Bad day.. But I am not gonna give up!!

[archonsbk]

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Sooooo, I talked to my pre-dental advisor about a dental school and she told me that I pretty much have no chance, which is true, but it hurts more when I hear from somone rather than I assume.

Yes, my gpa is 2.65 and my science gpa is around 2.6.
But, I still haven't given up. I never will.
I might not be able to get into a dental school forever. But, I will keep trying.
I took practice DAT from Kaplan and I got a decent score and I see there is a chance.

I think my problem in past 5 semesters is taking too many honors science courses. This semester, I am taking Biology, Organic chemistry, Ecology, Immunology, and Physics (full classload). It's my fault not to study hard for those classes and to be sick during the school semester, but I wished that I took a couple hard classes and other mediocre classes instead.

So, I changed my plan for next semester. Instead of taking all the heavy science courses without any preparation, I will take a couple hard science classes and take social science classes or some classes that I am interested in so that I have more time to prepare for hard science classes and get closer to acheive the admission ticket.

Fellow pre-dental students who are not doing well in school right now, don't give up and let's do this. Forget what you had in past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or more years. Think you as a freshman and restart together! Well, that's what I am gonna do, at least!

 

[Destiny11]

Sooooo, I talked to my pre-dental advisor about a dental school and she told me that I pretty much have no chance, which is true, but it hurts more when I hear from somone rather than I assume.

Yes, my gpa is 2.65 and my science gpa is around 2.6.
But, I still haven't given up. I never will.
I might not be able to get into a dental school forever. But, I will keep trying.
I took practice DAT from Kaplan and I got a decent score and I see there is a chance.

I think my problem in past 5 semesters is taking too many honors science courses. This semester, I am taking Biology, Organic chemistry, Ecology, Immunology, and Physics (full classload). It's my fault not to study hard for those classes and to be sick during the school semester, but I wished that I took a couple hard classes and other mediocre classes instead.

So, I changed my plan for next semester. Instead of taking all the heavy science courses without any preparation, I will take a couple hard science classes and take social science classes or some classes that I am interested in so that I have more time to prepare for hard science classes and get closer to acheive the admission ticket.

Fellow pre-dental students who are not doing well in school right now, don't give up and let's do this. Forget what you had in past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or more years. Think you as a freshman and restart together! Well, that's what I am gonna do, at least!

You have a good attitude. As long as you don't give up, you will reach your goal. What year in school are you?

 

[archonsbk]

i am a junior. and thx!!!

 

[slm266]

I don't want to be a negative nancy, but do you have a plan B if dentistry doesnt work out? The competition is getting crazy and will continue to rise by the time you apply. Have you considered health professions that may be slightly less competitive like optometry or audiology? (I have brothers-in-law in both of those fields and they love it)

Keep persuing your dream, but keep other doors open at the same time. It will be hard to raise your GPA in your senior year, so you may be looking at a post bac/masters program. Maybe you can start taking some prereqs for other fields that will help your science GPA and get you a headstart in case dentistry doesnt pan out.

I'd shadow some others fields to see if you enjoy the doctor/patient feel there just as much as in dentistry.

Whatever you decided to do, you need to be a meticulous planner. Start studying for the DAT early, and take it for the first time early enough to give yourself time for a 2nd retake early in the application cycle if you don't do as well as you need to (23AA+).

If you're serious about trying forever to get into dentistry, I'd quit your job if you have one and take out student loans if necessary so you can focus 100% on school. You cant get below A- from here on out. Do whatever it takes to get 4.0 (except taking all fluff classes. Admissions will see that for what it is.)

Good luck. The next 1-2 yrs is gonna be hell for you before you get into dental school. Welcome to SDN, but I don't think you have time for SDN unless you're asking questions in the DAT forum. You will prove to yourself how dedicated you are to dentistry with the way that you spend your free time. During christmas break I'd study for DAT 24/7 because you're going to need a miracle to offset that GPA. Again, best of luck!

 

[Munchy]

i agree with the post above. It's good to have optimistic approach to all this but sometimes you have to realize the reality. There is a very fine line btw optimism and delusion.

Work hard for the remaining school years but have a backup plan.
Good luck.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Yes, my gpa is 2.65 and my science gpa is around 2.6.
I think my problem in past 5 semesters is taking too many honors science courses. This semester, I am taking Biology, Organic chemistry, Ecology, Immunology, and Physics (full classload).

