Lowest GPA in forum...?

[IcemanDDS]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hey guys, as you can see I think I have the lowest undergrad GPA here. Are you ready?

Science: 2.2 😱
Overall: 2.5

I majored in biology at Berry College in Rome, GA and graduated Dec 2003. I am shadowing right now and have been since Feb this year. I am also taking the Kaplan DAT class and plan to take the DAT in August. I also am taking biochem and microbiology at Kennesaw State this fall, and retaking organic II in the spring along with A&P II and Physics II. I am fully committed to pursuing dentistry, but someone tell me what you think my chances are of getting in?? How much will my WEAK undergrad performance hurt my application? 😕 I would like to go to MCG foremost, but applying to many schools in the southeast. Please give me an opinion and some advice, and BE HONEST! 👍 👎

Thanks!

 

[gatorfan99]

hmm... do WELL in those classes that you are re-taking.. Also, take other science courses besides the "basic" pre-reqs (like zoology, etc).

KICK SOME BUTT ON THE DAT!! I'm talking 22+ here!

Apply to your state school and to the (expensive) private schools in the northeast: NYU, BU, etc.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Please give me an opinion and some advice, and BE HONEST!

Thanks!

You've got to do well on the DAT, and you MUST get As in those courses that you are retaking.

Even then I don't know how good your chances are. If you get As in those courses you are taking/retaking, what does that bring your cum. GPA up to? If you have tons and tons of credits then it isn't going to do much for it, and remember that AADSAS calculates both grades if you retake courses. So an A in the retake IS awesome, but when factored in with a D in the original course you are still looking at an overal 2.5 or so between the two courses.

I think you can be a succesful applicant, but you may not get in on your first go-round. Don't give up if it is really what you want to do!

 

[Eddie830]

Besides kickin' ass on the DAT, you should be sure to retake all the required science prereq courses that you didn't do well in the first time as well as any extra recommended science courses that you have time for. Also make sure you keep a packed classload (~4 classes) if possible. Unless you have some extraordinary extracurriculars, you should save some money and apply next summer. Good luck! 👍

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Honestly, I think the odds of this working out for you are this year are slim to none. But if it is, you are going to have to rock the DAT to get schools to even look at your application. I know this hurts to hear but with an average DAT score, most schools are probably going to look at the GPA and chunk your application in the trash. Apply to school with the lowest avg. GPA - this is going to cost you through the nose in tuition.

You NEED to have some backup plans because you are betting on a long shot. A post bacc program with a good reputation would be first on my list. Call MCG and other schools you are interested in. Be honest, explain your situation and ask what you can do to increase your chances. Most schools have somebody trained to deal with these kinds of questions.

 

[dragonj]

I applied to MCG and got denied. I had a 2.9 overall and 3.5 BPC 3.5 Sci.
DAT's 19academic/19 pat. Both interviews were excellant. I called to find out why i was rejected and they told me that there was just too many competitive GPA's that beat me out and that otherwise the application was very good. (I had 2.7 GPA from undergrad, but bumped my GPA up a little with graduate classes and post-bac classes.)


My friend also applied to MCG and she got an interview but she was denied as well. She had a 2.5 overall GPA from undergrad. but her post-bac grades were straight A's. She was one of the top students in every class. But again MCG didn't care for her undergrad grades.

My advice to you is apply to some southeast schools if you want to, but you should really apply to as many Northeast private schools as possible. The chances of you being accepted are greater at those schools because they have to compete with state public schools and Ivy leagues for top students. I also recommend applying to UNLV. They have an excellant program, all new equipment, student centered curriculum and students don't feel like just a number.
I applied to 11 schools. I got interviews at UNLV, BU, Tufts, NYU and MCG. I got accepted to NYU and UNLV. I didn't bother going to the Boston interviews because NYU and UNLV were more attractive to me than those schools and I already got accepted to NYU and UNLV by the time I got those interview's letters. Many of the other schools that applied to who didn't even give me an interview were the Southeast schools. I think they are tougher on the undergrad grades.

But you definately need to take more classes to bring up the grades.
Sincerely, dragonj