Feeling super upset about my grades :(

[typicalsweetie45]

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Hi all,
I'm currently a pre-dent school who goes to a mediocre state school (UMass Amherst). I recently just applied for the honors college and was rejected 🙁. The minimum cut off for the honors college is a 3.4 and my gpa currently is a 3.424. I was a stellar student in high school, and now it seems like I'm finding it so difficult to get good grades at the university. Freshman year, I finished off both semesters with a 3.3 and 3.4 respectively. Last semester of sophomore year, I ended with a 3.57 and made the dean's list, and I've got to now get 4.0's from now on in order to finish off my junior year with a 3.71. Yes, my grades have been on an upward trend since freshman year, but no matter how determined I've been to get that 4.0, I've still managed to disappoint myself.

I honestly don't know what i'm doing wrong...I don't party. And I mostly just study. I work in a research lab, have a job and am starting to get involved in extracurriculars. How can I stand out as an applicant since my grades aren't too hot?

I'm feeling incredibly stressed and I almost feel like I should apply until after senior year so my gpa is at least a 3.78 (if i get all 4.0s from now on). What do you guys think?

 

[dp93]

take a deep breath. What you're doing right now is ok. YOU DONT NEED A 3.8 GPA TO GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL. The average matriculate gpa is like around a 3.5-3.6

 

[typicalsweetie45]

take a deep breath. What you're doing right now is ok. YOU DONT NEED A 3.8 GPA TO GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL. The average matriculate gpa is like around a 3.5-3.6

I know but my dental schools are all reaches. I love new york and I'm really looking into columbia. also umich

 

[Hopeandpray]

Hi , first try to relax you will be fine. I would suggest looking at your schedule next term and try to balance your classes out so you are not taking all difficult science and labs together, add a mix of classes so you are not getting burned out. I came into college and was so focused on grades and actually started to do better as I learned to build in time for hanging out with friends and doing things like yoga to burn off stress. You can't function well if you are going full throttle 100% of the time. Even if your gpa rocks you may still have difficulty getting into dental school because they want to see someone who is balanced and has other life experiences. I have a 3.89 gpa and still have not been accepted yet this cycle. There are many candidates that have more life experiences that are getting accepted before people with stellar grades so don't get yourself in a knot over this just try to do the best you can and give yourself time to enjoy your undergrad years too. Best of luck to you!

 

[dp93]

I know but my dental schools are all reaches. I love new york and I'm really looking into columbia. also umich

both of which have average GPA's of around 3.6

 

[BrazilianRider]

And plus, for Colombia, DAT > GPA. Keep your GPA at around 3.5-3.6 and get a 23 AA+ DAT and you'll have a very good shot at Colombia. Research also helps for them I think.

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Hi , first try to relax you will be fine. I would suggest looking at your schedule next term and try to balance your classes out so you are not taking all difficult science and labs together, add a mix of classes so you are not getting burned out. I came into college and was so focused on grades and actually started to do better as I learned to build in time for hanging out with friends and doing things like yoga to burn off stress. You can't function well if you are going full throttle 100% of the time. Even if your gpa rocks you may still have difficulty getting into dental school because they want to see someone who is balanced and has other life experiences. I have a 3.89 gpa and still have not been accepted yet this cycle. There are many candidates that have more life experiences that are getting accepted before people with stellar grades so don't get yourself in a knot over this just try to do the best you can and give yourself time to enjoy your undergrad years too. Best of luck to you!

Wow! Your gpa is crazy !! you didn't get in anywhere yet? were you not involved in any extracurriculars or..? Any school would be lucky to have you 🙂

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Thanks everyone, i guess you're all right. I'm just surrounded by super overachieving friends who have amazing 3.8+ gpas and I feel a little dumb next to them all. Next to them, I'm not the most appealing for dental schools haha

 

[Faux]

Thanks everyone, i guess you're all right. I'm just surrounded by super overachieving friends who have amazing 3.8+ gpas and I feel a little dumb next to them all. Next to them, I'm not the most appealing for dental schools haha

Slow and steady wins the race. Keep up the good work.

