I need advice

[futudent]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was very immature my first couple of years, and school was not on top of my priorities. I think I got below a 1.0 GPA in my first quarter. I started to turn it around in the middle of my 3rd year. I graduated with an overall GPA of 2.78 and a science GPA of 2.72 as a biology major. I knew that I had to raise my GPA if I wanted to have a shot at dental school.
I just finished a one year master's degree with a 3.6 GPA. My cumulative GPA went up to 2.90 science and overall GPA. I have done a lot of research (1000+ hours), a lot of shadowing (1000+), I've also gone on a dental mission trip, I had several leadership positions at school , I also worked full-time my first 2 years, and part-time the remaining 3 years. I am planning to retake my DATs (17/18/23) in April/May.

Should I apply to dental schools next summer, or do a postbac, raise my GPA to 3.0-3.1, and apply the year after? I am not sure what to do... :S

 

[doc toothache]

A post bac after an MS is a step backwards. Why not go for the whole enchilada and try the Ph.D. route?

 

[futudent]

A post bac after an MS is a step backwards. Why not go for the whole enchilada and try the Ph.D. route?

I am planning to enter dental school in a couple of years, not in half a decade from now.

 

[needa20]

I was very immature my first couple of years, and school was not on top of my priorities. I think I got below a 1.0 GPA in my first quarter. I started to turn it around in the middle of my 3rd year. I graduated with an overall GPA of 2.78 and a science GPA of 2.72 as a biology major. I knew that I had to raise my GPA if I wanted to have a shot at dental school.
I just finished a one year master's degree with a 3.6 GPA. My cumulative GPA went up to 2.90 science and overall GPA. I have done a lot of research (1000+ hours), a lot of shadowing (1000+), I've also gone on a dental mission trip, I had several leadership positions at school , I also worked full-time my first 2 years, and part-time the remaining 3 years. I am planning to retake my DATs (17/18/23) in April/May.

Should I apply to dental schools next summer, or do a postbac, raise my GPA to 3.0-3.1, and apply the year after? I am not sure what to do... :S

look to apply to schools that look at more then just a gpa then toss your app away if you are not above a certain gpa.

For example, Memphis ONLY cared about my gpa, so i did not get in. That is literally all the cared about.

Im a D2 at Loma Linda now, and they look at more then just gpa. or at least why a gpa might be a little lower then the average 3.5.

So my suggestion would be do research on schools that do more then just look at a gpa solely

EDIT: forgot to add, read through the thread on 3.0gpa and under thread

 

[slm266]

Why do you need to wait 7 months to retake the DAT? You really have to kill the DAT to offset your GPA. I'd retake ASAP because if you don't do well, you're really wasting your time and realistically dentistry may not be in your future. You need to figure out your future quickly and not drag this out any more. Man up, murder that DAT pronto, and if you do very well then I would call up some of the private (and expensive) schools to get some advice.

 

[cara2011]

hey futudent

Sounds like you have been working hard. I would recommend either meeting in person with admissions or doing a phone conference. Ask them for their opinion- they will be honest with you. Another degree may not be necessary. I think if you were able devote a lot of time to preparing for the dat you could greatly raise your score which may be enough to get you in and to your dental career more quickly.

 

[wantVCUdental]

hey futudent

sounds like you have been working hard. I would recommend either meeting in person with admissions or doing a phone conference. Ask them for their opinion- they will be honest with you. Another degree may not be necessary. I think if you were able devote a lot of time to preparing for the dat you could greatly raise your score which may be enough to get you in and to your dental career more quickly.

+1

 

[K9sbestfriend]

Why do you need to wait 7 months to retake the DAT? You really have to kill the DAT to offset your GPA. I'd retake ASAP because if you don't do well, you're really wasting your time and realistically dentistry may not be in your future. You need to figure out your future quickly and not drag this out any more. Man up, murder that DAT pronto, and if you do very well then I would call up some of the private (and expensive) schools to get some advice.

but if you rush to retake the DAT without fully preparing yourself you will not get the scores you seek. you can prepare to take it in, lets say march, and if necessary take the test again in 90 days (june) and still get your application in early next cycle. Good Luck.

 

[yappy]

It's weak but post bacc might not be a bad idea (consult DS first). The reason I say that is because you've demonstrated you're a good student in the last few years of undergrad and your masters. You now have four-five years of solid coursework being dragged down by your first year. All you're doing now is jumping through hoops. excluding your first year; year by year you're prob a stronger applicant than many of your peers that will gain acceptance yet you dont have the "number" to get in - despite your lengthy track record of good numbers. So maybe that's why you go to UG and get that gpa above 3.0? And hopefully do really well on the DAT.

 

[doc toothache]

I am planning to enter dental school in a couple of years, not in half a decade from now.

If only gaining acceptance into a ds required a unilateral plan.

 

[dentalWorks]

I was very immature my first couple of years, and school was not on top of my priorities. I think I got below a 1.0 GPA in my first quarter. I started to turn it around in the middle of my 3rd year. I graduated with an overall GPA of 2.78 and a science GPA of 2.72 as a biology major. I knew that I had to raise my GPA if I wanted to have a shot at dental school.
I just finished a one year master's degree with a 3.6 GPA. My cumulative GPA went up to 2.90 science and overall GPA. I have done a lot of research (1000+ hours), a lot of shadowing (1000+), I've also gone on a dental mission trip, I had several leadership positions at school , I also worked full-time my first 2 years, and part-time the remaining 3 years. I am planning to retake my DATs (17/18/23) in April/May.

Should I apply to dental schools next summer, or do a postbac, raise my GPA to 3.0-3.1, and apply the year after? I am not sure what to do... :S

This is kind of sensitive topic. I don't wanna give you bad advice, you seem to have matured over the years and thats great, I think some schools REALLY like to look at older/more mature application (Univ of Michigan is one).

The best thing you can do right now, is to call up the dental schools you are interested in, and ask to speak to an admissions counselor. explain your situation to them and see what advice they gave you.... I think post-bacc is a step-backwards (like the good doc says) but I also believe its a NECESSARY step, and in my opinion, you really need that overall to get to that 3.0-3.1 range, it will make life easier.

Call up some schools and see what they have to say,