Applying with a low gpa

[ian21]

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Hello guys,

I am really concerned with my chances in getting in dental school this cycle. My overall gpa is ~3.3 and science gpa is a ~3.1. I took the DAT once and scored an AA: 18 and am planning on retaking it in August. With my low stats, I'm afraid that my chances of getting in is slim due to my application not being complete until probably September. Can anyone please provide me with advice or insight? Thank you.

 

[Bigjt1420]

Hello guys,

I am really concerned with my chances in getting in dental school this cycle. My overall gpa is ~3.3 and science gpa is a ~3.1. I took the DAT once and scored an AA: 18 and am planning on retaking it in August. With my low stats, I'm afraid that my chances of getting in is slim due to my application not being complete until probably September. Can anyone please provide me with advice or insight? Thank you.

I had a lower overall GPA than you but slightly higher science, and I ended up getting into 2 schools the first cycle I tried. I did get a 24 on the DAT though. I would suggest you retaking the DAT and studying HARD because you probably need a score of 22+ to be competitive, in my opinion. Admissions needs to see some score that they can stand firm and say "see! this person can handle dental school."

I wouldn't even apply this cycle, if I were you. Completing your app in September, while I know they say it's fine and you'll still be on top of the pile, I don't believe it. Strengthen your app, kill the DAT, maybe take some classes to boost your GPA a bit over the next year, do some shadowing, and apply next June right as the app opens up.

Just my opinion, hope it works out for you! BTW, I'm a soon-to-be D3 and doing very, very well in Dental School. Don't worry about being able to handle school even though you have a lower GPA. Good luck!

 

[LeagueofLigTies]

Hello guys,

I am really concerned with my chances in getting in dental school this cycle. My overall gpa is ~3.3 and science gpa is a ~3.1. I took the DAT once and scored an AA: 18 and am planning on retaking it in August. With my low stats, I'm afraid that my chances of getting in is slim due to my application not being complete until probably September. Can anyone please provide me with advice or insight? Thank you.

You’re correct that your chances are slim. You have a poor gpa and a poor dat. Either boost up your gpa with a masters or get a 22+ on the dat. if you are able to improve one, I would apply

 

[laundry]

Actually, if you craft the rest of application well (PS, AADSAS Qs), you DO have a shot! I would, however, recommend retaking the DAT 🙂

 

[MandalorianDMD]

I’ve seen people with 17AA and 18AA get in. You have a decent chance. Retaking the DAT can help. Just don’t do worse. Any sections under 18?

Most people on SDN that are active do not represent the majority of matriculates.

To understand the student body, you’d need to know medians and ranges, not just averages.


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[LegendaryPanda]

I’ve seen people with 17AA and 18AA get in. You have a decent chance. Retaking the DAT can help. Just don’t do worse. Any sections under 18?

Most people on SDN that are active do not represent the majority of matriculates.

To understand the student body, you’d need to know medians and ranges, not just averages.


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I disagree.

Those are the exception and not the norm.

A 18 is 45 percentile, and 17 is 31 percentile, with the average mean being 18.8 according to 2017 manual.

As for your claim for matriculate, I think you have not been looking at the recent stats. The average for a class of 2019 matriculant is 3.55c/3.45s and 20.5AA. OP has a chance, but chances aren’t decent at all.

 

[MandalorianDMD]

I disagree.

Those are the exception and not the norm.

A 18 is 45 percentile, and 17 is 31 percentile, with the average mean being 18.8 according to 2017 manual.

As for your claim for matriculate, I think you have not been looking at the recent stats. The average for a class of 2019 matriculant is 3.55c/3.45s and 20.5AA. OP has a chance, but chances aren’t decent at all.

You are entitled to your opinion, but please read more carefully when I had stated that you cannot just base everything off of statistics that provide averages only.

No one will argue that higher scores aren’t better and safer to have; just like a higher income is safer and better to have in life.


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[ian21]

I’ve seen people with 17AA and 18AA get in. You have a decent chance. Retaking the DAT can help. Just don’t do worse. Any sections under 18?

Most people on SDN that are active do not represent the majority of matriculates.

To understand the student body, you’d need to know medians and ranges, not just averages.


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Thank you for the advice. Yeah, the section that was holding me back from getting a higher DAT score were both chemistry sections. I've been using dentalschoolexplorer to look up stats of schools. I feel like if I can raise my DAT score, I might have a shot at some schools if I apply broadly.