc, you can prove to the admissions committee that you can handle the upper level science work required by dental school.

 

[Hokie Grad]

Yes my job does pay very well, though I work long hours and travel constantly. This is always something I've wanted to do, and since I don't have children yet, now is the time to do it. I'll know I'll always regret it if I don't give it a go.

Money is important no doubt (life can be expensive), but I can tell you from experience that if you are doing something you don't particularly like, money loses it's luster very quickly (unless or course the mortgage is due tomorrow).

Side note: If money is your main motivation I would strongly consider going into an industry (especially pharmaceuticals / Bio Tech). If you are moderately intelligent and have a decent work ethic, you'd be surprised how fast you can advance, and though your salary may look meek against that of a successful dentist / doctor (maybe 100-150K max). If you have talent and can be political you can earn 10-20 times that in stock options or by owning a percentage of a private company.

 

[Hokie Grad]

Thank you for your advice, yes I strongly considering entering into a postbacc program for the spring, but I thought that 6-8 additional science courses would be enough... maybe not?

You are correct, I only included my science and math classes for my science GPA. So engineering should be included as well?

Thanks again.

 

[BirkChick]

Thank you for your advice, yes I strongly considering entering into a postbacc program for the spring, but I thought that 6-8 additional science courses would be enough... maybe not?

You are correct, I only included my science and math classes for my science GPA. So engineering should be included as well?

Thanks again.

Yep, include those engineering class! I also have an engineering degree (graduated in 2002, too!) -- when I calculated my GPAs, I only had ~40 non-science credits!

Your BCP GPA is also reported to dental schools. This GPA contains Biology, Chemistry and Physics ONLY. For you, this should be a lot higher than your science GPA.

Does your company have a tuitiion reimbursement plan? If so, I bet you could get reimbursed for a lot of those science classes!

I would highly recommend opening an account on https://aadsas.adea.org/aadsas2007/ for the 2007 application cycle (it's free!). There is a pretty thorough FAQ section that provides information on the whole application process.

 

[Hokie Grad]

Yep, include those engineering class! I also have an engineering degree (graduated in 2002, too!) -- when I calculated my GPAs, I only had ~40 non-science credits!

Your BCP GPA is also reported to dental schools. This GPA contains Biology, Chemistry and Physics ONLY. For you, this should be a lot higher than your science GPA.

Does your company have a tuitiion reimbursement plan? If so, I bet you could get reimbursed for a lot of those science classes!

I would highly recommend opening an account on https://aadsas.adea.org/aadsas2007/ for the 2007 application cycle (it's free!). There is a pretty thorough FAQ section that provides information on the whole application process.

Great, Thanks so much.

 

[KOM]

By any chance is the pharma company you worked for named Wyeth?

 

[Hokie Grad]

By any chance is the pharma company you worked for named Wyeth?

Actually I worked for a contract development company. However we did quite a bit of work with Wyeth.