First time applying with LOW stats :(

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Your stats are not bad. If you could get your GPA up a bit higher, that would help. Perhaps you can talk about the difficulties you overcame during your second year of college.

I would also consider retaking the DAT if you believe you could improve your Bio section. A 16 is not terrible but I think if you really use some good biology resources, you could improve your score by quite a lot. Good luck!
 
Thanks for the reply! I have signed up for two summer courses but since one ends at the end of June and the other at the beginning of August, I am guessing these won't make it onto my application if I want to submit it early. I guess I will have to update the grades later in November? However, I am confident I can get A or A+ in each of these courses...although I know it won't raise my GPA much, it may help.

As for the DAT, I am considering a re-write however the next time I can write the Canadian version is in November :S. I need to work this summer as well, so taking the American DAT is a risky option.
 
artvandelay is being rather generous. I don't want to be mean, so I will let someone else give their opinion. My recommendation is that you retake your DAT. If you got a 17 on maybe the QR or RC, I will say that you can still walk it off. But a 16 on BIO is just too low.
 
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Remember that as a Canadian, you want you stats to be at least on par, if not better, than your average American applicant. That 16 will really hurt your application.
 
Here is my super blunt opinion.

Your GPA is low, but that upward trend is a good one--make sure you point the trend out in your personal statement. Both your freshman and sophomore year GPAs were pretty low, but junior and senior are good. Keep it up.

If your family problems were legitimate (and I'm sure they are), you will be able to include them on your application.

Being a Canadian may not hurt too much, but you need to at least be on par with American students.

That bio is low, and I would generally suggest a retake. However, call one or two of the schools you're interested in and see what they suggest. Do you HAVE to work this summer? You could still study for the DAT while taking your summer classes, but it would be really pushing it if you tried to work as well. Since the DAT can literally be what holds you back from getting into a career that will allow you to be financially stable for the rest of your life, I think you need to prioritize it over working right now. A few thousand dollars this summer won't be anything compared to the 100k+ you should be making yearly for the rest of your life.

Your ECs look wonderful! No improvements needed there. Keep it up. 🙂

So, ultimately, start calling a few schools and asking about that DAT score. Also, find out if they have any minimum score cutoffs.
 
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Glimmer1991 said:
Here is my super blunt opinion.

Your GPA is low, but that upward trend is a good one--make sure you point the trend out in your personal statement. Both your freshman and sophomore year GPAs were pretty low, but junior and senior are good. Keep it up.

If your family problems were legitimate (and I'm sure they are), you will be able to include them on your application.

Being a Canadian may not hurt too much, but you need to at least be on par with American students.

That bio is low, and I would generally suggest a retake. However, call one or two of the schools you're interested in and see what they suggest. Do you HAVE to work this summer? You could still study for the DAT while taking your summer classes, but it would be really pushing it if you tried to work as well. Since the DAT can literally be what holds you back from getting into a career that will allow you to be financially stable for the rest of your life, I think you need to prioritize it over working right now. A few thousand dollars this summer won't be anything compared to the 100k+ you should be making yearly for the rest of your life.

Your ECs look wonderful! No improvements needed there. Keep it up. 🙂

So, ultimately, start calling a few schools and asking about that DAT score. Also, find out if they have any minimum score cutoffs.
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Thanks so much for the reply! I am thinking of possibly just applying to some schools with a strong personal statement and seeing what happens. I am a realist and know my chances are VERY low, but I guess we never really know what the admission committee is up to (if they possibly take a glance at other parts of my application, I MAY squeak a chance). I will definitely take your advice in contacting the schools about my DAT scores as that will hold me back from even being considered for some places.

Thanks again.
 
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Great to hear from a fellow Canadian! My second year killed me too. I currently have a 3.41 oGPA and a 3.42 sGPA (after this semester I'll have a 3.45 oGPA and 3.47 sGPA) with a 19AA (retaking). I just have one more exam left then I'll have my second Bachelor's degree. First one was in Biochemistry (3.23 GPA....thanks to my second year), second one in Medical Sciences (3.96 GPA). So my upward trend is decent. I have ~1500 EC's/volunteering hours and ~400 hours of dentistry experience/shadowing. Received no interviews 🙁 I hope you have better luck!
 
2thsaver said:
Great to hear from a fellow Canadian! My second year killed me too. I currently have a 3.41 oGPA and a 3.42 sGPA (after this semester I'll have a 3.45 oGPA and 3.47 sGPA) with a 19AA (retaking). I just have one more exam left then I'll have my second Bachelor's degree. First one was in Biochemistry (3.23 GPA....thanks to my second year), second one in Medical Sciences (3.96 GPA). So my upward trend is decent. I have ~1500 EC's/volunteering hours and ~400 hours of dentistry experience/shadowing. Received no interviews 🙁 I hope you have better luck!
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Where did you apply?
 
I applied to Buffalo, Detroit, Case, NYU, Nova, Pitt, Temple and MWU-IL. Not very broad, but the cycle coming up I'll probably apply to 15+ schools. I was okay not getting in this cycle which is why I only applied to 8 schools. But I thought I could at least sneak an interview with one of them.
 
Just wondering if I stand a decent shot at at least one interview this cycle? Also, how many schools do you guys suggest I apply to as a Canadian?
 
derbear said:
Just wondering if I stand a decent shot at at least one interview this cycle? Also, how many schools do you guys suggest I apply to as a Canadian?
Click to expand...

I think you do, especially with your upward trend and new scores! Update your first post with your DAT scores. 😀
 
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