How badly did I mess up??

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Impulse155

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So I didn't start off my career too well, and I busted by butt to try and fix it however I feel like I slipped up this semester.

My gpa's per semester:
3.14- 14 credits
1.98- 15 credits
2.58- 15 credits
3.09- 18 credits
3.45- 17 credits
3.75- 16 credits (3 TA'ing a business class)
3.84- 6 credits (2 summer classes, A and A-)
3.16- 15 credits (3 organic chemistry TA)

My cumulative GPA will be somewhere around a 3.05 with the strong upward trend but does that 3.16 kill the upward trend? It was an extremely busy semester for me, I didnt enjoy my classes whatsoever. Next semester ill be taking courses that interest me and am expecting to do much better.

During the 1.96 semester, I got 2 D's in my science classes. One of them I retook the next semester got a B, the other I retook during the summer and got the A-. I will be a TA for that in the spring as well.
 
Impulse155 said:
So I didn't start off my career too well, and I busted by butt to try and fix it however I feel like I slipped up this semester.

My gpa's per semester:
3.14- 14 credits
1.98- 15 credits
2.58- 15 credits
3.09- 18 credits
3.45- 17 credits
3.75- 16 credits (3 TA'ing a business class)
3.84- 6 credits (2 summer classes, A and A-)
3.16- 15 credits (3 organic chemistry TA)

My cumulative GPA will be somewhere around a 3.05 with the strong upward trend but does that 3.16 kill the upward trend? It was an extremely busy semester for me, I didnt enjoy my classes whatsoever. Next semester ill be taking courses that interest me and am expecting to do much better.

During the 1.96 semester, I got 2 D's in my science classes. One of them I retook the next semester got a B, the other I retook during the summer and got the A-. I will be a TA for that in the spring as well.
Click to expand...

Whats the total GPA?
 
Did you get any C's this last semester?
 
Impulse155 said:
right now im at a 3.03 but im still waiting on 1 A to come in so ~3.05-7


Edit:
And I'm planning on taking my DAT in march or april
Click to expand...

Hi Impulse,

Yes, your GPA is going to be a problem but people do get in with the same GPA. Here are some advice from me:

1. Score as high as you can on DAT. You are looking at 21+.

2. When you take a class, dont see it as a like or dislike class. See it as a challenge and getting an A is a must. Every of us has to take classes we dont like but we get through.

3. After you are done with your 4-years degree. Register for a SMP (Special Master Program).

4. Do more ECs (volunteer, shadowing etc)

5. APPLY IN JUNE.
 
wizi said:
Hi Impulse,

Yes, your GPA is going to be a problem but people do get in with the same GPA. Here are some advice from me:

1. Score as high as you can on DAT. You are looking at 21+.

2. When you take a class, dont see it as a like or dislike class. See it as a challenge and getting an A is a must. Every of us has to take classes we dont like but we get through.

3. After you are done with your 4-years degree. Register for a SMP (Special Master Program).

4. Do more ECs (volunteer, shadowing etc)

5. APPLY IN JUNE.
Click to expand...

1) Planning to score at least a 21 🙂
2) I tried looking at it that way, its just when I have no interest and my teachers show even less interest it becomes a problem to me. My statistics teacher got fired the first week of class..and by teacher I mean fresh off the boat graduate student who couldn't speak English.
3) Whats the difference b/w an SMP and an MP?
4) Im the vice president of the american red cross at my school, shadowed 3 different dentists, TA'ed orgo 1 in the fall, will be ta'ing orgo 2 in the spring as well as cellular and molecular biology (one of the classes I got a D in). Volunteered at the Dental Clinic for 2 semesters, neurology department for 1. And I was in pre med society for a semester until I got offered to help start the american red cross.
 
Impulse155 said:
1) Planning to score at least a 21 🙂
2) I tried looking at it that way, its just when I have no interest and my teachers show even less interest it becomes a problem to me. My statistics teacher got fired the first week of class..and by teacher I mean fresh off the boat graduate student who couldn't speak English.
3) Whats the difference b/w an SMP and an MP?
4) Im the vice president of the american red cross at my school, shadowed 3 different dentists, TA'ed orgo 1 in the fall, will be ta'ing orgo 2 in the spring as well as cellular and molecular biology (one of the classes I got a D in). Volunteered at the Dental Clinic for 2 semesters, neurology department for 1. And I was in pre med society for a semester until I got offered to help start the american red cross.
Click to expand...

