Please help me out (big problems )

[dentaldream29]

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Hey guys. I'm in a very tough situation and I really need your help. So my first year of college, in a private one, I finished it with a 3.8 gpa and transfered to a cheaper one. Everything went down hill from there and I started failing science classes and now I am kicked out of the college. I am extremely depressed because I have to attend a local community college now. I'm currently in my "junior" year. I honestly don't know what to do and my parents said that if I don't get into dental school, my parents will boot me from the house. The reason for my failure is very bad studying habits and possibly some sort of ADD. I really want to get into dental school but at this point I have no idea what I have to do and I am completely lost and very depressed. So depressed and disappointed with myself that sometimes I have suicidal thoughts but since I am a religious Jew, I keep those thoughts away quickly. I am not crazy or anything but it's just that dental school is my #1 dream and I hate myself for doing so poorly.


Before getting kicked out (dismissed) my gpa was 1.8

PLEASE suggest what I should do?

 

[Dental2000]

Oh man...I can't say anything but that its going to be alott of work. You need to do well in your courses and start re-raising your GPA. at the same time start bumping your extracurriculars. start shadowing immediately to show your committed interest in Dentistry.

Focus on your courses straight up. Take as many science courses as possible. Although look at your options to see if you can transfer back to a 4 year university.
1.8 is realllly low and i don't know how it works about getting back into school if you get that low.

But Keep your chin up. It is going to take slightly longer for you to get in but with your diffrent experinces that you will aquire in your next few years, you will have a killer PS. Adcoms like to hear a strong upward trend.

 

[y3nd0]

You have dug yourself a really really deep hole. If you truly want to go to dental school, it's going to take a very long time, and I imagine quite a bit of money (tuition for undergrad and for grad). I am unsure of the fine details, but I'm sure with some hard work at your community college, you'll find your way back to a 4-year school. You'll need to seriously work your butt off like there is no tomorrow and do very well in many of your classes in order to bring your GPA as close to 3.0 as possible. You're in your 3rd year now, so I imagine that it was at least an entire year of bad grades that brought you down to a 1.8. I am not sure if it's possible to bring your GPA to >3.0 with only a Bachelor's. You're more than likely going to have to do a Master's program before you can apply. Even then, you're going to have to keep your grades as high as possible in order to show adcoms that you have changed and are able to handle the coursework of dental school. All of this is the minimum (in other words, you have other things to worry about as well, such as volunteer work, EC's, shadowing, etc.).

I believe this is the most logical path that many people with low GPA's take. I don't know where you stand in terms of credits/requirements, but you're looking at least 4 years of very hard work before you can even apply to dental school. It's up to you to decide if dentistry is still the career path you want.

I am in no way trying to discourage you, but take these moments now as a wake up call for your past mistakes. Get a professional opinion on your ADD, and check to see if your school has a therapist that can assist you with your thoughts. Don't throw your life away just because of this. You made mistakes. They're over. Own up to them and prove to yourself that you are worth more than you think. Lots of people have done it before. If you have the willpower and determination, you can too.

 

[Alekshura2]

I'll make it short and simple.
1) Finish up undergrad with all A's
2) pursue a short masters program (1 year), where you will need to get a 4.0
3) kill the DAT
4) do a lot of volunteering/shadowing

Should be about 2-3 years before you might actually get accepted.

You do all that you should have a pretty good chance.

I had to do a masters program, received a 4.0, and most of the schools disregarded my undergrad GPA. Starting DS in the fall 2015.

Let me know if you need some recommendations on masters programs.

Good luck!

 

[doc toothache]

Hey guys. I'm in a very tough situation and I really need your help. So my first year of college, in a private one, I finished it with a 3.8 gpa and transfered to a cheaper one. Everything went down hill from there and I started failing science classes and now I am kicked out of the college. I am extremely depressed because I have to attend a local community college now. I'm currently in my "junior" year. I honestly don't know what to do and my parents said that if I don't get into dental school, my parents will boot me from the house. The reason for my failure is very bad studying habits and possibly some sort of ADD. I really want to get into dental school but at this point I have no idea what I have to do and I am completely lost and very depressed. So depressed and disappointed with myself that sometimes I have suicidal thoughts but since I am a religious Jew, I keep those thoughts away quickly. I am not crazy or anything but it's just that dental school is my #1 dream and I hate myself for doing so poorly. Before getting kicked out (dismissed) my gpa was 1.8

You might be better served by taking a year off, putting your education on hold. You clearly are not ready to jump into the CC scene. Since you were kicked out, it means that you were likely on probation after the first semester, in which case, it appears that the warning did not serve as a wake up call. It is interesting that your first year in college you managed a 3.8. Did the ADD just appear out of the blue?

