Do I Have a Fighting Chance?

[DoctorClueless]

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Hi all...I'm a new member of SDN.

I have a major problem, which you will see very clearly below. If you would please tell me if you think I still have a fighting chance at dental school, please tell me. I want honest opinions.

ACADEMICS

College: Lafayette College
Major: Neuroscience

AP CREDIT
Calculus I
European History
English Language

FALL 2011
General Biology I=A
General Chemistry I=A
First Year Seminar-"Science or Pseudoscience"-= A
Calculus II= A

SPRING 2012
General Biology II= A-
General Chemistry II= A
Intro to Neuroscience= A-
Intro to Sociology= A

FALL 2012
Molecular Genetics= A-
Organic Chemistry I= B-
Intro to Psychology=A
Intro to Film&Media Studies=A

SPRING 2013 (classes to be taken)
Neurobiology
Organic Chemistry II
Quantitative Methods in Psychology (i.e. statistics)
Ethical and Legal Challenges of New Genomics (a sophomore seminar...all sophomores need to take one of the offered seminars)

SUMMER 2013 (classes to be taken)
Healthcare Ethics in the US vs. the UK
Healthcare Internship (to be determined)---this does count for academic credit

EXTRACURRICULARS
--Weekly Volunteer at homeless shelter near my college (fall 2011-present)

--Weekly Middle School Tutor (fall 2011-spring 2012)

--Supplemental Instructor (similar to a TA) in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--Peer Tutor in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--College Ambassador (i.e. a tour guide) (fall 2012-present)

--Resident Advisor (beginning next semester) (spring 2013-)

--"LEARN Scholar": conducted psychology research on problem solving abilities in older adults under stereotype threat contexts...presented in college poster session, will present for the International Neuropsychological Society in February (research conducted in summer of 2012)

--House Manager of Lafayette Hillel Society (spring 2012-end of fall 2012)
--Treasurer of Lafayette Hillel Society (end of fall 2012-present)

--Treasurer of Lafayette Society for Neuroscience (end of fall 2012-present)

--Shadowed a Periodontist/Implantologist for 3 days in Winter of 2011/2012

--This summer, I will be studying abroad in London, working in some sort of clinical setting TBD...it is a healthcare based program for 2 months (see academics)

____________________________________________________________________
Please give it to me straight...how badly is that organic grade going to look? I'm really really concerned about it because I really worked at that class...there was something about the visual/stereochemical aspect of it that I just had a major problem with...

If you could give me a good holistic opinion on everything that would be great!

Thank you for taking the time to read everything, it is much appreciated!

 

[colombianDDS]

Your grades are fine. But you have 3 days of shadowing experience (did i miss something)? and no DAT score. I think the shadowing is a HUGE setback.

 

[Tunaman]

Hi all...I'm a new member of SDN.

I have a major problem, which you will see very clearly below. If you would please tell me if you think I still have a fighting chance at dental school, please tell me. I want honest opinions.

ACADEMICS

College: Lafayette College
Major: Neuroscience

AP CREDIT
Calculus I
European History
English Language

FALL 2011
General Biology I=A
General Chemistry I=A
First Year Seminar-"Science or Pseudoscience"-= A
Calculus II= A

SPRING 2012
General Biology II= A-
General Chemistry II= A
Intro to Neuroscience= A-
Intro to Sociology= A

FALL 2012
Molecular Genetics= A-
Organic Chemistry I= B-
Intro to Psychology=A
Intro to Film&Media Studies=A

SPRING 2013 (classes to be taken)
Neurobiology
Organic Chemistry II
Quantitative Methods in Psychology (i.e. statistics)
Ethical and Legal Challenges of New Genomics (a sophomore seminar...all sophomores need to take one of the offered seminars)

SUMMER 2013 (classes to be taken)
Healthcare Ethics in the US vs. the UK
Healthcare Internship (to be determined)---this does count for academic credit

EXTRACURRICULARS
--Weekly Volunteer at homeless shelter near my college (fall 2011-present)

--Weekly Middle School Tutor (fall 2011-spring 2012)

