Introduction/Questions

[ExSciToothFairy]

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Hello guys,

I've been using this website for quite a while now and I've decided that today I should actually make an account to participate in the Pre-Dent community. To start off my name is ExSciToothFairy.... my real name is hidden in there, all you have to do is combine letters together to form other letters and rearrange them in a specific pattern....

Anyways, I am an Exercise Science major (applied kinesiology option) and a minor in Psychology. I wish to apply to dental schools but as many of you could have guessed my GPA is not too competitive. I looked around the forum to see what my options were but none really matched my specific situation. Here are my stats:

GPA: ~3.189
Sci GPA: Obviously a bit lower didnt take the time to calculate it to avoid depression 🙁
Major GPA:3.066
DAT: will take during winter break (applying for the next cycle)

As for my course load, Exercise Science is not the major for Gym teachers....
Systems Physiology: B+ (only three points from an A 😡)
Functional Human Anatomy: A
Physics I: B+
Physics II: A
Bio I: B
Organic Chemistry: C+👎
Bio II: C👎
Chem I: C👎
Chem II: C+👎

My plan is to stomp the DAT out and get an amazing score and hopefully from there get the help of my fellow Pre-Dents as to what I should do. I have shadowed a couple of dentists and am try to find others to volunteer with, none really get back to me. I was thinking to do a 1-year masters program at BU or something but I am not sure if I should do that or just apply and hope for the best after the DAT. As you can see my courses are not too balanced, with Chemistry being the lowest. I really want to get into Dental school so if anyone could offer some advice in my current situation, it would be greatly appreciated.
:troll:

 

[ASOT]

Do you go to Rutgers by any chance? haha

 

[ExSciToothFairy]

Do you go to Rutgers by any chance? haha

LOL, pretty much explains the C+ in Orgo I doesn't it....

And the Exercise Science major

 

[FancyFloss]

I'm in a similar situation with shotty science grades. Best you can do is score in the 90th percentile across all subjects and hope that by the grace of the tooth fairy they look at your application a little more. I wrote on many other threads that what I heard from inside sources is to just to score above the 90th percentile and schools are most likely going to give you an interview. And with those science grades, you may have to score higher than just the minimum 90th percentile to really be considered.

A lot of people on here have amazing GPAs (3.6-3.8) and much of the time I see them get around average scores, just barely breaking into the 80%. As long as you can show the admissions committee that you understand the material better (by understand better I mean score higher on the DAT) than your higher GPA competing students, you stand a better shot. A great GPA isn't worth dirt unless they're backed up by good DAT scores. With terrible grades and a great DAT however, it shows that you have the ability to sit down and study your ass off for dental school. You will certainly be one of the lucky few if you can land an interview with those grades. It's an uphill battle but if you can own the DAT you have a good shot.