Didn't get accepted. Delay graduation?

[oclor]

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I didn't get in anywhere this year. I want to continue taking classes so I can improve my GPA. I talked to my biology advisor and she said that the most common thing students not accepted do is delay their graduation by a year. Is this what I should do or will it look bad?

 

[blankguy]

I didn't get in anywhere this year. I want to continue taking classes so I can improve my GPA. I talked to my biology advisor and she said that the most common thing students not accepted do is delay their graduation by a year. Is this what I should do or will it look bad?

That sounds like a good idea. Also try to retake the DAT. You can do better than the scores you have now.

 

[tamkhan]

I didn't get in anywhere this year. I want to continue taking classes so I can improve my GPA. I talked to my biology advisor and she said that the most common thing students not accepted do is delay their graduation by a year. Is this what I should do or will it look bad?

If you MUST delay, I suggest completing a minor and delving into the working world, as well. Unless you're taking upper year science courses and doing really well in them, delaying your graduation won't help you much, IMO.
Take some interesting courses and get a job on the side. Use the job to improve on your interpersonal skills and management skills. Mention all of this in your personal statement.
Good luck! There is still time this year; you could be accepted anywhere within the next 3 or 4 months.

Oh, yes, as blankguy mentioned; retake the DAT. You can do much better.

 

[oclor]

Yeah I'm retaking the DAT for sure. I plan on spending 3 months over the summer studying for it and killing it in august. I just want to know what to do after that. I guess I will delay the graduation and take 4 upper level classes in the fall. Hopefully by that time I'm accepted and don't have to do anything in the spring. Thanks

 

[blankguy]

Also continue shadowing/volunteering because you never know something may turn up that you missed in your previous volunteering/shadowing hours. Don't let up on this until you get into dental school. If you choose to graduate get a job in a lab somewhere that seems to be what some people do in the extra year between undergrad and med/dental school. I don't think boosting your GPA is as urgent as say with somebody with 3.0 GPA. Getting extra work experience will do you well because it adds something extra to your next application.

 

[Regmata]

Delay, but try to work and take only around 12 hours a semester unless you GPA is awful. Don't kill yourself and make sure you get all A's.

 

[bennijai]

u could plan a 1 year masters (non thesis) instead. thats what im planning on doing instead of delaying graduation. i see no point in stayin undergrad for another year only for a BS degree when i can get a MA

 

[blankguy]

u could plan a 1 year masters (non thesis) instead. thats what im planning on doing instead of delaying graduation. i see no point in stayin undergrad for another year only for a BS degree when i can get a MA

He has a strong GPA, a masters won't be necessary at this point. All he needs is a stronger DAT score, and while he is at it add more courses and extracurricular stuff.

 

[JamieMac]

I'd say timing could be the real issue here. You submitted your application to AADSAS in September...that is quite late. Your next problem is that you're planning on a later DAT retake this year. Is there any way you can bump your retake to June instead of August? Some schools are a little later with the process than others, but several schools will not even get to your application when it is submitted late. Timing is becoming increasingly important when applying to dental schools.

 

[will9631]

I was in a similar situation last year. I delayed my graduation and picked up a second degree (a ba in art studio), and got into two schools this time around. I don't think my art degree helped me nearly as much as retaking the DAT and scoring much higher (did kaplan tutoring + class + online and had terrific results). I also applied earlier and did more shadowing. The art degree came up as a positive in interviews, but only because I had the DAT scores and shadowing to show my commitment and aptitude for dentisty.

hope that helps