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a 3.3 masters gpa isnt favorable amigo
a 3.3 masters gpa isnt favorable amigo
Honestly it isn't your 2.9 that is hurting you. Plenty of people with that kind of GPA in UG that did a masters after got into dental school.
Your issue is a 2.9 followed by a 3.3 at a Masters program that is supposed to be easy and isn't one of the really well known masters programs. A 3.3 after a 2.9 doesn't seem like you matured that much or learned from your mistakes. It seems like you got a bit better, but haven't fully learned. If you had achieved like a 3.8 at a good masters program then this probably would not be an issue at all. You need to have dramatic improvement after a 2.9.
I had a 3.2 last year when I applied, could have graduated, but delayed my graduation so I could take more undergrad classes to boost my gpa. I took classes like reproductive physiology, biochem, o chem 2 lab, anatomy, a masters level bio class, animal behavior and a bunch more. I received 1 B+, 1 A- and like 8 A's. My DAT retake was taken on Halloween and I received 4 interviews so far (USC, Temple, NYU and LECOM).
I put in the hard work for 3 extra semesters (summer included) and my lowest gpa was a 3.73 with the other 2 being a 3.82 and a 3.9 something. You should have done better in your Masters and gone to the MWU masters program since you would have been guaranteed a interview if you maintained a certain GPA. You can't keep blaming it on the 2.9 and if you want to make it further you have to realize you need to fix some bad habits because dental school will be a lot harder then UG and your masters program.
I'm 50,000 in debt already....20,000 from undergraduate and 30,000 from the graduate year courses that I took.
Are you suggesting I do ANOTHER Master's? My problem isn't my 3.3, it's my 2.9
But if you're suggesting I take another 30 grand in loans for a year Master's, then I'm afraid I need to look for other options to raise my GPA.
you forgot to get good grades in your masters program
bazinga
Yep...exactly. With all the time you spend on SDN, you should know what to expect. People do master's programs to get 3.8+, not a 3.3. You seem to be fishing for compliments on these forums too, and when people put you down you just get pissed.
And you don't even answer people's questions about where you got waitlisted at and stuff, yet you expect others to tell you every little detail. Why so secretive dude? Afraid you'll get made fun of in real life? Seriously...
It's always been on my mind. I refuse to give up when I'm THIS F*CKING close to the finish line. For f*ck's sake, I got two interviews, which is more than a lot of people.
If I plan to re-apply in June, I hope to do some summer courses and some fall semester courses for the fall academic update.
youre the only person who pushed yourself away from your dream
UltimateHombre said:I have said it before and i will say it again... Podiatry.
Good luck brotha!
If you guys are suggesting that my Master's program is the problem, then I really don't even know what to say. I can't update that. It's 1 year or graduate courses. I can't take anymore and I don't plan on spending another 30 grand.
2PacClone23 said:I refuse to give up when I'm THIS F*CKING close to the finish line.
They're suggesting that your whole academic record, indicative of your level of maturity, is the problem.
And you're right, there isn't a whole lot to say against that...
Lol, "the finish line?" .... oh brother, getting accepted is the equivalent of turning on the ignition key...
Well you know what I mean. They always say "getting into Harvard is harder than graduating from Harvard" or undergraduate school in general. That was my point.
As for the 2 interviews comment, I just mentioned that because people in my other thread had told me to keep my chin up and consider myself lucky since I got the interviews.
As for the waitlist business, I shall wait until after April 1 and see where everything goes.
Cut him some slacks guys. The fact that he made this thread shows that he knows what mistakes he had made and is anxious now. He needs advise, and if you guys can not say anything nice or any advise at all, then it's best not to say anything at all.
This is my advise to you 2pacClone23. If you know dentistry is in you heart, then keep going for it. Apply again if you are not accepted to see how it goes. As for the moment, you have exhausted almost all of your options. I do no think taking more classes would give a better results since you have already tried and failed.
Cut him some slacks guys. The fact that he made this thread shows that he knows what mistakes he had made and is anxious now. He needs advise, and if you guys can not say anything nice or any advise at all, then it's best not to say anything at all.
This is my advise to you 2pacClone23. If you know dentistry is in you heart, then keep going for it. Apply again if you are not accepted to see how it goes. As for the moment, you have exhausted almost all of your options. I do no think taking more classes would give a better results since you have already tried and failed.
I've been on this forum for 3 years detailing everything and following y'all advice.
Cut him some slacks guys.
They're suggesting that your whole academic record, indicative of your level of maturity, is the problem.
I honestly wish you would just take responsibility for your own actions... seriously, the amount of excuses you spit out is just pitiful. Have some self-respect, own up to your weaknesses and change for the better.
