Need help with dental school process !

[destdest123]

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Here is the short story of myself and why I am worry. Please read through and take me serious

I’m a 29 years old female. I moved to the states in 2002 and started as a junior in high school. I worked for 7 years in cosmetology and finally went back college at the age of 26. I did about 56 credits in an accredited community college. Now I am a senior at a state university majoring in Biochemical Engineering.

I would like to have some guidance about how to have more confidence in the path to the dental career. Here are my worries

- GPA 3.26

- DAT 17, SC 18, PAT 20. I am retaking the DAT this summer

- I did 2 years at community college

- I have one D on one my engineering class and retook and got a A

- I am still in school (96 credits) and may not have a BS degree by coming up term

- I dropped a few classes before

- Do I need to take the TEOFL?

Everything that I see indicated my low chance to get into dental school. Is there any advice you guys can help me to help me on this path and feel better about the process?

 

[ajj70]

How many credits do you need for graduation and when do you anticipate finishing? Your DAT needs work, which you obviously know already. What about shadowing hours/volunteer hours? Have you done any of those yet? Many dental schools have a limit on how many CC credits they take and some schools do not take any pre-reqs from CC's so double check that list (there is a current thread here from Doc Toothache, just search).

 

[destdest123]

hi ajj70,
my major requires 130 credits + PA and other things. I hope to finish in the next 3 semesters. I read from the university that i want to apply to indicated that I only need 90 credits to apply. I have been shadowing at a advanced cosmetic dental office and did some volunteer work such as GMOM (a free dental service for low income families).

 

[ajj70]

hi ajj70,
my major requires 130 credits + PA and other things. I hope to finish in the next 3 semesters. I read from the university that i want to apply to indicated that I only need 90 credits to apply. I have been shadowing at a advanced cosmetic dental office and did some volunteer work such as GMOM (a free dental service for low income families).

In that case, what I would do in your situation is to hold off on the DAT re-take until after you finish your degree. Hit the books hard after graduation (assuming a Dec graduation, correct?), really prep well for the DAT, take that again in March or April, get your shadowing hours in at a general practice dentist and submit apps in July 2017.

The other option is to take take classes this summer (if you can still) and whatever you have left next summer and apply June of 2016 IF you feel like you can get ready for the DAT in time.

I think the 90 credit requirement is often assumed that you will finish your final year but some dental schools do not require a BA/BS so you might want to look into those schools. I think given you are a career changer might help you with those schools and maybe not having to actually finish your undergrad degree. The other option, can you change majors to say biology and get done sooner?

 

[destdest123]

ajj70,
thank you so much for responding. I am desperately need someone to talk to.
The reason I am retaking the DAT this summer because my major (biochemical engineering) getting very hard at the at this level. I am afraid that I will not be able to keep my GPA above 3.2. Furthermore, I have thought about change to a different major, but what if I will not make it to dental school and may be hard to find a job afterward (since engineering is in demand)

If you have time, please help me with me applying process. I need some guidance please

 

[Doctor Asnan]

hi ajj70,
my major requires 130 credits + PA and other things. I hope to finish in the next 3 semesters. I read from the university that i want to apply to indicated that I only need 90 credits to apply. I have been shadowing at a advanced cosmetic dental office and did some volunteer work such as GMOM (a free dental service for low income families).

You only need 90 credits to MATRICULATE. You can apply with any amount of credits but at matriculation you need 90. Most students have a bachelors though and only ~3% matriculate without one.

 

[Tebros]

I don't want to sugar coat anything but you might need to get a masters degree...just being honest.

but i do know a handful of people who are in dental school with a <3.0. but they did have some strong curricular to balance out their GPA. (ex. 3 published research articles)

 

[destdest123]

🙁 I am afraid that I will not make it out of ENGR with above 3.2 GPA and I would be so old then. I am 29 years old now

 

[PlasmaMembrane]

Honestly your application has so many strikes against it that you would be better off strengthening your application and applying next cycle. Your chances of admission are very low right now.