Freshmen GPA

[sportsplayer24]

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I am currently a freshmen at the University of Texas at Austin. A lot of people told me that Dental schools really don't care where you get your degree, so I'm transferring next yr to the University of Houston, its easier, less distracting, and I have a job as a Dental Assistant one guy is willing to give me if I transfer. Well anyways first semester in a +,- GPA scale I got a 2.89, this semester in 5 of my classes I have 4As and 1 B, and my GPA will get into 3-3.3, but not where I want it to be 🙁 Anyways I haven't taken any science classes yet, I start taking them this summer and fall 08, is this bad? and is my freshmen GPA low? and when should I start studying for the DAT?

Oh yeah and my major isn't a science major, I am a Business Major, is that bad?

 

[blankguy]

Schools may note if you went to a very competitive school but that's it. The most important thing is doing well. That should be your primary focus. Not to single out anybody but there are people on here who have gone to places like MIT who are considered marginal candidates because of borderline GPAs.

Since you have stumbled out of the gate in your undergrad career, the best way to go now is to show a consistent improvement. Schools like to see that. You still have a lot of grades to add to your transcripts make sure you get As in a lot of them. Getting a GPA of 3.5+ will be easy to achieve. You are only a freshman so it is hardly a red flag at this point. Now you know where you stand in college. Work hard show improvement. If that means hitting the books when your buddies are out hanging out on a Friday evening, do it.

Majors doesn't matter a lot of people major in Biology because it is convenient(premed requirements pretty much are the core requirements for the major) and since dentistry is science based field they are also interested in it. You will see people who have majored in Business, Psychology, Sociology, and Economics to name a few non science majors. If you do well from now on you won't have to deal with the fact that schools are going to question you whether you can hack it in the sciences. Don't put yourself in that position.

Start studying for the DAT when you are finished with General Chemistry, Organic chemistry, and Biology. Physics is not covered by the DAT even though it is part of the predent requirement. Also take some upper level Biology courses like Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Immunology, etc...

I took physics over the summer since it was not covered by the DAT. I personally would not take the requirements over the summer since you are going to get an abbreviated treatment, but it depends on you. Are you willing to bust your butt over the summer to ace those courses? There is nothing wrong with taking them over the summer but keep in mind that you shouldn't rush stuff like this. I especially would not recommend taking Orgo over the summer. It is not for the fainthearted to do that.

A lot of people have gaps between undergrad and dental school, so if your application has to be delayed for an extra year don't feel to bad about it if you find yourself having to do that. Also going back to your lackluster GPA in freshman year, schools will understand that not everybody has a smooth transition between high school and college they will cut you some slack if you show improvement from then on.

Relax and buckle down. Get as many As as possible. Nothing lower than a B.

 

[doc3232]

I dont know anything about Texas undergrad schools, but do what you have to do to raise your GPA. If you end up with a 3.0 you will have to work hard to get a killer DAT and a lot of extra extracurriculars. Try to keep a 3.3+.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!
🙂🙂🙂

 

[ummjoey]

I am currently a freshmen at the University of Texas at Austin. A lot of people told me that Dental schools really don't care where you get your degree, so I'm transferring next yr to the University of Houston, its easier, less distracting, and I have a job as a Dental Assistant one guy is willing to give me if I transfer. Well anyways first semester in a +,- GPA scale I got a 2.89, this semester in 5 of my classes I have 4As and 1 B, and my GPA will get into 3-3.3, but not where I want it to be 🙁 Anyways I haven't taken any science classes yet, I start taking them this summer and fall 08, is this bad? and is my freshmen GPA low? and when should I start studying for the DAT?

