I'm getting really depressed because I don't think I'll get accepted

[whoDATwhoDAT]

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I am planning to apply to Dental school this July and I'm so depressed because I don't think I'll get in.

I transferred from a private college and had a 2.3 GPA on elective classes, some of which did not transfer over.

My current GPA is a 3.1

I've got a C+ in Gen Chem 1
B in Gen Chem 2 (A in both labs)
A- in Orgo 1, A in Orgo 2 (A in the first lab A- in the second)
I have a B in bio 1 and in bio 2 I got an F. I'm retaking the class currently and I will get an A.
I have an A- in physics 1.

Since I retook bio 2, and will be getting an A, my GPA will probably go up also because the other classes I'm taking, I will be getting an A

so I'm assuming after this semester I'll have a 3.3

I still have to take calculus, physics 2 and biochem, all of which I will take next semester. Assuming I get at least an A- in all those classes (preferably an A), I will have a 3.5

I have been studying for the DATs and so far I've been scoring 23s in bootcamp

What do my chances of getting into dental school look like?

 

[gatsby121]

if you get yourself to a 3.5 GPA and get a 19 or better on the DAT with no terribly low sections, you have a great chance of getting in. and obviously you need good ECs

 

[WolfPackSigeEp]

Get a 19 (minimum) on the DAT, bang out a solid cumulative GPA, and you will have a fighting chance.

 

[sjv]

Apply broadly, you have a chance.

 

[watermelon15]

you will definitely have a chance....just keep working hard, you have a huge and important goal for this coming year!

 

[Glimmer1991]

Is that 3.1 GPA including the grades from your previous university? They include grades from every class you've ever taken (regardless of the university), and even if you retake a class, both grades are counted (so both the F and A would be included when they calculate your GPA on AADSAS).

EDIT: Looking at your previous post, that 3.1 isn't including your grades from your prior institution. Your AADSAS GPA that schools see will include everything. You need to factor in every single grade and then see what you're working with.

If that 2.3 is only on a few credit hours' worth of classes, it might not make a huge difference... but if we're even talking 20 credit hours, that'll take time to fix.

I would not advise applying next cycle, and truly, you need to get As in your classes from here on out. It's imperative. It's going to be an uphill battle. It's doable, but it will take a lot of work and probably maybe years to salvage your GPA to the 3.3ish range (depending on how much of a difference your private school grades will make on your GPA). You need to have solid ECs, and you need to do well on the DAT. It's a harsh reality, but AADSAS doesn't do grade replacement and it includes any college course you've ever taken.
@sjv Thoughts?

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I'm with Glimmer on this one. A lot hinges on what your true AADSAS GPA is, and that could take a lot of time for you to pull up to an acceptable range. So your chances for the upcoming cycle - honestly, not good, even if you did well on the DAT. I would probably delay applying by at least one cycle to pull your grades up and strengthen the other aspects of your application for the cycle after next, when your changes will be much higher.

 

[atrec11992]

It's impossible to give you good advice until you know for sure what your GPA is gonna be. But speaking from personal experience it is possible to get in with a lower GPA (3.5 is an average after all). I got in this cycle with 3.1 and a 24AA. If your GPA does end up being low, and you can manage to do well on the DAT, you definitely have a shot at the more expensive private schools. If you're dead set on a public school, then a 3.1 probably isn't going to cut it. And if you do end up raising your GPA to a 3.5, and you also do well (or even average) on the DAT, then you really have nothing to worry about.

*Edit: By low GPA I mean anything in the 3.0-3.3 range. Anything above that is a non-issue, and anything below is likely a show stopper. Good luck!

 

[sisklnw1977]

It would be wise for you to look into alternatives to dentistry.......

 

[whoDATwhoDAT]

It would be wise for you to look into alternatives to dentistry.......

I don't understand why you have the need to be discouraging. I'm looking for genuine advice, clearly I'm capable if I'm getting A's now (especially orgo, and physics). I just didn't have the motive

 

[Digitalangel]

its definitely possible, just focus on increasing your gpa as much as possible. and keep in mind you might have to do a masters to prove yourself, but if you really want it you still have a chance

 

[NMC2010]

OK, hold up. I just commented on your other thread, then saw this one. It sounds like you're in your sophomore year right now. If that's the case, you shouldn't be applying at the end of this coming July. You should apply the July after that, after your junior year is complete. That being said, you would have plenty of time to bring your GPA up if you get all A's.

Also, I'm still confused; where are all of your other biology classes? What year are you in school?

 

[Triflate]

Don't get depressed, it's not worth it. At the end of the day, is this is really what you want to do with your life, you will have a plethora of opportunities to make it happen. Instead of getting depressed, get proactive. Schedule visits with schools or find someone that can help you (aka an ADCOM), tell them your story and figure out how to make it happen. Don't let yourself be defined by your struggles and failures. We're about to enter a new year. Forget about where you have failed and just try and give it all you've got this next coming year because the next 6-8 months of your life are going to be crucial in determining what happens with the rest of your life. Good luck 🙂

 

[whoDATwhoDAT]

OK, hold up. I just commented on your other thread, then saw this one. It sounds like you're in your sophomore year right now. If that's the case, you shouldn't be applying at the end of this coming July. You should apply the July after that, after your junior year is complete. That being said, you would have plenty of time to bring your GPA up if you get all A's.

Also, I'm still confused; where are all of your other biology classes? What year are you in school?

I'm a senior, and I haven't taken other biology courses. I might take cell biology but that's about it.

