Omitting info from AADSAS application

[Molarina]

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I was just wondering...... it will be a while when I do apply to dental school but here is the situation.

I already have a B.A. in another field (05', non-science) but have three general science classes under that degree. I don't have a strong gpa under that degree (under a 3.0). I was really sick during most of my undergrad but instead of taking time off I just continued schooling so I could get it out of the way. I am too embarassed by the many W's and INC's that I have on my transcript and would not feel comfortable with a professor looking at that transcipt during an interview for dental school. I also didn't know that I wanted to do dentistry till after I graduated as well.


However I will be pursuing a B.S in Biology in the future, can I just put the new degree on my aadsas application instead and totally disregard the old degree (granted I will be doing better the second time around)?

Do I have to put down every course that I have ever taken in my life at every school I went to?


Are there certain things I can omit if it will make my "application stronger" per say?

I don't want to use my first degree at all and will start from scratch, since my gpa was under a 3.0. I am currently pursing an A.A. in dental hygiene and then it will be another two yrs and then after that I it should take another two yrs to complete a B.S. in Biology.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Molarina]

Okay I spoke to a representative from the AADSAS and they said it was perfectly fine as long as it cannot be traced backed on my new school. However, I think I may have to since the new school where I am at did take some transfer credits from my old degree.

 

[Veneto]

I hope you are joking. This subject has been discussed for as long as SDN has been around. You are bound by AADSAS to put down every class you have ever taken at every institution. Everyone has pat bad grades and everyone has to put them down on their application. Most schools like to look at what you have done recently and they compare the trends they see. Unfortunatley though some will not and they will reject your application. My advise is to first do not lie on your application, and second call the schools directly or write a letter to the admissions committee and explain what happened. All this is still far down the road for you, but put your head in the right place now and understand that all of your grades and classes will be seen by the committee, which should be motivation to do well now so that you tell them that your academic performance has changed for the better.

 

[tinman831]

Sorry you won't be able to just omit your prior educational work like that. If it was that easy, than people can just transfer to a new school, pick a new degree, and start all over. There are some programs (which may vary by state) that allows you to do an academic fresh start, meaning they erase your entire transcript and you start as a freshman again (assuming you qualify). If you decide to omit those classes , dental schools may not know about your old grades at first, but they might find out sooner or later and you can pretty much kiss your dental career goodbye if that happens.

 

[Lemming]

I think the intention of the application is to gain your entire higher education history, and you should list all of your classes old and new. However, the AADSAS rep may be correct in that you could "get away with it". You should look at the rules yourself, and determine what the intent of the rules are according to the ADEA, and follow the rules accordingly. You don't want to "cheat", no matter how you feel about your grades or the system, and if you did bend the rules, the repercussions could be even greater (ie not getting in at all). I would personally, from my interpretation of the rules, list all of your classes.

 

[Molarina]

I was never planning on lying. I just wanted to know if it was okay to totally disregard my first degree and just use all the info from my second degree that I am currently pursuing on the application. I was not familiar with the rules for that so that is why I called and came on here to ask you guys and the rep that I spoke to at AADSAS said it was okay (not illegal or morally wrong) so as long it cannot be traced on my curent school's transcript.

It looks like I have to list everything anyway since it can be traced on my new degree. My current school took some credits from my first degree. Oh well, there is hope. I have been reading profiles of dentists who got in with gpa's from like 2.3-2.8. All they did was just take pre req's all over again.

 

[jim85213]

You may be able to get away with it through AADSAS but some schools (from my experience) ask for a copy of your transcripts directly from your college/university. You may not be "lying" but you are telling a half-truth. Just be honest and they will respect that.