How bad does a C look?

Started by Roy Williams
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Roy Williams

Roy Williams

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7+ Year Member
My BCP science gpa is a 3.52 and cumulative science is a 3.56, yet two or three years ago when I took anatomy and lab (4 credit hours total), I got a C. Only one I've ever received, but I'm curious as to whether or not this will negatively affect my application when I apply in June.
 
I got two Cs in undergrad (and an F!), I still have a Dec 1 acceptance + other interviews coming up. Just don't make it a habit.
 
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I highly doubt it (coming from someone who received a C in Orgo I, B-'s in physics series, B and B- in gchem series + 3-4 W's -- all early on in undergrad) and it hasn't ever been mentioned in any of the interviews.

I wouldn't worry about it as long as it doesn't become a common occurrence.

You're going to be just fine 🙂
 
Threads like this make me kind of sick. I have had a near perfect GPA throughout undergrad and I received 3 REJECTIONS this cycle. How is this system fair?
 
Doctor Asnan said:
Threads like this make me kind of sick. I have had a near perfect GPA throughout undergrad and I received 3 REJECTIONS this cycle. How is this system fair?
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I think it's very valuable to applicants who have had hiccups along the way. You can very easily get discouraged reading through the compilation of high-stat applicants on SDN, but at the end of the day, it's comforting to know that mistakes happen, and there are schools willing to overlook it.

Its great that schools value an applicant as a whole.
 
Doctor Asnan said:
Threads like this make me kind of sick. I have had a near perfect GPA throughout undergrad and I received 3 REJECTIONS this cycle. How is this system fair?
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I didn't have a perfect undergrad GPA... but I went to grad school and am currently employed as a teacher. I have hundreds of hours of dental shadowing + assisting and even more volunteer work. My personal statement was on point and my four LORs were strong. My DAT wasn't too shabby and I interview well.

It's important that ad coms don't make decisions solely based on GPA. Otherwise, applicants who had a bad semester (what happened in my circumstance) wouldn't even have a chance.
 
fogorvostan said:
I didn't have a perfect undergrad GPA... but I went to grad school and am currently employed as a teacher. I have hundreds of hours of dental shadowing + assisting and even more volunteer work. My personal statement was on point and my four LORs were strong. My DAT wasn't too shabby and I interview well.

It's important that ad coms don't make decisions solely based on GPA. Otherwise, applicants who had a bad semester (what happened in my circumstance) wouldn't even have a chance.
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I understand this completely and I agree with how the system is set up. But what makes you or anyone else who didn't achieve the things I have more deserving of an acceptance? I am not saying you are not deserving but why were people like you chosen over me? I have all of the credentials minus any of the hiccups in my application. I interview well and I have extracurriculars (enough to have 4/4 interviews.)
 
Doctor Asnan said:
I understand this completely and I agree with how the system is set up. But what makes you or anyone else who didn't achieve the things I have more deserving of an acceptance? I am not saying you are not deserving but why were people like you chosen over me? I have all of the credentials minus any of the hiccups in my application. I interview well and I have extracurriculars (enough to have 4/4 interviews.)
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Maybe they can smell your entitled personality from a mile away.
 
Doctor Asnan said:
I understand this completely and I agree with how the system is set up. But what makes you or anyone else who didn't achieve the things I have more deserving of an acceptance? I am not saying you are not deserving but why were people like you chosen over me? I have all of the credentials minus any of the hiccups in my application. I interview well and I have extracurriculars (enough to have 4/4 interviews.)
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I dunno. Maybe I came across as more humble in my application and interviews. I don't think I'm any more deserving of an acceptance than anybody else. We all have our own individual applications made up of our own individual achievements.
 
To all,

I agree with the point that a holistic review is important. That's what ensures a dental class with diverse experiences and allows this profession as a whole to better serve our patients.

@Doctor Asnan , I can see why you're feeling so anxious. Dental school admissions can be random at times. Just try to stay positive though- cycle isn't over yet!
 
I had 2 C's throughout my college career and a fair share of B-'s, a 3.07 sGPA and a 3.2 oGPA.. I have had 3 interview offers and 1 acceptance so far. It's not the end of the world.. this is a holistic process and the adcoms understand that students may struggle with a particular class or professor.
 