Oh yeah and my major isn't a science major, I am a Business Major, is that bad?

how do you know you will do better at houston?

is it common for someone to transfer from a "better" university to a "worst?"

i think you should stay at texas. you said your 2nd semester you got 4 As and 1 B. that is pretty good.

just like blankguy said, you are going to be behind 1 year since you have not taken any science classes.

just make sure to plan out the classes you are going to take. you will need to complete your business degree while taking all the required and recommeded science classes dental schools want.

it might take you 5 years to graduate since you have to take a lot more classes than other business majors at your university. which is fine since you are 1 year late? you will be applying may 15th of your 4th year. normal people whole graduate in 4 years would apply may 15th of their 3rd year.

 

[sportsplayer24]

Do I have to have all my pre-reqs done before I apply junior year, or can I also finish up on my pre-reqs my senior year after I apply and as long as they see Im finishing up. And btw, a lot of my bussiness basic courses require a lot of science coureses.

 

[blankguy]

Do I have to have all my pre-reqs done before I apply junior year, or can I also finish up on my pre-reqs my senior year after I apply and as long as they see Im finishing up. And btw, a lot of my bussiness basic courses require a lot of science coureses.

You can finish your prereqs during senior year as long as you graduate with them done. Be aware though that depending on what prereqs you leave out you may not be able to take the DAT until they are done.

 

[sportsplayer24]

You can finish your prereqs during senior year as long as you graduate with them done. Be aware though that depending on what prereqs you leave out you may not be able to take the DAT until they are done.

Ohhh which ones should I take first and before the DAT, Im going to start studying for the DAT this summer, because im taking intro to Bio over the summer.

 

[blankguy]

Ohhh which ones should I take first and before the DAT, Im going to start studying for the DAT this summer, because im taking intro to Bio over the summer.

Reread my original post. I mentioned it there.

 

[toothfairy85]

There is a guy in my class who had around 3.2 (I think) at UT, did awesome on the DAT with a 24, and got accepted. So, a great DAT score can balance out a lower GPA.

Science classes are going to be difficult at a lot of schools, so there is no guarantee that going to UH will help raise your GPA. I would stay at UT, and work your tail off getting A's and B's in your prereqs.

On another note... are you a college athlete? I thought you might be based on your screen name. If so, schools look favorably on those sorts of extracurriculars.

 

[sportsplayer24]

Reread my original post. I mentioned it there.

Wait so I have to have both Organo Chem 1 and 2 done BEFORE I take the DAT?

 

[blankguy]

Wait so I have to have both Organo Chem 1 and 2 done BEFORE I take the DAT?

Yes.

 

[ummjoey]

Wait so I have to have both Organo Chem 1 and 2 done BEFORE I take the DAT?

Start studying for the DAT when you are finished with General Chemistry, Organic chemistry, and Biology. Physics is not covered by the DAT even though it is part of the predent requirement. Also take some upper level Biology courses like Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Immunology, etc...

it will be easier if you took ochem. learning 1 year worth of ochem by yourself is kind of hard?

 

[sportsplayer24]

There is a guy in my class who had around 3.2 (I think) at UT, did awesome on the DAT with a 24, and got accepted. So, a great DAT score can balance out a lower GPA.

Science classes are going to be difficult at a lot of schools, so there is no guarantee that going to UH will help raise your GPA. I would stay at UT, and work your tail off getting A's and B's in your prereqs.

On another note... are you a college athlete? I thought you might be based on your screen name. If so, schools look favorably on those sorts of extracurriculars.

No the reason Im going to go to UH is because of that dental assisting job my dentist is going to give me, I thought itd be a great experience and it would look awesome on my resume. UT is great but its easy to get distracted, and well its not just science classes but all classes, its just gotten to become a very hard school, I know its not going to be any "easier" at UH, but at UT im also not allowed to change my major, I'm currently a economics major, I was hoping to transfer into business, but there was no way I could have so Im leaning towards UH for the job, experience, and I get to do the major of my choice, Im either going to do Business or Sports Administration, and no im not a college athlete lol.

 

[Frederico Albin]

You are able to take the DAT whenever you want. You can take it after you finish orgo 1 if you want to learn the basics of it, but that is not my advice. Try to finish orgo 1 and 2 before you write the DAT so you can ace it the first time. That will save you a lot of time and money, but the choice is yours.

