Need suggestion low GPA

[xiong1190]

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Guys I need your suggestion if you don't mind. I'm currently returning to college as a junior trying to finish my non-science major. My biggest problem is having a low GPA (several F's). Now I know it's stupid but i would like to go to dental school. Right now I am so determined to study my a** off and get those A's. Now what do you suggest I should do?

- Graduate with a B.S. and get my degree in biochemistry or something similar?
- Take pre-dental classes as an undergrad even with low GPA?
- Finish my B.S. and do a post grad in pre-dental?

I am so confused now. I'm a bilingual student that suffered economically and academically. I know I messed up big time but your advice/suggestion would greatly help me. Thank you! 😀

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

Guys I need your suggestion if you don't mind. I'm currently returning to college as a junior trying to finish my non-science major. My biggest problem is having a low GPA (several F's). Now I know it's stupid but i would like to go to dental school. Right now I am so determined to study my a** off and get those A's. Now what do you suggest I should do?

- Graduate with a B.S. and get my degree in biochemistry or something similar?
- Take pre-dental classes as an undergrad even with low GPA?
- Finish my B.S. and do a post grad in pre-dental?

I am so confused now. I'm a bilingual student that suffered economically and academically. I know I messed up big time but your advice/suggestion would greatly help me. Thank you! 😀

Are you still interested in your non-sci major? If so, you can finish it and go back to school as a post bacc for your pre dental coursework (intro bio, gen chem, ochem, physics, and upper level bio courses like biochem and microbiology). Or you can change your major now and graduate later, but know that you don't have to be a science major to get into dental school. Therefore, don't feel like you need a B.S for dental school. With that, if I were you, I would go with option 2. Even if you don't finish all of your pre-reqs, you can still continue them after graduation, as a post bac.

 

[xiong1190]

Well my non-science major is Entrepreneurship so this is actually beneficial for me if ever I become a dentist and want to practice private dental. Isn't it ideal to do go post-bac so dental admissions would look at both the undergrad and post grad grades to see the difference in academic improvement? I am so confused right now not knowing even if I get straight A's from now will I even stand a chance. But thanks for the reply.

 

[anida123]

Even if you have Fs, doing well with heavy course load in science courses will show schools that you can handle dental school's academic loads. I myself took a year off after my sophomore year with Ds and Cs but did well when I came back as junior and that seems to have helped me in my application; I'm going to my state school this fall. Good luck!!

 

[xiong1190]

If you don't mind what's your academic and science GPA? I'm worry that even if I do good for now on my total GPA won't be above 3.0?

Even if you have Fs, doing well with heavy course load in science courses will show schools that you can handle dental school's academic loads. I myself took a year off after my sophomore year with Ds and Cs but did well when I came back as junior and that seems to have helped me in my application; I'm going to my state school this fall. Good luck!!

 

[Seamonkey Doc]

Well my non-science major is Entrepreneurship so this is actually beneficial for me if ever I become a dentist and want to practice private dental. Isn't it ideal to do go post-bac so dental admissions would look at both the undergrad and post grad grades to see the difference in academic improvement? I am so confused right now not knowing even if I get straight A's from now will I even stand a chance. But thanks for the reply.

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought you were thinking about changing majors as an undergrad. That is why I suggested finishing your non science major and then taking science classes later on.

Anyways, the key is to take lots of science classes and get good grades, get a good score on the DAT, and have some basic knowledge about the field via shadowing or volunteering. Good luck.

 

[anida123]

My gpa was 3.4 and DAT was AA 22 and TA 21.

 

[euphaire]

My gpa was 3.4 and DAT was AA 22 and TA 21.

I'm confused. This person = xiong1190?

 

[LaughingGas]

Do the option in which you think you can get more As and whichever is cheaper

 

[xiong1190]

No this kind individual is not me.

I'm confused. This person = xiong1190?

 

[hardline]

Hopefully those F's are in non-science classes. If they are in science classes you might want to consider staying in school an extra year to re-take the F courses and get A's in them.

Show you're a strong individual by handling a heavy course load along with doing some EC's. Volunteer with your community in more than one way, clubs on campus are good, anything with leadership roles as well. Shadow dentists for a minimum of 100 hours. Get involved with your biology department faculty (3 of them) so they will know what you're all about while writing outstanding letters of recommendation. A letter of recommendation from a dentist who has been in the profession for a while is also something I would consider.

Next you need to do well on the DAT which is very doable with the proper tools of course. I would recommend checking out the DAT section on this forum and looking at DAT preparation guides that some excellent contributors have provided.

Almost forgot, spend some time on your personal statement. Make the reader intrigued and curious. Do your best to grab their attention and make yourself stand out as a real human being, not just applicant #3,204.

After all of this has been done and you have a GPA of at least 3.0 and a massive positive trend I would apply to 20+ schools. Of course investigate which ones you will have the best shot of getting into, check if your school has any good relationships with graduate schools. Always apply to your in state school.

You can do this, never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Hardline

 

[xiong1190]

Thank you so much for the response. In regards to the GPA, isn't that the GPA from all the college classes taken? Say I get an F and A in History, will admission only consider the A or will they average out the F & A? Also there was this time that I got two F's in two non-science classes. I know that's horrible but again thanks.

 

[AlbinoPolarBear]

Thank you so much for the response. In regards to the GPA, isn't that the GPA from all the college classes taken? Say I get an F and A in History, will admission only consider the A or will they average out the F & A? Also there was this time that I got two F's in two non-science classes. I know that's horrible but again thanks.

They average out the courses if you retake.
Those Fs are gonna hurt. But at least it won't affect your science GPA.

The ranking of importance is:
BCP > Science GPA > overall GPA > non science GPA

You can apply to DO schools and they replace your mark if you do better.

 

[hardline]

Thank you so much for the response. In regards to the GPA, isn't that the GPA from all the college classes taken? Say I get an F and A in History, will admission only consider the A or will they average out the F & A? Also there was this time that I got two F's in two non-science classes. I know that's horrible but again thanks.

There is a cumulative GPA, a science GPA (more important), and a BCP GPA (possibly most important, is similar to science GPA essentially).

For more information on the way AADSAS calculates your GPA's check this link out.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=524960
And when people refer to AADSAS, they are talking about the website where you basically upload all of your information i.e. personal information that all of the dental schools will receive when you apply. You'll need to have your official transcripts sent directly from your school to the AADSAS headquarters. You also have to manually type in every class you have taken along with every mark received. The AADSAS people just verify your information through the transcripts of your school. Then they take a couple weeks to calculate your

As for the way that schools see your GPA, I would assume they would go off of the AADSAS GPA calculations which is most likely an average of the two. Someone needs to verify that. Also, google is your friend.

 

[xiong1190]

Thanks a lot!🙂

There is a cumulative GPA, a science GPA (more important), and a BCP GPA (possibly most important, is similar to science GPA essentially).

For more information on the way AADSAS calculates your GPA's check this link out.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=524960
And when people refer to AADSAS, they are talking about the website where you basically upload all of your information i.e. personal information that all of the dental schools will receive when you apply. You'll need to have your official transcripts sent directly from your school to the AADSAS headquarters. You also have to manually type in every class you have taken along with every mark received. The AADSAS people just verify your information through the transcripts of your school. Then they take a couple weeks to calculate your

As for the way that schools see your GPA, I would assume they would go off of the AADSAS GPA calculations which is most likely an average of the two. Someone needs to verify that. Also, google is your friend.