Chances of getting in with low GPA & low sGPA

[willow123]

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I would highly appreciate any input into whether or not I have a good enough chance to get into a dental school.

cGPA: 3.36
bcpGPA: 3.20

I earned Cs in the following four courses: Physics I, Physics II, Immunology & Immunochem, and Orgo II.

These four Cs really took a toll on my GPA, and I had earned the last two Cs in the past semester right before my plans to apply.

Upper level courses taken:
Cell & Molecular Biology
Microbiology
Genetics
Biochemistry
Developmental Biology

I have yet to take the DAT but am hoping to score high. I have research experience, and feel that my ECs, shadowing, volunteering, and LOEs are alright, but my greatest worry is my GPA.

Based on GPA alone, would you exclude me (in your opinion) from acceptance into dental schools like BU, NYU, MCG (GA resident), Temple, etc?

Thanks!

 

[Seahawk]

As you said, it's not great, but plenty of people get in with even below 3.0 GPA's.

Crush the DAT & apply to a bunch of schools. No, it doesn't exclude your chances.

 

[dentalprodigy]

its not great but u can't count ur self out. My sisters friend got into NYU with slightly lower gpa than u (but with a strong dat score).

Again ur chances are limited, don't expect to hear in the first round of acceptances but again its possible to get in to private schools with stats like urs.

With temple chances are slim imo

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk

 

[DatRat86]

That's about what I had, just do well on your dat and get some good lor's

 

[supraeli]

Dude. I got 3 Fs and still got into dschool haha. Adcomms don't always see applicants as numbers on a paper. My 3 published research papers caught a lot of schools attention despite my GPA. Also, if you score a 30 on your DAT, you basically have a good shot at any school you want, regardless of anything else.

I will warn you though. Many people say they will "crush" the DAT after getting an iffy GPA... Well, the DAT often mirror's people's GPA so don't overestimate yourself. Unless your grades suffered from something other than your academic incompetency, then you should realize that you may not receive a stellar score on your DAT without seriously devoting a exorbitant amount of time to studying for them.

G'luck mate.

 

[Wicked Sin]

Push your worries aside and focus on the DAT. A high DAT will remove a lot of doubt in your stats. I suggest using *********** as your tool to various things.

Oh and stop reading Student Doctor, it will only make you panic and feel worse. Focus on the tasks at hand.

 

[SN1]

Dude. I got 3 Fs and still got into dschool haha. Adcomms don't always see applicants as numbers on a paper. My 3 published research papers caught a lot of schools attention despite my GPA. Also, if you score a 30 on your DAT, you basically have a good shot at any school you want, regardless of anything else.

LOL that is very unrealistic. What was your overall GPA that got you accepted? What school if you don't mind me asking?

 

[doc toothache]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=901073

 

[dentalWorks]

generally speaking, 3.2s and 3s WILL/CAN get you into dental school (assuming a respectable 19-20 range on DAT).... the problem is, you need to prove urself to adcoms

You can do this by taking upper level biologies (for example) during junior and senior years and earning high marks, this will erase any doubt about your ability to handle upper level biologies.

I've said this before, undergrad GPA is a measure of consistency and work-ethic, DAT is just a 1-shot deal to estimate how you'll handle the stressful boards.

I am afraid (unless we are talking MONSTER DAT like 24s and higher), GPA ~ for most schools~ is more important than DAT. And it makes sense, it takes 3-4 years building up a GPA, and only what? 2-3 months for the DAT

 

[yappy]

Dental works,

What is your impression of the last semester prior to dental school - a student who has a steller record (3.7+ terms for 3.5 years) applying with their most recent term earning a pitiful C+ in a science, two B's in nonscience, and a W. It was a terrible term filled with a muscular skeletal injury, doctors visits and PT sessions, sleepless painful nights and cars breaking down. (yeah I know bad stuff happens to most people but this stuff knocked me on my *ss). This is in contrast to my last term where I took 7 courses, 5 of which were science and a math, and received a 3.85.