 

[DentalFox]

Hi all,
I'm currently a pre-dent school who goes to a mediocre state school (UMass Amherst). I recently just applied for the honors college and was rejected 🙁. The minimum cut off for the honors college is a 3.4 and my gpa currently is a 3.424. I was a stellar student in high school, and now it seems like I'm finding it so difficult to get good grades at the university. Freshman year, I finished off both semesters with a 3.3 and 3.4 respectively. Last semester of sophomore year, I ended with a 3.57 and made the dean's list, and I've got to now get 4.0's from now on in order to finish off my junior year with a 3.71. Yes, my grades have been on an upward trend since freshman year, but no matter how determined I've been to get that 4.0, I've still managed to disappoint myself.

I honestly don't know what i'm doing wrong...I don't party. And I mostly just study. I work in a research lab, have a job and am starting to get involved in extracurriculars. How can I stand out as an applicant since my grades aren't too hot?

I'm feeling incredibly stressed and I almost feel like I should apply until after senior year so my gpa is at least a 3.78 (if i get all 4.0s from now on). What do you guys think?

PUBLISH your research!!!

 

[irishmom]

I am the poster child for life experiences getting me into dental school. 3.05 GPA and 20 DAT. But have been a hygienist for 10 years, Have many extracurriculars involving my children, etc.

Also, I see people on here all the time saying that the want to get into Columbia. While I am not knocking those who hae acepted posistions at Columbia, that dental school is known for it's bad clinical experience, so, besides the name "Columbia" why do people want to go there. Unless it's because of specializing? Which in and of itself is also going the way of the dodo bird. Here are two threads from Dentaltown, which is the premier message board for actual dentists attesting to what I just said.

specializing
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=290&t=243674&v=1

Columbia
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=1934&t=243492&v=1

 

[deleted659902]

I am the poster child for life experiences getting me into dental school. 3.05 GPA and 20 DAT. But have been a hygienist for 10 years, Have many extracurriculars involving my children, etc.

Also, I see people on here all the time saying that the want to get into Columbia. While I am not knocking those who hae acepted posistions at Columbia, that dental school is known for it's bad clinical experience, so, besides the name "Columbia" why do people want to go there. Unless it's because of specializing? Which in and of itself is also going the way of the dodo bird. Here are two threads from Dentaltown, which is the premier message board for actual dentists attesting to what I just said.

specializing
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=290&t=243674&v=1

Columbia
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=1934&t=243492&v=1

lol since when is Columbia known for its "bad" clinical experience....and most people choosing to go to Ivies usually go there not just for the name but also for certain career goals. Don't be so quick to discount the value of attending one of the more prestigious dental schools. Also, dentaltown is definitely not the "premier" message board but, in my opinion, a place where unhappy dentists come to vent.

 

[irishmom]

http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=1934&t=243492&v=1

Did you even go to the link I provided. It is a pretty big debate on Dentaltown. And I kinda think the same thing about this message board...it's where some students go to toot their own horns.

Having worked in dentistry for some time I know this, and you'll figure out pretty soon that that doesn't fly in the real world.

 

[FOX_ONE]

honors colleges blow lol

my friend had like a 3.2/3.3 her senior year in college. he 4.0'd many semesters after (re-took classes) and finished at a 3.6 and got into Columbia.

upward trends make a HUGE impact.

 

[WolfPackSigeEp]

Hi all,
I'm currently a pre-dent school who goes to a mediocre state school (UMass Amherst). I recently just applied for the honors college and was rejected 🙁. The minimum cut off for the honors college is a 3.4 and my gpa currently is a 3.424. I was a stellar student in high school, and now it seems like I'm finding it so difficult to get good grades at the university. Freshman year, I finished off both semesters with a 3.3 and 3.4 respectively. Last semester of sophomore year, I ended with a 3.57 and made the dean's list, and I've got to now get 4.0's from now on in order to finish off my junior year with a 3.71. Yes, my grades have been on an upward trend since freshman year, but no matter how determined I've been to get that 4.0, I've still managed to disappoint myself.

I honestly don't know what i'm doing wrong...I don't party. And I mostly just study. I work in a research lab, have a job and am starting to get involved in extracurriculars. How can I stand out as an applicant since my grades aren't too hot?

I'm feeling incredibly stressed and I almost feel like I should apply until after senior year so my gpa is at least a 3.78 (if i get all 4.0s from now on). What do you guys think?