You will probably get defensive to my remarks, because the truth is hard to swallow. But as soon as you man-up and stop making excuses, you will empower yourself and develop the virtues/disciplines you need to make it to d-school.
If you do not develop this self accountability and drive, you can expect to live a life of unhappiness, regret, and mediocrity.
Cut your losses and go to another professional school. You can be very successful in another profession and there is nothing wrong with that. I beg you to consider podiatry, pharmacy, or optometry.
I wouldn't call a "3.3" a fail. You guys were just saying how a 2.9 is totally "acceptable" then the next minute, you're insulting my master's GPA.
Whatever the case is, I hope I get in and I shall update this thread as it moves on forward. I am optimistic.
you know how they say glass is really just a liquid material that's moving/melting in really slow motion?
OP's pre-dental saga is kinda like that.
Not gonna happen... chances of getting a 27+ are slim to none. Not trying to be rude, but you may have exhausted your options. I think that you could still possibly get in off of a wait list but doing another masters/ taking more classes is going to help all that much. If you don't get in you might want to consider a different route.
Furthermore, 2pac has already taken the DAT three times... he would have to get written permission for a 4th and i am not sure that would happen since, he already achieved such high marks.
2Pac... you know this isn't true bro. I remember 2 years ago, everyone was telling you not to do a MS degree and go for postbac instead. I specifically remember myself, dentalworks, lnngu, maygver, and others saying you can always get your masters after a postbac. Yet you refused and did the MS program and you didn't get the grades you needed and you still have a 2.9 UGPA. Now you want to fix it?! The time for that was 2 years ago brotha, before your MS program.
Cut him some slack, what do you think we have been doing for the past 2-3 years. Yet he continually doesn't do what is required of him. He didn't even get his MS he failed the comprehensive exam... Not even a piece of paper for all his hard work and 30K extra in debt. Then this year, he hasn't done anything else to help his app and now he wants in?! Ridiculous...
So much truth to this statement. You state that dentistry is your dream, yet you don't push yourself hard enough to achieve it. You did nothing to improve your app this year and yet you say dentistry is your dream. You failed your MS comprehensive exam and got a 3.3 in your graduate courses... is that dream worthy?
I remember posting this back in 2011 in one of your threads and i still feel it applies. You keep making excuses instead of finding a solution...
2 years later and you still haven't developed the disciplines needed. It's time to be realistic... you are 50K in debt and likely have close to 150-180 credits, do you really think it is worth another year or two and another 30K to try and boost your GPA .1-.2 points. Cut your losses and go to another professional school. You can be very successful in another profession and there is nothing wrong with that. I beg you to consider podiatry, pharmacy, or optometry. Sorry to be harsh, i just feel like you need some sense knocked into you man. Dentistry may be your dream, but unfortunately you have not qualified yourself for that dream, and it's time to face reality.
I don't remember exactly what U.Hombre said specifically, but I remember agreeing with him/her when I read his/her post. I also agree 100% with Bereno. I'm going to be blunt and people are probably going to dislike what I say, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who is thinking this. In a way, I hope OP doesn't get accepted. Before everyone flames me for being such a terrible person, let me explain.
I've been keeping up with OPs story for quite some time now. I know he has put in a lot of his time and effort in trying to get into DS, and I feel for him. Props to him for not giving up where many others might have after the first or second rejection. This reason alone, I want to say, "Go OP! You can do this!" and I really want him to get in. However, the other side me thinks differently. As others have mentioned, I think the key aspect that is hurting the OP's application is his Master's GPA. Yes, a 3.3 "is not bad" but it really isn't anything to write home about. OP keeps coming back to ask for suggestions, and the community spends their time trying to help him by giving them their .02 (for what it's worth). I know we aren't ADCOMS and we don't know what is actually keeping him from getting accepted (maybe there is a red flag that he is not telling us?) but the fact that he keeps arguing against what many others are saying instead of accept his own fault and trying to fix it does not only show immaturity, but frankly, shows some intellectual weakness as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the OP isn't smart. In fact, I'm sure he is brilliant. It's not easy to score mid 20s on the DATs. However, as the thread moves on, he gets more and more suggestions on how to improve his application, yet he argues against what everyone is telling him every time. It seems like OP is trying to defend his previous decisions and downfalls, and this is just pushing himself further and further away from his goal. This is why I in a way hope the OP doesn't get into DS. Not because he isn't smart. Not because he didn't try hard enough. But as Bereno touched on, lacks the maturity to really achieve in DS and become a dentist. I don't think dentistry is out of the question, but at the moment, I think OP needs to do some soul searching. There comes a point where you just need to accept that you are doing something wrong, get opinions from other perspectives, brainstorm, and fix it! I don't know the OP personally, but the excuses he comes up with like, "I'm not spending more money to do another Masters" or "My 3.3 is not THAT bad, and is not the reason I'm not getting accepted," really tells me something about his character and maturity level. It almost feels like a child is trying to make up some excuse for something he did wrong, and I think that is exactly what Bereno is referring to when he says, "wanting to be a dentist is not justification enough for being a dentist." I think OP needs to work on not just his app, but the skills (the 4 that Bereno mentioned is a good start) in order to really be successful. Even if he does get into DS this cycle, I'm afraid his attitude might put him in a bad spot.