GoldenDomer11 said:
I had 2 C's throughout my college career and a fair share of B-'s, a 3.07 sGPA and a 3.2 oGPA.. I have had 3 interview offers and 1 acceptance so far. It's not the end of the world.. this is a holistic process and the adcoms understand that students may struggle with a particular class or professor.
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Wow okay. Were your EC's and DAT scores out of this world? Congrats btw!
 
I've had one C. It happens. It could come up in your interview, but with an overall strong GPA its not going to hold you back.
 
C in Calculus (4 hours), C in Ochem 2. Accepted to my top school.

A's in systems physiology, Biochem 2, Biochem 3, microbiology, pchem

As long as you have other important classes that can balance out the C, no worries.
One of my interviewers asked me about my C in Ochem, I talked to him about it and told him how I look at it as a good thing because I learned x,y,&z.
 
Incis0r said:
To all,

I agree with the point that a holistic review is important. That's what ensures a dental class with diverse experiences and allows this profession as a whole to better serve our patients.

@Doctor Asnan , I can see why you're feeling so anxious. Dental school admissions can be random at times. Just try to stay positive though- cycle isn't over yet!
Click to expand...

Doctor Asnan said:
I understand this completely and I agree with how the system is set up. But what makes you or anyone else who didn't achieve the things I have more deserving of an acceptance? I am not saying you are not deserving but why were people like you chosen over me? I have all of the credentials minus any of the hiccups in my application. I interview well and I have extracurriculars (enough to have 4/4 interviews.)
Click to expand...

I really dislike when people say the process is random. I don't think it's random. It seems random to us, but it all depends on the school. I didn't get interviews at places I expected to get them, and I got a couple from places I certainly did not expect. But that just goes to show that there was something in my application that certain schools wanted and certain schools did not (or maybe found to be better in someone else). Comebacks/hiccups (like getting a couple bad grades) can show perseverance and determination. I'm more impressed at someone who succeeds despite earlier issues than someone who succeeds as expected. Both succeed, but one was in the face of more adversity. Also, we all go to different undergrad institutions. It's possible someone's gen chem professor is extremely tough and they ended up with a C, while someone else's class curves to a B+ and they end up with an A. How would the dental school know? That's one reason a great DAT score (which maybe OP has) can make up for a less than amazing grade or 2.
I never got a C or below on anything, but that doesn't mean I'll be a better dentist than someone who has. Hell, I could be terrible (hope not, but I guess I'll find out). The process is not random, it's holistic. To anyone who "has amazing scores and a well rounded application including ECs" and hasn't been accepted yet, maybe you lacked something like passion for dentistry or helping others that the interviewers saw. Maybe you think you interviewed better than you did. Or, maybe everyone else who got accepted so far had even better scores and a more well-rounded application.

Whew, sorry that was kind of a rant. Finals week has gotten the best of me. Good luck to OP (and everyone else if you're still waiting), you'll be fine. There's still so much more time for acceptances
 
I received a C from my advisor in an upper level course, and one again in another science course. My GPA was still over 3.6 at graduation, and nobody seemed to care on the interview track. Just don't make a habit out of it.
 
gsquared said:
I received a C from my advisor in an upper level course, and one again in another science course. My GPA was still over 3.6 at graduation, and nobody seemed to care on the interview track. Just don't make a habit out of it.
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Yeah definitely not making a habit of it. Finished taking all my science pre reqs and just need two more classes left from my major to graduate (unless I decide to take micro) so my science gpa is sitting at a 3.52 with oGPA at a 3.61. Haha just sucks because if I had gotten an A instead of C in that one class my science would be up to a 3.75. No sense in dwelling on the past though.
 
One or two C's shouldn't hurt you, but do be prepared to answer why you didn't get a better grade during the interview. If you have a decent DAT score, especially in Bio, I would think this would be a non-issue.
 
Roy Williams said:
Yeah definitely not making a habit of it. Finished taking all my science pre reqs and just need two more classes left from my major to graduate (unless I decide to take micro) so my science gpa is sitting at a 3.52 with oGPA at a 3.61. Haha just sucks because if I had gotten an A instead of C in that one class my science would be up to a 3.75. No sense in dwelling on the past though.
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Seems like you're kind of dwelling on the past.
 
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