Any Advice?

[Mz Shaikh]

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Hi guys...I am hoping you can answer some questions for me and tell me how it really is. Here it goes.... I am graduating next week with my Bachelor's in Psych. As a undergrad I worked as a Dental Assistant for about 3 yrs. As they say you never know the value of the possesion until you no longer posses it. I absolutly fell in love with the profession but wanted to finish my degree in Psych.After I left my Dental assisting job I started working at a Psych hospital. I really want to go to dental school but I don't know if I can get in with my low cum GPA. I bombed my 1st semester during my sophmore yrs and it KILLED my gpa. ( the 3 classes i bombed were Bio, Chem and Calc) After that I worked hard and got on the national dean's list. I recently got into Psi Chi ( national honor society in psychology) As a Psych major we never had to take Chem/Phy etc etc.
I was thinking about doing the pre-reqs for a year and than applying to dental school. But if I really don't stand a chance then I won't bother. My cum right now is a 2.8 (don't know how I did this semester....will find out in a couple of weeks)... If I get lucky it will get to a 3.0 <~~~ not counting on it.
With 3 yrs of experience working with a general dentist/orthodontist/pedodontist, getting LOR from dentists, and taking the science pre-reqs and prep-classes for DATs....will I have a chance?
I really hope you tell me your honest opinion/suggestions....none of the "hang in there you'll get in" stuff. Thank you 😕

 

[festac]

I was thinking about doing the pre-reqs for a year and than applying to dental school. But if I really don't stand a chance then I won't bother. My cum right now is a 2.8 (don't know how I did this semester....will find out in a couple of weeks)... If I get lucky it will get to a 3.0 <~~~ not counting on it.
With 3 yrs of experience working with a general dentist/orthodontist/pedodontist, getting LOR from dentists, and taking the science pre-reqs and prep-classes for DATs....will I have a chance?
I really hope you tell me your honest opinion/suggestions....none of the "hang in there you'll get in" stuff. Thank you 😕

You have your work cut out, you are on the right track with your experience and plans on pre-reqs. What I will say is to go beyond just pre-req classes, take antomy & physiology, biochem, microbiology in addition to those required classes and do really well in them..B and higher! Get in touch with schools you are really interested in and make yourself known to the admission councelors and let them in on your plan. Then like you said, take your time and study, study, study, and then more studying for the DAT and kick a$$ on it, 18+ and you will remove any doubts your school of choice might have admitting you. Also like they always say, apply to at least 5 or more schools and you'll be alright. Anymore advice in detail, PM me and I'll be glad to help. BTW a gpa of 2.8 isnt that bad and can be easily raised to ~3.1 or 3.2 by the time you're done with your pre-reqs.
Good luck.

 

[mvs04]

Hi guys...I am hoping you can answer some questions for me and tell me how it really is. Here it goes.... I am graduating next week with my Bachelor's in Psych. As a undergrad I worked as a Dental Assistant for about 3 yrs. As they say you never know the value of the possesion until you no longer posses it. I absolutly fell in love with the profession but wanted to finish my degree in Psych.After I left my Dental assisting job I started working at a Psych hospital. I really want to go to dental school but I don't know if I can get in with my low cum GPA. I bombed my 1st semester during my sophmore yrs and it KILLED my gpa. ( the 3 classes i bombed were Bio, Chem and Calc) After that I worked hard and got on the national dean's list. I recently got into Psi Chi ( national honor society in psychology) As a Psych major we never had to take Chem/Phy etc etc.
I was thinking about doing the pre-reqs for a year and than applying to dental school. But if I really don't stand a chance then I won't bother. My cum right now is a 2.8 (don't know how I did this semester....will find out in a couple of weeks)... If I get lucky it will get to a 3.0 <~~~ not counting on it.
With 3 yrs of experience working with a general dentist/orthodontist/pedodontist, getting LOR from dentists, and taking the science pre-reqs and prep-classes for DATs....will I have a chance?
I really hope you tell me your honest opinion/suggestions....none of the "hang in there you'll get in" stuff. Thank you 😕

I'm goign to be straight up with you, your EC's will not be considered as anything special... at all. Ace the DAT or you're done. I'm thinking for you sub 3.0 at least >23 or so.... Many schools have stats filters where if you're not above their cutoff your application gets automatically tossed.

