Chances for a Texas reapplicant

[Gymgivitis]

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Howdy y'all😉

So I'm curious about what SDN thinks my chances are for next cycle based on my results this cycle with the 3 Texas schools. I applied very late this cycle(like literally the day before the due date 9/30) because I had been wavering back and forth about whether I wanted to wait until my GPA is higher or to take a chance and I eventually decided late in the game that I might as well take a chance. My results were that I was denied from 2 of the Texas schools w/o interview but I did receive an interview at one of the Texas schools on the last possible interview date, and it went very well. Considering I interviewed so late, I probably won't know of my acceptance(praying) or rejection for a little bit longer. My stats are as follows:

3.10 oGPA, 2.99 BCPM(very frustrating I know), 20AA 19TS 22PAT 19RC 22QR, lots of shadow/decent volunteer, decent ECs, research experience w/one paper submitted for hopeful publication, great essays(were brought up heavily in my interview), and good recs. Also, I had a 1.8 GPA my freshman year so I've had a considerable upper trend(3.62 in my last 50 credit hours of upper level science courses) that took a ton of dedication.

I was honestly shocked that a Texas school took interest in me despite my low GPA. If I need to reapply, I'm hoping that if I do so much earlier I'll have better luck. What do you guys think? Also, I'm not a URM for the record.
Thanks a ton for any help that can be provided!

 

[Goldtoothfairy]

First off, a huge congrats!! You should be so proud of yourself for your upper level GPA boost. I was also a reapplicant and it is very challenging with BCPM and working on improving it. I think you have a fighting chance because you showed how dedicated you are to your education. I really think if you don't get in this cycle (which, I hope you do and fingers crossed!) then you should definitely apply earlier next cycle. Are you taking any classes right now?

Best of luck!!!

 

[Gymgivitis]

First off, a huge congrats!! You should be so proud of yourself for your upper level GPA boost. I was also a reapplicant and it is very challenging with BCPM and working on improving it. I think you have a fighting chance because you showed how dedicated you are to your education. I really think if you don't get in this cycle (which, I hope you do and fingers crossed!) then you should definitely apply earlier next cycle. Are you taking any classes right now?

Best of luck!!!

Yes! I'm taking anatomy, genetics, an online health systems planning course, and a kinesiology credit for my major. I'm currently a senior. I'm also holding a part time job and have been for about a year now. As a reapplicant how did you go about your essays/rec letters from the year prior to the new cycle?

 

[Goldtoothfairy]

I completely changed my essays actually. When I read through them in March/April again, I realized I could make it a lot stronger and that I had done a lot during my reapplication year to make it better. The first thing I did was reflected on my application and looked for areas of improvement across the board. For example, one thing I did was consistently shadowed a dentist who I connected with and their entire staff as well (who happened to go to a Texas school) because I found that he was very insightful and wanted to help develop me. He was also great in the taking moments to do the teaching aspect of shadowing. As such, he was a stronger letter writer than my previous dentist, who I had worked for actually. One of my letter writers stayed the same as the previous cycle, even though I ended up with a B+ in the class (Biochem), it was still a professor who knew me well and knew I was dedicated (in a class of 300 students). My other letter writer came from this past year. I took a semester of post bac classes before starting a master's program and purposely selected professors based on their teaching ability (rather than for an easy A) and that helped A LOT. I made it a point to pick a professor at the beginning of the course and go to their office hours (at least once a week) and he wrote me a GREAT LOR (Physiology) as compared to my previous writer who was good but not personal and was in public health. I hope this helps. If you do end up reapplying (which who knows at this point!!), feel free to message me if you need any advice! Best of luck.

 

[aggietxdent]

I don't believe any of the TX schools accepted any students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 so it's not impossible but you're getting close to that border (correct me if I'm wrong). The upward trend is really good though. Also DAT is looking good! If you don't get in this year, maybe take the DAT again and try and absolutely kill it. Then reapply the day the application comes out. Good luck!

 

[Gymgivitis]

I don't believe any of the TX schools accepted any students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 so it's not impossible but you're getting close to that border (correct me if I'm wrong). The upward trend is really good though. Also DAT is looking good! If you don't get in this year, maybe take the DAT again and try and absolutely kill it. Then reapply the day the application comes out. Good luck!

Do they usually interview lower than 3.0? I honestly had little to no hope until I got the interview because according to the school they had 1400 applicants but only interviewed 300

 

[aggietxdent]

Honestly haven't heard of them interviewing or accepting lower than a 3.0. But that could be just me. Which school?

 

[Gymgivitis]

Honestly haven't heard of them interviewing or accepting lower than a 3.0. But that could be just me. Which school?

SA. I guess I'll roll with being an anomaly. If it gets me accepted that's all that matters.

