Do I have any chance??

[smurf528]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I know that there are a lot a posts like this but I'm just getting a bit worried.

I currently have a 3.45gpa and I am planning on taking the DAT this June to apply for the 2010 cycle. I'm still having trouble getting LORs from professors since I never got to know any of them on a personal level and my extracurriculars aren't that great. I have volunteered ~50 hours in a hospital, and shadowed dentists for ~20 hours. I also have volunteered a little bit with the Pre-Dental Society at my university.

I just thought of applying to dental school about a year ago and I will be in my senior year this fall '09. I've been working during the weekends as a server for years and my course load is always full so I don't get much time to shadow dentists due to their office hours and conflictions with mine.

So what are my chances of getting into dental school? I plan on applying to NOVA, UF, NYU (my three top choices), Case and Temple. I really would love to stay in Florida but my GPA is low for NOVA and UF so I'm really thinking of NYU.

Also, I got a C- in Physics 2 and I found out that I need to retake the course (I HATE PHYSICS!!). I still have some degree requirements to finish so can I wait until the Spring to take it? Or would the school not accept that since it is a requirement?

Any help or thoughts will be appreciated...

 

[lifeisajourney]

I would try and up the dental shadowing hours. Some places like OHSU require 50 hours, with atleast ten of the those shadowing a specialist of your choice.

 

[Dental Monst3r]

How many years of physics have you had so far?

 

[tsitneD]

if you have health advisory committee at your school you can ask them for an evaluation letter if getting LORs dont seem right to you. At my University we go through a mock interview and few workshops to be eligible for a health committee evalutaion letter. Now i am assuming you have a pre-dental society so there must be some sort of pre-health professional committee to assist students at your school.

Good luck for DAT!!!! 👍

 

[enfuego]

You and I are almost exactly the same person.

Pick a volunteer group now (I'm sure your school organizes volunteer programs that go out once a week or something) and do it until you graduate. That'll be one good volunteering commitment. I've been working with this program for a year, and my advisor said that a year is not a small commitment, and it looks good. I may have to drop this program now and find something that meets on weekends because I'm picking up bigger commitments for next year like being society president and doing research.

Shadowing is a problem for me for the same reason. I'm hoping to get some hours in with my dentist at home and while I'm at school over the summer.

I'm worried about my LORs too. I'm getting really stressed about it. For my school's admissions committee, we need one science professor, one major professor, and one other letter. I've got the other letter covered, but I have to get the professors still. I'm the kind of person who'd rather read the book and figure out the answer on my own and teach myself. It doesn't help that my classes are huge, and that even in office hours you're there with a group of other people with questions, not one-on-one.

You should apply to BU too.
I hadn't heard the best things about their facilities (one of my friends describe the place as a dungeon), but I've met a few BU dental students, and they all really love it there and they all have a lot of fun with each other. It seems like a nice atmosphere at least. Their APEX program is cool too.

 

[smurf528]

I took Physics I a couple years ago and got a B+. I took Physics II last spring and got a C-. It's pretty sad because I helped a student throughout the semester on this and he ended up with a B+. I'm planning on taking it in the Spring so I can be sure I get some of my requirements for my B.S. finished.

 

[Dental Monst3r]

What major/minor requires that much physics? (besides a b.s. in physics major)

 

[smurf528]

Physics I and II are required for dental school admission. I am finishing up a minor in Public Health.

 

[Dental Monst3r]

never mind

 

[smurf528]

can someone answer my question??

I already took Physics II and got a C- in it so I have to retake the course. I'm applying this summer. Is it okay if I wait until the fall or spring of my senior year to retake it or will it look bad. I know it is required but will it look bad to not retake it before I apply? It's a bit late now to retake it before I apply and I want to apply for the 2010 cycle.