How to get to dental school (low GPA thread)

[retina2029]

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So I haven't really taken the courses I need to go to dental school since I just decided on it.

 

[retina2029]

Bump. Anyone?

 

[RubicStorm]

I read your other posts. I'm afraid the reception here is not going to be any better and could easily be worse.

You're flying head long against everything that has been written all over this place, including this stickied thread available at top: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=346106

I don't think you're headed toward a cliff. I think you're shooting past one! That many courses from Harvard Extension from the start is likely worse than the early part of any SMP. I'm horrified that you're going to take a sledgehammer to the jewels and never walk again (pardon for the language).

... but I feel like nothing's going to dissuade you now. Looks like you're signed up and probably signed contract and everything.

All I can say is good luck. I say that seriously and honestly. I wish you the very best and hope very, very much so that you prove me wrong.

I don't know when classes start, but it's not too early for you to prepare. PMing previous students for their notes and/or practice tests. Brown nose, beg, cry, bribe if you have to. Find the A students and ask precise questions and do more than they did. Because of your past performance, you have NO option but to compensate.

If they studied 2 hours for so and so, you will study 3.
If they did 50 practice questions before exam, you will do 60.
If they reviewed notes 2x, you will do 3x.
If they did X, you will do X+1. Be it on your head if you do not do this.

 

[common man]

I read your other posts.

I don't want to discourage either. however, 20 credits + 15-20 hrs work immediately after a 3.0 does not sound cautious. it's better to take 12 credits of As than to have 20 credits of Bs. once you do that, you can take more. moreover, I did not realize that HES lets you register more than 16 credits. I know you're eager to repair your GPA quickly and move on with your life - but in the beginning you want to be careful. good luck with whatever you do!

bill Anderson is awesome. be sure to watch the videos for Anderson and shawn murphy. that public health class - I enjoyed it as well. those three classes are reasonable, they are good tune up classes before an SMP, but they require consistent work. especially true with shawn murphy's class - his notes contain a lot of stuff. I don't know about the other two classes.

 

[retina2029]

I read your other posts. I'm afraid the reception here is not going to be any better and could easily be worse.

You're flying head long against everything that has been written all over this place, including this stickied thread available at top: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=346106

I don't think you're headed toward a cliff. I think you're shooting past one! That many courses from Harvard Extension from the start is likely worse than the early part of any SMP. I'm horrified that you're going to take a sledgehammer to the jewels and never walk again (pardon for the language).

... but I feel like nothing's going to dissuade you now. Looks like you're signed up and probably signed contract and everything.

All I can say is good luck. I say that seriously and honestly. I wish you the very best and hope very, very much so that you prove me wrong.

I don't know when classes start, but it's not too early for you to prepare. PMing previous students for their notes and/or practice tests. Brown nose, beg, cry, bribe if you have to. Find the A students and ask precise questions and do more than they did. Because of your past performance, you have NO option but to compensate.

If they studied 2 hours for so and so, you will study 3.
If they did 50 practice questions before exam, you will do 60.
If they reviewed notes 2x, you will do 3x.
If they did X, you will do X+1. Be it on your head if you do not do this.

I understand where you're coming from. I'm not asking for people to have faith in me or agree with my decision, just tell me about their experiences (or the experiences of others you know of). That being said, your post was spot on as far as having to compensate. I know I will be have to work twice as hard as the kid sitting next to me in class.

P.S, I've decided on taking 12 credits after talking to a PCOM adviser who said she would rather see me get As in 12 credits than Bs in 20 credits. Also, you are correct common man, you can only take 16 credits at HES, sorry if I didn't correct that in one of my other posts.