GPA problems!!

[tiqbal]

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Hello Everyone

I just want to clear up a few issues and get your opinion on what my chances are for admission into dental schools. I am about to take my DAT and I'm hoping I can achieve a 22 or higher on it. My GPA is about a 2.95 but I calculated my GPA for the end of fall semester and If I can do well I can get it up to a 3.1 overall. I am currently an Electrical Engineering major and most of my bad grades were in the EE classes. So

Do Dental Schools look at the Fall semester grades If I apply by mid August?

Do Dental schools consider the strength of my schedule?

What should my Goal DAT score should be for consideration and What schools I should apply in I really want to go to Indiana University?

Thank you

 

[Teeth4Life]

Hello Everyone

I just want to clear up a few issues and get your opinion on what my chances are for admission into dental schools. I am about to take my DAT and I'm hoping I can achieve a 22 or higher on it. My GPA is about a 2.95 but I calculated my GPA for the end of fall semester and If I can do well I can get it up to a 3.1 overall. I am currently an Electrical Engineering major and most of my bad grades were in the EE classes. So

Do Dental Schools look at the Fall semester grades If I apply by mid August?

Do Dental schools consider the strength of my schedule?

What should my Goal DAT score should be for consideration and What schools I should apply in I really want to go to Indiana University?

Thank you

These look like questions worthy of asking d-schools directly perhaps?

 

[nze82]

Hello Everyone

I just want to clear up a few issues and get your opinion on what my chances are for admission into dental schools. I am about to take my DAT and I'm hoping I can achieve a 22 or higher on it. My GPA is about a 2.95 but I calculated my GPA for the end of fall semester and If I can do well I can get it up to a 3.1 overall. I am currently an Electrical Engineering major and most of my bad grades were in the EE classes. So

Do Dental Schools look at the Fall semester grades If I apply by mid August?
They consider whatever is on your transcripts. If your transcripts include your Fall grades, then yes! They will look at those.
Do Dental schools consider the strength of my schedule?
Yes! They do consider your course load per each semester/quarter.
What should my Goal DAT score should be for consideration and What schools I should apply in I really want to go to Indiana University?
Everyone's goal is a 22+; however, hitting those numbers doesn't come easy. Generally, I'd say if someone is scoring 19+ on all the sections, he/she will be fine. But considering your low GPA, you might wanna get a 20+ in order to be on the safe side.
Thank you

Good Luck👍

 

[sfrice80]

of course they look at the strength of schedule but no matter how you spin it, 2.95 isnt good, no matter what your schedule is. They want you to be consistent with a good gpa even if your strength of schedule gets really tough. Just keep trying to work hard to raise the gpa! Good Luck on the DAT.

 

[lphiewok]

yeah you have low gpa and you'll not be applying early (since you're taking your DAT in August and it'll be sent to school probably and be ready to be reviewed in September) i would say the chances are slim with 2.95.

you will need to aim for some crazy DAT score (22+ AA with some sections with very very high scores esp. science) but you should also start looking into Summer Enrichment Programs and Special Masters programs to have more GPA before applying again if you do not get accepted this year b/c for many people (including myself) it takes more than one try

 

[tiqbal]

Thanks for all the responses guys, but something Im still not clear on is after this coming up fall semester I can get my GPA up to a 3.1 will they take this fall semester into account as well or will they pass me up on account of my current transcript.

 

[sfrice80]

Thanks for all the responses guys, but something Im still not clear on is after this coming up fall semester I can get my GPA up to a 3.1 will they take this fall semester into account as well or will they pass me up on account of my current transcript.

Well after the fall semester is complete they have already given out their first round of admissions, so your biggest hope this cycle is to do really well on your DAT and hope you get some consideration but if I understand you correctly, the chances of them receiving your transcript after the fall semester and offering you an interview and possible acceptance after December even with a 3.1 is pretty remote. You are basically set at your 2.95 for this cycle. It will update after the fall semester but then your talking the very end of this cycle for possible acceptance when its hard enough to get admitted if you're early! Hope this answers your question.

 

[lphiewok]

see it depends.
you will have a chance to update your transcript after December (when you get your fall grades).

here is the thing:

1. School will look at your current grade without fall in order to extend interviews (unless you are going to be interviewed after December 1st for additional spots after people decline their acceptances).
Interviews are going to be given starting early as August and you will not have your grades in until December (and AADSAS will probably finish verifying and update your fall grade by January).
So it is not likely that your Fall grade and improved 3.1 GPA will have much effect on admissions this year cycle.

2. Even if AADSAS updates the GPA, some schools do not care much. I have improved from 3.3 to 3.4 between summer and fall last year but when I had interview at school in February, although my GPA on the website was updated to 3.4, the school actually still had the old file with 3.3 and did not really care to print out new files with new updated gpa even though it was 2 months after my new gpa was updated online.

So, your best bet is continue improving your GPA. 3.1 is still very low in terms of dental school acceptance and you will probably need few 24+ on sections on DAT with aa 22+ in order to have a shot with great EC, PS, and LORs (and most likely finsihing up Masters program).
The reason I might sound so negative is b/c of my own experience (although there are many others out there who got in with pretty low stats). I had 3.38 with 3.2 sgpa, and 21/20/21, worked as Dental Assistant for 3 years, and etc. and still got waitlisted and not accepted the first time. It is not easy and for many people it takes multiple tries. I spoke with 2 deans at different dental schools and they all told me my gpa is too low and i need to take graduate level science courses to show them I can handle dental school courses and that's what I have done and I'm applying again with better GPA this year.

Look at this as a long run, probably few years with finishing up your masters, and you will be able to reach the goal.

good luck

 

[somethinpositiv]

Hello Everyone

I just want to clear up a few issues and get your opinion on what my chances are for admission into dental schools. I am about to take my DAT and I'm hoping I can achieve a 22 or higher on it. My GPA is about a 2.95 but I calculated my GPA for the end of fall semester and If I can do well I can get it up to a 3.1 overall. I am currently an Electrical Engineering major and most of my bad grades were in the EE classes. So

Do Dental Schools look at the Fall semester grades If I apply by mid August?

Do Dental schools consider the strength of my schedule?

What should my Goal DAT score should be for consideration and What schools I should apply in I really want to go to Indiana University?

Thank you

With that GPA you might be looking at a 1-year Masters program, where you'd need to get 3.8-4.0, unless you actually get that 22+ DAT that you say you're going to get...

 

[archonsbk]

Good luck.. Don't give up!
If you do well on DAT, you would have a good chance..
Don't set your goal what you need to get on DAT.. Just think that I should get each question right on each section. Then, I believe you will have a good result.
Anyway, good luck! I am also frustrated by my GPA so that I can feel your pain....