Please help! Let me know what do you think!

[twinkieboo]

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Hi, I'm a senior in college with 3.2 overall GPA.. and a Bio major.
My science GPA is probably around 3.0..
I havn't taken the DAT yet, but hopefully get a high score so I'll be competitive applicant.
I actually start working as a dental assistant since I was in highschool, and by now with 5+years of experience in Dental field, I basically know how to do everything including the front, back, calculations, etc...
However, what is the chance of getting into a dental school with a low gpa? would my work experience will be a huge plus?
I had a 3.7 my freshmen year, but I had a very rough sophmore year due to my family problem, and got probably a 2.0. Since than, it's was very hard to raise the GPA since my school does not replace any classes that I got a C in. I'm trying to apply during June.. I got Cs in both orgo I and II and also in biochem. Should I retake these coursees?

Please let me know what you guys think!

Thank you!

 

[nze82]

Hi, I'm a senior in college with 3.2 overall GPA.. and a Bio major.
My science GPA is probably around 3.0..
I havn't taken the DAT yet, but hopefully get a high score so I'll be competitive applicant.
I actually start working as a dental assistant since I was in highschool, and by now with 5+years of experience in Dental field, I basically know how to do everything including the front, back, calculations, etc...
However, what is the chance of getting into a dental school with a low gpa? would my work experience will be a huge plus?
I had a 3.7 my freshmen year, but I had a very rough sophmore year due to my family problem, and got probably a 2.0. Since than, it's was very hard to raise the GPA since my school does not replace any classes that I got a C in. I'm trying to apply during June.. I got Cs in both orgo I and II and also in biochem. Should I retake these coursees?

Please let me know what you guys think!

Thank you!

It's great that you have exposure to the field, but that's not the focus of the admission committee. You'll learn all there's to learn about dental procedures at the Dental School. What they really want to know is whether or not you can survive through the tremendous load of science classes in your 1st two years, because let's face it that's the time frame during which students drop out.
In my humble opinion, a science GPA of 3.0 doesn't give the admission that kind of guarantee. Especially, when you've scored C's in some important classes like biochem. I personally think you'll stand a better chance if you retake those classes and improve your GPA. Also, you MUST do well on the DAT, so that you're considered a competitive applicant.
Good luck👍

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Hi, I'm a senior in college with 3.2 overall GPA.. and a Bio major.
My science GPA is probably around 3.0..
I havn't taken the DAT yet, but hopefully get a high score so I'll be competitive applicant.
I actually start working as a dental assistant since I was in highschool, and by now with 5+years of experience in Dental field, I basically know how to do everything including the front, back, calculations, etc...
However, what is the chance of getting into a dental school with a low gpa? would my work experience will be a huge plus?
I had a 3.7 my freshmen year, but I had a very rough sophmore year due to my family problem, and got probably a 2.0. Since than, it's was very hard to raise the GPA since my school does not replace any classes that I got a C in. I'm trying to apply during June.. I got Cs in both orgo I and II and also in biochem. Should I retake these coursees?

Please let me know what you guys think!

Thank you!

I was in a similar situation as you, and if our situations are the same, you might struggle a bit...unless you're an URM, or do very well on your DAT (21+s on every section), or are a resident of Lousiana or Mississippi (better chances of getting into LSU or UMC). GPA is just too important to be made up by other things.

I had a 3.2 cGPA (3 years of a 3.78, 2 years of a 2.5), 2.9 sGPA, 3.8non-science GPA, 5000hrs of dental experience, several leadership awards, pre-dental exec, Resident Advisor, +many other extracurriculars.

 

[yappy]

hmm rather than starting a new post thought I would add to this one as I'm in a simular situation...

I calculated my gpa based on AADSAS guidelines:

3.2 sci
3.1 cum

I have lots of shadowing and community service.
I'm not a URM.

My GPA is lower than I expected and I'm feeling very worried about my application due to my low gpa.

I'm non trad. Last three years I've taken all science prereqs + biochem, micro, physiology, genetics, anatomy, pathology, calc 1 & 2. My GPA for these last three years has been a 3.7 overall. These credits were taken from a university.
The low grades pulling me down are from community college - none are dental prereqs but some are pre-nurse science classes.

Should I apply next cycle? or wait another year - I'll only be able to pull it up ~0.2 pts if I wait. I have yet to take my DAT; what score should I shoot for in order to be competitive if I choose to apply with my current GPA?

Any advice would be greatly appriciated from those who have just gone through the process. Thank you.

 

[UCLAzy]

hmm rather than starting a new post thought I would add to this one as I'm in a simular situation...

I calculated my gpa based on AADSAS guidelines:

3.2 sci
3.1 cum

I have lots of shadowing and community service.
I'm not a URM.

My GPA is lower than I expected and I'm feeling very worried about my application due to my low gpa.

I'm non trad. Last three years I've taken all science prereqs + biochem, micro, physiology, genetics, anatomy, pathology, calc 1 & 2. My GPA for these last three years has been a 3.7 overall. These credits were taken from a university.
The low grades pulling me down are from community college - none are dental prereqs but some are pre-nurse science classes.

Should I apply next cycle? or wait another year - I'll only be able to pull it up ~0.2 pts if I wait. I have yet to take my DAT; what score should I shoot for in order to be competitive if I choose to apply with my current GPA?

Any advice would be greatly appriciated from those who have just gone through the process. Thank you.

idk if you should wait or not, but .2 points on your gpa is pretty significant..takes you from far below average to close to average.

