dont want to give up but what to do next?

[MSCpredent82]

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Hi Guys,

I've been coming to this site and reading the different threads. I can see that there are alot of dental hopefuls out there with similar situation as me. A little about me:

2001-2006 Honors Bachelor of Science
(01-02) 1st year cGPA - 2.5 (1C-, 2C+, 2B-, 1B+)
(02-03) 2nd year cGPA - 2.43 (1D, 3C-, 2B and 1A-)
(03-04) 3rd year cGPA - 2.34 (1F, 1D-, 1C-, 1C, 2B, 1B+ and 1A-)
(04-05) 4th year cGPA - 2.29 (1F, 1D-, 1D, 3C-, 2B, 1B+ and 2A-)
(05-06) 5th year cGPA - 2.47 (1C, 1B-, 2B+, 2A- and 1A)

I took some extra non-credit courses each semester after my undergrad while working at a lab (this was to get into grad school):
2006 Fall - took 2 courses (each A-)
2007 Winter - took 2 courses (B+ and B)
2007 Fall - took 4 courses (B+, 2A- and 1A)

I applied for a master's program during 2007 and started my masters in September 2008. I took a required course during my masters which I recieved B+. I am still in the process of doing my masters which I expect will take longer than Sept.2010 to finish. I am planning to write the DAT this coming November and want to apply for the Sept 2011 cycle.

As you can appreciate I have been at this for a LONG time (9 years already ). I had been planning to apply this past year however I am not confident enough, because I dont think my grades are competitive. Going into grad school has definitely changed my attitude toward studying, but I don't know what to do in regards to my undergrad marks. Most of my friends have finished school and started work already. My daily waves of thought consist of feelings of regret and dissapointment. I'll be turning 28 this summer 😱 and want to stop feeling so down. But to be honest I don't know where to start. Any comment in regards to how my stats are in regards to dental school would be much appreciated (I already know that they are not competitive at all!). Also any advice on what my next step should be would be very helpful.

Thanks

BTW... I'm in Canada and not sure what US schools would be my best bet when I apply this year!

 

[Tiankum]

Hi Guys,

I've been coming to this site and reading the different threads. I can see that there are alot of dental hopefuls out there with similar situation as me. A little about me:

2001-2006 Honors Bachelor of Science
(01-02) 1st year cGPA - 2.5 (1C-, 2C+, 2B-, 1B+)
(02-03) 2nd year cGPA - 2.43 (1D, 3C-, 2B and 1A-)
(03-04) 3rd year cGPA - 2.34 (1F, 1D-, 1C-, 1C, 2B, 1B+ and 1A-)
(04-05) 4th year cGPA - 2.29 (1F, 1D-, 1D, 3C-, 2B, 1B+ and 2A-)
(05-06) 5th year cGPA - 2.47 (1C, 1B-, 2B+, 2A- and 1A)

I took some extra non-credit courses each semester after my undergrad while working at a lab (this was to get into grad school):
2006 Fall - took 2 courses (each A-)
2007 Winter - took 2 courses (B+ and B)
2007 Fall - took 4 courses (B+, 2A- and 1A)

I applied for a master's program during 2007 and started my masters in September 2008. I took a required course during my masters which I recieved B+. I am still in the process of doing my masters which I expect will take longer than Sept.2010 to finish. I am planning to write the DAT this coming November and want to apply for the Sept 2011 cycle.

As you can appreciate I have been at this for a LONG time (9 years already ). I had been planning to apply this past year however I am not confident enough, because I dont think my grades are competitive. Going into grad school has definitely changed my attitude toward studying, but I don't know what to do in regards to my undergrad marks. Most of my friends have finished school and started work already. My daily waves of thought consist of feelings of regret and dissapointment. I'll be turning 28 this summer 😱 and want to stop feeling so down. But to be honest I don't know where to start. Any comment in regards to how my stats are in regards to dental school would be much appreciated (I already know that they are not competitive at all!). Also any advice on what my next step should be would be very helpful.

Thanks

BTW... I'm in Canada and not sure what US schools would be my best bet when I apply this year!

First off buddy, hang in there...even if it took you three more years to get into dental school you would be 4 years younger than my brother who is 35 and just started his first year of dental school. Do whatever it takes if it's your dream to become a dentist. As far as your grades...you really need to concentrate on your studies and pull nothing but straight A's for a good year to a year and a half. If you do that and pull off a good 20 to 21 on your DAT you are as good as gold as far as getting an interview. Then, during the interview you need to make sure they understand that this is you now and all those bad grades back then was you then and you are a changed man/woman. Remember, a lot of schools understand that there are things that happen in life, what you need them to recognize is that you have progressed greatly from where you were and you're ready for the responsibilities of the dental profession. Hang in there buddy, you'll get there. By the way, what Masters program are you undertaking?

 

[archonsbk]

Don't give up...
I am going to be a junior in this fall and I have a low gpa, but I still haven't given up yet (although many people have been telling me that it's hard to get into a dental school with my gpa). But, I still believe that doing good on DAT, getting good letters of recommendations, and so on will be a big part of the admission.

I know that your undergrad gpa is not very competitive, but if you do well on DAT and get good letters of recommendation, you have a good chance..

 

[MSCpredent82]

By the way, what Masters program are you undertaking?

First off, thank archonsbk and Tiankum for your support. It did boost up my moral a bit.

