my GPA sucks...... :'(

[studyhardemj]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a junior Biology/Music major. And I have like 3.0 for my GPA. I had horrible first two years at the college b/c of some family problems.. I still have about 11-13 more science classes to take for next 3 semesters. (which is about 55 more credits left)
I am trying to apply either this summer, or the next summer (2013) after I graduate. From what I've calculated, I could pull my GPA up to 3.32 at the max (if I get all A's.) Would I be still possible to get into dental schools if I do well in DAT? and what is to be a "high/good" score in DAT?

Also, I have this EC that I got the second place from National Opera Association as a part of the opera chorus. Would this help a bit? or would it not because it does not have anything to do with dentistry? :-S....

I am trying to start preparing for DAT this Christmas. Do you have any suggestions for great books to begin with? All I have is some textbooks from my classes. (campbell biology, McGrawHill Ochem, etc.)

Thanks 🙂

 

[MuskieMan33]

Dude, your good. If you keep bringing it up at least. I'm sub 3.0 (2.8) right now, and have to get all A's this coming semester to be remotely competitive. With the science classes, bringing my sgpa up to 2.94 if I did get all A's. Also, I went to UMKC's Dschool last year and got the chance to talk to some of the students. One of whom had a masters (I think it was a masters at least) in operatic theater or something of the sort. I'm not a music major, so I don't know all the divisions of music that one can major in. But your in a better position than a lot of people. Keep your head up, and BUST ASS like I'm going to have to do, and you should be set! I know there is a thread for sub 3.0 gpas you might want to check out too. Also, look at some of the recent acceptances (with mediocre stats to be specific), and a few people have been accepted with like a 2.9 gpa. I think if you rock an interview, have awesome EC's, LOR's, and good DAT score you have a good chance depending where you apply.
I have found that this website can be intimidating because so many people have 3.4+ gpas and 23+ AA. At least I freak out when I read this site because I'm just an average student. It helps when people remind me that I'm in about a zillion different EC's and super busy outside of school as well. I think Dschools would rather take an applicant with multiple EC's with positions and a bunch community involvement with a gpa of 3.2 than someone with no EC's who sat in their dorm for 4 years and got a 4.0. That's just my opinion though, take it with a grain of salt.
Good luck!!

As for study materials the "Dental DAT" blog has some good info, as well as the DAT forum, they have a sample study plan that I intend to use (thanks DentalWorks) but modify to my liking. With good resources all over it too. I have bought Cliffs AP bio so far, plan on buying DAT destroyer, Chads videos (gchem and ochem), kaplan blue book, and probably CDP and either topscore or achiever. A "good DAT score" depends on the person. Some people would be happy with a 20, then again, others retake if they get a 20 and shoot for 22+. I know some people don't want to buy a bunch of review materials too. It depends on YOU, only you know what you think you need. I know people who obsess over it. But I also know one person who took the OAT and just reviewed for 2 weeks (idk what the score was) but is now a first year optometry student.

 

[JdogDMD]

I have pretty average stats myself but I have a ton of volunteering and experience with dentistry. Just get involved in more than just school and you'll be fine. I just got accepted December 1! It can be done!!

 

[MuskieMan33]

I have pretty average stats myself but I have a ton of volunteering and experience with dentistry. Just get involved in more than just school and you'll be fine. I just got accepted December 1! It can be done!!

People like you keep me going! Congrats!!

 

[katwoman1688]

It's good that you noticed this early and can work on it - btw you are totally fine...Just do well on the DAT 20+ and keep an upward trend! I honestly just slacked off in undergrad and it was soooo hard to bring up my gpa + taking classes. For the past 1.5 year I have gotten all A's and have about a 3.2 overall and 3.0 sgpa or something as of this semester - may have risen a bit. Anyways, haha long story short - I got accepted to dental school Dec 1 (1 interview - 1 acceptance) - than a week and a half later got an interview to UoP; and am on hold at Indiana for fall grades (but not rejected if you check predents tons of people have been rejected already)

My DAT scores are quite good (see below), but on top of that its also about talking to adcoms, being involved, and showing your passion early on. So lets say you think your less competitive - pick your top 3 schools and start calling them/emailing adcoms asking them what you can do to make yourself more appealing to their school. I asked Tufts, UoP how to improve my candidacy and they told me, take more classes do well on the DAT...I kept in touch than continued to send updates and a miracle happened! 🙂

You are doing fine and right on track - most schools focus on an upward trend they understand life problems more than you know! Also - put it in your personal statement to explain the change in your app and where you are now.