 

[DonutEater]

If you have an upward trend coupled with a 23AA+, you do have a chance at some private schools with >= 3.0 sGPA. Hit the books and kill the DAT. DAT is your only hope if you want to get in when you apply in june but that is considering you have an upward trend. If you got below 3.0 last year, your chance is slim even with high DAT. If time is not an issue for you, you can do masters or PostBacc, reapply in 2-3 years and you wouldn't need a crazy high DAT scores.

 

[twinkieboo]

thank you so much for the advice. I never thought about anything else but being a Dentist... I would work hard on my grades and DAT 😀
I'm really worried though... Sigh 🙁

 

[twinkieboo]

Hi just one more question, what do you guys mean by URM???

Thanks!

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi, I'm a senior in college with 3.2 overall GPA.. and a Bio major.
My science GPA is probably around 3.0..
I havn't taken the DAT yet, but hopefully get a high score so I'll be competitive applicant.
I actually start working as a dental assistant since I was in highschool, and by now with 5+years of experience in Dental field, I basically know how to do everything including the front, back, calculations, etc...
However, what is the chance of getting into a dental school with a low gpa? would my work experience will be a huge plus?
I had a 3.7 my freshmen year, but I had a very rough sophmore year due to my family problem, and got probably a 2.0. Since than, it's was very hard to raise the GPA since my school does not replace any classes that I got a C in. I'm trying to apply during June.. I got Cs in both orgo I and II and also in biochem. Should I retake these coursees?

Please let me know what you guys think!

Thank you!

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Its great that you know what your getting yourself into, but dental schools are more interested in how well your going to handle their science curriculum.

a 3.0 science GPA is low, but the good news, its at a good point where you can fix it. If I was you, and starting this January, I would try to 4.0 any course I take. After you graduate (this May? right?), take 1 full year of post-bacc, basically stay at your undergrad institute and take 3-4 upper level sciences each term (try your HARDEST to 4.0 everything).

You should be able to apply, as early as June of 2012.... Some folks might tell you that you can still apply this coming cycle (June of 2011), IMHO, I think thats money down the drain. Dental school admission has turned into "numbers game", you don't wanna be the guy who applied to 10-20 schools, spend all that money on AADSAS, secondaries, flying to interviews, and staying at hotels to finally not get anywhere THEN decide to take a year off to do more post-bacc.

 

[dentalWorks]

hmm rather than starting a new post thought I would add to this one as I'm in a simular situation...

I calculated my gpa based on AADSAS guidelines:

3.2 sci
3.1 cum

I have lots of shadowing and community service.
I'm not a URM.

My GPA is lower than I expected and I'm feeling very worried about my application due to my low gpa.

I'm non trad. Last three years I've taken all science prereqs + biochem, micro, physiology, genetics, anatomy, pathology, calc 1 & 2. My GPA for these last three years has been a 3.7 overall. These credits were taken from a university.
The low grades pulling me down are from community college - none are dental prereqs but some are pre-nurse science classes.

Should I apply next cycle? or wait another year - I'll only be able to pull it up ~0.2 pts if I wait. I have yet to take my DAT; what score should I shoot for in order to be competitive if I choose to apply with my current GPA?

Any advice would be greatly appriciated from those who have just gone through the process. Thank you.

hmm.. my situation was similar to yours. Last 3.5 years, I had similar performance to yours. Major difference is, my overall numbers (especially the science and BCP were alot higher). I did land alot of interviews, but I did apply to 18 schools.

So, Not trying to brag (well a little 😀), but I think you got a shot this cycle. HOWEVER you need to apply to alot of schools. Word of advice, don't apply to Case wester reserve.

When you apply this coming cycle (June 2011), continue taking more classes JUST IN CASE you don't get in, you'll still sorta be able to get that 0.2 bump for the cycle afterwards.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Hi just one more question, what do you guys mean by URM???

Thanks!

URM= underrepresented minority (Black, Hispanic, or Native)

 

[yappy]

Thanks for the advice.

yes, my GPA isnt as high as I thought it would be after all that hard work - I wish my numbers came out as high as yours 🙂. The classes dragging me down are from 6-7 yrs ago - but are impacting me as if I took them last term - just the the way the game works I guess.

Though, I did check out my state dental school. It showed a break down of last years class; 30% accepted had between 3.0-3.3 GPA, average DAT = 21. Perhaps there is some hope if I score a high enough DAT.

noted about Case wester reserve. Which schools do you believe are good ones to put on my list (considering I have past CC credits).

hmm.. my situation was similar to yours. Last 3.5 years, I had similar performance to yours. Major difference is, my overall numbers (especially the science and BCP were alot higher). I did land alot of interviews, but I did apply to 18 schools.

So, Not trying to brag (well a little 😀), but I think you got a shot this cycle. HOWEVER you need to apply to alot of schools. Word of advice, don't apply to Case wester reserve.

When you apply this coming cycle (June 2011), continue taking more classes JUST IN CASE you don't get in, you'll still sorta be able to get that 0.2 bump for the cycle afterwards.

 

[dentalWorks]

Thanks for the advice.

yes, my GPA isnt as high as I thought it would be after all that hard work - I wish my numbers came out as high as yours 🙂. The classes dragging me down are from 6-7 yrs ago - but are impacting me as if I took them last term - just the the way the game works I guess.

Though, I did check out my state dental school. It showed a break down of last years class; 30% accepted had between 3.0-3.3 GPA, average DAT = 21. Perhaps there is some hope if I score a high enough DAT.

noted about Case wester reserve. Which schools do you believe are good ones to put on my list (considering I have past CC credits).

I always advise people to apply to both michigan schools (even if they are out-of-state). Both Detroit and Michigan have a reputation at looking at the "overall" applicant and not just pure numbers. They especially favor strong upward trends.

I think buffalo, temple, and maybe Nova are also good.