New to predent!

[calieu15]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Just thought I'd introduce myself. I've lurked this forum for awhile before when I was trying to figure out my career path and found some great information. Now that I've decided on pre-dent, I thought I'd register and become a part of the community here.

I'm currently a junior in college and very recently have decided on pre-dent (was pre-med before). I've had a rough time in college so current GPA is 3.2 and 3.0 science.

I have a bunch of questions but I'll hold off on those until I get some good research done first. Just wanted to say hi.

 

[cmF]

Joining this forum is easily one of the best things you can do if you're serious about dental school. Welcome aboard!

 

[calieu15]

I am first generation in pre-health and first generation in college so I am quite lost in all of this. I only very recently decided on pre-dent so this is all very new to me.
I am scheduling classes for my fall semester of senior year so need to make sure I am getting classes that fulfill pre-reqs. So I guess my first step is choosing schools I want to apply to. Here is a list I quickly put together, any I should immediately remove (ie, OOS friendly etc.)? Also, I don't come from a lot of money so I guess tuition will be a factor. I'm still reading up about loans and funding school (I am completely new to all of this, feel so clueless)

Ucsf
Ucla
Loma Linda
Usc
Western
Uop
Tufts
Ny
Boston
Arizona
Oregon health and science
Univ Nevada LV
Univ Washington
illinois

If this helps here are some of my "stats":
Junior from california- biochemistry major
GPA 3.2
sGPA 3.0
I've spent the last 3 summers with an internship in a genetics research lab

I plan on shadowing dentists this summer
I also plan to do on campus research next semester
In general my grades are on an upward trend.
I plan on applying the end of my senior year (which I believe means a gap year, assuming I get into a school).

 

[UCSFx2017]

I am first generation in pre-health and first generation in college so I am quite lost in all of this. I only very recently decided on pre-dent so this is all very new to me.
I am scheduling classes for my fall semester of senior year so need to make sure I am getting classes that fulfill pre-reqs. So I guess my first step is choosing schools I want to apply to. Here is a list I quickly put together, any I should immediately remove (ie, OOS friendly etc.)? Also, I don't come from a lot of money so I guess tuition will be a factor. I'm still reading up about loans and funding school (I am completely new to all of this, feel so clueless)

Ucsf
Ucla
Loma Linda
Usc
Western
Uop
Tufts
Ny
Boston
Arizona
Oregon health and science
Univ Nevada LV
Univ Washington
illinois

If this helps here are some of my "stats":
Junior from california- biochemistry major
GPA 3.2
sGPA 3.0
I've spent the last 3 summers with an internship in a genetics research lab

I plan on shadowing dentists this summer
I also plan to do on campus research next semester
In general my grades are on an upward trend.
I plan on applying the end of my senior year (which I believe means a gap year, assuming I get into a school).

Look at "Doc Toothache's" guide to dental school or dental school ranking according to GPA and DAT. Then reflect and readjust your list of dental schools. As a California resident, you will not have a choice at a relatively affordable state dental school. In other words, dental schools in California are on the pricey side. Everyone can pay for dental school. Not necessarily out-of-pocket but, for the vast majority of us, with loans.

 

[sparky450r]

You may have to decide on a new pre-something with a 3.0 science. Make sure you get a 4.0 this year...then do it again the next year in a masters program...then score 90th+ percentile on the DAT and you may get in.

 

[calieu15]

@UCSF, Thanks, I'll take a look at that guide.

@sparky, yea the more I read, the more discouraged I'm getting. After spending the past year or so looking at health professions I really do feel dentistry is where I want to be so I won't give up right now.

I'm doing a lot better in my science classes this semester so that should bump up the GPA some. Since I'm applying my senior year summer, and taking a lot of sci classes that year, I'm hoping I can boost up my GPA more.

I'll study for the DATs this summer so I can take an early one and see how it goes.