For those who finished/expect to finish top of class at Penn Dental or know someone who did..

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discensdentibus

discensdentibus

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Alright, I am looking for data/anecdotes. Not for a "shoot for number 1" and some life advice. I can deal with a "you're gonna be in big debt at penn bro" or two. I think that's to be expected.

I am beginning to realize I have an increasingly realistic shot at being near the top of my class, and I want to know what a typical top 10 GPA number looks like at Penn. Also, I am getting honors in courses, and I want to know how much this honors (95+) really matters when it comes to ranking the top 10 in penn. I imagine that a 4.0 with honors in 2 classes loses out to a 3.98 with honors in 22 classes, but does it really ever come down to honors?

When do the 4.0s get hacked? When do people get put in their place? For those who end up in the top of their class, what is your GPA looking like by end of D1/2/3/4?

For the people who are still compelled to give me life advice. I have a deep appreciation for learning, I have taught/tutored before, and learning increases my appreciation for life. I am driven to do it now because I feel its a disservice to my patients down the road if I'm unprepared. I aim to learn, the grades follow. Don't worry, I won't end the world if I get a B in something.
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discensdentibus said:
Alright, I am looking for data/anecdotes. Not for a "shoot for number 1" and some life advice. I can deal with a "you're gonna be in big debt at penn bro" or two. I think that's to be expected.

I am beginning to realize I have an increasingly realistic shot at being near the top of my class, and I want to know what a typical top 10 GPA number looks like at Penn. Also, I am getting honors in courses, and I want to know how much this honors (95+) really matters when it comes to ranking the top 10 in penn. I imagine that a 4.0 with honors in 2 classes loses out to a 3.98 with honors in 22 classes, but does it really ever come down to honors?

When do the 4.0s get hacked? When do people get put in their place? For those who end up in the top of their class, what is your GPA looking like by end of D1/2/3/4?

For the people who are still compelled to give me life advice. I have a deep appreciation for learning, I have taught/tutored before, and learning increases my appreciation for life. I am driven to do it now because I feel its a disservice to my patients down the road. I aim to learn, the grades follow. Don't worry, I won't end the world if I get a B in something.
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Im confused by this post, are you in dental school currently?
 
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Wax n Relax said:
Im confused by this post, are you in dental school currently?
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Sorry, yes I am in dental school at penn. I am not being pretentious, and I also realize that penn may have "inflated" GPA relative to other schools.. Most of our exam averages fall in the 88-92 range. I would ask what the typical GPA for people scoring near the top of other schools are like, but I will just assume 3.85+ is a good target.
 
Worth a shot, I guess. I'll keep you guys posted how things turn out. Could make your day in the future when I end up 124th in my class
 
And I am well aware I have issues with tone in writing. I figured that between asking people at school, the dental forum, or the dental resident forum, a post here would come off as the least pretentious...
 
I am guessing you are a D1 who hasnt even finished his first year yet. Dental school has many opportunities for your to mess up. When I was in dental school, many people who had 4.0 GPAs after first semester ended up in the bottom half of the class by the end. In your case it doesn't really matter. Luckily for you, UPenn ranks everybody not in the top 10, 11/100ish. For some reason the residencies have not caught onto to this yet and assume that a person who is #11 is actually number 11 when in reality they could literally be rank 100/100. The statement that upenn grade inflates is an understatement; they do everything in their power to assure that they protect their students. This is good for you guys but unfair to the rest of dental students. Life is unfair though so it is what it is.
 
smellycarabelli69 said:
I am guessing you are a D1 who hasnt even finished his first year yet. Dental school has many opportunities for your to mess up. When I was in dental school, many people who had 4.0 GPAs after first semester ended up in the bottom half of the class by the end. In your case it doesn't really matter. Luckily for you, UPenn ranks everybody not in the top 10, 11/100ish. For some reason the residencies have not caught onto to this yet and assume that a person who is #11 is actually number 11 when in reality they could literally be rank 100/100. The statement that upenn grade inflates is an understatement; they do everything in their power to assure that they protect their students. This is good for you guys but unfair to the rest of dental students. Life is unfair though so it is what it is.
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residencies haven't caught on yet?? Really? This is my tone :wow:
 
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Big Time Hoosier said:
You are aware he graduated from an Ivy dental school himself, right?

Big Hoss
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Enlighten me. Tell me all about The OMFS. Put up his CV. His profile is not visible to the public. Let me guess, he's a perio undergrad at Yale? Pardon my ineptitude. I would even to go say that labeling oneself as "The OMFS" could be deemed a little pretentious if the program is not yet complete. Could not help it, I wanted to have some fun. And don't get me started on your picture and name. Could be compensating for some lack of masculinity here.. Big, Macho.. Give me a break.

And I agree hand skill wise, yes. It is quite rare I find a dentist/specialist who felt super confident upon graduating, even more so from a curriculum that is not centered on hand skills. From a clinical reasoning/diagnostic standpoint, that would be bold if comparing against other schools. Yes, I do still feel as if I know little to benefit my patients right now, and I would surely hope that I am inept compared to residents upon my graduation.

I am flattered though that all of you keep commenting here. It makes me feel special.
 
discensdentibus said:
Enlighten me. Tell me all about The OMFS. Put up his CV. His profile is not visible to the public. Let me guess, he's a perio undergrad at Yale? Pardon my ineptitude. I would even to go say that labeling oneself as "The OMFS" could be deemed a little pretentious if the program is not yet complete. Could not help it, I wanted to have some fun. And don't get me started on your picture and name. Could be compensating for some lack of masculinity here.. Big, Macho.. Give me a break.

And I agree hand skill wise, yes. It is quite rare I find a dentist/specialist who felt super confident upon graduating, even more so from a curriculum that is not centered on hand skills. From a clinical reasoning/diagnostic standpoint, that would be bold if comparing against other schools. Yes, I do still feel as if I know little to benefit my patients right now, and I would surely hope that I am inept compared to residents upon my graduation.

I am flattered though that all of you keep commenting here. It makes me feel special.
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You can bad mouth me. You can bad mouth The OMFS. But don't you ever, EVER bad mouth Macho Man Randy Savage!

Big Hoss
 
You're gonna be in big debt at penn bro

And also not know how to do dentistry bro.

At least Columbia and Harvard dental students take first and second year med school so they have incredibly inflated CBSE schools bro. I'm not sure what Penn dental students get out of their deal bro.
 
This is a personal decision, and I think you need to step back and look at the big picture of your career. If all you want to do is specialize, you can do so at any school as long as you bring in a solid work ethic. You'll notice that schools with high specialty rates have higher GPA and DAT averages: they already attract hard working students. You should spend four years of your life at a place you actually like. Only you can decide if you like a certain school, and if you like it enough to pay what it costs.
 
Henry Killinger said:
This is a personal decision, and I think you need to step back and look at the big picture of your career. If all you want to do is specialize, you can do so at any school as long as you bring in a solid work ethic. You'll notice that schools with high specialty rates have higher GPA and DAT averages: they already attract hard working students. You should spend four years of your life at a place you actually like. Only you can decide if you like a certain school, and if you like it enough to pay what it costs.
Click to expand...
I think you should re-read the post.
 
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