Applying a year early

[SaltyDoo]

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I'm applying while in my sophmore year, just to take the chance of getting in early. If I get accepted I won't finish my degree in time.

I've got a 3.6 overall GPA, 3.2 science GPA. I have shadowed and volunteered.

I plan to apply to U. of Florida (my state school) and Nova only, mostly because I think these are my best bets without spending a lot of money on applications.

If I got a 20 AA and 20 PAT on the DAT, what do you guys think my chances are.

Please post why you voted the way you did.

 

[MarkFitzsimmons]

You'll never know for sure if you don't apply. I'd say give it a shot at those two schools.

I am thinking though, 3.2 sci may be a little low to be admitted without a degree. But I really don't know for sure.

 

[DDSdude]

My take on it is....

Go for it!! Research the schools you want to attend and find out what the numbers are and how many students they accept on average who do not have degrees.

I would think you have a good shot at it from what I have seen and heard.

Good luck!! Definately GO FOR IT though!

 

[trypmo]

Now take this, of course, with as much salt as you desire, but here's my opinion.

For me, college was a time to explore stuff, to experience a lot of different courses and get exposure to just about everything that had ever interested me. I figured: when else was I going to get a chance to learn about traditional African cosmology, read the works of Chaucer in Middle English, play squash, learn to read and speak different languages, and do all the sciencey stuff I wanted to? So I stayed in college a long time, changed majors a couple of times, and took longer than most people to eventually get the Bachelor's degree -- and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.

If you've decided very early that dentistry is the only career for you, then that's great too, and could result in a terrific career! However, college is a great time (perhaps an ideal time) to explore other areas of study, or at least other parts of the area you know you want to focus on.

For example, the following courses related to what you've already done are fascinating and could also be of interest (if you haven't already done them, which I know I can't assume):
Physical chemistry
Analytical chemistry
Microbiology
Genetics
Anatomy & Physiology
Organometallics
Cell & tissue engineering
Other biomedical engineering stuff
Labs, Labs, Labs!!
Scientific research with a faculty member on campus
Having a life outside of school (harder, as I hear, once you're in dent school)

Anyway, I think there's a very good chance you would get into dental school with your stats and a good interview experience (BTW: great stats!! ), but maybe think about sticking it out until you get your degree. There could be some mind-blowing academic surprises around the corner that you'd be passing up.

Also, on the CYA front, there's something nice about having your degree before embarking on another kind of experience altogether -- that way, if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, you'd have your degree to fall back on.

Just my $0.16 (corrected for inflation).
Best of luck in whatever you choose!

 

[SaltyDoo]

Thanks for all the posts guys.

I am done with all the pre-reqs, so I just figured I would give it a shot. I'm taking the summer off from school to prepar fro the DAT, so that I can get a very competitive score. My Science GPA is low basically because of a D that I got my first semester(you should of seen my science GPA back then🙄 ).

Thanks for being honest and keep the replies coming.