I got in with a 3.4, you're going to be just fine 🙂

 

[Faux]

lol since when is Columbia known for its "bad" clinical experience....and most people choosing to go to Ivies usually go there not just for the name but also for certain career goals. Don't be so quick to discount the value of attending one of the more prestigious dental schools. Also, dentaltown is definitely not the "premier" message board but, in my opinion, a place where unhappy dentists come to vent.

Time and time again I read that Columbia tends to lack in the clinical area. This is coming from people who run into Columbia grads at residences and out reaches. I read this both on SDN and on dental town. Usually everyone ends up being the same after a residency but it still doesn't discount the fact. Though I know they have the dean from Maryland and I'm sure he'll put in more positive changes over the years.

 

[Greyangel6]

^^ Don't stress about that 4.0. You need more than just the GPA to get into dental school since adcoms look at your application holistically. Think about it this way, it is much harder to get your GPA to 4.0 than it is to go out and shadow and volunteer....

 

[Hopeandpray]

Wow! Your gpa is crazy !! you didn't get in anywhere yet? were you not involved in any extracurriculars or..? Any school would be lucky to have you 🙂

Yes - I made the big mistake of over focusing on my grades and not spending enough time practicing the DAT especially the PAT section and didn't do as well as I should have and this is what is hurting me this cycle. I have been shadowing since my Freshman year of high school and did internships in Dentistry and every other ec you can think of, mission trips, leadership positions etc... I attend a very rigorous college known for their pre-med program too and will be graduating with honors in May but still no luck. I do have a few things that I am waiting on, so I am still hopeful but this has been a huge eye opener for me, that it definitely is not about just getting great grades... in hindsight I wish I had spread my focus more last year on the DAT and I would be in a better position now. You will be fine, I attended school with a bunch of over achievers too in high school and college so it is easy to feel inadequate but just knowing that you are thinking ahead and planning your steps to get in to dental school is already a plus. Good luck!

 

[typicalsweetie45]

I am the poster child for life experiences getting me into dental school. 3.05 GPA and 20 DAT. But have been a hygienist for 10 years, Have many extracurriculars involving my children, etc.

Also, I see people on here all the time saying that the want to get into Columbia. While I am not knocking those who hae acepted posistions at Columbia, that dental school is known for it's bad clinical experience, so, besides the name "Columbia" why do people want to go there. Unless it's because of specializing? Which in and of itself is also going the way of the dodo bird. Here are two threads from Dentaltown, which is the premier message board for actual dentists attesting to what I just said.

specializing
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=290&t=243674&v=1

Columbia
http://www.dentaltown.com/MessageBoard/thread.aspx?s=2&f=1934&t=243492&v=1

Yes, i'm interested in OMFS and columbia is known for its high specialization rates

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Time and time again I read that Columbia tends to lack in the clinical area. This is coming from people who run into Columbia grads at residences and out reaches. I read this both on SDN and on dental town. Usually everyone ends up being the same after a residency but it still doesn't discount the fact. Though I know they have the dean from Maryland and I'm sure he'll put in more positive changes over the years.

I mean, my interest in Columbia is also hugely determined by the fact that I love nyc so much 😛. It's really not just about the name. But yeah, I'm definitely considering other schools such as UMich, Tufts, UCSF

 

[typicalsweetie45]

honors colleges blow lol

my friend had like a 3.2/3.3 her senior year in college. he 4.0'd many semesters after (re-took classes) and finished at a 3.6 and got into Columbia.

upward trends make a HUGE impact.

Wow, this makes me feel better. I'm glad i'm making an upward trend haha. CONGRATS TO YOUR FRIEND!! That's amazing!!!

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Yes - I made the big mistake of over focusing on my grades and not spending enough time practicing the DAT especially the PAT section and didn't do as well as I should have and this is what is hurting me this cycle. I have been shadowing since my Freshman year of high school and did internships in Dentistry and every other ec you can think of, mission trips, leadership positions etc... I attend a very rigorous college known for their pre-med program too and will be graduating with honors in May but still no luck. I do have a few things that I am waiting on, so I am still hopeful but this has been a huge eye opener for me, that it definitely is not about just getting great grades... in hindsight I wish I had spread my focus more last year on the DAT and I would be in a better position now. You will be fine, I attended school with a bunch of over achievers too in high school and college so it is easy to feel inadequate but just knowing that you are thinking ahead and planning your steps to get in to dental school is already a plus. Good luck!