 

[dentaldream29]

Thank you everyone for taking some time to help me. I will take 4 classes in CC with one being physics. I'll will try my best to get A's and maybe after that I'll even attend the army to mature more. I've had a lot of people in my class who were around 26 year old and finished well and aced the MCAT.

You might be better served by taking a year off, putting your education on hold. You clearly are not ready to jump into the CC scene. Since you were kicked out, it means that you were likely on probation after the first semester, in which case, it appears that the warning did not serve as a wake up call. It is interesting that your first year in college you managed a 3.8. Did the ADD just appear out of the blue?

I honestly don't know what happened to me. Thankfully my colleges are not that expensive.

I'll make it short and simple.
1) Finish up undergrad with all A's
2) pursue a short masters program (1 year), where you will need to get a 4.0
3) kill the DAT
4) do a lot of volunteering/shadowing

Should be about 2-3 years before you might actually get accepted.

You do all that you should have a pretty good chance.

I had to do a masters program, received a 4.0, and most of the schools disregarded my undergrad GPA. Starting DS in the fall 2015.

Let me know if you need some recommendations on masters programs.

Good luck!

Thank you very much. Congrats on your acceptance!! Hard work does pay off and I can't say the same about myself.

 

[doc toothache]

Joining the army will cheat your parents out of their promise to kick you out, but no to worry-they can still disown you.

 

[thedentalprospect]

One thing to keep in mind is that some dental schools do not like it if you take your prerequisites at a community college.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I honestly don't know what happened to me. Thankfully my colleges are not that expensive.

You seriously don't know how you went from a 3.8 GPA to getting kicked out? I find that very hard to believe. Did you just take easy electives your first year or something?

 

[DentalFox]

I thought most community colleges give out only an AA. You need to finish, get your AA, then transfer to another school and get your BS. Finish with a 3.5 If your overall GPA is below a 3.3, then do a Masters.

 

[wmhockey]

Hey guys. I'm in a very tough situation and I really need your help. So my first year of college, in a private one, I finished it with a 3.8 gpa and transfered to a cheaper one. Everything went down hill from there and I started failing science classes and now I am kicked out of the college. I am extremely depressed because I have to attend a local community college now. I'm currently in my "junior" year. I honestly don't know what to do and my parents said that if I don't get into dental school, my parents will boot me from the house. The reason for my failure is very bad studying habits and possibly some sort of ADD. I really want to get into dental school but at this point I have no idea what I have to do and I am completely lost and very depressed. So depressed and disappointed with myself that sometimes I have suicidal thoughts but since I am a religious Jew, I keep those thoughts away quickly. I am not crazy or anything but it's just that dental school is my #1 dream and I hate myself for doing so poorly.


Before getting kicked out (dismissed) my gpa was 1.8

PLEASE suggest what I should do?

Step 1) FORGIVE YOURSELF for not meeting your own expectations. You are a human being, mistakes happen. Forgive yourself and start working as hard as you can towards your goals and good things will come to fruition.

Step 2) Use the resources you have (rabbi, parents, siblings and friends) and discuss whats going on in your life. If you are feeling so depressed and angry with yourself that you are having suicidal thoughts, you need to figure out why you started to underperform and whether your reasons for pursing dentistry are justified. These are the people that know you best and will help you the most in your life.

Step 3) Recognize that there is no career path that is set in stone for you. There may be other careers you have never considered that would fit you better. If you discover that dentistry really is the best route...

*take all the required and recommended courses for the dental schools you plan on applying to.
*Plan on applying to a minimum of 10 dental schools
*Score 20 + on all sections of the DAT.... may need to score higher
*Plan on earning a one year masters (apply prior to earning this degree)
*Plan on applying 2-3 times in order to gain acceptance
*Have lots of shadowing and volunteer hours

If you truly want to be a dentist you will make it happen.

