GPA too low/Other Questions

[Mangos18]

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Is a 3.0 cum gpa and an 2.8 science gpa too low? Will a DAT score of 24 off set those, or should one re-take the DATS? Also what other type of resume builders can one do - besides shadowing/volunteering/community service?
Thanks!

 

[ashlander]

Is a 3.0 cum gpa and an 2.8 science gpa too low? Will a DAT score of 24 off set those, or should one re-take the DATS? Also what other type of resume builders can one do - besides shadowing/volunteering/community service?
Thanks!

think you need masters.

 

[Badgerfaithful]

I wouldn't retake the DAT if you got a 24... you're DAT is obviously not your problem.

 

[somethinpositiv]

It's certainly possible that with a 3.0/2.8 and a 24 DAT that you may get in UoP and Columbia, possibly large private schools like NYU and BU as well. A 1-year Masters with a 3.8-4.0 would make your application near bulletproof though, so that's something to consider.

 

[fourrings]

definitely not worth re-taking the DAT. those are great scores.
i would try to apply as is (early and with lots of EC's and a great PS) and if that doesn't work out...then try for a 1 or 2 year masters

 

[spud daddy]

How the heck did you get a 24 with a 2.8 sgpa?

 

[americanpierg]

How the heck did you get a 24 with a 2.8 sgpa?

the difficulty of the DAT is about the same as an AP highschool course, just with a much smaller room for error. It doesn't take a genius to score a 24, you just have to be a bit lucky.

 

[Predoctalk]

How the heck did you get a 24 with a 2.8 sgpa?

Maybe OP didnt feel like going to class. 24 will offset that at some schools. Don't retake

 

[spud daddy]

Maybe OP didnt feel like going to class. 24 will offset that at some schools. Don't retake

Which will concern dental schools. A 2.8 shows laziness and lack of motivation (no offense op this might not be the case for you). Doing that well on the dat is amazing. The dental schools will definitely ask about the disparity between gpa and dat score.

Americanpierg I know what the dat is like and agree with you about the difficulty it just has a much bigger scope. I think a 24 is killer but if the op had a sgpa above a 3.0 I would almost guarantee he/she would be in.

 

[FutureDent020]

the difficulty of the DAT is about the same as an AP highschool course, just with a much smaller room for error. It doesn't take a genius to score a 24, you just have to be a bit lucky.

That comparison doesn't even make sense... Explain how the difficulty of an AP course for High School students is the same as a Dental School Admission Test for college/ post graduate students? But I agree with the 2nd part of your statement.

 

[uclaDDS101]

Which will concern dental schools. A 2.8 shows laziness and lack of motivation (no offense op this might not be the case for you). Doing that well on the dat is amazing. The dental schools will definitely ask about the disparity between gpa and dat score.

I agree with this. It seems like, more often than not, SDNers give much more significance to the DAT than GPA. If someone has a high gpa and low dat, "that means their gpa must be inflated". If someone has high dat and low gpa, they must be an undiscovered genius. We have to realize that while the dat is a standardized way to test competency, gpa is also a significant indication of an applicant's capability. Dental schools don't want someone who will try to skate through dental school classes with the bare minimum, even if they have the potential to ace the boards through self-study. GPA shows how academically committed the individual is. IMO, it takes a little more effort to sustain a high gpa over 3 years rather than a 24 on the DAT. Plus, sometimes people just get lucky on the DAT, like I did. To the OP, DAT is apparently fine. Work on that GPA somehow.

 

[FutureDent020]

I agree with this. It seems like, more often than not, SDNers give much more significance to the DAT than GPA. If someone has a high gpa and low dat, "that means their gpa must be inflated". If someone has high dat and low gpa, they must be an undiscovered genius. We have to realize that while the dat is a standardized way to test competency, gpa is also a significant indication of an applicant's capability. Dental schools don't want someone who will try to skate through dental school classes with the bare minimum, even if they have the potential to ace the boards through self-study. GPA shows how academically committed the individual is. IMO, it takes a little more effort to sustain a high gpa over 3 years rather than a 24 on the DAT. Plus, sometimes people just get lucky on the DAT, like I did. To the OP, DAT is apparently fine. Work on that GPA somehow.

👍

 

[Lethstang]

lots of smart ppl have low 3 gpas because they didnt apply themselves in college. this stems from not having to apply themselves in highschool and prior due to being smarter than the average student, which those classes cater to.

 

[DrDientes]

I agree with this. It seems like, more often than not, SDNers give much more significance to the DAT than GPA. If someone has a high gpa and low dat, "that means their gpa must be inflated". If someone has high dat and low gpa, they must be an undiscovered genius. We have to realize that while the dat is a standardized way to test competency, gpa is also a significant indication of an applicant's capability. Dental schools don't want someone who will try to skate through dental school classes with the bare minimum, even if they have the potential to ace the boards through self-study. GPA shows how academically committed the individual is. IMO, it takes a little more effort to sustain a high gpa over 3 years rather than a 24 on the DAT. Plus, sometimes people just get lucky on the DAT, like I did. To the OP, DAT is apparently fine. Work on that GPA somehow.

I kinda agree with you, but don't agree with all of it. At a school with a P/NP system like UCLA or UCSF, being able to get good scores on a standardized test will almost be a make it or break it if you are trying to be an oral surgeon or any other specialty for that matter. Of course you have some honors, EC, and letters that come in to play, but after speaking to several 3rd years at both of these schools they say they would take a high DAT over high GPA in a potential student because they have seen too many high GPA students just not cut it in dental school. One student even retook his Board part 1 because even though he had honors and everything else to complete his app for oral surgeon residency, he told me that his board score though it was high it wouldn't cut it. In addition they say GPA doesn't matter anymore because it is P/NP. Also if you think about how the Boards are going to a P/NP system, a standardized test like the GRE are what most schools are looking to have as a basis of for specializing. So again if you can have a 4.0 in dental school and can't get a high score on the GRE then your chances of specializing will be low, though I do understand that most 4.0 students don't usually have trouble with getting high test scores, but all I am saying is that a GPA isn't always the best representation of someones ability to do well in dental school. Some people have other circumstances that doesn't necessarily mean that candidate was "lazy" as someone mentioned earlier.

In the OP case: You might get interviews with those statistics. Providing that you maybe, worked during school, did a ton of research, played a college sport, or were really involved in community service. If all you did was school you couldn't get a better GPA then schools might wonder why you had a low GPA. In any case if you do get an interview be ready to defend your low GPA because without a doubt it would come up.

 

[spud daddy]

lots of smart ppl have low 3 gpas because they didnt apply themselves in college. this stems from not having to apply themselves in highschool and prior due to being smarter than the average student, which those classes cater to.

That is a pretty broad generalization, but ok. That only further supports what has been said early. Dental schools look for people that KNOW how to apply themselves. Getting a low gpa (not all cases) in undergrad just means they didn't figure out how to do that and some dental schools don't want to take the chance of having students "learn" how to apply themselves in dental school because it is difficult enough as it is.