Wow, you've done a lot! I hope you get in somewhere soon. You totally deserve it. Thanks so much for the advice 🙂. I'll try not to get too down about myself

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Do you guys think I should keep reapplying into the honors college until I get in? Lol.

Not sure how much of a difference it will make... i'm not going to a stellar university right now, so it might not hurt for me to keep trying?

 

[TourdeTeeth]

Every single meeting with an advisor they will tell you to focus on grades and DAT score. But do you want to be known as numbers or do you want to be someone who pops off the page? Do you want to be invited to a dental school interview because you fit their numbers, or do you want to be the person that they say "wow, we have to meet this kid".

I was accepted on December 1st at my #1 choice school, and I had a 3.3 c-gpa with a 3.05 sci-gpa. My extra-curricular activities were through the roof though. I had 400+ community service hours plus I'd just started a public health dental charity. I also had about 380 hours of shadowing in ~7 different offices, including 4 specialties. I even was 1 year into a master's thesis project that I'm finishing this spring before matriculating.

What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about your gpa. Focus on becoming the person/student you want to become. Really strive to become the future dentist that you want to be and a dental school will accept you. Be more than just numbers on a page and you will get accepted. If you continue your upward trend, get a decent DAT score, and have lots of extra-curriculars there is no way I can see you not getting in.

If you're worried, make contact with a dental school you're interested in and tell the advisor "I really want to go to your school and here is my gpa. What d0 I need to do in the next couple years to be the best applicant I can be." They'll probably give you their average statistics (shadowing, community service hours, gpa, etc.) and then try to go as far above and beyond those averages as you can.

 

[rendal]

Every single meeting with an advisor they will tell you to focus on grades and DAT score. But do you want to be known as numbers or do you want to be someone who pops off the page? Do you want to be invited to a dental school interview because you fit their numbers, or do you want to be the person that they say "wow, we have to meet this kid".

I was accepted on December 1st at my #1 choice school, and I had a 3.3 c-gpa with a 3.05 sci-gpa. My extra-curricular activities were through the roof though. I had 400+ community service hours plus I'd just started a public health dental charity. I also had about 380 hours of shadowing in ~7 different offices, including 4 specialties. I even was 1 year into a master's thesis project that I'm finishing this spring before matriculating.

What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about your gpa. Focus on becoming the person/student you want to become. Really strive to become the future dentist that you want to be and a dental school will accept you. Be more than just numbers on a page and you will get accepted. If you continue your upward trend, get a decent DAT score, and have lots of extra-curriculars there is no way I can see you not getting in.

If you're worried, make contact with a dental school you're interested in and tell the advisor "I really want to go to your school and here is my gpa. What d0 I need to do in the next couple years to be the best applicant I can be." They'll probably give you their average statistics (shadowing, community service hours, gpa, etc.) and then try to go as far above and beyond those averages as you can.

+1

Do your best when it comes to grades and DAT, but you're not in as bad of a situation as it may seem. You have an average gpa for accepted dental student and if you can steadily increase that gpa in the next 2 years while participating in great extracurriculars, you will have your shot at Columbia and Michigan but you will also have incredible chances at other schools.

 

[typicalsweetie45]

Every single meeting with an advisor they will tell you to focus on grades and DAT score. But do you want to be known as numbers or do you want to be someone who pops off the page? Do you want to be invited to a dental school interview because you fit their numbers, or do you want to be the person that they say "wow, we have to meet this kid".

I was accepted on December 1st at my #1 choice school, and I had a 3.3 c-gpa with a 3.05 sci-gpa. My extra-curricular activities were through the roof though. I had 400+ community service hours plus I'd just started a public health dental charity. I also had about 380 hours of shadowing in ~7 different offices, including 4 specialties. I even was 1 year into a master's thesis project that I'm finishing this spring before matriculating.

What I'm trying to say is, don't worry about your gpa. Focus on becoming the person/student you want to become. Really strive to become the future dentist that you want to be and a dental school will accept you. Be more than just numbers on a page and you will get accepted. If you continue your upward trend, get a decent DAT score, and have lots of extra-curriculars there is no way I can see you not getting in.

