I started my freshman year a bit rocky...I did average in the 1st semester and then 2nd semester I received 3 D's because of personal problems. 🙁 I had to go to a community college after that for one whole year, I got my GPA up to a 3.0, took a few science classes and now I'm transferring back to a 4 year university to graduate in 2 years. I didn't start out so well freshman year and I took classes at a community college. Will these two factors ruin my chances of getting into dental school? I have been told dental school don't look at students who spent time at a community college, just to be on the safe side should I retake my science class at my university? I plan on applying to Case Western, UIC Dental School, and SIU Carbondale.
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Not doing well freshman year
Started by Naznina Chand
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First off you should plan on applying to 15+ schools, not 3.
Second, with 3 D's dental school isn't out of the question but it is going to be a lot harder for you. You need to be stellar from here out. Mostly A's and nothing below a B. You need to kill the DAT. You may have to do a SMP or postbacc. Only retake science courses if you got a grade of C+ or lower imo.
Some schools might not look at you if the sciences you took at CC are prereqs but most still will. I have CC credits and got in with no problems (though I took no prereqs at CC).
It works in your favor that these mistakes happened in your freshman year so you can put some time between you and them and show adcoms you can handel academics. Dental school is within reach, work hard and you'll get there.
Second, with 3 D's dental school isn't out of the question but it is going to be a lot harder for you. You need to be stellar from here out. Mostly A's and nothing below a B. You need to kill the DAT. You may have to do a SMP or postbacc. Only retake science courses if you got a grade of C+ or lower imo.
Some schools might not look at you if the sciences you took at CC are prereqs but most still will. I have CC credits and got in with no problems (though I took no prereqs at CC).
It works in your favor that these mistakes happened in your freshman year so you can put some time between you and them and show adcoms you can handel academics. Dental school is within reach, work hard and you'll get there.
Thank you for advice! 🙂
I was in essentially the same exact situation as you. My reason for doing poorly my freshman year was extremely legitimate and it didn't matter at all to adcoms. I have had almost a 4.0 for the past 3 years, brought my GPA from a 1.6 to a 3.3, scored in the 99.6th percentile on the DAT and was a great applicant otherwise, and I only landed one interview from my 6 schools, which I'm waiting to hear a decision from. Our problem is that on paper, it looks like we couldn't handle a university so we had to drop out and go to a CC and that is a huge red flag.
My advice is to push yourself. You have to work twice has hard as everyone else now and I am not kidding. Take heavy science courseloads and get As in every class. You cannot afford Bs. If you get more than a few Bs you won't get interviews. I took 16 science credits last semester and had a 3.9 and I think that's what landed me my one interview. This semester I'm taking 20 and I'm on track for 4.0 but I spend every single night in the library.
You will also have to blow the DAT out of the water so find a good breakdown and discipline yourself.
The good news is that you will be in a better position than I was, because I only needed one year of university to graduate after my CC while you can show 2. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have questions.
