desperate gameplan for recent grad

[salut03]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey, all! I'm really glad I found this website because everyone appears to be honest and helpful. I recently graduated from a top tier school, but I am in serious need of a gameplan to get into dental school. The damage is a 2.67 from D's in the sciences and withdrawals from one especially dismal semester. Everything else in the humanities were A's and B's because they were never challenging or interesting to me. I was stupid, young, and avoided the challenging schoolwork by shadowing, researching for a dental professor and later working as a dental assistant. All these experiences should have spurred me through the tough nights in the library, but I got so distracted by going out and dating. When I realized it was too late, I became depressed.

Now that I've graduated, I've learned to move on and to try hard to get into dental school. I've combed through the discussions about postbac programs, success stories, and the Under 3.0 Club, but I still feel very unsure about how I can salvage my chances. WHAT CAN I DO NOW???

My school record will not convince dental schools (or anyone, for the most part) that I want to be serious about becoming a dentist. The trouble is, that list of people includes potential advisers. Right after graduation, I enrolled in a summer course at my state school to retake Calc I, where I scored a wonderful D four years ago my freshman year. I'm eager to plan out next semester's classes with a Health Professions adviser, but no one has been receptive, and I am wondering if I am at the wrong school. I probably do not have a chance at getting into programs that strongly link into dental schools, so should I just retake the classes where I got D's (both Physics, Intro to Cell Bio)? I will work my tail off to get A's, so should I just wait to garner these grades to convince advisers that I am serious and need their help? I've also been advised to avoid retaking courses and working hard in higher-level sciences, but is a "D" not fill the technical requirement of having taken it? (comments I received: "You need to take all the classes where you got a D." "A D is like not having taken it")

Thanks for your time

😕 😕

 

[drPheta]

Hi there.. This is my first post, but I hope it's a very helpful one.

First some background.
Double Major in Economics/Cell Biology and Neurosciences.
Minor in Psychology.

In ONE year I managed to bring it up several tenths of a point from taking A LOT OF CLASSES. Mostly from my minor and second major. Additionally, the science classes I took were hard core courses.

Molecular Bio
Biochem
Advanced Neurobiology
Evolutionary Genetics (upper division genetics theory)
DNA
Parasitology
and some labs as well

On top of that, I was finishing up my Econ double major and my Psychology. You can imagine the course load.

Don't stop at taking important classes. Shadow some more, get a job (better if it's related, but if you work on the side...it shows your ability to handle STRESS and PRESSURE along with TIME MANAGEMENT). Volunteer if you can.

Sounds trite, but don't stop trying. Don't make up any excuses for your mishap during the interview (as I see you've already taken the blame for that one).

Timing is key as well. Apply after you've gotten things straightened out. I made the mistake of applying before all my grades were set in stone. Spots filled up and now I'm on three waitlists.

This is my second year applying, and I've gotten way more interviews than last year. A not so phenomenal 3.0 GPA and a 20/20 on my DATs.

 

[shootin4par]

First off, this isn't my first post, and drPheta was DEAD ON with his/her post. Coming from a top tier school will help, but keep in mind that you need to retake all those science courses where you had deficiences (D or lower) and then take additional science courses to show Dental Admissions Committee (ad-coms) that you are capable of a heavily science load. In addition make sure you do post bac like you were going for the Gold.
Another thing you should do is continue shadowing and getting more experience. In addition ROCK the DAT. 20/20 will help, but the higher the better. I dont mean to deter you in any shape but there are a lot of students with 3.5s and 20/20 applying, but making your DAT strong will help you. Also when you do apply APPLY EARLY. Make sure you spend a lot of time on your Personal Statement. Make sure you explain EVERYTHING. Why you had so many bad grades, what happened during trhat semester, and how you realized dentistry is for you. This is just a little set back. Grades aren't the only thing in getting into dental school, but they are important. I promise you, if you do post-bac, score well on the DAT, have a STRONG Personal Statement (if you need pointers on just PM me) and Apply EARLY.

Lastly, DO NOT GIVE UP. Yes you belong to they 3.0 and under club, but that just mean you need to pull your stuff together and kick some major a$$ and show the ad-coms who you are.

Hope to see you in dental school!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by salut03
I've also been advised to avoid retaking courses and working hard in higher-level sciences, but is a "D" not fill the technical requirement of having taken it? (comments I received: "You need to take all the classes where you got a D." "A D is like not having taken it")

In regards to this specific point: you need to get a C grade AT LEAST in prereq courses for them to be counted towards admissions.

However, that doesn't mean you have to retake the same courses. For example, if you bombed Intro to Cell Bio, then you are still lacking a bio course in the eyes of the adcoms. You could either retake that same intro course, or you could take ANY other biology course.

Perhaps a new course with new material would give you a "fresh start" feeling. Also, if it is a higher-level bio course, then adcoms will know you are serious about advancing.

The previous two posters hit your other marks pretty much on the head.

Good luck with the process. Keep up hope, and have a realistic gameplan!