--Supplemental Instructor (similar to a TA) in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--Peer Tutor in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--College Ambassador (i.e. a tour guide) (fall 2012-present)

--Resident Advisor (beginning next semester) (spring 2013-)

--"LEARN Scholar": conducted psychology research on problem solving abilities in older adults under stereotype threat contexts...presented in college poster session, will present for the International Neuropsychological Society in February (research conducted in summer of 2012)

--House Manager of Lafayette Hillel Society (spring 2012-end of fall 2012)
--Treasurer of Lafayette Hillel Society (end of fall 2012-present)

--Treasurer of Lafayette Society for Neuroscience (end of fall 2012-present)

--Shadowed a Periodontist/Implantologist for 3 days in Winter of 2011/2012

--This summer, I will be studying abroad in London, working in some sort of clinical setting TBD...it is a healthcare based program for 2 months (see academics)

____________________________________________________________________
Please give it to me straight...how badly is that organic grade going to look? I'm really really concerned about it because I really worked at that class...there was something about the visual/stereochemical aspect of it that I just had a major problem with...

If you could give me a good holistic opinion on everything that would be great!

Thank you for taking the time to read everything, it is much appreciated!

Your grades are fine, No need to panic, focus on getting a 20+ on the DAT

 

[rickblas]

Hi all...I'm a new member of SDN.

I have a major problem, which you will see very clearly below. If you would please tell me if you think I still have a fighting chance at dental school, please tell me. I want honest opinions.

ACADEMICS

College: Lafayette College
Major: Neuroscience

AP CREDIT
Calculus I
European History
English Language

FALL 2011
General Biology I=A
General Chemistry I=A
First Year Seminar-"Science or Pseudoscience"-= A
Calculus II= A

SPRING 2012
General Biology II= A-
General Chemistry II= A
Intro to Neuroscience= A-
Intro to Sociology= A

FALL 2012
Molecular Genetics= A-
Organic Chemistry I= B-
Intro to Psychology=A
Intro to Film&Media Studies=A

SPRING 2013 (classes to be taken)
Neurobiology
Organic Chemistry II
Quantitative Methods in Psychology (i.e. statistics)
Ethical and Legal Challenges of New Genomics (a sophomore seminar...all sophomores need to take one of the offered seminars)

SUMMER 2013 (classes to be taken)
Healthcare Ethics in the US vs. the UK
Healthcare Internship (to be determined)---this does count for academic credit

EXTRACURRICULARS
--Weekly Volunteer at homeless shelter near my college (fall 2011-present)

--Weekly Middle School Tutor (fall 2011-spring 2012)

--Supplemental Instructor (similar to a TA) in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--Peer Tutor in General Chemistry (fall 2012-present)

--College Ambassador (i.e. a tour guide) (fall 2012-present)

--Resident Advisor (beginning next semester) (spring 2013-)

--"LEARN Scholar": conducted psychology research on problem solving abilities in older adults under stereotype threat contexts...presented in college poster session, will present for the International Neuropsychological Society in February (research conducted in summer of 2012)

--House Manager of Lafayette Hillel Society (spring 2012-end of fall 2012)
--Treasurer of Lafayette Hillel Society (end of fall 2012-present)

--Treasurer of Lafayette Society for Neuroscience (end of fall 2012-present)

--Shadowed a Periodontist/Implantologist for 3 days in Winter of 2011/2012

--This summer, I will be studying abroad in London, working in some sort of clinical setting TBD...it is a healthcare based program for 2 months (see academics)

____________________________________________________________________
Please give it to me straight...how badly is that organic grade going to look? I'm really really concerned about it because I really worked at that class...there was something about the visual/stereochemical aspect of it that I just had a major problem with...

If you could give me a good holistic opinion on everything that would be great!

Thank you for taking the time to read everything, it is much appreciated!

I am not sure if you are joking or what? but I am going to tell it to you straight up with my honest opinion: You are crazy. I had to look over the post 3x to find what was wrong until I read the bottom when you were concerned about one B- (L.O.L.) Get over yourself.