Feel free to private message me if you want. I initially struggled in school so I know where you're coming from.

 

[dentaldream29]

Thanks guys. I just think that the cheaper college was a lot harder than the private college.

Also some of you are saying its bad to take physics in CC ? So should I take GER classes ?

Step 1) FORGIVE YOURSELF for not meeting your own expectations. You are a human being, mistakes happen. Forgive yourself and start working as hard as you can towards your goals and good things will come to fruition.

Step 2) Use the resources you have (rabbi, parents, siblings and friends) and discuss whats going on in your life. If you are feeling so depressed and angry with yourself that you are having suicidal thoughts, you need to figure out why you started to underperform and whether your reasons for pursing dentistry are justified. These are the people that know you best and will help you the most in your life.

Step 3) Recognize that there is no career path that is set in stone for you. There may be other careers you have never considered that would fit you better. If you discover that dentistry really is the best route...

*take all the required and recommended courses for the dental schools you plan on applying to.
*Plan on applying to a minimum of 10 dental schools
*Score 20 + on all sections of the DAT.... may need to score higher
*Plan on earning a one year masters (apply prior to earning this degree)
*Plan on applying 2-3 times in order to gain acceptance
*Have lots of shadowing and volunteer hours

If you truly want to be a dentist you will make it happen.

Feel free to private message me if you want. I initially struggled in school so I know where you're coming from.

Thanks a lot dude for being positive. If I'll have a question I will Def message you

 

[dentstudent79]

If you became that depressed and unable to function because of the stresses of undergrad, you should really consider the stress that comes with dental school. I would recommend finding another career path.

 

[sisklnw1977]

It would be wise to start looking into alternatives to dentistry.

 

[dentaldream29]

It would be wise to start looking into alternatives to dentistry.

If I wanted to, I would a while ago and wouldn't be in this position

 

[dentstudent79]

He isn't saying that you want to look into alternatives. He is saying that it would be wise. It would be unwise to not look into alternatives. Some people just don't have the ability to follow certain career paths.

 

[dentaldream29]

My alternative for now is going to the army to mature up. That's all I got lol.

 

[sisklnw1977]

With a 1.8 you'll be lucky to find a special masters that will accept you.

 

[sisklnw1977]

Most community colleges have dental hygiene programs that are open to anyone with a pulse. Although you will never touch a high speed rest assured that you will be playing an important role in the prevention of heart disease by scratching teeth.

 

[CraigHack]

My alternative for now is going to the army to mature up. That's all I got lol.

You don't need to join the Army to mature up. And if you think life is bad now, enlisting in the Army is going to be a punch in the dick for you. PM me if you need me to elaborate on this point.

This forum gets to see a lot of posts from people who have made mistakes in their college career and are wondering if dentistry is still in their reach. The answer is almost always yes, with caveats. In your case, your GPA needs a major boost, which will take rockstar grades for the rest of undergrad as well as a kick-ass masters performance. We're talking about 4+ years of grueling work to just have a small chance at dental school, and that's if everything goes right. Pile on the necessity of a strong DAT score to reinforce the image that you're academically solid. Throw in the need for some unusually impressive extracurriculars as well.

Before you make the hasty decision to plow forward with these marching orders, consider the opportunity cost of what you're chasing. Is all that work, heartache, and money worth a slim chance at a dental school seat? I know it wouldn't be for me if I were in your shoes. Ask yourself why this one very specific career is so important. You'll need to have a backup plan regardless of what you decide.

On a side note, if your parents are threatening to throw you out over this dental thing, you need to have an adult conversation with them about realistic expectations and what's good for you. If they knew that you were having suicidal thoughts and how rough you were feeling, I don't think they would be making these threats. If they don't care, then you should probably make plans to provide for yourself and get new parents 😉.

TL;DR: You have a shot, but the opportunity cost is not worth it IMHO. Don't let mom and dad bully you to the point of harming yourself. If you need someone to talk to, PM me.