I am doing my masters in bone related research 🙂. I figured it would give me some edge when I go to dentistry. It is definitely interesting but I don't think I would want to do it as a career for the rest of my life. I had heard before that some people take a second undergrad to boost up their GPA. However, there are others that say taking a graduate program is seen more favourably by dental schools. Now that I am about to finish up my masters, I dont know if it was all for nothing and I would end up having to take another undergrad to boost up my marks in order to be competitive. Assuming after I finish my master, that I dont get in the first time I apply, should I register at another university for an undergrad course? Do dental schools look at non-credit courses? cause I had taken a few of those after my undergrad. I was adviced by the chair of the grad program at the time to take a few courses to show I can improve my marks. I did improve my marks and now I am doing my masters. But I dont know how dental schools will look upon those courses. Do they even look at them and use them in the calculations (cause those years are not considered "full time")? Any ideas?

 

[jmt1984]

First off, thank archonsbk and Tiankum for your support. It did boost up my moral a bit.

I am doing my masters in bone related research 🙂. I figured it would give me some edge when I go to dentistry. It is definitely interesting but I don't think I would want to do it as a career for the rest of my life. I had heard before that some people take a second undergrad to boost up their GPA. However, there are others that say taking a graduate program is seen more favourably by dental schools. Now that I am about to finish up my masters, I dont know if it was all for nothing and I would end up having to take another undergrad to boost up my marks in order to be competitive. Assuming after I finish my master, that I dont get in the first time I apply, should I register at another university for an undergrad course? Do dental schools look at non-credit courses? cause I had taken a few of those after my undergrad. I was adviced by the chair of the grad program at the time to take a few courses to show I can improve my marks. I did improve my marks and now I am doing my masters. But I dont know how dental schools will look upon those courses. Do they even look at them and use them in the calculations (cause those years are not considered "full time")? Any ideas?

I think you are doing the right thing, I followed a similar path by completing a Master's in 2008 and am applying for this coming cycle. I worked on bone research as well, MSC related. On the application, your GPAs are average together, but they do give the breakdown between undergrad and grad work, so if you do well they can see that improvement. I think that fact that you have been determined and worked for a long time at this will help you! Good luck!👍

 

[MSCpredent82]

If I do stay for another year in the masters program, how many courses should I be taking per semester to up my chances? I was planning to take two per semester... I only took one required course so far that I recieved B+. Do publications help at all? also how would dental schools take my non-credit courses into consideration? any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[jmt1984]

If I do stay for another year in the masters program, how many courses should I be taking per semester to up my chances? I was planning to take two per semester... I only took one required course so far that I recieved B+. Do publications help at all? also how would dental schools take my non-credit courses into consideration? any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

I think publications are received well, research is very tedious and time consuming and it shows you can see something through (esp. when dental related!).
I don't know about the non-credit courses, I would think that it shows you are interested in learning, aren't afraid to work hard, and might show that you are a dedicated student. You might want to call a school (or AADSAS) and ask specifically how they treat them on an application.

 

[MSCpredent82]

I just called and talked with my school in regards to my non-credit courses. I asked if they would consider the 8 non-credit courses that I took over the 1.5 years. They said I can count them as one year. They would look at all my marks and drop the lowest year. They said that I would have to take a second undergrad cause my undergrad marks don't even meet the 3.0 cutoff. With a second undergrad they would only consider my second degree. So basically if I want to go down this road I have another 8 years till I finish dentistry. By then I'll be 36. Unless anybody has any other ideas/approaches that could save me some time?

It sucks that all my years have both low and high grades. If only they group my lowest and highest grades separately, then I'll be golden 😀. At least I still have my sense of humor, cause everything else is driving me crazy. Thanks you guys for your support.

 

[Extirpator]

Depending on how your grades are in your masters program, if you hit a >21 on the DAT, I would say you have a decent chance at quite a few dental schools... although maybe not your first choice.

doc toothache probably has it summarized somewhere, but some schools don't have official gpa cut-offs and others have cutoffs around 2.5... You could look at different schools requirements and decide if any of the ones that would consider you are schools you would be willing to attend.

Assuming your grad gpa is decent, all you really have to do is do well on the DAT... although that's going to be easier said than done, especially considering how you haven't had any of the relevant courses in 4 years.

Have you taken your DAT? If not, you still have 2-3 times you can take it before you run into any issues regarding the amount of times you have taken it. If you haven't taken it yet, I would suggest studying for that when you have time and take that when you feel extremely well prepared. You're going to need to kill it if you don't want to put in an extra 4 years of undergrad, so I wouldn't even schedule it until you're hitting at least 21's on legitimate practice tests.

If you would have to commit to start undergrad again soon, I would do that and just study for the DAT during the semster, take it next summer and if you do well try and get out without doing the other 3 years of undergrad... or, preferably, if you think you could study enough this summer, take it prior to next semester. Then if you do well, you don't have to worry about studying for that during the semester and you can apply super early.

 

[MSCpredent82]

I have only taken one course in my masters which I received a grade of 78%. I just wanted to ask how would I prepare my application for dental school with a second undergrad? would they still require me to submit my first undergrad and my masters? also would I look all chances if I withdraw from my masters program at the moment and start the second undergrad this coming sept. Would this look really bad if they ask what I have done all these years and I tell them that I was studying for a masters but withdrew from the program? any thoughts would be tremendously helpful.