PharmD to Dental School (long post)

[Rxtodent]

Hello fellow pre-dents!
currently a pharmacy student graduating 2020 and hoping to go straight into dental school that year.
Grad/professional GPA: 3.6 (likely to go up. Performing very well again this semester)
Undergrad cGPA: 3.4
Total cGPA (grad + undergrad) likely to be around upper 3.5x
Undergrad sGPA: 3.2 ((( [this is with all prereqs except physics 2. Ive even taken MOST of the upper level courses that dental schools recommend even in my first and second year of pharm school (a&p, immunology, biochem, microbiology, genetics, genomics, etc)] & even upper level math. I honestly will prob lay low and take some easy science courses to boost my sGPA to at least a 3.4 so that the rest of my app actually gets looked at.

I havent taken DAT yet but am currently using DAT/Math destroyer and Cliffs AP bio to study every other week until i take it in Nov or Dec. (aiming for 21+)

Gonna have at least 100 hours shadowing once app cycle starts back up. Over 200 hours of service learning/volunteering - exec of an org in pharm dedicated to serving the underserved (good thing for dentistry), exec of 3 other orgs.

Already have 2 professors that will write my LORs (both PhDs). Hoping i can get an LOR from a specialist but we’ll see.

Manual dexterity: pharmaceutical sterile (IVs, chemo, etc) and nonsterile compounding - even got an advanced certificate for it. (May help my app? I hope)

My questions for you all & those who are currently or already going/went thru the process:

1. Do you think my pharmD will help my app even with my sGPA (ugh im embarrassed)? Since ive shown to do well with managing didactic courses with clinicals and being involved w/ orgs...

2. Should i go on and take the easy science courses to boost my sGPA? (I know most admissions for these professional schools is really a number game before they even glance at your app)

3. What else could boost my app? Open to anything.

P.S. switching to dentistry because realized i dont enjoy pharmacy as much as i thought i did and only enjoy the creativity of it (compounding) which only takes up 5% of what we do. Dentistry allows me to put my creativity to use while making patients smile in a patient-centered environment 100% of the time. <3

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[evang751]

I think you're good honestly. Some might say switching shows lack of commitment but I don't think so. You'll just have to explain yourself. PharmD will def help in your favor bc it shows you can handle professional school. Just get a good dat score and you'll be fine.

 

[Rxtodent]

I think you're good honestly. Some might say switching shows lack of commitment but I don't think so. You'll just have to explain yourself. PharmD will def help in your favor bc it shows you can handle professional school. Just get a good dat score and you'll be fine.

Thanks so much! Yea i am going to still finish my PharmD. I believe that not finishing and leaving in the middle of the program will def be a red flag and is often not recommended. PharmD to DDS is not seen near as often as PharmD to MD so it will def be a nontraditional route ill have to explain but i dont mind as i believe that it will work in my favor

 

[LFA20]

Thanks so much! Yea i am going to still finish my PharmD. I believe that not finishing and leaving in the middle of the program will def be a red flag and is often not recommended. PharmD to DDS is not seen near as often as PharmD to MD so it will def be a nontraditional route ill have to explain but i dont mind as i believe that it will work in my favor

Why aren’t u sticking with pharmacy? You already took out loans for pharm school and now dental school??

 

[Rxtodent]

Why aren’t u sticking with pharmacy? You already took out loans for pharm school and now dental school??

I want to enjoy what i do and i love the creativity that comes with dentistry. I figured out that pharm school isnt my true passion about two years in. Im gunning for my state dental school for cheaper tuition but for reference i only have 110k in loans vs 200k like most people. My state dental school is cheap though. Looking to be competitive for schools in the lower tuition range. Any advice to improve my app?

 

[LFA20]

I want to enjoy what i do and i love the creativity that comes with dentistry. I figured out that pharm school isnt my true passion about two years in. Im gunning for my state dental school for cheaper tuition but for reference i only have 110k in loans vs 200k like most people. My state dental school is cheap though. Looking to be competitive for schools in the lower tuition range. Any advice to improve my app?

Your GPA is on the low end but can bet offset with a high DAT. I wouldn’t bank on getting into your state school though or any other state schools especially with your GPA. Even the cheapest school will cost you at least 250-300k. You have to apply broadly and that’s gonna cost you some money.
I am not trying to dissuade you from pursuing your dream but you need to sit down and think about this. It’s a very risky financial move for you.

 

[Rxtodent]

Your GPA is on the low end but can bet offset with a high DAT. I wouldn’t bank on getting into your state school though or any other state schools especially with your GPA. Even the cheapest school will cost you at least 250-300k. You have to apply broadly and that’s gonna cost you some money.
I am not trying to dissuade you from pursuing your dream but you need to sit down and think about this. It’s a very risky financial move for you.

Yea my oGPA will be around 3.5x which is avg for my state school and if i take a few easy science courses, i can raise my sGPA to a 3.4x (a little under avg for my state school). What DAT score do you think will help a 3.5x oGPA and a 3.4 sGPA?

I am hoping my experience and DAT will help. Ive talked to a few dentists (older and younger) & they all said debt will always be there (just a bill to pay) and to not let it get in the way of going for what i want. During breaks, i plan to work as a pharmacist to help reduce debt and pay interest if that helps. Also my state school tuition is 30k a year & with books supplies and fees ~ 130-140k cost. I would live with my parents as they live 15 min from the school and i grew up in the area. Lol

 

[UMich_2018]

Aim for a 22+ AA and TS on the DAT. Keep working hard and you will get there!

 

[Rxtodent]

Aim for a 22+ AA and TS on the DAT. Keep working hard and you will get there!

Thanks! will do!! Using DAT Destroyer and bootcamp along with some bio books and feeling good so far! Im also a URM AA so im gonna try for Meharry & go there if i get in