 

[2pac]

A lot of people go through a stage of improving their GPA's. So, u are not alone. Please donot be discouraged and try to do to the best of your ability to improve your GPA. I believe connections with dental school's in terms of talking to director of admissions would clearify their requirements.

DAT: If you have an 18 and above in every sections would surely catch ADCOM;s eye.

Good Luck to you.

peace out-

Hi guys...I am hoping you can answer some questions for me and tell me how it really is. Here it goes.... I am graduating next week with my Bachelor's in Psych. As a undergrad I worked as a Dental Assistant for about 3 yrs. As they say you never know the value of the possesion until you no longer posses it. I absolutly fell in love with the profession but wanted to finish my degree in Psych.After I left my Dental assisting job I started working at a Psych hospital. I really want to go to dental school but I don't know if I can get in with my low cum GPA. I bombed my 1st semester during my sophmore yrs and it KILLED my gpa. ( the 3 classes i bombed were Bio, Chem and Calc) After that I worked hard and got on the national dean's list. I recently got into Psi Chi ( national honor society in psychology) As a Psych major we never had to take Chem/Phy etc etc.
I was thinking about doing the pre-reqs for a year and than applying to dental school. But if I really don't stand a chance then I won't bother. My cum right now is a 2.8 (don't know how I did this semester....will find out in a couple of weeks)... If I get lucky it will get to a 3.0 <~~~ not counting on it.
With 3 yrs of experience working with a general dentist/orthodontist/pedodontist, getting LOR from dentists, and taking the science pre-reqs and prep-classes for DATs....will I have a chance?
I really hope you tell me your honest opinion/suggestions....none of the "hang in there you'll get in" stuff. Thank you 😕

 

[mvs04]

DAT: If you have an 18 and above in every sections would surely catch ADCOM;s eye.

an 18?? simply not goign to cut it. a <3.0 GPA + 18s DATs candidate without the benefit of either connections or some spectacular EC is in for a very very rough ride. I had a <3.0 GPA myself... the process was difficult at times at certain schools.

 

[GoGatorsDMD]

Of COURSE you can get in, but you really need to bust ASS on the pre reqs. Get A's in everything. Sacrifice your life to do it. Become maniacal about Organic Chemistry. Don't you think it's worth a year of hell to get the career you want? Maybe take the classes you bombed again.

Let's say a school takes in a freshman class of 3.5 average students. If they take a couple with a 4.0, there's probably a couple 3.0's in there. Adcom's want to uphold high standards, but if they like you and you have an interesting background, they'll throw you a bone.

There are people in my class who probably bombed some classes in college not because they were an immature freshman/sophomore, but because they just weren't smart enough. However, they are interesting people who really know what dentistry is all about. Now they're in my class, 3.0 and all. If you want it bad enough you'll get it.

 

[juggamynugga]

agreed an 18 isn't even that good. try to get 20's and up and then you'll turn peoples heads. being in the 70th %tile etc doesn't make you stand out much

 

[Mz Shaikh]

Thank you all for your response. I am getting my LOR from a NYU dentist and plan on applying there myself. I got my radigology certificate from BU so I will apply there too. Other than that I am thinking about Arizona and Howard. What are your thoughts on that? Are there any dental schools in particular that you recomm? Once again I greatly appreciate your comments. Have a good day!

 

[october]

Are you applying this cycle?

 

[Mz Shaikh]

no not this cycle but the next cycle. I am just graduating so I need to start my science pre-reqs and prepare for DATs.