How important is an increasing GPA?

[dental555]

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I'm a bio major junior in undergrad and made the decision I wanted to go to dental school in the summer previous to this school year. My cumulative GPA is currently a 3.474 which I realize isn't terrible but isn't great. The thing is my GPA has been steadily increasing each semester which I figure is a good thing but is also frustrating because I wish I had been a better student earlier on. I literally never studied in high school and it took some time in college for me to develop my study habits, plus first semester I was undecided and didn't care as much about school because I wasn't even sure what I wanted to do yet. Anyways first semester freshman year I earned at 3.187. Second semester I declared biology and earned a 3.466, third semester I earned a 3.571, and fourth semester I earned a 3.714. If it weren't for my first semester my GPA would be much better but hopefully when schools see my transcript they will see the increasing GPA as a good thing. I'm just a little worried because I figure my GPA makes me a borderline student and because I just made the decision I want to go to dent school I haven't had a chance to start getting shadowing experience, research, etc. I already lined up a shadowing with a dentist this winter but know I need more.

I'd like to ask what my chances are but realize this is an unrealistic question considering I haven't taken my DATs or anything yet. I'd really like to go to UMD dental school because I'm an instate student, go to UMD undergrad, and would like to stay in the area but know that its a very competitive school. So anyways, just based off my GPA, do you think I'm at a disadvantage because of my sub 3.5 GPA or doing well because of the increasing trend? What specifically should I really focus on to give myself a shot at UMD?

 

[DunStopBelievin]

I'm a bio major junior in undergrad and made the decision I wanted to go to dental school in the summer previous to this school year. My cumulative GPA is currently a 3.474 which I realize isn't terrible but isn't great. The thing is my GPA has been steadily increasing each semester which I figure is a good thing but is also frustrating because I wish I had been a better student earlier on. I literally never studied in high school and it took some time in college for me to develop my study habits, plus first semester I was undecided and didn't care as much about school because I wasn't even sure what I wanted to do yet. Anyways first semester freshman year I earned at 3.187. Second semester I declared biology and earned a 3.466, third semester I earned a 3.571, and fourth semester I earned a 3.714. If it weren't for my first semester my GPA would be much better but hopefully when schools see my transcript they will see the increasing GPA as a good thing. I'm just a little worried because I figure my GPA makes me a borderline student and because I just made the decision I want to go to dent school I haven't had a chance to start getting shadowing experience, research, etc. I already lined up a shadowing with a dentist this winter but know I need more.

I'd like to ask what my chances are but realize this is an unrealistic question considering I haven't taken my DATs or anything yet. I'd really like to go to UMD dental school because I'm an instate student, go to UMD undergrad, and would like to stay in the area but know that its a very competitive school. So anyways, just based off my GPA, do you think I'm at a disadvantage because of my sub 3.5 GPA or doing well because of the increasing trend? What specifically should I really focus on to give myself a shot at UMD?

You can have an overall GPA of 3.0, but with 2 years of straight A's at the end, you can still pull of some interviews. 👍. Check out the under 3.0 club.

 

[SupDanLOL]

You can have an overall GPA of 3.0, but with 2 years of straight A's at the end, you can still pull of some interviews. 👍. Check out the under 3.0 club.

This. Not quite as extreme as a 3.0: but I had an overall GPA of 3.46 from a fairly reputable school (people here might tell you that doesn't mean anything, but who knows) BUT an average GPA over my junior/senior year of something like a 3.75, and I have been having no problems receiving interviews--some even top tier (Tufts, Penn, BU, Columbia).

I did well on DAT of course, but the point is, at least in my case...an upward trend can and does help you out (naturally).

 

[dental555]

That's encouraging to hear. Hopefully I get in! The only thing I've been a bit dissapointed about so far is the feedback from students at Howard saying it's understaffed and such. I'd really like to stay in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area but I understand UMD is the only school in Maryland and is really competitive and Howard is the only school in DC and isn't that great of a school. I guess I'll find out as I do more research. I'd also really like to live in a city somewhere on the East Coast so even though that's likely expensive maybe it will open up my choices a bit more.