PLEASE help me choose. newbie.

[colgate11]

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Hi everyone. I need ADVICE, PLEASE!
i applied last year after i graduated, i had no clue what i was doing. i had never calculated my science gpa or anything. bad move.

to the point--when i graduated i had a 2.4 bcp without +/- . yes thats right i said a 2.4. needless to say i was rejected from everywhere i had applied despite that i had a 20aa/20ts on my DAT. i quickly realized i looked like a fool for applying with such a low GPA. i was a biology major in UG however i hadnt taken many upper level biology courses, just enough to earn my degree.

for the past year i've taken a postbacc with courses like immunology, pathology, histology, embryology, pharmacology, neurobiology, gross anatomy etc etc. as many upper level bio's as i could find. i have completed 50 credits of postbacc so far, with a straight 4.0. i have raised my bcp and science gpa to a 3.1, in 3 semesters. I plan to reapply this cycle (summer 2012) and i have retaken my DAT and recieved a 23aa and 22 ts.
i have countless shadowing hours, and numerous volunteering hours, great /personal LORs (i think!).

do you think i have a shot for this coming cycle? my question is, WHAT schools can/should i apply to? i am from the northeast coast, and kind of "prefer" to stay here ie schools in Boston, ny, PA, nj, etc etc. but im wondering what exact schools can i apply to? would columbia and or upenn be long shots?

also, what do you think i should do in the fall? i am registered to take a few more courses, in chances of an academic update in november. I'm having a hard time finding a job but am still activley searching.

i've dedicated so much of my time to try and turn my application around, so please dont tell me to give up and think of a different profession bc i wont. thank u!

 

[colgate11]

Bump

 

[parham3]

Your DAT scores are impressive, and also the upward trend is very not worthy. If i were you, i would apply to all the private school (specially NY because they prefer high DAT). If you dont get in this upcoming year, bring up your BCP to at least a 3.3 and you have a good shot

 

[TheDentist16]

Your DAT scores are impressive, and also the upward trend is very not worthy. If i were you, i would apply to all the private school (specially NY because they prefer high DAT). If you dont get in this upcoming year, bring up your BCP to at least a 3.3 and you have a good shot

I actually beg to differ with parham on this. First of all, your DAT scores are very solid indeed, although I think you would have been fine with 20/20. But all the more power to you with the 23 AA! Second, I think that your upward trend is worthy indeed. Since you are a postbacc, your postbacc GPA will count as being more relevant to your application than your UG GPA. Seeing as how you're taking many upper-level biology courses, it definitely shows that you have the dedication and discipline to excel in equally-difficult courses in dental school.

For schools since you want to stay in the northeast, I think you have a very good shot at both private and public schools. UMDNJ, Tufts, BU, NYU come to mind as places where you definitely have a good chance. They do prefer the higher DAT scores. I also think UPenn and Columbia are within your reach since you meet the 22AA+ that they look for.

 

[colgate11]

Your DAT scores are impressive, and also the upward trend is very not worthy. If i were you, i would apply to all the private school (specially NY because they prefer high DAT). If you dont get in this upcoming year, bring up your BCP to at least a 3.3 and you have a good shot

thanks for your reply. i was thinking that with my academic update and taking more courses in the fall, i would be able to raise my gpa to a 3.2-3.2 by december. so i guess i should take a full course load into the fall of this year as wellll.........? thatll put me around/over 60 credits of postbacc. is this overkill?

 

[colgate11]

I actually beg to differ with parham on this. First of all, your DAT scores are very solid indeed, although I think you would have been fine with 20/20. But all the more power to you with the 23 AA! Second, I think that your upward trend is worthy indeed. Since you are a postbacc, your postbacc GPA will count as being more relevant to your application than your UG GPA. Seeing as how you're taking many upper-level biology courses, it definitely shows that you have the dedication and discipline to excel in equally-difficult courses in dental school.

For schools since you want to stay in the northeast, I think you have a very good shot at both private and public schools. UMDNJ, Tufts, BU, NYU come to mind as places where you definitely have a good chance. They do prefer the higher DAT scores. I also think UPenn and Columbia are within your reach since you meet the 22AA+ that they look for.

thanks so much for the reply! i was wondering that very thing, though my overall bcp and science are still low, i wonder how heavily adcoms weigh the last 50 credit hours (ie-my postbacc). will they weigh it more or equally to my ug performance? i dont know what they do.....
umdnj doesnt have preference for nj students? im not from nj.
so you think penn or columbia , umdnj etc will review my app bc my DAT is 'high'? despite my gpas being low? so worried.

 

[colgate11]

Anyone else?