Does this term of a 2.7 wreck the chances of the applicant with a 3.3 overall and what was a solid upward trend! The only consulation was that it didn't sway my overall much as I have so many credits & after the W it only accounted for 9 credits in total.

generally speaking, 3.2s and 3s WILL/CAN get you into dental school (assuming a respectable 19-20 range on DAT).... the problem is, you need to prove urself to adcoms

You can do this by taking upper level biologies (for example) during junior and senior years and earning high marks, this will erase any doubt about your ability to handle upper level biologies.

I've said this before, undergrad GPA is a measure of consistency and work-ethic, DAT is just a 1-shot deal to estimate how you'll handle the stressful boards.

I am afraid (unless we are talking MONSTER DAT like 24s and higher), GPA ~ for most schools~ is more important than DAT. And it makes sense, it takes 3-4 years building up a GPA, and only what? 2-3 months for the DAT

OP: as long as you have shown an upward trend some friends of mine have got in with your GPA and a 20 on the DAT. They also had decent shadowing hours (50).

 

[dentalWorks]

Dental works,

What is your impression of the last semester prior to dental school - a student who has a steller record (3.7+ terms for 3.5 years) applying with their most recent term earning a pitiful C+ in a science, two B's in nonscience, and a W. It was a terrible term filled with a muscular skeletal injury, doctors visits and PT sessions, sleepless painful nights and cars breaking down. (yeah I know bad stuff happens to most people but this stuff knocked me on my *ss). This is in contrast to my last term where I took 7 courses, 5 of which were science and a math, and received a 3.85.

Does this term of a 2.7 wreck the chances of the applicant with a 3.3 overall and what was a solid upward trend! The only consulation was that it didn't sway my overall much as I have so many credits & after the W it only accounted for 9 credits in total.

I can't be sure how adcoms will think.... IMO, its not going to matter too much, no student is judged by a single "bad" mark, the same applies to a single bad (horrible) semester. It is more important to show overall good consistency, and it seems like you have.

 

[road2dmd]

Hi - Definitely have a chance if you can work from here on out to improve your resume. First off, you need a 20+ on the DAT, the lower the gpa the higher hte DAT necessary. Second, take some extra courses if you can to improve the trend of your latest grades. Finally, contact a few schools of your preference and show your interest, ask what you can do, and make sure to keep open communication with someone in each of your chosen offices throughout the process so that your name is not just another joe schmoe of the bunch. I was in a very similar position as you last year applying. My sgpa out of college was low, my regular gpa was not much better and i graduated with a C on my last semester. I took the year to add courses that are taken in dental school (biochem, immuno -but you already took these so choose other ones) - I spoke to admissions, I showed interest....and I did well on my DAT - aa22 pat24 ts21. All in all I got 2 interviews pre-dec and 2 interviews post december...apply early - that was my biggest mistake b/c I had to retake my DAT so late (Sept)

 

[yappy]

Thanks for the reply. I'm applying with a 22 DAT early. I just hope that this all works out and the C+ in my last semester isn't going to wreck my chances. I really dont want to wait another year!

 

[Hashwi]

As you said, it's not great, but plenty of people get in with even below 3.0 GPA's.

Crush the DAT & apply to a bunch of schools. No, it doesn't exclude your chances.

how much below 3.0 lol

 

[Bifenthrin]

It's not great, but if you do well on your DAT and have a ton of other great stuff in the application, you stand a chance.

I had a D in Orgo2, C+ in GenChem2, C in Organic Evolution, and a C in Physics 1. My BCP was lower than yours.

But I had work experience as a dental assistant, research experience, and a Masters degree and a full time career at the time of applying. I got in off of the waitlist.

 

[SmilesMatter]

Anyone have an idea of what schools to apply to with a GPA of 3.3? I have another semester to bring my GPA so I am hoping it will be a 3.4. (ALSO completely off topic but how do you start a new thread on/ or ask a new question on this website?)