Late Applicant

[Kshin18]

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Hi,
I recently graduated college and received my diploma for B.S in Biology. I intended to apply to dental schools one year late. I took my DAT in the winter (AS 19) and recently retook it and did worse. My GPA is sub-par compared to alot of friends, but I have had many non-academic experiences (leadership in organizations, shadowing and research). I have been accepted to several post-bac programs and intend on attending. I have several questions regarding my candidacy and it would be great to hear from someone with a similar situation:

1. If I send in my score, will ADA send in the better of the two scores?

2. Should I apply this summer and risk it all and retake the DAT in September? or should I take the DAT next year after my post-bac ends (delay one more year)?

I intend on continuing my shadowing experiences. I feel I shouldn't quit before even trying to apply.

Thank you.

 

[rpatel104]

GPA? Full DAT Score?

 

[emorypredent]

Schools will get both your test scores. They decide how to use them.

Obviously your chances are less than ideal with the numbers you describe. If you do not mind losing the money, go ahead and apply now. If you get an offer, great! If not then at least you get a feel for the process.

This is assuming your GPA isn't a 1.5 and a new DAT of 15.

 

[Kshin18]

Well my GPA is 3.05, not the best as I said. I got a 17 on the second time around. However, the scores looked more in scale with each other rather than one section being greatly higher than the others.
I feel I should wait after the post-bac program, it would be a refresh to years of courses like Bio and Chem.

 

[obeserabbit]

Well my GPA is 3.05, not the best as I said. I got a 17 on the second time around. However, the scores looked more in scale with each other rather than one section being greatly higher than the others.
I feel I should wait after the post-bac program, it would be a refresh to years of courses like Bio and Chem.

good idea, i'd definitely do the postbac and retake the DAT if i were in your shoes. like you said, the courses should also really help your DAT preparation.

 

[Glimmer1991]

To apply right now would cost you a LOT of money because you would need to apply broadly. Even then, your acceptance chances aren't very high, statistically speaking.

I would wait, take more science classes to boost your GPA (you need to make As from here on out), and also retake the DAT. The average DAT score of accepted students is creeping up to a 20.

Best of luck!