Apply or Wait?

[Punished Angeleno]

Hey gang,

I'm debating on whether or not I should apply to dental school this June or wait until next year. I'm currently finishing my last quarter at UCLA (B.A. History), but I've yet to take physics, anatomy, physiology, etc., which are all courses I plan on taking at a local university following graduation. With that being said, what I'm worried about most is my low science GPA (~2.95-3.05) thanks to a couple of awful semesters my first 1.5 years as an undergraduate student. Assuming I'm able to ace my way through the aforementioned classes at the other university, I'm possibly looking at a ~3.3 science GPA.

So should I wait and strengthen my science GPA or apply this June anyways? Thanks!

Current Stats and Extracurriculars:
DAT = 21AA, 22TS (21BIO | 22GC | 22OC), 21PAT, 18RC, 23QR
Overall GPA = ~3.45
Science GPA = ~3.00
ECs: ~300 hours of volunteering (local and abroad) + ~120 hours of shadowing/assisting + college student groups (both dental and non-dental)
LoR: I'll have two strong letters for sure. Still working on the third one!

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[akaopua]

I would apply very broadly and I would think you would have a reasonable chance of being accepted.

 

[DocDoom]

I'd hold off on applying until you can get your science gpa up. My friends who applied with art degrees all have a science GPA>3.2.

 

[akaopua]

I'd hold off on applying until you can get your science gpa up. My friends who applied with art degrees all have a science GPA>3.2.

Out of curiosity, what is the downside of applying now? Lost potential money?

 

[I-hate-alginate]

Definitely apply!

 

[DocDoom]

.

 

[Punished Angeleno]

1] waste of time and effort which could be focused on improving their application for the following cycle. E.g. focusing schoolwork.

Supplemental application takes a lot of time to fill out and cost money to submit!

2]lost of thousands of dollars. It isn’t cheap to go through this process.

Fair enough. Definitely considering waiting an additional year. Thanks for responding!

 

[Veni vidi vicii]

You haven't take some of the pre-reqs and your GPA is low. It would be ok if your DAT was higher, but it isn't. If you apply to a lot of schools you might have a shot.

See the problem here? You apply to more schools you're going to spend 2k-4k. Or you can wait a year and save the money. My friend spent 3k last year with a 3.6 GPA and similar DAT to you and did not get in. He applied to 10-15 schools. He said he should have just waited too, but he threw 3k into the drain. He regrets it.

 

[Likkriue]

Would apply , cast a wide net.

 

[raa719]

I would apply but apply broadly! I have lower stats (a little higher sci gpa) and have 5 interviews. That being said i don't have any acceptances as of now but 3 of my interviews are post December and are coming up, and the two pre December I got waitlisted.

stats: oGPA 3.3 sGPA 3.16, DAT AA 20, 19 TS

 

[Punished Angeleno]

You haven't take some of the pre-reqs and your GPA is low. It would be ok if your DAT was higher, but it isn't. If you apply to a lot of schools you might have a shot.

See the problem here? You apply to more schools you're going to spend 2k-4k. Or you can wait a year and save the money. My friend spent 3k last year with a 3.6 GPA and similar DAT to you and did not get in. He applied to 10-15 schools. He said he should have just waited too, but he threw 3k into the drain. He regrets it.

I get your point, but I find it surprising that your friend got rejected from 10-15 schools with a 3.6GPA and a ~21AA/22TS on the DAT. I'm pretty sure 3.6 is above average for a number of private schools. That's unfortunate, and slightly puzzling.

 

[Punished Angeleno]

I would apply but apply broadly! I have lower stats (a little higher sci gpa) and have 5 interviews. That being said i don't have any acceptances as of now but 3 of my interviews are post December and are coming up, and the two pre December I got waitlisted.

stats: oGPA 3.3 sGPA 3.16, DAT AA 20, 19 TS

It's great to hear that you're getting interviews. Best of luck to you, and thank you for sharing your stats!