If you're worried, make contact with a dental school you're interested in and tell the advisor "I really want to go to your school and here is my gpa. What d0 I need to do in the next couple years to be the best applicant I can be." They'll probably give you their average statistics (shadowing, community service hours, gpa, etc.) and then try to go as far above and beyond those averages as you can.

Wow!! That's amazing!! How did you go about starting the dental charity?

I do want to stand out. And I really want to find my passions and be the person I want to be. I don't know how to go about doing that though...

 

[FOX_ONE]

The fact that you are worried about your GPA improvement is great because you will be able to push yourself to do better. However, the way that you are going about it is not correct. I know it, because I used to think the same way. It's not correct because it will be, although possible, really tough on you to go from a 3.6 to a 4.0. Here's a few way you can do it:
a) take one hard science class and 3-4 easy class that will guarantee easy A. Make sure you spend a lot of time on that science class and get A's
b) If you are a science major and struggling to do sciences, consider switching major to social science and focus on a few pre-dental classes and make sure to get As on those.
This will be tough because you will have to be laser focused in getting your GPA.

A better approach is to take a middle route.

- You already got ~3.6. It would not be hard to shoot for 3.7-3.8. It's more realistic and won't be an impossible challenge
- Spend some time socializing. You don't need to party. Hang out with friends and family members when you have free time. Downtime is really important to recharge your brain and do well in school. Having good friends will help you push towards success. Learn how to find good friends now and it will come in handy later in life.
-Take mini study breaks and meditate. Meditation clears the clutter in your brain and makes people happy.
- if you are happy while you are in school, your chances of doing well goes up significantly. If you are not happy with yourself, you will have hard time focusing on your study and doing well.

Before you stand out, you got to be at the level where other applicants already reached. Focus on improving the GPA first, and then you can do stuff that will make you stand out.


-

based on seeing you post lately, i feel like you went from 0 to a 100 real quick in the last couple months/years

 

[TourdeTeeth]

Wow!! That's amazing!! How did you go about starting the dental charity?

I do want to stand out. And I really want to find my passions and be the person I want to be. I don't know how to go about doing that though...

The best way to find your passions is to shadow and try to work at Mission of Mercy, Team Smile, Ronald McDonald Tooth Truck, or any other dental events. You may find that public health dentistry is your passion like I did. Or you may find that lots of kids in your part of the country have cleft pallets, or excessive fluorosis (too much fluoride in the water damaging their enamel). The best way to find out what you love is to call dentists and start working in their offices or at public health clinics. The stories you gain from those experiences will give you a ton of things to talk about at your interviews. I honestly left out so many great experiences during my interview simply because I didn't have time to talk about them.

For how I started my charity, I've built bicycles for the past couple years for fun and was just starting to ride long distances around the same time that I went to a Mission of Mercy (free public health dental clinic) where dentists in my state gave out over $1.5 million dollars worth of dental care in 3 days for free. I worked hands on dental assisting with oral surgery in addition to working with the radiology team and the people that I saw were just incredibly grateful. One lady told me that we were "just like angels walking around in the clinic and she could see halos on every single one of us". Another patient was addicted to meth and had been sober for about a year but no one would hire him because of how poorly his teeth looked. The dentists reaction to this patient brought tears to my eyes because he was not only able to give this man a new smile, but he was also able to get the patient to see that people did realize how far he had come and were proud of his sobriety.

A couple weeks after that I realized that I could create a cross-country biking trip, Tour de Teeth, to raise money to get dentists into these under-served or rural communities to help these people gain access to care. I've spent the past 9 months developing my event to raise money for a nationwide dental charity. We're hosting a large group of bikers for a 600+ mile bike trip over two weeks next summer. Our hope is to not only raise a profit and awareness for the need for expanded access to care in under-served/rural communities, but to also educate people in this communities about ways to improve their dental care outside of the dental office through tooth-brushing programs and various other activities.

I've gained a lot of valuable experience from my charity event. Please check out our website, www.tourdeteeth.com or our facebook.com/tourdeteeth to gain more info about my event. I am more than willing to share more information with you about creating a charity event if you want to know more. Just try to be the best you can be and do what makes you happy. It'll help you stand out.