 

[Goldtoothfairy]

SA. I guess I'll roll with being an anomaly. If it gets me accepted that's all that matters.

I think aggietxdent is right. Yes, totally roll with it. I would definitely focus on taking some science classes, maybe a one year masters if you can or specifically call admissions offices to see what you should work on based on their recommendations. But really, getting up from that 1.8, that is so awesome!

 

[Gymgivitis]

I think aggietxdent is right. Yes, totally roll with it. I would definitely focus on taking some science classes, maybe a one year masters if you can or specifically call admissions offices to see what you should work on based on their recommendations. But really, getting up from that 1.8, that is so awesome!

Thank you so much! I'm applying to a non-thesis masters program at my university soon.

 

[aggietxdent]

Thank you so much! I'm applying to a non-thesis masters program at my university soon.

My friend did a master program and was accepted this year to SA. DAT was around the same as yours and undergrad GPA was around the same too but he absolutely killed it in the masters program (3.8-4.0 I believe). It was a two year program but he's basically just leaving it to start Dental school and they're okay with that.

 

[Gymgivitis]

My friend did a master program and was accepted this year to SA. DAT was around the same as yours and undergrad GPA was around the same too but he absolutely killed it in the masters program (3.8-4.0 I believe). It was a two year program but he's basically just leaving it to start Dental school and they're okay with that.

BIMS masters?

 

[aggietxdent]

BIMS masters?

Honestly not sure. I don't think the actual program matters much as long as it's science based and your GPA is stellar.

 

[stoopidmonkeycatdog]

I had a buddy who applied around the second or third week of September. He interviewed at Texas A&M and his GPA is basically right in line with yours. He hasn't been accepted but both him, and another one of his friends he told me about did interview with similar gpa's as yours, so i do think there is a chance.

 

[Gymgivitis]

I had a buddy who applied around the second or third week of September. He interviewed at Texas A&M and his GPA is basically right in line with yours. He hasn't been accepted but both him, and another one of his friends he told me about did interview with similar gpa's as yours, so i do think there is a chance.

Thanks man. That was this cycle?

 

[stoopidmonkeycatdog]

Thanks man. That was this cycle?

Yes! He's also still waiting, but his friend got into SA and has yet to hear from Baylor. My friend only interviewed at A&M though.

 

[Gymgivitis]

Yes! He's also still waiting, but his friend got into SA and has yet to hear from Baylor. My friend only interviewed at A&M though.

That's very encouraging. Thanks for the info!

 

[luisfigo]

For me (A&M acceptance) Same bcpm 2.99, 3.0 ugpa, had a guy on Houston committee point out that "if only my bcpm were .01 higher" it would look so much better. 3.89 SMP, 23AA. I would consider taking an SMP, they'll offer a DAT course as a part of the program(princeton review is better than kaplan). And you can apply during the middle of the SMP, add updates to your app the whole application cycle, and even if you don't get in next cycle you'll be ready to apply early with a master's degree/early app/better DAT.

 

[Gymgivitis]

For me (A&M acceptance) Same bcpm 2.99, 3.0 ugpa, had a guy on Houston committee point out that "if only my bcpm were .01 higher" it would look so much better. 3.89 SMP, 23AA. I would consider taking an SMP, they'll offer a DAT course as a part of the program(princeton review is better than kaplan). And you can apply during the middle of the SMP, add updates to your app the whole application cycle, and even if you don't get in next cycle you'll be ready to apply early with a master's degree/early app/better DAT.

I honestly am content with my DAT score and don't think that's what's standing between me and admissions. I'm definitely going to pursue a masters after this year to work on overcoming my GPA. Thanks for the help!!

 

[angiewangie7]

Congrats on the upward trend! Being a TX resident, I'm sure you've heard of the SMP that UNT Health offers. I think overall, more Pre-med students are enrolled in it, but I have also heard of pre-dental students benefitting from it. I'm in the same boat as waiting to determine if I will or will not be a reapplicant, but I have chosen to take the UTD post-bacc route. I would recommend this program because A&M's specific post bacc program is with UTD and so they have a good reputation overall. I'm not sure how they view your undergrad GPA in relation to post-bacc courses.. but just wanted to throw out a specific program 🙂

 

[lingbird]

I honestly am content with my DAT score and don't think that's what's standing between me and admissions. I'm definitely going to pursue a masters after this year to work on overcoming my GPA. Thanks for the help!!

Your gpa is low. Dat is fine

 

[doc toothache]

I don't believe any of the TX schools accepted any students with a GPA lower than a 3.0 so it's not impossible but you're getting close to that border (correct me if I'm wrong). The upward trend is really good though. Also DAT is looking good! If you don't get in this year, maybe take the DAT again and try and absolutely kill it. Then reapply the day the application comes out. Good luck!

