need advice

[bimil1234]

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I had a horrible undergrad gpa of 2.87 with a DAT score of 19aa
I will be starting a SMP in the fall, and was also in the process of applying for the 2017 cycle
I also need to retake a whole year worth of chem because they are from cc's
Would it be smart to just wait next year, or continue on with my application and try finishing up the chem classes in the fall

 

[ahlee]

.

 

[confidentandgood]

Apply with the strongest possible application, even if it means waiting another year. This would be a good idea because of your GPA (a 19AA is not the red flag here) and especially if you need to build EC's/shadowing. You need to demonstrate to adcoms that you can handle a dental school curriculum.

 

[bimil1234]

Apply with the strongest possible application, even if it means waiting another year. This would be a good idea because of your GPA (a 19AA is not the red flag here) and especially if you need to build EC's/shadowing. You need to demonstrate to adcoms that you can handle a dental school curriculum.

I was thinking as long as I do really well the first semester, it will make my application somewhat to par with other applicants. Would you still recommend waiting?

 

[confidentandgood]

I was thinking as long as I do really well the first semester, it will make my application somewhat to par with other applicants. Would you still recommend waiting?

That might be a question you can answer by going through all the "low GPA" threads already on SDN.

I don't think one semester of 4.0 SMP work would be enough, but I could be wrong (just because I've never heard of an applicant doing so). That's why I would suggest reading up on other posts. The rest of your application is also important. Are you ready EC-wise? Shadowing-wise?

Also, double-check with your schools of interest to see if you need to retake courses from a community college.

 

[bimil1234]

That might be a question you can answer by going through all the "low GPA" threads already on SDN.

I don't think one semester of 4.0 SMP work would be enough, but I could be wrong (just because I've never heard of an applicant doing so). That's why I would suggest reading up on other posts. The rest of your application is also important. Are you ready EC-wise? Shadowing-wise?

Also, double-check with your schools of interest to see if you need to retake courses from a community college.

Yes, I have over 1000 hour of research along with 2 publications, and over 500 hours of community services.
Will do thank you so much

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

sorry to break the bad news to you but I would suggest you to hold off applying for 1 year or 2 years most likely, each application costs like 2-3k for just application fees (primary and secondary)

for a 2.87GPA, idk what is your sGPA but assuming is relatively close to your overall GPA of 2.87, you should not do SMP now, you should do a post bach to retake the classes you do poorly on, then take more upper div to build study habits. so the plans are like this

1. look at your transcripts, any grade you get a C on, retake it with similar name at a 4 year university (public state university), try to get A in all these classes to pull your GPA to at least 3.2 overall and 3.2 sGPA

2.enroll in a master program or SMP, take classes and continue doing well, 3.8 GPA here is expected.

to be honest, with a 2.87 GPA with a 4.0 SMP after a year, your chance is still slim to none,

you need to go post bach route first, then regular one year masters (feel if you are strong then depending on your master GPA, this is the regular non thesis based masters), then apply, if still not strong then SMP.

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

sorry to break the bad news to you but I would suggest you to hold off applying for 1 year or 2 years most likely, each application costs like 2-3k for just application fees (primary and secondary)

for a 2.87GPA, idk what is your sGPA but assuming is relatively close to your overall GPA of 2.87, you should not do SMP now, you should do a post bach to retake the classes you do poorly on, then take more upper div to build study habits. so the plans are like this

1. look at your transcripts, any grade you get a C on, retake it with similar name at a 4 year university (public state university), try to get A in all these classes to pull your GPA to at least 3.2 overall and 3.2 sGPA

2.enroll in a master program or SMP, take classes and continue doing well, 3.8 GPA here is expected.

to be honest, with a 2.87 GPA with a 4.0 SMP after a year, your chance is still slim to none,

you need to go post bach route first, then regular one year masters (feel if you are strong then depending on your master GPA, this is the regular non thesis based masters), then apply, if still not strong then SMP.

What is SMP? His or her publications are great, but yes, you need upper level courses and a graduate degree with a high GPA. I have a MS with a thesis and a 3.9 GPA and still have not gained entry into dental school. You don't necessarily need to retake classes but you could if you have the money and time.

