Low GPA, working on postbac..... please help advise/ what are my chances?

[SE86]

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Graduated from UF in 2009 with BS in nutrition with a overall GPA 2.725 GPA.I started working on a postbac at UF in Microbiology this year. Took 3000/4000 level courses (A/P I and II, eukaryotic cell structure and function, parasitology) and some other 3000 level classes. Since my first BS, I have semester GPA's of 3.40, 4.0, and 3.444 at around 10 hours each semester.

I know that I have a long way to go but I'm working hard at at.

Next semesters classes will be full time and include graduate immunology, parasitology, molecular genetics and a comprehension course. I will graduate December 2012 and plan on taking full time in summer and fall 12', working in as many grad level courses that I can. In addition to school, I work 16 hours/week at long term care facility, research 8 hours weekly, shadow 8 hours weekly, and my wife and I are expecting our first daughter January 24th, 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have not taken the DAT, but plan on it this upcoming semester. (Note that I understand that it will be almost impossible to answer what my chances are without DAT scores).

My extracurriculars' include:
-1700 hours direct patient care as Nutrition care coordinator at long term care facility in medical and dementia units.
- 75 hours volunteer at Shand's hospital
-60 hours research with UF professor
-100 hours volunteering with adopt-a-road
-200 hours paid work at dentist office
-15 hours shadowing with periodontist
-Presidents list x 1 semester
- per-dental club member x 2 semesters
-nutrition club member x 2 semesters

Any assistance and or insight will be helpful.

 

[wizi]

So what is your sGPA, overall GPA now?

You should get more shadowing hours (~40) at a General Dentist.

 

[FROGGBUSTER]

You're going to need a high DAT to compensate for your GPA, but you already know that.

What's more troubling I think is the fact that you have only 15 hours of shadowing, and that's with a periodontist. You need more shadowing, and you need to shadow a general dentist (some schools actually require that your shadowing hours be done at a GD's office). I may be wrong but I do not think you've been exposed to the field enough, and that will most definitely come through during interviews.

Anyways, congrats on your first child.

 

[SE86]

Thank you for the quick reply. Currently, my cGPA is 2.8 and sGPA is 2.6. I have a lot of work to do indeed. I have visited with a general dentist and plan on incorporating shadowing with him next semester. The 15 hours shadowing basically is what occurred since the beginning of December to be honest. I did work under him a few summers ago when off from college (if I can say I was off, my GPA says that I was off the entire time). I should have clairified that the 200 hours at a doctors office was at a dentist office. The Dr. I am shadowing is a D.D.S/MD who is primarily an oral implant surgeon, but has a wide range of patients including general dent, maxio-facial surgery, oral surgery, among others. He does all sorts of interesting cases like sinus lifts; in fact I saw a subperiosteal implant inserted the other day. Needless to say, more shadowing will occur in the upcoming semesters prior to the application process ( Hopefully ~ 72hours if my math is right)

Didn't mean to get off topic. I have done the calculations and I basically need straight A'a in order to achieve a 3.0 sGPA by the time of graduation, which is not very competative I know. In addition, I understand that I need to knock the DAT out of the park, I was thinking >22's? What do you all think?

My biggest problem is that my prior undergrad GPA is filled with mostly science courses, dragging down both sGPA and cGPA like a pair of concrete shoes. (Selfinduced albeit, but I accept responsibility for my prior immaturity and lack of clear motivation). I am taking the postbac in Microbio at UF as a distance student, because it allows my to keep my job, and with my wife having a steady job it was the most rational way to improve my GPA and upperlevel GPA. Furthermore, it will also allow me to show an upword trend at the same institution that I prevously did..... well..... Crap-tacular! I'm looking at finding masters programs that I could potentially commute to, but that is just in the beginning stages. I don't know of any respectable distance masters in sciences at this moment, if anyone does please chime in.