I agree with other posters, do you have a plan B?

Taking 5 science classes is standard for most pre-health professionals, in dental school all the courses you take will be upper level science. I think you should adjust your studying method to more efficiently tackle your courses, or you will find yourself struggle in dental school.

If that still doesn't work, start thinking about a plan B, remember you want to find a profession that will most suit you.

 

[aelian]

I don't want to be a negative nancy, but do you have a plan B if dentistry doesnt work out? The competition is getting crazy and will continue to rise by the time you apply. Have you considered health professions that may be slightly less competitive like optometry or audiology? (I have brothers-in-law in both of those fields and they love it)

Keep persuing your dream, but keep other doors open at the same time. It will be hard to raise your GPA in your senior year, so you may be looking at a post bac/masters program. Maybe you can start taking some prereqs for other fields that will help your science GPA and get you a headstart in case dentistry doesnt pan out.

I'd shadow some others fields to see if you enjoy the doctor/patient feel there just as much as in dentistry.

Whatever you decided to do, you need to be a meticulous planner. Start studying for the DAT early, and take it for the first time early enough to give yourself time for a 2nd retake early in the application cycle if you don't do as well as you need to (23AA+).

If you're serious about trying forever to get into dentistry, I'd quit your job if you have one and take out student loans if necessary so you can focus 100% on school. You cant get below A- from here on out. Do whatever it takes to get 4.0 (except taking all fluff classes. Admissions will see that for what it is.)

Good luck. The next 1-2 yrs is gonna be hell for you before you get into dental school. Welcome to SDN, but I don't think you have time for SDN unless you're asking questions in the DAT forum. You will prove to yourself how dedicated you are to dentistry with the way that you spend your free time. During christmas break I'd study for DAT 24/7 because you're going to need a miracle to offset that GPA. Again, best of luck!

👍👍👍👍👍

 

[molar3]

wowowow, i get why people are discouraging you because your gpa is quite low. However, just because you have "no chance at all" right now doesnt mean it cant ever happen. Sure you screwed up in undergrad. That doesnt mean its impossible for you to get to dental school. However you need to really up your game if youre serious about this field.
You need to get straight A's. you need to be dedicated. you need to figure out how to make this happen on your own. Then once you graduate You need to invest in a postbacc or masters program and ace that too. and do great on your DAT.
its not a matter of youll never make it, but its more you need to seriously live and breathe this, if you think you can handle that, more power too you, dont let anybody put you down, on this site or anywhere else. tell ur prehealth advisor you get that you cannot get in this year, but what are your other OPTIONS. i disagree with those telling you to change your profession when you clearly stated you will never give up, now u need to prove to yourself that youre worthy by getting those A's. if you cant get those A's, then you my friend are screwed.
My BF basically failed thru undergrad (literally....) bc he didnt care and went thru alot of personal problems, after he graduated he got into a masters program and now hes a 3rd year medical student doing his rotations. You would NEVER in a million years suspect him to go from where he USE to be, to being almost a 4th year ready to graduate medical school, and hes really smart he just never tried in undergrad. I'm sure hes prehealth advisor discouraged him and told him he has no chance for medical school and that he needs to do something else with his life. she was basing this on numbers as thats what she sees, but you need to find your own potential and if u want it that badly, you can make it happen-TIME and EFFORT will get you there, dont expect dental school over night. You have opportunities now to still fix yourself and your education, so TAKE THEM!!!! AND FIX YOURSELF!!

 

[yappy]

For plan B - I dont think opt or aud is good enough or compairable to dentistry. I would look into Doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (DO). You will be a full right practicing physician able to specialize in any field of medicine you're competitive for after medical school. They allow grade replacement so if you have a an F or D and retake it for an A it counts as 4.0 not averaged. Their numbers are much lower than MD. (but the pay is the same 🙂 ) Just something to think about.

 

[newbiewins]

I dont have a superb GPA nor a ton of extracurricular activities, but i did well on my dats and i will be starting in the fall. the way i look at it is once I start dental school we are all equal. i dont care what my classmates have done during their undergrad years.

 

[yappy]

Do you mind sharing your gpa or DAT score?