OP: Not to discourage you. But for your own good because it honestly doesn't effect me, really think about what others are saying. Take it with a grain of salt, of course. But stop being so stubborn and accept that you need to change what you are doing to really show the ADCOMS that you are really meant to get into DS and become a dentist. You didn't get into DS for a reason. Change that, and get accepted.
Was this kind of harsh? Maybe. But I think this is something that the OP really needs to read and get through his head.
Podiatry, pharmacy, chiropractic med, optometry <--- all good choices. I know a podiatrist who loves their job and are doing very well for themselves. Beautiful family, fantastic hours, goes on vacation several times a year. At some point I think you've got to take a turn instead of continuing down the same dismal road. Props on your perseverance, though, that alone is commendable.
Podiatry, as far as I know, besides two schools, require you to take the MCAT.
Plus, I'm here to be a dentist, not a foot doctor.
I understand everything you said. But I'm at a point right now, where I'm waitlisted at two schools and I have no idea what to do right now (if I don't get it) and whether or not to apply June 2013 and June 2014.
I don't know how to raise my application's "chances". My GPA sucks, plain and simple.
I understand everything you said. But I'm at a point right now, where I'm waitlisted at two schools and I have no idea what to do right now (if I don't get it) and whether or not to apply June 2013 and June 2014.
I don't know how to raise my application's "chances". My GPA sucks, plain and simple.
You still don't know man?!?!?????? I've been following your story for awhile now and every time I read your posts, I end up facepalming so hard...
We all know you "want" to be a dentist, but quite frankly, it hasn't shown in your performance. I think you are an intelligent applicant (based off your DAT) but what else have you really done to better your chances? (and succeeded). People here have given you solid advice about how to better your application, yet you find ways to argue against them and come up with excuses (i.e. your "Master's degree"). People here have offered alternatives to dentistry and other avenues where you'll succeed, but you won't budge and keep digging a deeper hole for yourself. YET in all of this, you STILL don't know how to feel or what to do?!?!? I just don't know what you're asking for anymore...
I'm not going to imply anything about your maturity or social skills, but I'd seriously start thinking about the timeline of your career (whether its dentistry, podiatry, pharmacy, whatever). If you don't get off the waitlist this year and re-apply with the SAME application, are you just hoping you'll be luckier next year? Sure, if you have the time and money to kill, re-apply in June 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 or however many more years it'll take. Whats the worst that could happen? More waitlists/rejections, couple thousand dollars more in debt, and spending your 20's in miserable dental limbo?
For your own sake, I hope you hear back a final decision from your waitlists soon so you can come up with a more realistic game plan. Get your **** together and it'll work out. Best of luck man.
Would you take the MCAT for podiatry school? Would you have to mention that you're applying to TWO professional schools at the same time on AADSAS?
Not to mention, I only have 2 more cycles left until my DAT expires.
Honestly, I might just take classes and raise that GPA. That's my only hope to above 3.1.
I don't know why you are so against another Masters. How is that any different from "just take classes?" If anything, a Masters would help you significantly more. You mentioned the money for a Masters, but taking classes costs money as well. And you won't be wasting money because if you put yourself to it and do well (3.7+ GPA) you will get into DS. And taking loans out isn't a big deal because honestly, if you don't even want to take 30k out to do a Masters and get into DS, you better pray that you go to your state school because any private DS will top that... easy. And that Masters program will seem like the best deal for a degree you've ever gotten.
Seriously OP. I've only posted twice in this thread and I've been harsh both times. But I really want you to be making the best decision and best chance in getting into a DS. DO A MASTERS! This time, a SMP or a the very least a core Biology Masters at a well-known University, not what you did the first time around.
Who's the say I'll get a 3.7+? I obviously tried that this past year and it's easier said than done. Also, you didn't answer my question about taking the MCAT.
Moreover, money could be mitigated if I took these classes at a CC or something.
Who's the say I'll get a 3.7+? I obviously tried that this past year and it's easier said than done. Also, you didn't answer my question about taking the MCAT.
Moreover, money could be mitigated if I took these classes at a CC or something.