Low GPA; Low DAT but retaking

[aanonymouspredent]

Date of submission: June 5th 2024

Overall GPA: 3.11 (aadsas) undergraduate gpa at 3.39 currently according to my university; taking my last 2 upper science electives this summer (cancer biology & Mycology)

Science GPA: 3.19 (aadsas)

Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 3.17 (aadsas)

DAT score (include AA and all sections):

AA-19
PAT-20

TS-19

GC-19

OC-19

BIO-20

RC-21

QR-16 (ran out of time.) I do plan on retaking, currently saving up so hopefully by the end of September.

State of Residence: Georgia



Undergrad Attended: a PWI in Georgia

Major: Biology

Minor: N/A

Minority? Yes - African American female.

Reapplicant? No

Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 306; general dentist but I’m about to start shadowing an oral surgeon in August.

Volunteering Experience: Over 1000 hours. I volunteer with kids in church, a food bank, a community service club

Employment: over 4500 hours. I worked 2 jobs during college for the most part at Home Depot and Ross (approx. 22 hours per week) I also did hair for extra income in college(braids, etc.)

Research: N/A

Other Extracurriculars: Pre-Dental Club member, Member of Red Cross, Treasurer of Community service club, Fundraising Chair for African Student Association

Have you volunteered/shadowed/attended events at any dental schools? Attended the DCG tour, Meharry and Howard’s online informational

Relevant Honors or Awards: 3x deans list recipient

LOR type and strength:

• Dentist : Strong
• Ochem Professor: Moderate/strong
• Kids Volunteeer Supervisor : Strong
• Gen Chem Lab Professor: Strong

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags:

I was a dual enrollment student in HS and basic flunked the majority of them. I’ve never gotten an F but I had a handful of Cs and Ds. I didn’t understand the gravity of those grades as I saw it as an opportunity to just save on college tuition since I’m an immigrant from a low income household.

Fast forward to my first year in undergrad, I was a victim of domestic violence (law enforcement was involved and I had several court appearances which hindered my ability to focus in school), contracted COVID from work and lost my aunt to work all in one semester which tanked my GPA again.

I also was responsible for my rent and 50% of my tuition to ease the financial burden on my parents. I’m in no way making excuses, I’m just determined to keep showing that I’m dedicated to becoming a dentist so I’ll do whatever that’s morally correct to become one. However my aadsas transcript shows the following for my upward trend each year:

• freshman: 2.39
• Sophomore: 2.94
• Junior: 3.39
• Senior: 3.68

I know the odds are stacked against me and I’m fully aware it’s going to take a lot to prove myself as a fit candidate for dental schools. I’d like any feedback; please be polite but very honest. Thank you.

School list:

• Dental College of Georgia (In State School)
• Howard University College of Dentistry
• LECOM (probably shouldn’t have applied here)
• Meharry
• Roseman ( Received KIRA)

My list is short, I know I can try to apply to more private schools but I also don’t want to have over $500k just for the 4 years because I’m strongly considering Orthodontics or OMFS

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[Mr.Smile12]

Have you ever met with SNDA student officers representing the schools on your list or others you were considering?

I hope you get interviews, but I also suspect you may need to continue with some postbac coursework to maintain a strong GPA upward trend. The DAT might need to be retaken if enough schools tell you to do better on your QR, but your other scores are solid.

 

[aanonymouspredent]

Have you ever met with SNDA student officers representing the schools on your list or others you were considering?

I hope you get interviews, but I also suspect you may need to continue with some postbac coursework to maintain a strong GPA upward trend. The DAT might need to be retaken if enough schools tell you to do better on your QR, but your other scores are solid.

Hey thanks for the reply. I’m looking into post bacc currently.
I have not met with SNDA officers, how do I go about meeting one?

 

[aanonymouspredent]

Have you ever met with SNDA student officers representing the schools on your list or others you were considering?

I hope you get interviews, but I also suspect you may need to continue with some postbac coursework to maintain a strong GPA upward trend. The DAT might need to be retaken if enough schools tell you to do better on your QR, but your other scores are solid.

Or do you mean have I spoken to the dental admission officers from the schools on my list? If so, yes.
I’m actively in contact with the admissions officer at DCG. (Obviously stopped contacting her once my application was submitted to avoid conflict of interest)
I’ve also spoken to officers at Meharry and Howard.

For DCG I was told to obviously strongly consider a retake which I’m currently studying for but this was before my aadsaa GPA was finalized. I had no idea it will differ so much from my institutional GPA but it makes sense considering that I did poorly in dual enrollment and my first year. My college also replaces a retaken course with the higher grade and doesn’t average them out so that blindsided me.