SMP is only 1 year while normal MP is usually 2 years. There are a lot of Dental SMP out there. Example, UMDNJ has one, you will take some dental courses along with dental students.

Your ECs are good so far. Try to get at least 1 award (dean list, research awards etc) to make you stand out.
 
your grades are low and you will have an uphill battle to climb because of it. The reason I say this is that your grades can (to some degree) be supplemented with an outstanding DAT. This is not the case at all schools, but some will justify your grades with a stellar DAT. Also, it is important to keep that upward trend up!

BTW, meet Armorshell he is an OMS resident and was offered admission to dental school with a 3.03 GPA. 👍
 
Last edited:
AlbinoPolarBear said:
As long as you score the highest DAT in the nation like Armorshell did, you will be fine. 👍
Click to expand...

Dont worry, ill do better than him 🙂 He only got a 19 on the math

wizi said:
SMP is only 1 year while normal MP is usually 2 years. There are a lot of Dental SMP out there. Example, UMDNJ has one, you will take some dental courses along with dental students.

Your ECs are good so far. Try to get at least 1 award (dean list, research awards etc) to make you stand out.
Click to expand...

I was on deans list for 3 semesters
 
wizi said:
Your ECs are good so far. Try to get at least 1 award (dean list, research awards etc) to make you stand out.
Click to expand...

No offense, but i don't think that the "Deans List" will help anyone stand out. Scholarship awards, grant funding, leadership awards, research awards (like you said), publications, placing in academic competitions.... those are much better than deans list.
 
I think you'll be fine if you work at it. The only thing holding you back is your attutude and outlook. If you can't get the GPA up (and aside from DAT scores) you could learn a foreign language, start a club, intern with public health somehow, travel, find a unique hobby, etc. write your own story, be happy, and you'll get in at some point. It might take a couple app cycles but honestly, you're in your 20's, be happy and enjoy them as much as possible.
 
Hey Impulse.
I believe you can try to apply but you may need to do a Post Bac or something of that nature. The only reason I say that is because your grades are not consistent. Your grades went down, up for awhile, then way down again.
If it would have been an consistent upward trend. Then I would say that you have no worries.

Goodluck
 
Baker2010 said:
Hey Impulse.
I believe you can try to apply but you may need to do a Post Bac or something of that nature. The only reason I say that is because your grades are not consistent. Your grades went down, up for awhile, then way down again.
If it would have been an consistent upward trend. Then I would say that you have no worries.

Goodluck
Click to expand...

My overall GPA for my Junior + Senior year so far is ~3.5 and sGPA of ~3.3. The classes ill be taking next semester are ones that I am taking because I am genuinely interested in them (minus the elective). I do agree that I messed up the upward trend but is 3.18 that bad? 🙁
 
he cheated and didn't score a perfect 30? that's lame...
19 on math means he didn't pass 5th grade math
 
UltimateHombre said:
No offense, but i don't think that the "Deans List" will help anyone stand out. Scholarship awards, grant funding, leadership awards, research awards (like you said), publications, placing in academic competitions.... those are much better than deans list.
Click to expand...

I used to think that way to until the dean from my state dental school came in and talked about how to make your application stronger.

I agree that those scholarship awards, grant funding, leadership awards, research awards are much stronger awards but the question is how many of us can get those awards???

The idea is that you don't want to leave anything blank on aadsas. It looks bad. If you can put down "dean list" in the Awards section, why not take advantage of this...

🙂
 
hockeykspiky said:
he cheated and didn't score a perfect 30? that's lame...
19 on math means he didn't pass 5th grade math
Click to expand...

Ok, is this serious or just a joke? I can't tell

If you are serious, a lot of people who already got into dental school are going to give you a hard time lol.

19 QR means 92.5%. Its not low at all.
 
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