 

[blankguy]

You are able to take the DAT whenever you want. You can take it after you finish orgo 1 if you want to learn the basics of it, but that is not my advice. Try to finish orgo 1 and 2 before you write the DAT so you can ace it the first time. That will save you a lot of time and money, but the choice is yours.

How many people can pull that off? Just taking orgo 1 and doing well on the DAT? Not many. In fact very few. Might as well tell people take orgo 1 and 2 before attempting the DAT.

 

[sportsplayer24]

You are able to take the DAT whenever you want. You can take it after you finish orgo 1 if you want to learn the basics of it, but that is not my advice. Try to finish orgo 1 and 2 before you write the DAT so you can ace it the first time. That will save you a lot of time and money, but the choice is yours.

Well at the rate I'm going I'll likely finish Organo 1 at the end of my first semester junior year, and Ill be applying in what early may? you think that would be the perfect time to take the DAT? 2nd semester junior yr?

lol I just like to have everything planned out early before I do anything.

 

[blankguy]

Well at the rate I'm going I'll likely finish Organo 1 at the end of my first semester junior year, and Ill be applying in what early may? you think that would be the perfect time to take the DAT? 2nd semester junior yr?

lol I just like to have everything planned out early before I do anything.

That seems like a good plan. Everything will be fresh in your memory. Take it no later than July of your junior year. Make sure you have Gen chem, Biology and orgo done by then. You can take physics in your senior with a upper level biology elective.👍 Also read up on some of the schools you are interested in because some schools will have additional requirements.

 

[toothfairy85]

That's odd that you can't change your major. I've never heard of that before. People change majors all the time, it just might take you more than 4 years to get your degree.

 

[ummjoey]

Well at the rate I'm going I'll likely finish Organo 1 at the end of my first semester junior year, and Ill be applying in what early may? you think that would be the perfect time to take the DAT? 2nd semester junior yr?

lol I just like to have everything planned out early before I do anything.

its common for people to apply in may and take their DAT july.

send in your main application on AADSAS in may.

send in you DATs from the ADA website in july after you take it.

AADSAS says they take 4 weeks to process your transcripts therefore you main application and DATs should get to the schools in around the same time.

there are many other threads that talk about this. you should check them out.

 

[sportsplayer24]

That seems like a good plan. Everything will be fresh in your memory. Take it no later than July of your junior year. Make sure you have Gen chem, Biology and orgo done by then. You can take physics in your senior with a upper level biology elective.👍 Also read up on some of the schools you are interested in because some schools will have additional requirements.

Yeah thats my plan, and when I apply in may of my junior year, am I allowed to take the DAT and update my application if I want to?

 

[ummjoey]

Yeah thats my plan, and when I apply in may of my junior year, am I allowed to take the DAT and update my application if I want to?

DATs arent sent to AADSAS. you send DATs to each school individually.

edit: grammar error

 

[blankguy]

Yeah thats my plan, and when I apply in may of my junior year, am I allowed to take the DAT and update my application if I want to?

There is an update that is allowed around dec/jan if I am not mistaken. The DAT is sent directly to the school it is not processed by AADSAS the application processing service.

 

[Frederico Albin]

How many people can pull that off? Just taking orgo 1 and doing well on the DAT? Not many. In fact very few. Might as well tell people take orgo 1 and 2 before attempting the DAT.

I was just telling him about some people that have done that. Note that I said that "that is not my advice."

Another thing, Im going to be applying my junior year also, so I will be taking 1 or 2 of my pre-reqs during summer just so I don't have a bunch of labs during spring/fall while taking upper level bio classes.

Make sure you really learn and UNDERSTAND the material during those science classes. The understanding part is what makes the difference when you go to take the DAT. GL to ya.

 

[blankguy]

Sportsplayer24,
at this point you are in no way at a disadvantage. Just kick butt in your classes. Good luck.