Just need some good advice

[alej1020]

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Right now I'm in the stages of planning to apply for dental school. Now I am taking 18 credits this semester but I have one class, Analytical Chemistry, that is kicking my ass. The dilemma is that I'm trying to not to drop it because I want to graduate in time so I can go to dental school if I get in this cycle. If I drop the class then I would have to take a 21 credit semester in one of the upcoming semesters (really don't want to do that). So my other option is to drop the class and graduate one semester late therefore missing the deadline or take a C in the class, that's how it is looking right now, and affect my GPA which is the 2.9ish range.

Now I haven't taken the DAT, which I'm going to this semester. So I was thinking it would be a good idea to postpone my application for next years cycle because I can take it slow, raise my GPA a little bit more and have free time to boost my application. The downside is that I'm 23 years old in my 5th year of college.

Cheers and thanks in advanced

 

[alej1020]

Advice from other people would be great...I know it seems I already made my mind up but I just want people to let me know if I have not looked at it from another perspective...

 

[bing12]

drop it, dont risk a C....but only if you can take a class over the summer so you dont have to overload next semester of 21 credits. as long as you dont have many W's, i would say go ahead and do it. you want to do as well as you can the semester before you apply. and if you cant take a class over the summer, then just go ahead and take 21 credits, make sure you get that gpa above a 3.0. you will have a rough time getting with with below a 3.0 cause some schools screen out applications that way.

 

[alej1020]

Thanks for the advice. I did drop a whole semester once but it can be explained to the admissions committee no problem. Another thing is that I already have planned to take a summer course and then study for the DAT so I would have to take another summer course that my school probably will not offer. So I have another problem there but I'll look into it. Thanks again it is greatly appreciated.

 

[bing12]

its ok, you can always take a winter class if you have to. just make it your #1 priority to do as well as you can this semester. try to bring up your gpa as much as you can. i am also in my 5th year right now in undergrad, and im glad i waited to apply. i didnt want to rush anything.

 

[iamjackbauer]

if i were you, i would try to take fewer than 18 credits per semester. if this means postponing graduation and applying a bit later, i think it would definitely be worth it. GPA is a super important factor, and if taking fewer credit hours would allow you to bump it up a bit, it would definitely be to your advantage. focus on getting all A's and do everything you can to kill the DAT.

 

[bing12]

if i were you, i would try to take fewer than 18 credits per semester. if this means postponing graduation and applying a bit later, i think it would definitely be worth it. GPA is a super important factor, and if taking fewer credit hours would allow you to bump it up a bit, it would definitely be to your advantage. focus on getting all A's and do everything you can to kill the DAT.

great idea...i second that. try to take 14-16 if you can.

 

[K9sbestfriend]

if i were you, i would try to take fewer than 18 credits per semester. if this means postponing graduation and applying a bit later, i think it would definitely be worth it. GPA is a super important factor, and if taking fewer credit hours would allow you to bump it up a bit, it would definitely be to your advantage. focus on getting all A's and do everything you can to kill the DAT.

I also agree with this. Better to spend an extra year in undergrad getting your GPA as much over 3.0 as you can and boost ECs than to apply with a lower GPA and risk taking multiple cycles and thousands of dollars to gain exceptance into dental school. Refer to "under 3.0 club" thread.

In addition, starting Dschool at 25 or so is not a big deal. You would be way ahead of me, I will be 34 when I start in the fall.

Good Luck!

 

[alej1020]

Thanks for the posts they are greatly appreciated. I personally agree with all of your opinions since I haven't taken my DAT and it will be a hectic summer if I do apply for this cycle. I feel that postponing my graduation is ideal since I can organize myself a little better and increase my chances by submitting my application early.

I also heard that I would be given a little bit of slack since I'm from Puerto Rico, moved to Florida 3 years ago. Does this have any basis?