The evidence seems to suggest otherwise.
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-range-of-gpa-dat-cut-off-scores.1074256/

 

[aggietxdent]

The evidence seems to suggest otherwise.
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-range-of-gpa-dat-cut-off-scores.1074256/

Our Professional Service Office gave us the range and highs/lows. Take into account that this is specifically for A&M Students and I agree that although a 3.0 is not a hard cut off, it seems to be pretty much the cut off for the most part. I'm not saying it's IMPOSSIBLE, but you'd have to be an extremely special case.

 

[doc toothache]

Our Professional Service Office gave us the range and highs/lows. Take into account that this is specifically for A&M Students and I agree that although a 3.0 is not a hard cut off, it seems to be pretty much the cut off for the most part. I'm not saying it's IMPOSSIBLE, but you'd have to be an extremely special case.

You appear to have misread the information in the snapshot. When was it that Baylor accepted ~50 students per year?

 

[aggietxdent]

You appear to have misread the information in the snapshot. When was it that Baylor accepted ~50 students per year?

Oh duh I'm sorry I should've specified (forgot I have to haha). These numbers are from A&M University in College Station, not the A&M Dental School in Dallas. So again I'm not trying to say it's a hard cut off and I know A&M College Station students don't represent all of TX applicants but I feel that the range is pretty spot on to what we should expect NORMALLY to occur as far as GPA correlates with acceptance.

 

[doc toothache]

Oh duh I'm sorry I should've specified (forgot I have to haha). These numbers are from A&M University in College Station, not the A&M Dental School in Dallas. So again I'm not trying to say it's a hard cut off and I know A&M College Station students don't represent all of TX applicants but I feel that the range is pretty spot on to what we should expect NORMALLY to occur as far as GPA correlates with acceptance.

In fact it does. Your snapshot shows that 4 were accepted with gpa of 3.0 and below.

 

[aggietxdent]

In fact it does. Your snapshot shows that 4 were accepted with gpa of 3.0 and below.

Very well. Here's one from the year before. Also take into account that these are the most recent stats that we have given to us, which is 2014 (above) and 2013 here. I don't think you can argue that it has gotten easier to get into dental school since then. You can say all day long that a 3.0 GPA is fine, but the data shows that is is absolutely out of the normal and because of that, it would be smart to tell @Gymgivitis to work on that GPA or enter a masters/post-bacc program in order to better his chances, which is really the point of this thread. Assuming a 3.0 GPA is fine and doing nothing to work on it would be a mistake.

 

[Gymgivitis]

Very well. Here's one from the year before. Also take into account that these are the most recent stats that we have given to us, which is 2014 (above) and 2013 here. I don't think you can argue that it has gotten easier to get into dental school since then. You can say all day long that a 3.0 GPA is fine, but the data shows that is is absolutely out of the normal and because of that, it would be smart to tell @Gymgivitis to work on that GPA or enter a masters/post-bacc program in order to better his chances, which is really the point of this thread. Assuming a 3.0 GPA is fine and doing nothing to work on it would be a mistake.

Don't worry. I'm working on it🙂
Thanks for the response.

 

[aggietxdent]

Don't worry. I'm working on it🙂
Thanks for the response.

Glad to hear! Hope you can join us at A&M ASAP 🙂

 

[periopocket]

Howdy y'all😉

So I'm curious about what SDN thinks my chances are for next cycle based on my results this cycle with the 3 Texas schools. I applied very late this cycle(like literally the day before the due date 9/30) because I had been wavering back and forth about whether I wanted to wait until my GPA is higher or to take a chance and I eventually decided late in the game that I might as well take a chance. My results were that I was denied from 2 of the Texas schools w/o interview but I did receive an interview at one of the Texas schools on the last possible interview date, and it went very well. Considering I interviewed so late, I probably won't know of my acceptance(praying) or rejection for a little bit longer. My stats are as follows:

3.10 oGPA, 2.99 BCPM(very frustrating I know), 20AA 19TS 22PAT 19RC 22QR, lots of shadow/decent volunteer, decent ECs, research experience w/one paper submitted for hopeful publication, great essays(were brought up heavily in my interview), and good recs. Also, I had a 1.8 GPA my freshman year so I've had a considerable upper trend(3.62 in my last 50 credit hours of upper level science courses) that took a ton of dedication.

I was honestly shocked that a Texas school took interest in me despite my low GPA. If I need to reapply, I'm hoping that if I do so much earlier I'll have better luck. What do you guys think? Also, I'm not a URM for the record.
Thanks a ton for any help that can be provided!

Masters is a great backup plan, DAT is good.