How to improve GPA after you graduated?

[Sumbody1245]

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^Title. GPA is 2.8, been working for a few years after graduation. My GPA is so low I don't think any grad schools will even allow me to APPLY, regardless of my GRE.

Are there any post-bacc's I can go to that take ppl with low GPA's? If I get a high GRE I reckon some random private grad program will take me, but doing Dentistry after getting a Masters just sound stupid since the 4 years of Dent school will only marginally raise your salary at that point.

 

[ModifiedBass]

but doing Dentistry after getting a Masters just sound stupid since the 4 years of Dent school will only marginally raise your salary at that point.

Don't know how you come to this conclusion. And with said conclusion that seems to have no basis, seems like you're looking into dentistry for the wrong reasons (even though dentistry in many cases would greatly increase your salary at "that point").

 

[Sumbody1245]

Don't know how you come to this conclusion. And with said conclusion that seems to have no basis, seems like you're looking into dentistry for the wrong reasons (even though dentistry in many cases would greatly increase your salary at "that point").

A grad from hospital admin or PA can make 100k, after which I would have to do ANOTHER grad program for 4 years, dental school, to raise that 50k. Being a doctor would raise it more than 50k if you get into a good specialty but it also requires residency, and for you not to end up in internal medicine.

And wrong reasons? The pre-med guys are like "go be a dentist if you want the compensation and lifestyle, I would be bored by looking at mouths all day!", and now the pre-dent guys say the same thing... Its not unheard of you know, people going to college for $$$ and lifestyle, no more of these high horses please...

My passion is music, too bad it wouldn't make me money unless I was insanely lucky.

 

[y3nd0]

A grad from hospital admin or PA can make 100k, after which I would have to do ANOTHER grad program for 4 years, dental school, to raise that 50k. Being a doctor would raise it more than 50k if you get into a good specialty but it also requires residency, and for you not to end up in internal medicine.

And wrong reasons? The pre-med guys are like "go be a dentist if you want the compensation and lifestyle, I would be bored by looking at mouths all day!", and now the pre-dent guys say the same thing... Its not unheard of you know, people going to college for $$$ and lifestyle, no more of these high horses please...

My passion is music, too bad it wouldn't make me money unless I was insanely lucky.

I looked through your post history and skimmed the threads you created in the pre-med forums. Only ONE person mentioned anything about dentistry, and they said the following, "Dude just go back to school and be a dentist,it would be your best option from the ones you've presented us with. You've got some serious work to do on your GPA though...it seems like too much trouble to go through in my opinion though if you haven't any real passion for it...idk none of these careers look like they are going to happen for you and I certainly think you don't belong in healthcare if its strictly a monetary interest"

Of course there are people that get jobs only for the financial gains, but ANYONE will tell you that you shouldn't do something (anything) just for the money because you will certainly like your job a lot less (maybe even hate it). Becoming a medical doctor shouldn't be something you do just for the money. As you already know, you go through a hellish 7-8 years of school/residency. Unless you match into a competitive specialty, you'll be working less than desirable hours. From a financial perspective, becoming a dentist is ALSO something you shouldn't do for the money because dental school is expensive. With your stats, your highest chance of getting into dental school is a private school, and they carry price tags of around $400,000. You looking to go $400,000 in the hole just to do something you really don't want to do?

As for your "$150,000' remark, yes, that is generally true for dentists working as associates (may be slightly less for a recent dental school grad), but as you continue to work in the business your salary will increase. If you have the desire to open up your own practice, sky's the limit as to how much you can make.

Sorry, I can't provide an answer to your post-bacc programs question. You'll have to do some searching at your state's university/ies to see what their requirements are, or any school you're interested in. Maybe someone else that has done a post-bacc on this forum can help you. As a last resort, you can definitely go to a community college to do some post-bacc work.

Honestly though, if you're looking for an easy route to dentistry, you aren't going to find it. Even if you manage to get your GPA up to above a 3.0, your stats are still below average (inclined to say the average is around 3.4-3.5). In order to impress adcoms, you'd have to seriously ace all the post-bacc classes you take. In addition, you'd have to retake all the prerequisite classes you got below a C in during undergrad. All this work could definitely take you 2+ years. So if you think more than 2 years of work isn't going to be financially "worth it" because you'd only be making 50K more than someone with a masters/PA, then you really shouldn't pursue dentistry.

 

[ILLchief]

If music is your passion then start spinning some dirty EDM beats at some local clubs... Who knows you might become the next Skrillex

 

[Sumbody1245]

I looked through your post history and skimmed the threads you created in the pre-med forums. Only ONE person mentioned anything about dentistry, and they said the following, "Dude just go back to school and be a dentist,it would be your best option from the ones you've presented us with. You've got some serious work to do on your GPA though...it seems like too much trouble to go through in my opinion though if you haven't any real passion for it...idk none of these careers look like they are going to happen for you and I certainly think you don't belong in healthcare if its strictly a monetary interest"

Of course there are people that get jobs only for the financial gains, but ANYONE will tell you that you shouldn't do something (anything) just for the money because you will certainly like your job a lot less (maybe even hate it). Becoming a medical doctor shouldn't be something you do just for the money. As you already know, you go through a hellish 7-8 years of school/residency. Unless you match into a competitive specialty, you'll be working less than desirable hours. From a financial perspective, becoming a dentist is ALSO something you shouldn't do for the money because dental school is expensive. With your stats, your highest chance of getting into dental school is a private school, and they carry price tags of around $400,000. You looking to go $400,000 in the hole just to do something you really don't want to do?