 

[Cello]

Is dental school your dream, or is it the dream of your parents? Have you shadowed dentists? What made you decide that you want to go to dental school? If your heart's not in it, then your poor grades are not the issue; choosing your path is. The mature thing to do is to take charge of your life and follow your own ambitions. Make sure that dental school is your idea.

My advice to you is to take a break as has been recommended by others. But please think twice before joining the army. First of all, why the army? There are several branches, so why do you want to go to the army? Are you set on infantry? Do you want to go to Ranger school? Do the 82nd or 101st Airborne divisions hold a special place in your heart? Again, you don't seem to have a clear path. Have you put together a 5 year or a 10 year plan for yourself?

If you suspect that you have ADD, then you should see a mental health professional. Frankly, based upon your suicidal thoughts and the pressure you are experiencing from your parents, it would be a good idea that you see a therapist anyway. There is no shame in seeking mental healthcare.

If I was in your shoes, I would take the break, see a therapist, and work a really difficult and demanding job. You can make good money working the oil fields in ND or on rigs in the gulf. That kind of work will make a man out of you, and if you do decide upon dentistry, you'll never have a day as a dentist which is as draining and dangerous as you did working in oil. You run the risk of serious injury or death, but it's much lower than it would be if you're deployed to Iraq or some inevitable future conflict.

If you take a break to find yourself then you can still turn things around and make it to dental school (if that turns out to be your true ambition). It won't be easy, but if it becomes your passion then you will make it happen. Perhaps you'll discover that you want something entirely different. Get away from your parents for a while, work a job and make an honest living, grow up a bit, and see where that takes you. You are definitely not screwed, but you need to take drastic action to avoid further damage. I highly recommend you don't take 4 classes with physics, but that's just my 2 cents.

 

[dentaldream29]

Is dental school your dream, or is it the dream of your parents? Have you shadowed dentists? What made you decide that you want to go to dental school? If your heart's not in it, then your poor grades are not the issue; choosing your path is. The mature thing to do is to take charge of your life and follow your own ambitions. Make sure that dental school is your idea.

My advice to you is to take a break as has been recommended by others. But please think twice before joining the army. First of all, why the army? There are several branches, so why do you want to go to the army? Are you set on infantry? Do you want to go to Ranger school? Do the 82nd or 101st Airborne divisions hold a special place in your heart? Again, you don't seem to have a clear path. Have you put together a 5 year or a 10 year plan for yourself?

If you suspect that you have ADD, then you should see a mental health professional. Frankly, based upon your suicidal thoughts and the pressure you are experiencing from your parents, it would be a good idea that you see a therapist anyway. There is no shame in seeking mental healthcare.

If I was in your shoes, I would take the break, see a therapist, and work a really difficult and demanding job. You can make good money working the oil fields in ND or on rigs in the gulf. That kind of work will make a man out of you, and if you do decide upon dentistry, you'll never have a day as a dentist which is as draining and dangerous as you did working in oil. You run the risk of serious injury or death, but it's much lower than it would be if you're deployed to Iraq or some inevitable future conflict.

If you take a break to find yourself then you can still turn things around and make it to dental school (if that turns out to be your true ambition). It won't be easy, but if it becomes your passion then you will make it happen. Perhaps you'll discover that you want something entirely different. Get away from your parents for a while, work a job and make an honest living, grow up a bit, and see where that takes you. You are definitely not screwed, but you need to take drastic action to avoid further damage. I highly recommend you don't take 4 classes with physics, but that's just my 2 cents.

Thank you very much for your Input. The reason I wanted to take some classes in CC is to get really good grades and then try to reapply to my college. I was doing well in a private college and the classes were not walk in the park but slightly easier. Managed to get a 3.8 before going down hill so it seems like I have the potential. I don't think my parents will kick me out but I prepare for the worst. I just feel really bad that I will let my parents down. My whole family believes in me and I let them down, I can't even explain this feeling .

What do you think about a situation where I take physics and 2 or 3 other GER classes and see how i do. I am planning to make an appointment with the admissions director from my college and get to know her and maybe get a few recommendations from advisors. I've shadowed before and did all the dental assistant tasks and I work now in a dental office part time, I'll be honest.... I like it.

 

[herkulis]

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