 

[grb2sos]

Just to compare, I have a 4.0 non-science gpa and a 3.95 science gpa with a 21/21/21 DAT and have recieved 1 acceptance from 5 schools I applied to. More importantly, my ECs are pretty weak since I thought 3000+ hours of work in the past 5 years would make up for that. What i'm trying to get at is E.C.s are a very important addition to an application and extensive experience in research, shadowing, and volunteering are a must. People with far worse stats than myself will get into the schools I have applied due to their E.C.'s. Good luck and when you apply, send out a lot of apps. Seriously, send out 15. Also, shoot for a 21+ on the DAT. Plenty people do it every year, you just have to be dedicated and study hard.

 

[katwoman1688]

Just to compare, I have a 4.0 non-science gpa and a 3.95 science gpa with a 21/21/21 DAT and have recieved 1 acceptance from 5 schools I applied to. More importantly, my ECs are pretty weak since I thought 3000+ hours of work in the past 5 years would make up for that. What i'm trying to get at is E.C.s are a very important addition to an application and extensive experience in research, shadowing, and volunteering are a must. People with far worse stats than myself will get into the schools I have applied due to their E.C.'s. Good luck and when you apply, send out a lot of apps. Seriously, send out 15. Also, shoot for a 21+ on the DAT. Plenty people do it every year, you just have to be dedicated and study hard.

I agree 👍 it's gotten soooo competitive, so you really want to make your application as good as it can be. I started that kind of late in terms of grades. I do, however, have a ton of dental related extracurriculars. No research - but work in a dental office, tons of shadowing general dentist, shadowed OMFS, and was a volunteer tutor for 4 years of college / volunteered at a hospital. I think that definitely all helped me in the process - and I had the dentist I worked for in a student internship write my rec...

 

[wizi]

Yes, i have to agree. ECs has become more important to dental schools recently.

I myself have 3.3 BCP, 3.4 sGPA. Below average abit. Went to CC for 2 years. Took most of pre-reps at my CC. I also have a lot of ECs:

_Volunteer at a free dental clinic: 100+ hours
_Shadow a general dentist: 100+ hours
_A research award from my University. (2 actually, i just got another one)
_President of 2 organizations at my University. Webmaster of 1.
_Some other stuff ...

Got me into 1 school 🙂

 

[ChapelHillT]

EC's are definitely important but you still have to prove you can succeed academically. My experience:
-applied to 9 schools last year with 3.2 overall and 2.9 sci, 20/19/24 DAT (aa/ts/pat), and tons of EC's/leadership. end result: one interview, no acceptances
-applied this cycle to my 2 in-state schools: ditto to all the above, plus a 23/24/22 DAT and a job at the local dental school. end result: 2 Dec 1 acceptances.

I know I had people in my corner at both of my in-state schools the first year, but I just hadn't proved enough academically. I feel like the theme here is moving toward EC's are more important. I just wanted to give my 2 cents and say that while they are extremely important, you have to prove you can handle the heat in school too.

Anyways, best of luck to you! I had a very rough semester in school as well, and managed to overcome it. It can be done!!!

 

[kingte]

You are doing fine and right on track - most schools focus on an upward trend they understand life problems more than you know! Also - put it in your personal statement to explain the change in your app and where you are now.

 

[hardline]

Hey, just gonna say those with low gpa's have hope. I applied to 15+ schools late and received an acceptance on Dec. 1st and have received two interview offers from great schools, first time applying.

Stats? 3.32 cumulative and a 2.98 sci. 18/17/19 (aa/ts/pat) on the dat.
100+ hours of community service doing all sorts of things including volunteering an their summer on a mobile dental van, you get the picture.

You can do it!