Need Some Much Needed Advice

[ProspectiveStudent21]

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So this is my first post and I am in need of some advice and help. I applied last cycle and to 8 different schools and got denied to all of them with no interviews. My BCP is 3.2 with an overall GPA of a 3.1. I got a terrible grade in Biology my Freshman year of college which is really bringing down my science GPA. However my last two years of college I performed very well in all of my science classes. My DAT is a 19AA and I have 120 hours of shadowing, pretty good volunteer hours but could use more experience and some volunteering. I am unsure if I want to do a masters program and am here for advice. Is a masters program where I show improvement in my GPA necessary for me to have a good chance to get into dental school. How should I try to increase my chances to get in this cycle? I could really use some advice! Thanks

 

[Hannah Banana]

So this is my first post and I am in need of some advice and help. I applied last cycle and to 8 different schools and got denied to all of them with no interviews. My BCP is 3.2 with an overall GPA of a 3.1. I got a terrible grade in Biology my Freshman year of college which is really bringing down my science GPA. However my last two years of college I performed very well in all of my science classes. My DAT is a 19AA and I have 120 hours of shadowing, pretty good volunteer hours but could use more experience and some volunteering. I am unsure if I want to do a masters program and am here for advice. Is a masters program where I show improvement in my GPA necessary for me to have a good chance to get into dental school. How should I try to increase my chances to get in this cycle? I could really use some advice! Thanks

What schools did you apply to? When did you submit everything? Did you have good personal statement and letters of recommendation? Your DAT is ok for average GPAs but yours are a little lower. Would you want to take a few more courses (science or something) to raise the GPAs up a little bit or retake the DAT and get above 20?

 

[midman19]

Retake the DAT since that is the thing you can increase before applying again. Get more volunteer hours and maybe some more shadowing. Apply to 15-20 schools this year, with a lot of them being private. Just do your best to come back with the best application you can and stack the odds in your favor by applying to the right schools that will give you the best shot at getting in. Try Case Western, Midwestern, Dalhousie, Roseman if you didn't already last cycle. Good luck!

 

[ProspectiveStudent21]

Thanks for the advice. I applied to NYU, Stonybrook, Alabama, Nova (didnt even hear anything), UNC, ECU, Boston, Stonybrook. I think that if I retook the DAT, I could get above a 20 as I did not do as well as I think I can. As for the classes, I was under the impression that taking a biology class at a community college will not boost my GPA enough where it would make a difference. I was told that those classes just average right into your overall gpa and with a gpa of 3.1 with 128 credits it would take 128 credits of a 4.0 to get to a 3.6. I plan on trying and getting a job in the dental field as an assistant or in a dental lab. I submitted everything pretty late, I think it was late August. 2 of my letters I know were good but I did not read the 3rd one. As for the personal statement, I am not the best writer but I thought it was pretty well written and got my point across.

 

[skyguy1]

Retake the DAT since that is the thing you can increase before applying again. Get more volunteer hours and maybe some more shadowing. Apply to 15-20 schools this year, with a lot of them being private. Just do your best to come back with the best application you can and stack the odds in your favor by applying to the right schools that will give you the best shot at getting in. Try Case Western, Midwestern, Dalhousie, Roseman if you didn't already last cycle. Good luck!

Dalhousie is Canadian right? isnt it hard to get into?

 

[midman19]

It is Canadian but it is accredited just like any US school. I know their acceptance averages are quite a bit lower when it comes to GPA and DAT scores.