Letters of Rec question

[bluesdeluxe]

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Okay here is my senerio. I graduated college in 2004 and applied to a few dental schools last year but only got an interview at my state school. I was not picked up because supposedly the class was really competitive and my gpa is around a 3.1 with a 19 on the DAT.

Anyways, I'm retaking the DAT cause it is the easiest and quickest way to improve my overall application. I've recently moved to another state to apply to my father's almamater and really I'd rather attend here anyway.

My question is do your letters of rec have to be from professors or can they be from professionals who know you well? I've been gone from my almamater for 2 years now and my science committee didn't write me a full blown 5 star rec letter due to my low gpa. However, now that I'm in a new state with some connections, I have access to professors and doctors that are connected to the school that have known my father and I for years and years. I'd hate to blow my chances of getting accepted by not having 3 letters from my college but I've known many people who have gotten into school due to connections, and I'd like as many things working for me as possible. Anyone else have experience with a so so science committee letter and letters of rec outside of their college?

 

[aggie-master]

I graduated in 2001 and I got one letter from a professor, one from a former employer, one from my current employer, one from a dentist that I shadowed, and the the health committee letter.

 

[aggie.teacher]

Most schools are specific about the types of letters (i.e. 2 professors, a dentist, etc) I'd include at least one science prof if possible, but I know that's hard if you've been out a while. I also graduated in '01 from A&M like aggie-master, but luckily I took some final prereqs and could get recent letters from science profs for a committee letter, even though it's not from my undergrad university (it's from UT, but don't tell anyone). I would bank on the connections, too. I have 3 huge connections at Baylor in Texas, and it's comforting. By all means, don't leave them out, but I would hesitate to leave out a representative of my personal academic experience. A professor you had in college is a better representative for you than a professor that's just a personal friend, in my opinion. Maybe you could take one or two upper level sciences at this new school to hopefully boost your GPA a little and get some recs?