EDIT: I admit the above was a little mean but you want the truth. To put your mind at ease I got a C+ in organic chem 1 and I am still here in dental school...When I applied 2 years ago I applied to 15 schools, 11 interviews 8 acceptances. If you are worried about something like this now my only concern is how stressed you'll be in the future in professional school and beyond. Learn how to cope with a B- now....you'll have an easier time keeping your sanity in dental school.

 

[SmithS87]

The organic chemistry grade is not a problem, but there are some very big problems in there. None of your extracurriculars show interest in the field of dentistry (except for 3 days of shadowing...?). Also, those courses you have taken are all entry level, general courses. Get into the meat of the subjects and check your grades then. Dental schools will not accept AP credits, so don't mention those. Show more of an interest in dentistry overall if you want to be a dentist. They notice those things. The DAT score will be huge, so hopefully you are honing in on your perceptual abilities right now.
I had crappy grades my first 2 years in college, majored in anthropology, yet rocked the DAT and shadowed for years. I just got accepted into every dental school I applied to. Stay strong.

 

[DoctorClueless]

The organic chemistry grade is not a problem, but there are some very big problems in there. None of your extracurriculars show interest in the field of dentistry (except for 3 days of shadowing...?). Also, those courses you have taken are all entry level, general courses. Get into the meat of the subjects and check your grades then. Dental schools will not accept AP credits, so don't mention those. Show more of an interest in dentistry overall if you want to be a dentist. They notice those things. The DAT score will be huge, so hopefully you are honing in on your perceptual abilities right now.
I had crappy grades my first 2 years in college, majored in anthropology, yet rocked the DAT and shadowed for years. I just got accepted into every dental school I applied to. Stay strong.

The internship I will have this summer will very very likely be in a dentist's office or a dental clinic within a hospital. So that will be a solid 4 weeks of fulltime experience...so that's a start for now. I didn't put that specifically simply because getting the "right" internship is not 100% guaranteed yet....is shadowing in the UK alright or is it less valued in any way?

Also, I thought AP calculus credit for calc I would be okay provided that I took calc II in college...or so I was told.

 

[kwuwola]

The organic chemistry grade is not a problem, but there are some very big problems in there. None of your extracurriculars show interest in the field of dentistry (except for 3 days of shadowing...?). Also, those courses you have taken are all entry level, general courses. Get into the meat of the subjects and check your grades then. Dental schools will not accept AP credits, so don't mention those. Show more of an interest in dentistry overall if you want to be a dentist. They notice those things. The DAT score will be huge, so hopefully you are honing in on your perceptual abilities right now.
I had crappy grades my first 2 years in college, majored in anthropology, yet rocked the DAT and shadowed for years. I just got accepted into every dental school I applied to. Stay strong.

I agree that 3 days shadowing a specialist might be a problem, but other than that your extra curriculars are great. It shows that you really care about helping people. I only did 8 days of shadowing and I got acceptances. The shadowing is for you to know if you want to become a dentist. It's great that Smith did years of shadowing, but it shouldn't take more than a week to figure out if thats what you really want to do.

 

[aqz]

The organic chemistry grade is not a problem, but there are some very big problems in there. None of your extracurriculars show interest in the field of dentistry (except for 3 days of shadowing...?). Also, those courses you have taken are all entry level, general courses. Get into the meat of the subjects and check your grades then. Dental schools will not accept AP credits, so don't mention those. Show more of an interest in dentistry overall if you want to be a dentist. They notice those things. The DAT score will be huge, so hopefully you are honing in on your perceptual abilities right now.
I had crappy grades my first 2 years in college, majored in anthropology, yet rocked the DAT and shadowed for years. I just got accepted into every dental school I applied to. Stay strong.

Off topic...a lot of schools don't accept any AP but plenty of schools do accept AP.

 

[LaughingGas]

Everything is fine. Just shadow a bit more (100~150 hours total).

 

[iDentastic]

You're bound to get lower than an A- sometimes. Don't let it discourage you.

One thing to note is, are you taking any upper level writing courses? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think you need one as a requirement for a lot of school. Not sure about the AP credits for your English class either.

Make sure to rock the DAT. All the information and materials you need to do well are here on SDN for you.

 

[UCLAzy]

Dental schools will not accept AP credits

have you applied? doubt it