Do I still have a shot?

[GiveBackSmiles]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I would really like to go to dental school but am really really worried because of my poor performance in some science classes. I have a 3.5 Cumulative GPA right now as a junior. However, I have 3 Cs on my transcript all in chemistry classes. Also, the majority of my Bs are in science classes as well. I would really like to go to UMich or UPenn. How likely is it that I can still get in?

 

[dmd87]

I would really like to go to dental school but am really really worried because of my poor performance in some science classes. I have a 3.5 Cumulative GPA right now as a junior. However, I have 3 Cs on my transcript all in chemistry classes. Also, the majority of my Bs are in science classes as well. I would really like to go to UMich or UPenn. How likely is it that I can still get in?

It depends how you perform on the DAT. However, I don't think the "name" matters too much in dentistry. You can go to any school and specialize later on, going to UMich or UPenn also does not mean that you will have a higher starting salary coming out. It all comes down to how good you are and motivated you are once you are in dental school, not really the school you went to. I've met an excellent dentist that went to UMich, but also an excellent OMFS that went to Tufts. But thats just my 2 cents.

 

[2014orbust]

I would really like to go to dental school but am really really worried because of my poor performance in some science classes. I have a 3.5 Cumulative GPA right now as a junior. However, I have 3 Cs on my transcript all in chemistry classes. Also, the majority of my Bs are in science classes as well. I would really like to go to UMich or UPenn. How likely is it that I can still get in?

Just study and kill the DAT.. most schools will let you explain "extenuating circumstances" which led to the grades.. especially if you come back with amazing scores.. Had a couple friends get in last year with the same situation. Can be done

 

[lphiewok]

as long as you can keep up 3.5 gpa, i think your gpa is fine.
if you feel like you have poor science performances, then make sure you score well in every science sections (especially chem) on DAT and get really good TS/AA scores.
i have many c's (i can think of 3 bios and 2 chem on top of my head and my sGPA is 3.2) but b/c i did well in my DAT when i get asked questions like 'explain your GPA' during my interview i honestly tell them that i didn't do very well in my first few years especially science courses but i got my priorities/focus straight and learned sciences (of course i have upward trend with good grades in upper-div sciences and decent DAT science scores) and they seem to understand it just fine, and Lousiville admission dean actually told me during my exit interview that they like students who struggled at first but turned around later because they know what it is like to be on both sides and seem to perform better in dental school (not saying it's better to mess up in the beginning but it's all good if you can make it up with high DAT and good upward trend)

 

[americanpierg]

if you can average Bs in your sciences, you should easily get above a 20 TS on the DAT. Shoot for around a 23-24 TS and 18+ in all other sections and you're as good as guaranteed somewhere.

 

[peerless218]

Of course you have a shot!!! Just try to take some upper division science classes and raise your science GPA a little bit, do well on the DAT, and make up the B's on your package with a good amount of extra curricular activities!!!! You'll be fine!!! Good luck!