I spoke with my accademic advisor who stated that retakin the courses was not worth the time/money, and that taking more advanced courses in the same subject was the way to go, which I have planned out for my remaining semesters. An issue I'm having is the fact that I already have all the prereq's done ( mostly A's and b's in orgo/physics/calc/bio.... but got c's in gen chem, college algebra, and the million nutrition courses i needed to take in my first BS. So I'm taking advanced prereq (4000 level or graduate when I can afford it), and the few recommended courses that I have not taken (ie- immunology next semester).

For the record, I have contacted 25 dental schools and inquired if they had any issue with distance ed courses and oddly enough, UF was the only one....... Quite the irony.

Anyone with any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[SE86]

Wanted to make a further note, This past semester I have worked harder than I have ever before. No more fun weekends..... My office at home is called "the hole".... Its where I am from 4-2am when I get off work and most other times during daylight! I have decided that this is what I want to do and am pursuing with complete 100% effort..

My question... I am planning on taking graduate immunology, molecular genetics, virology and a cupcake 3000 nutrition course putting me at full time. I am apprehensive about this because I work 16 hours a week and volunteer 16 hours in addition, and have a baby on the way and need A's (total run-on sentence). Anyone with input if I should scale back to less than full time so that I could keep a 4.0 or do I just go straight beast-mode and study until my eyes fall out and prove I can efficiently manage stress and time with only upper and grad classes?

 

[dentalWorks]

....Currently, my cGPA is 2.8 and sGPA is 2.6........ I understand that I need to knock the DAT out of the park, I was thinking >22's? What do you all think?

You will need to start swinging 4.0s in every term (3.4s won't cut it).
Honestly, without stronger GPA, even a 22 on the DAT will still give you lotta trouble landing interviews.

GPA (especially sGPA) is a very important factor.... In your particular case, its even more important than a 22-23 on DAT

 

[molar3]

Wanted to make a further note, This past semester I have worked harder than I have ever before. No more fun weekends..... My office at home is called "the hole".... Its where I am from 4-2am when I get off work and most other times during daylight! I have decided that this is what I want to do and am pursuing with complete 100% effort..

My question... I am planning on taking graduate immunology, molecular genetics, virology and a cupcake 3000 nutrition course putting me at full time. I am apprehensive about this because I work 16 hours a week and volunteer 16 hours in addition, and have a baby on the way and need A's (total run-on sentence). Anyone with input if I should scale back to less than full time so that I could keep a 4.0 or do I just go straight beast-mode and study until my eyes fall out and prove I can efficiently manage stress and time with only upper and grad classes?

when i 1st read this, i thought u were literally taking a cupcake course....on cupcakes....took me a 2nd to understand what u meanT! anyway, i think you should drop the 16 hours of volunteering for now. why do that when your gpa is being comprimised and isnt in good shape to begin with? imo, keep the 16 hours of work (im assuming you have to bc u have a family), and take the 4 courses (Actually, imo, drop the nutrition course--it will only go into your science and not your bcp so its not worth it). i think thats doable. but u have to 4.0 your courses.....no point in staying in a class if you end up with a B, especially not in your case.

 

[SE86]

Thanks for the input. Is there anyone who is in dental school currently have any suggestions on courses thy might suggest?

 

[SE86]

Forgot to add earlier, the reason for the easier nutrition course is that it puts me at full time. I know that the more courses that I take the better (both in showing I can handle it in addition to GPA purposes). Furthermore, need to be full time in order to get on dean's list.

 

[Predentaljr]

I would say quit volunteering as much (w/o being rude) but I know it is important to put someone else need before yours, but when that time interferes with your family, it is time to cut back. A dentist the interviewed me at a school told me it is very important to realize that b/c so many ppl think its about the patient always. It is about having a healthy home to go to when work stress you out. I think i would apply this summer to instate schools only just to go through the process (pending you get a great DAT score) b/c schools do recognize improvement after you finally realize the things you want to do in life. I know its a long shot, but all you have to do is catch the eye of 1person.