Thanks & congratz

I dont have a superb GPA nor a ton of extracurricular activities, but i did well on my dats and i will be starting in the fall. the way i look at it is once I start dental school we are all equal. i dont care what my classmates have done during their undergrad years.

 

[doc toothache]

Sooooo, I talked to my pre-dental advisor about a dental school and she told me that I pretty much have no chance, which is true, but it hurts more when I hear from somone rather than I assume.
It's my fault not to study hard for those classes and to be sick during the school semester, but I wished that I took a couple hard classes and other mediocre classes instead.

Unfortunately, dental schools do not give an option of taking "a couple of hard classes and other mediocre classes".

 

[newbiewins]

sGPA 3.2 GPA 3.4
DAT AA/21 TS/22 PAT/24

 

[MrWilson]

To the OP, your numbers are nearly exact to mine when I graduated from undergrad. If you really want this, then DO NOT give up on your ambition. My former advisor told me I should just pick something else out, and I would be wasting my time pursuing dentistry, and at the time, he had a good reason to say that, but do not let that get you down. In addition, I had some family, friends, and a former gf at the time that thought I should move on with my life. Boy, am I glad I didn't listen to them, and they look at me now with much more respect. Don't let others dictate your future, and tell you what you can and can't do. To be honest, you have built yourself a little hole, as I had done, but you can get out. The most important thing is to bring up your gpa. Don't over-do your courseload, do what is manageable, and if you really want to be a dentist, then go get it.

 

[Munchy]

you better learn how to study. If you can't take a good load of science courses, how the heck are you going to manage dental school even if you get in?

From the looks of their curriculum, they cover 1 year worth of undergraduate stuff in 1 semester.

 

[cmcner]

You need to take "easy" science classes, actually bcp classes. You need A's and lots of them, understand the GPA scale, you need to bring your GPA up to around a 3.0 minimum before going on to a master's or else the undergrad will still haunt you even if you have a 4.0 grad gpa and then you should look for masters programs that have a strong affiliation with a sister dental school. Then you need to rock the DAT and then MAYBE...MAYBE you have a chance. With that GPA let me say you also must make sure that none of your prereqs are under at a C- or below, if so you have to retake them. Finally you have to realize that this is a very tall task and ask yourself if you can handle it and the possible disappointment that would come if you did all this and still didn't get in. I know someone who has completed 2 master's and hasn't made it in. If you choose to do it good luck be strong and approach it like you're becoming a scientist love the natural world and the wonders of science and even if you fail you'll have gained some very incredible and magical knowledge.

 

[yappy]

It's not uncommon at all for students prior to dental school to take a bunch of BS classes instead of taking a load like dental school. This is common because adcom reward this behavior with acceptances.

OP - the only thing you need to do is Ace classes @ 15+ credits / term (summers included) for 2 years then get 22+ on your DAT. This, with applying smartly will give you your best shot at dental school (also think masters). Do not take loads you cannot ace. Dont take that impossible class, that impossible prof, etc. Get a second major or minor in some easy subject... take the easy science classes such as nutrition and maybe one harder one per term like immun.

They dont care about majors - just number. So give them the numbers. And just incase - really look into DO.

Unfortunately, dental schools do not give an option of taking "a couple of hard classes and other mediocre classes".

 

[dentalWorks]

Sooooo, I talked to my pre-dental advisor about a dental school and she told me that I pretty much have no chance, which is true, but it hurts more when I hear from somone rather than I assume.

Yes, my gpa is 2.65 and my science gpa is around 2.6.
But, I still haven't given up. I never will.
I might not be able to get into a dental school forever. But, I will keep trying.
I took practice DAT from Kaplan and I got a decent score and I see there is a chance.

I think my problem in past 5 semesters is taking too many honors science courses. This semester, I am taking Biology, Organic chemistry, Ecology, Immunology, and Physics (full classload). It's my fault not to study hard for those classes and to be sick during the school semester, but I wished that I took a couple hard classes and other mediocre classes instead.

So, I changed my plan for next semester. Instead of taking all the heavy science courses without any preparation, I will take a couple hard science classes and take social science classes or some classes that I am interested in so that I have more time to prepare for hard science classes and get closer to acheive the admission ticket.

Fellow pre-dental students who are not doing well in school right now, don't give up and let's do this. Forget what you had in past 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or more years. Think you as a freshman and restart together! Well, that's what I am gonna do, at least!