If you can show how you excel at higher level courses, you kind of negate the lower ones--theoretically.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

What is SMP? His or her publications are great, but yes, you need upper level courses and a graduate degree with a high GPA. I have a MS with a thesis and a 3.9 GPA and still have not gained entry into dental school. You don't necessarily need to retake classes but you could if you have the money and time.

If you can show how you excel at higher level courses, you kind of negate the lower ones--theoretically.

SMP is called specialized master program, offered by schools that have their own dental programs or just by private universities that charge top notch dollars for 1-2 year program and offer similar science classes to dental school. They make you take 4 science classes per semester or something that the coursework is equivalent to the dental students' coursework. Which means if you do well in this program, it may translate you can handle dental school. some schools that offer SMP and have their own dental school (MWU -AZ MWU -IL offers you guaranteed interview to the dental school if you have above 3.5 GPA but not guaranteed acceptance, a lot of people become sitting duck betting on this acceptance).

yes, doing well in higher level courses you can negate the lower ones but can the OP do well in upper div when she/he couldn't do well in lower div. thats why i suggest a retake to rebuild the science foundation and go up from there.

publications and research mean little to dental admission beside stats and DAT. it is like another type of EC. yea, they are great if you have the stats and DAT and help to differentiate you. but they won't accept you for the research in lieu of the stats and DAT requirement.

I work my tail off hoping the research could somehow carry me and even with a coauthorship on a popular journal, this research activity is never mentioned in my dental school interviewed. Most revolve around my habit of taking classes and studying.
btw, if you have a low undergrad GPA like 3.0, you still need to do post bach to be combined with the undergrad GPA to pull it up to 3.2 3.3 (acceptable range), you cant just have 3.0 undergrad GPA and a 3.9 master GPA and boom you are in. especially that a lot of traditional master programs have grade inflation where average GPA is 3.5

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

SMP is called specialized master program, offered by schools that have their own dental programs or just by private universities that charge top notch dollars for 1-2 year program and offer similar science classes to dental school. They make you take 4 science classes per semester or something that the coursework is equivalent to the dental students' coursework. Which means if you do well in this program, it may translate you can handle dental school. some schools that offer SMP and have their own dental school (MWU -AZ MWU -IL offers you guaranteed interview to the dental school if you have above 3.5 GPA but not guaranteed acceptance, a lot of people become sitting duck betting on this acceptance).

yes, doing well in higher level courses you can negate the lower ones but can the OP do well in upper div when she/he couldn't do well in lower div. thats why i suggest a retake to rebuild the science foundation and go up from there.

publications and research mean little to dental admission beside stats and DAT. it is like another type of EC. yea, they are great if you have the stats and DAT and help to differentiate you. but they won't accept you for the research in lieu of the stats and DAT requirement.

I work my tail off hoping the research could somehow carry me and even with a coauthorship on a popular journal, this research activity is never mentioned in my dental school interviewed. Most revolve around my habit of taking classes and studying.
btw, if you have a low undergrad GPA like 3.0, you still need to do post bach to be combined with the undergrad GPA to pull it up to 3.2 3.3 (acceptable range), you cant just have 3.0 undergrad GPA and a 3.9 master GPA and boom you are in. especially that a lot of traditional master programs have grade inflation where average GPA is 3.5

You're right. I'm not sure why the system is this way though. I've spoken to admission counselors that had a different mindset because how in the world would someone be able to overcome a bad undergraduate GPA if you don't consider the graduate GPA and other activities. Basically what I'm saying is that yes, some schools will hold your feet to the fire for sins of your past and some will see that you overcame a struggle or difficulty and now achieving top scores. The whole grade inflation thing I think is relevant for Ivy League schools. I don't think regular schools have this problem. I could be wrong.

Edit: Thanks for clarifying SMP. My opinion is to go that route if you can handle it. It might cost you in excess of $60k but worth it if your end goal is DMD/DDS and you are currently not doing much else in terms of work and schooling.