Low GPA Options for Dental School - How To Get To My Dream

[infinity314]

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I have a 2.8 sGPA and a 3.0 overall GPA. I am a senior about to graduate next semester and my goal is to become a dentist. I am taking the DAT this week and hope to score above my GPA relatively. I have wanted to be a dentist my whole life and I am really confused about what to do. Any advice would be appreciated.

As I see it, I have three options:

1. Go to a Master's/Post-Bac Program to raise my GPA. This is my last chance.

Here are the programs I have:
Western
USC
Tufts
Rutgers
RFU
Midwestern
Boston University
Barry

Are there other schools to consider here?

2. Finish my degree and go to a less competitive school as a non-degree seeking candidate. Try to score as highly as possible for one year of science classes and then apply to dental school.

3. Change lines - focus on podiatry or vet school or anything else that is easier within the medical field at this level. I have read that average GPAs of these programs are well above my 2.8 sGPA and 3.0 oGPA.

Which of the 3 should I pursue, or is there another option?

 

[JLT223]

If you really want to go to dental school, do the post-bac and do extremely well. Why would you "settle" on another field if you've wanted to be a dentist your whole life. If you have the desire, there are many directions that lead to the same path. Don't do something because you think it will be easier. Also, veterinary school is extremely competitive.

 

[doc toothache]

https://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/d-d-s-m-d-d-o-dpm-pharm-d-an-update.521462/

 

[bwc]

I would recommend either a master's or post-bac. Or you can choose to not graduate and take some additional science courses. Enrolling as a non-degree student may work, but at my school non-degree students are the last to register for classes and many times classes are full by then.

 

[DogeDDS]

What was your undergraduate major? If you've taken a large amount of science courses already, then you probably want to do an SMP.
If you haven't taken that many science classes, then you could do an informal postbacc and take upper level courses at your undergrad. But if you do this, make sure there are enough courses where you can be full-time with mostly or all science courses each semester (maybe 1 "easy" class per semester so it doesn't kill you). You want to prove yourself to the dental schools and show them you can pull off a 3.8 with a rigorous workload.

 

[infinity314]

Thank you so much for all of these responses. @doc toothache looks like podiatry is slightly easier although it's 2007 data. I really want to focus on dentistry so I will.
@bwc I will be applying to all of those post-bacc and master's programs.
@DogeDDS it was biology so I have all the basic sciences, physics, chem finished. I think I will stick to an SMP and if I don't get into one of the listed above (14), I will do the informal option.

 

[noletodmd32]

You want to be a dentist so continue to work hard to accomplish your goal. Do not settle for another occupation just because you believe it is "easier". Apply to graduate school and work your butt off. Don't give up! 😀 Message me if you want more details on Barry MS Biomedical Sciences program.

 

[doc toothache]

Thank you so much for all of these responses. @doc toothache looks like podiatry is slightly easier although it's 2007 data. I really want to focus on dentistry so I will.

And you believe that there has been a radical change in the interim.