Most pre-healthcare "advisors" are *****s. But her suggestion is somewhat sound IF YOU DON'T BUCK-UP. What year are you in? I strongly suggest, that from this point forward, to not get any grade less than A (lowest be A-).... 2.6 GPA is a deep mathematical-hole, but you will still have somewhat of a shot at dental schools if you show a huge upward trend, for example, if you had 2 more years of undergrad left, and you (say) 4.0 every class, then it shows huge signs of maturity, it will even bring your GPAs to respectable levels

 

[peanutb123]

For plan B - I dont think opt or aud is good enough or compairable to dentistry. I would look into Doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (DO). You will be a full right practicing physician able to specialize in any field of medicine you're competitive for after medical school. They allow grade replacement so if you have a an F or D and retake it for an A it counts as 4.0 not averaged. Their numbers are much lower than MD. (but the pay is the same 🙂 ) Just something to think about.

You are sadly misinformed... do some research for even 2 mins. before posting something ridiculous to deviate the whole thread from its original topic.

To the OP,

Stop committing academic suicide. The classes that you have listed rarely people take them all together at once. People usually spread them over 2 year period. Dont rush take your time do it right. (Biology, Organic chemistry, Ecology, Immunology, and Physics (full classload)) TO MUCH WORK... YOU NEED TO WORK UP TO IT NOT work from it...

start with couple science to balance it take some bs classes, easy math and some lit classes. then as you progress and get done w/ the prereqs by the 3rd year taking like 3 science classes... WHY DO YOU THINK SCIENCE MAJORS only have to take 10-14 classes in order to be a science major. ITS not easy take it slow and score high.

take couple science classes not whole sem. of science classes that just asking for low gpa... i hope you make a smart decision for next sem. stop killing your self.

 

[setdoc7]

I dont have a superb GPA nor a ton of extracurricular activities, but i did well on my dats and i will be starting in the fall. the way i look at it is once I start dental school we are all equal. i dont care what my classmates have done during their undergrad years.

No such thing as "we are all equal". Some gunners in your entering class will be way ahead from the start.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

No such thing as "we are all equal". Some gunners in your entering class will be way ahead from the start.

Lol agreed. Good luck competing with the Dental Lab Techs who have years of experience doing wax-ups and dental appliance work.

 

[yappy]

Didn't mean to spread misinformation. I've researched DO quite a bit. My physician supervisor was a DO (ER) and I've worked with several DO trauma surgeons & orthopeds. As a result i've been able to ask them alot of questions about their degree.

My understanding is that they do allow grade replacement, have lower entering GPA's & MCAT for their classes. Also they're able to specialize in any field of medicine that they're competitive for. They may match into MD residencies as well as DO as long as they take the neccesary tests & score well.

Where was I mistaken?

You are sadly misinformed... do some research for even 2 mins. before posting something ridiculous to deviate the whole thread from its original topic.

 

[321931]

Didn't mean to spread misinformation. I've researched DO quite a bit. My physician supervisor was a DO (ER) and I've worked with several DO trauma surgeons & orthopeds. As a result i've been able to ask them alot of questions about their degree.

My understanding is that they do allow grade replacement, have lower entering GPA's & MCAT for their classes. Also they're able to specialize in any field of medicine that they're competitive for. They may match into MD residencies as well as DO as long as they take the neccesary tests & score well.

Where was I mistaken?

I'm pretty sure u are spot on; however, the "harder/better" residencies/specialities options maybe more biased towards M.Ds. If I remember correctly, carribean M.Ds and IMG's also have a tough time getting those "harder" options. They pretty much have to perform extremely well. That being said- both are pretty much equal- and yes, grade replacement exists in DO schools.

 

[BioSeven]

For plan B - I dont think opt or aud is good enough or compairable to dentistry. I would look into Doctor of osteopathic medicine degree (DO). You will be a full right practicing physician able to specialize in any field of medicine you're competitive for after medical school. They allow grade replacement so if you have a an F or D and retake it for an A it counts as 4.0 not averaged. Their numbers are much lower than MD. (but the pay is the same 🙂 ) Just something to think about.

Maybe it's the fact that you said this...

 

[yappy]

Fair enough. What I said was very subjective and just my own opinion of what career interests me. The OP should look into all of those for a plan B if he chooses to do so.

Maybe it's the fact that you said this...