I had a very low undergrad GPA ~2.4. I graduated back in 2001 and worked for the last 8 years. I took the pre-reqs over the last two years. I got all As (4.0) and pulled my oGPA up to about 2.8. I took the pre-reqs while working 40hrs/wk as a chemist and commuting an hour each way to campus. (So I think that helped show my ability to handle DS since working fuill-time and going to school was tough -took 8 hrs of classes each semester). I got accepted to DS this year.
I think you need to have a monster DAT to help. I got 23/25/23 after cramming for about a month (6hrs/day).
I also had 50+ hours of shadowing and volunteer work. (I would recommend volunteering/shadowing at a subsidized/free dental clinic to get both at once, if possible)
I think the DAT will be huge for you. It is definitely doable if you get the right study aids and invest in some "ass glue" to keep you at your desk for a month/or two.
That being said ... I think you need to have the complete application to have the best shot (volunteering/shadowing/DAT(22+)/solid trend of A/A-/B+) since your undergrad was not so hot.
There were a few times when I thought about giving up along the way .... because I had absolutely no social life when I was working, commuting an hour each way to classes, taking/studying for classes, studying for the DAT, volunteering .... but I kept thinking this is only for a short time and I still have 35+ years left to work
- Do I want this crappy job I have now, where I am just a number to a large company ... where the only way to get ahead is work 50hrs/wk and kiss your boss' ass who constantly delegates more work to you .... or do I want a career where I can call my own shots, set my own schedule, get time with the family, get paid more for working harder, and can truely help less fortunate people when I get the opportunity?
That thought process kept me going. If you really want to be a dentist ... I say keep going for it ... but you can't half-ass it whatsoever.
