Is it even worth it for me?

[sasherm13]

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Ok, I am planning on applying to dental school and it is now almost the end of my junior year. I only recently made this decision. I did take gen bio and gen chem my frosh year but then stopped with my bio major because I wasn't doing well, but now I decided to catch up on my sciences and apply. Here is my current plan:

Frosh year: Took Bio and Chem and Calc

Now (junior year): taking Genetics

Summer: Take Orgo Chem and shadow an orthodontic surgeon

Senior year: Take DAT in september, apply after DAT, take physio, physics and cell bio

Does this look like a good idea? I spoke with an admissions officer at a local dental school (U of Louisville) and this is the plan we decided on so I could still apply for admissions without waiting a year. But I'm not sure if this is the best idea. My grades so far aren't the best either.

GPA: 2.8
Sci GPA: 2.0

But my GPA has been steadily climbing each semester. Does this seem like a good idea or am I wasting my time on the sciences I will be taking?

Sherm

 

[grettlin2]

It is fine with your schedule. Though, I saw you are going to take Ochem this summer. For most of the dental schools, they want 2 Ochem to fulfill chemistry requriement. Considering your GPA (for sure, you will raise them), DAT is the key to open the door. Only take the exam until you are confident about that. If Sep. is too rush for you, taking it even in Oct. would still get you in if you do well. For the other courses you plan, they look great.

Don't worry, you will get in. I am also going to apply this year. Good luck to us!🙂

 

[dentisttobe]

As someone who has been thru the application process and been accepted to dental schools, I have learned that YOU SHOULD APPLY EARLY! Don't wait until after the DAT, apply at the beginning of June. You can submit your scores later. Believe me, applying earlier will increase your chances. So, get started writing your essay and collecting letter of recommendations now!

dentisttobe

 

[juan7677]

As dentisttobe said, apply early. This is critical especially for you since your GPA is not in the competitive range. Try to take as many science courses from here and do well in them so that you can improve your GPA and to show the Admission Committee that you can do well in rigorous science courses. Also you must do well on your DATs, meaning 20 or above. This will be very important, especially in your case. Goodluck.

 

[DesiDentist]

sasherm13:

- get awesome recommendations

- apply early

- email all admission directors expressing your interest

- Take DAT when you are READY.

- You need to get at least a 20, if not a 21+. Nowadays, 20 is almost the average for dental schools. When the new stats come out people will realize how competitive dentistry has gotten. Aim for 21+

- You ask: "Is it even worth it for me?" You have to answer that question. Look at your passion and motivation to pursue this career.

-Don't give up.

DesiDentist

 

[scandalouslj]

Yeah the rest of the guys said apply early. I would reccommend shadowing a general dentist instead of a surgeon, becuase a lot of schools want to make sure you know what dentist does, becuase you might not get into a specialty. I would also recommend taking more sciences courses this summer, becuase it doesnt look like you have very many, and the ones you do have the grades arent competative. I took 1st session of o-chem, 1st session of physics, and anatomy this summer, plus worked at a dental lab once a week this summer.

 

[damian12]

Don't give up, study harder, hit the DAT !!

 

[djsux]

Definitely check out the under 3.0 thread - I'm one of the recent success stories. I think that all the threads have good advice on it - I'll call out my own persaonl experience on applying early (I had a complete app just before day of TX deadline.

I was told by an adcom at Baylor that if I had applied earlier, I would have received an interview with that school. She mentioned that there were spots, but not enough quality complete applications for the early rounds.

Baylor is a state school, so bear that in mind, but get your apps ready early, your dental experience to make sure this is what you want to do, ask for your recs early as these usually take the longest, and ace those DATs w/ 20+ and you'll have a decent shot. Oh, and keep those grades climbing...

cheers & best of luck.

 

[ddstothecor]

sasherm13-
I was in your shoes. Two years ago I had applied to several schools (7), prior to taking the DAT in October of 2001. My overall G.P.A was a 3.0, and my science G.P.A. was a lowly 2.3. Before applying, I had retaken Bio and Gen Chem I & II. I too, had spoken w/the dental admissions chair at my local school (C.U.). His advice was to take as many science classes as possible to counteract my previous poor efforts/grades, and to bring up my science G.P.A. (I only had 30-40 science credits to make-up for). Meanwhile, I took the DAT and only scored a 17 academic and 15 PAT (ouch!). Well, I didn't get in--the first time.

Since then, I took 3 semesters of all science classes; taking a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, plus I attended summer school in'02 taking 8 credit hours. None of my grades were less than a "B", and I re-took the DAT scoring a 19 academic and a measly 14 PAT. However, my science G.P.A is now a 3.1, and my overall is too. I applied again for the class of 2007 to 15 schools, and finally, I made it!

The moral: Don't give up! If this is truly what you want, hard work can show your motivation to become a dentist. If you rock the DAT, your chances of getting in the 1st time will be markedly improved. But, to be realistic, your science G.P.A. needs to be brought-up. My opinion (and doesn't everyone have one?) is that you should plan-contingent upon rejection-to take a lot of science classes. Definitely apply for next year, but have a plan in place to make you a shoe-in for the year following. It seems like a ways away, but time will fly by, and I wish you the best of luck on the 1st attempt. I hope you don't have to try twice. Either way, a concerted attempt will not betray your efforts, and a serious commitment will get you in!