As for your "$150,000' remark, yes, that is generally true for dentists working as associates (may be slightly less for a recent dental school grad), but as you continue to work in the business your salary will increase. If you have the desire to open up your own practice, sky's the limit as to how much you can make.

Sorry, I can't provide an answer to your post-bacc programs question. You'll have to do some searching at your state's university/ies to see what their requirements are, or any school you're interested in. Maybe someone else that has done a post-bacc on this forum can help you. As a last resort, you can definitely go to a community college to do some post-bacc work.

Honestly though, if you're looking for an easy route to dentistry, you aren't going to find it. Even if you manage to get your GPA up to above a 3.0, your stats are still below average (inclined to say the average is around 3.4-3.5). In order to impress adcoms, you'd have to seriously ace all the post-bacc classes you take. In addition, you'd have to retake all the prerequisite classes you got below a C in during undergrad. All this work could definitely take you 2+ years. So if you think more than 2 years of work isn't going to be financially "worth it" because you'd only be making 50K more than someone with a masters/PA, then you really shouldn't pursue dentistry.

I look @ more threads than just the ones I start, and doing dentistry over medicine for the lifestyle/compensation is a common theme.

And below average? Yeah if I do mediocre on the DAT. How many post-bacc classes should I take, I never got below a C on any science class in college I don't think. I guess all this is compared to going back to school for 2 years and doing engineering. I was thinking of doing petroleum, and then getting an MBA, which would help you SERIOUSLY bank, but I probably need to some more digging to check up the hours/lifestyle.

And despite the general attitude here, we all can't make money doing what we love, following my passions headfirst would be risky to say the least, I would think it would be more wise to work at a job that compensates well and has good hours so that I can do what I love in my spare time.

 

[durden]

Sorry mate. I think you may have missed the petro frenzy. https://costofcollege.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/a-warning-to-petroleum-engineering-students/

 

[y3nd0]

I look @ more threads than just the ones I start, and doing dentistry over medicine for the lifestyle/compensation is a common theme.

And below average? Yeah if I do mediocre on the DAT. How many post-bacc classes should I take, I never got below a C on any science class in college I don't think. I guess all this is compared to going back to school for 2 years and doing engineering. I was thinking of doing petroleum, and then getting an MBA, which would help you SERIOUSLY bank, but I probably need to some more digging to check up the hours/lifestyle.

And despite the general attitude here, we all can't make money doing what we love, following my passions headfirst would be risky to say the least, I would think it would be more wise to work at a job that compensates well and has good hours so that I can do what I love in my spare time.

Even doing very well on the DAT is not going to get you an acceptance, as evidenced by many people who have visited these forums. The only way a good DAT score will help compensate for your GPA is if you do very well in post-bacc classes.

How many post-bacc classes you take depends how many credits you have with you now, and how many credits your post-bacc classes are. I can't tell you, nor anyone on this forum, exactly how many classes you should take. It's going to take some planning on your part along with an academic advisor.

I totally understand that not everyone can do what they love to do (or have a passion for). I'm sure if money was not an issue, many people would have ventured elsewhere. But there should be some kind of interest involved in a career you plan on doing for the rest of your life. The majority of people here want to become dentists because it interests them or fascinates them in some way. As important as money is, having an interest in your career is just as important.

You are obviously leading your life. You can do what you want (become an engineer, business person, a student at the Caribbean medical schools, etc.), but I advise you to find a career you would find remotely interesting or else you're going to have to live with waking up everyday to do something you hate.

 

[steiner2]

^Title. GPA is 2.8, been working for a few years after graduation. My GPA is so low I don't think any grad schools will even allow me to APPLY, regardless of my GRE.

Are there any post-bacc's I can go to that take ppl with low GPA's? If I get a high GRE I reckon some random private grad program will take me, but doing Dentistry after getting a Masters just sound stupid since the 4 years of Dent school will only marginally raise your salary at that point.

Well not with that attitude. I had a 2.8 undergrad. Had a 3.7 until junior year. You will get into grad school with a good GRE. Question is do you REALLY WANT to waste 2-3 years in grad school? It depends what kind of grad program you are going into too. Petro engineers do make bank. A family member is and he regularly flies overseas to see oil platforms or pipelines that he designs. Message me if you really want to talk.

 

[steiner2]

BTW, yendo is mostly correct. Your advisor might be a d|ck though. Make a plan and follow through is the most important plan.

 

[dieanotherday]

with whats required for PA school, you wouldn't get in to that either.

Honestly PA school requires PAID clinical hours, and in the hundreds even thousands of hours.
They also require a lot more extra sociology/psychology courses and such, my friend is doing it and she's been putting in hours as EMT and hourly LVN