 

[whoDATwhoDAT]

I can't sleep thinking about how badly I messed up my transcript. I'm also being pressured to apply by family. I know truthfully I should wait till I take more biology courses and bring up my GPA but I really don't know what to do. please can someone help me out.

 

[whoDATwhoDAT]

I'm sorry for not being more clear about my status, but I am a senior and I am planning to apply this cycle (in june). I however do not have much community service, shadowing, or research under my belt, and the only thing I really have going for me is my DAT. After this semester my GPA will be at least a 3.3 and If I get all A's next semester then I will have a 3.4ish at least. I do not have any other biology classes except biology 1 and 2 but was planning to take cell bio after I sent in my application. Can someone advise me if what I am doing is right? I need direction.

 

[mordred]

The process can be overwhelming. I think we have all been where you are at one time or another. If you have not gotten the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools, I would. You can buy an on-line version for $10, and have immediate access. However, I found the hard copy easier to browse. You can order either, or both, here:

http://www.adea.org/publications/Pages/OfficialGuide.aspx

Each school's entry lists the coursework that is required, and additional coursework that is recommended. There are minor differences in the upper level courses required, but 90% is the same everywhere. If you can not see a path to having at least the most common requirements completed prior to dental school matriculation, then show the book to your family, and begin planning a masters, or a couple of semesters of post-bac coursework to knock out the courses with the grades you know you need. I have the 2013 book, and it's a year out of date. On page 14, it says that in the most recent cycle at that time, 12,039 candidates applied for admission to at least one school, and only 44.1% of them were enrolled. So over half did not get in that cycle. Of the nearly 56% that did not make it, a large proportion did not give up on the dream, and are applying again this cycle, with a stronger application than before.

A large number of candidates each year are beyond their senior year of college for a whole host of reasons. And every school seems to have a few D1s that are over 30. You have a long life and career ahead of you. Any path worth pursuing is going to be difficult and competitive. You can do it if you really want to. Define, and work the problem, knowing it will take time, money, and effort. Worry won't get you any closer.

 

[Greyangel6]

Like a lot of the posters on here said, your GPA needs improving to raise more interest from adcoms, also, do everything you can to do well on your DAT since it may make a difference for you. If you have not taken other bio courses, I suggest spending more time on your DAT bio section because I got 28-30 on my bootcamp bio section but I got 20 BIO on my real DAT (even though I've taken a lot of bio classes prior). And since dentistry is what you want to do, keep that motivation with you wherever you go (post-bac, dental school interviews, etc.) and move forward. Good luck.

 

[graydds]

Best place to get direction is to visit an admissions director at a dental school. If I were you, I would go to your nearest dental school as often as you can, and annoy them, so they can see how passionate and dedicated you are to their school and profession (also shadow there). Get an academic plan set up with the ds academic advisor. You/they should be able to make a schedule of all the classes you need to get the GPA required to be competitive - don't do it yourself.

Humble yourself and work your butt off. If you really want to be a dentist you can. Don't worry about delaying yourself past an application cycle. Its not a sprint, its a marathon. Just think about where you want to be in 5 years.

 

[free99]

You haven't explicitly answered the questions posed by glimmer yet. Is the GPA you're referring to cumulative, or are you only mentioning your GPA from the second college?

What is your GPA if you calculate every class you've ever taken into it? Then calculate your science GPA (based on the AADSAS course designations), and then calculate your bio/chem/physics GPA. Post those here and people can give you better advice.

There are some folks in my program that have only taken bio 1/2, but they had very strong undergraduate GPA. For you, I think you'll inevitably need to take some more upper level biology coursework to prove your aptitude.

 

[SXCoronado]

.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

If you don't get in, don't fret...yet. Do a post bac and kick butt. That will certainly help.

 

[NMC2010]

I'm a senior, and I haven't taken other biology courses. I might take cell biology but that's about it.

Alright, Mordred addressed this on a general level, but I want to reiterate: you can't get into a majority of dental schools with only bio 1 & 2. Let me provide an example of Ohio State's Requirements:

http://dent.osu.edu/prospective-stu...dds-students/admissions-process/prerequisites

At almost all dental schools you must take Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology as prerequisite biology courses. They won't accept you unless you've taken those courses, because you're going to be taking them at an increased difficulty in dental school. Since you haven't taken them yet, you should go ahead and do a post-bacc as others are suggesting. This will easily allow you to knock out those courses, AND boost your GPA!

 

[DentalDoge]

At least you havent gone through this process 3 times already.

Setting all the optimism aside, here's some realism for ya.

Since you have been struggling with intro science courses, your top priority RIGHT NOW should be to proving that you can handle tough science courses. This means knocking Biochem out of the park.

Although I am highly doubting a GPA increase by 0.2, even with a full semester of A's, as a senior. Unless your school have some seriously low hour requirements.

However, unlike @NMC2010 said, most school DO NOT require A&P, Biochem, and Micro as requirement. SOME school do. But they are usually highly recommended courses. Because doing well in them will drastically increase your chance of getting in. This brings us back to tough science courses.

It is crucial that you show dental schools that you can do well in tough science courses, and I dont mean physics 2, like Biochem, Micro, Molec, etc. Because if you cant handle intro undergrad science courses, what makes you think you can handle dental biochem and histo?

If this is what you really want to do, it would not be unwise to take additional science courses, either a science master's or non-degree post bacc. However considering your past with science classes, you've got serious ass hauling to do.

Stop spending your time being sad (because depression is an illness) and get it together. You've got to be laser focus for the next year and a half.

 

[Dental2000]

You need to say what your oGPA is. That means your combined GPA from your previous college and the one you are in right now.