 

[SE86]

Thanks everyone for their input. I found what looks like a pretty solid 8-week, buts you butt DAT study regime on this site and will begin following this upcoming semester with the intent of taking the test the first week of July. Hopefully I can knock it out of the park

 

[youknowthedrill]

Thanks everyone for their input. I found what looks like a pretty solid 8-week, buts you butt DAT study regime on this site and will begin following this upcoming semester with the intent of taking the test the first week of July. Hopefully I can knock it out of the park

I'm in the same boat- low GPA with lots of science classes. You are trying to juggle too many things at one time and adding a baby in the near future. Drop the volunteer work- you have enough EC's for your application. You have plenty of shadowing hours but should shadow a general dentist for about 20 hours. Focus your energy on school and get all A's.

I have two children and the first few months can be very tiring. Some babies wake every couple of hours to eat and others sleep 6+ hours from day one. I hope your baby is a good sleeper!

With a new baby in the house I don't think you'll have time to study for the DAT until you finish finals. You have to stay focused on your classes and earn A's. You'll still have plenty of time to study for the DAT after the semester is over. Take time out to enjoy your new baby. Good luck!

 

[youknowthedrill]

Thanks everyone for their input. I found what looks like a pretty solid 8-week, buts you butt DAT study regime on this site and will begin following this upcoming semester with the intent of taking the test the first week of July. Hopefully I can knock it out of the park

I'm in the same boat- low GPA with lots of science classes. You are trying to juggle too many things at one time and adding a baby in the near future. Drop the volunteer work- you have enough EC's for your application. You have plenty of shadowing hours but should shadow a general dentist for about 20 hours. Focus your energy on school and get all A's.

I have two children and the first few months can be very tiring. Some babies wake every couple of hours to eat and others sleep 6+ hours from day one. I hope your baby is a good sleeper!

With a new baby in the house I don't think you'll have time to study for the DAT until you finish finals. You have to stay focused on your classes and earn A's. You'll still have plenty of time to study for the DAT after the semester is over. Take time out to enjoy your new baby. Good luck!

 

[jradjsb]

I was thinking about changing my major and applying to dental school next cycle, but was didn't know what my odds were. I have a 3.1 GPA w/ about 3.1 science gpa. I scored a 1020 GRE, I know dental wants DAT, which I will take in the spring. At time of applying I will have a AAS degree, BA in University Studies, and BS biology. I am non-trad. 29 married w/ 1 child. I have very little experience in dentistry but I can get more experience this summer. I have family who is alumni of one IS school and a good friend who is at the other IS school, don't know if this will help but can't hurt. What do you guys think my odds are?

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

I was thinking about changing my major and applying to dental school next cycle, but was didn't know what my odds were. I have a 3.1 GPA w/ about 3.1 science gpa. I scored a 1020 GRE, I know dental wants DAT, which I will take in the spring. At time of applying I will have a AAS degree, BA in University Studies, and BS biology. I am non-trad. 29 married w/ 1 child. I have very little experience in dentistry but I can get more experience this summer. I have family who is alumni of one IS school and a good friend who is at the other IS school, don't know if this will help but can't hurt. What do you guys think my odds are?

Hard to say without a DAT score. Your GPA is on the low side though. I would take a couple upper level biology classes and do well in them. You don't need to change your major, just take more classes.

And get more experience in dentistry to know what you're getting into

Knowing an alumni and a current student is nice but honestly it won't help you too much unless you know someone on admissions. Or if your alumni friend made donations to the school. A current student is kind of useless.

 

[jradjsb]

I don't know about dental, but I know a few other proffesional schools will look at you closer if you have family that is alumni. Also I know a guy who is on the board and sits in on interviews at one of my IS schools, but I'm still not putting much faith in these connections. I know it is up to me to get the grades.I'm a biology major, so I'm not actually changing my major, just direction. I have 6 more upper Bio's to complete for my degree so i can bring the gpa up a little but not a lot because I have a lot of credit hours.I have been around dentistry a lot, so I know what I am getting into, I just don't have documented hours of volunteer work. I just wanted to know what my chances would be before I waste my time volunteering and money taking the DAT.

 

[SE86]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I do plan to stop my research, but will continue to shadow a couple hours a week at both general dental and continue where I currently shadow. Hope everyone has a good (and safe) new years!