Just need a little advice for the future.

[angel dust]

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I'm a graduate student at Johns Hopkins, I'm doing their Advanced Academic Master's Prog. I only enrolled in this after I found out I will not be accepted if I applied for dental school during my senior year.

A little about me, Graduated with a 2.9 cum 2.8sci DAT sucked. Have tons of Dental assisting exp. Lots of Volunteering, and extracurriulars. I had an upward trend in my grades where in my senior year I made dean's list. First two years were fun, last two i was hitting the books like a ton of bricks.

So my question is, alot of people tell me that if i just take a few courses like 9 credits for my master's and then apply I'll be ok, but then i also hear others saying that I should complete it just because my GPA is so bad, which I can understand.

I was planning on studying for the DAT the month I have off this winter, and if I was ready I'd take it in Jan. and then apply for D-school in may.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanx much 🙂

 

[shuna]

I would finish the master. You want to show that you are consistent and that you finish things that you were committed to. I wanted to apply to dental school in my second year in college since I had the min credits and was told that it was too early and to get my BS. I believe that on top of that you would be much more competitive as a candidate.

That’s my opinion.

Good luck

I'm a graduate student at Johns Hopkins, I'm doing their Advanced Academic Master's Prog. I only enrolled in this after I found out I will not be accepted if I applied for dental school during my senior year.

A little about me, Graduated with a 2.9 cum 2.8sci DAT sucked. Have tons of Dental assisting exp. Lots of Volunteering, and extracurriulars. I had an upward trend in my grades where in my senior year I made dean's list. First two years were fun, last two i was hitting the books like a ton of bricks.

So my question is, alot of people tell me that if i just take a few courses like 9 credits for my master's and then apply I'll be ok, but then i also hear others saying that I should complete it just because my GPA is so bad, which I can understand.

I was planning on studying for the DAT the month I have off this winter, and if I was ready I'd take it in Jan. and then apply for D-school in may.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanx much 🙂

 

[laelialudisia]

I would finish the master. You want to show that you are consistent and that you finish things that you were committed to. I wanted to apply to dental school in my second year in college since I had the min credits and was told that it was too early and to get my BS. I believe that on top of that you would be much more competitive as a candidate.

That’s my opinion.

Good luck

agreed. i would go ahead and study for the DAT the month you have off and, if you feel ready take it, but with your gpa being so low i think demonstrating that you have the drive and the ability to complete a master's program would help you out A LOT!!!

what was your gpa during the semesters of your last 2 yrs. when you hit the books?

 

[armorshell]

Whatever anyone tells you, the key is the DAT. Do everything you can to score as high as you can.

 

[shuna]

Yes DAT DAT DAT....not that I did that well, but yes DAT DAT DAT lol

 

[angel dust]

i got a 3.5 one sem. and a 3.6 the last semester of my senior year. and my junior year, first sem. 3.0, and second 3.1

its something around those num. cause i know i was so happy to hit the 3.0 mark my junior year.

 

[WSDriller]

A good DAT score can surely overshadow some bad grades in the past. It highlights your recent success and knowledge.

 

[angel dust]

So the overall advice i'm getting is "destroy the DAT" do you guys think I might need to do anything else other than that?

Yeh its a huge thing, but what about volunteering? i was thinking about being part of Habitat for Humanity, takes up one of my seven days a week, and helps a family in need. The last time i volunteered was about a little more than a year ago, so i'm thinking if i keep with it would be good. I did alot before that.

 

[laelialudisia]

i got a 3.5 one sem. and a 3.6 the last semester of my senior year. and my junior year, first sem. 3.0, and second 3.1

its something around those num. cause i know i was so happy to hit the 3.0 mark my junior year.

so, here are my thoughts: if you retake the DAT and get great numbers then i think you have a shot with your current gpa. if you retake it and get okay numbers then you will probably need that master's to help you out.


there are people on here, who had similar undergrad gpa's but high DAT scores and they are getting interviews, so great DAT scores can definitely help you out. best of luck

 

[laelialudisia]

So the overall advice i'm getting is "destroy the DAT" do you guys think I might need to do anything else other than that?

Yeh its a huge thing, but what about volunteering? i was thinking about being part of Habitat for Humanity, takes up one of my seven days a week, and helps a family in need. The last time i volunteered was about a little more than a year ago, so i'm thinking if i keep with it would be good. I did alot before that.

any volunteer work is good but volunteering at a dental clinic and getting actual shadowing experience will DEFINITELY help

 

[DDSY]

Whatever anyone tells you, the key is the DAT. Do everything you can to score as high as you can.

Yes, dats right.

 

[Lemming]

Yeh its a huge thing, but what about volunteering? i was thinking about being part of Habitat for Humanity, takes up one of my seven days a week, and helps a family in need. The last time i volunteered was about a little more than a year ago, so i'm thinking if i keep with it would be good. I did alot before that.

I think some of the schools, like ASDOH really like to see that kind of thing. Plus I feel, at least for me, that it is more fulfilling than shadowing....that said, the shadowing at least ~50 hours give or take depending on where you apply is good. I think WSDriller had a pretty sweet opportunity where he actually volunteered at a service clinic, so he got both at once.

 

[WSDriller]

Shadowing is good, but once you have logged 20+ hours it's just a waste of time. Find a homeless shelter or a clinic where you can learn to assist as well as observe. The best way to shadow is with a suction tip and some gauze in your hands. Plus, schools look highly on that kind of stuff. Like Lemming said, especially ASDOH.

 

[Lemming]

Shadowing is good, but once you have logged 20+ hours it's just a waste of time.

I agree...just be very careful though to check the schools you are applying to. Don't know about others, but OHSU requires 50 hours of shadowing. Directly from Mark Mitchell's mouth, that is one of the top reasons for getting "weeded out" of their application process.

 

[angel dust]

I've had shadowing while i was Dental Assisting, so I mean I've had alot of exposure. I've dental assisted for endo, general, perio, and oral. only thing thats left is ortho, but seems boring.