gpa below 3, but high dat score

[rohchris]

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hi guys,
i am turning 3 yr at UCD this fall. I want to go to USCSD..for dental school.. what im wondering is.. would it be possible to go to USCSD w/ gpa that is around 2.5 - 3, a high DAT score, and lots of experience(intern) at dental clinic?
since i knew that i am not going to get a high overall gpa until i graduate, i've been interning at the communicare dental clinc since last spring quarter. and hopefully, i will intern at that place until i get accepted to USCSD.. thats gonna be 2 or 3 yrs of working experience at the communicare dental clinic. - would this help?

do i really HAVE to get a high gpa from undergrad?

 

[heatwheat]

Your turning a 3rd year undergrad student? So you have two years left? Why would you plan on having a GPA between 2.5-3.0? Get a 4.0 from here on out if you need to raise your GPA, and don't make excuses. Just do it!

 

[anesthesia_209]

If anything, you should be putting more time into your schoolwork. GPA far overshadows any extracurricular activities. You should pick up some more classes instead of putting more time interning.

 

[doc3232]

hi guys,
i am turning 3 yr at UCD this fall. I want to go to USCSD..for dental school.. what im wondering is.. would it be possible to go to USCSD w/ gpa that is around 2.5 - 3, a high DAT score, and lots of experience(intern) at dental clinic?
since i knew that i am not going to get a high overall gpa until i graduate, i've been interning at the communicare dental clinc since last spring quarter. and hopefully, i will intern at that place until i get accepted to USCSD.. thats gonna be 2 or 3 yrs of working experience at the communicare dental clinic. - would this help?

do i really HAVE to get a high gpa from undergrad?

You don't have to have a high gpa.
Firstly, you really should know what your gpa is rather than giving a 0.5 range. Huge difference between the two. A lot of people will say you can't estimate your DAT score till you actually take it.
Gpa and DAT are most important so really work on your gpa this year. You can probably get it up to a 3.2 or higher with extra units and/or A+s.
Experience will always help.
And yes, you can make up a low gpa with a high DAT, but it has to be very high.
good luck, start working on it.

 

[polarmolar]

Def focus on the GPA and get it above 3.0, and then blow away the DAT and apply to a good number of schools and you should be ok.