Post-bac predental

[sublimegd]

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Hi guys, I'm going to give some background info so you can better gauge my questions. I'm 22 years old and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh this last spring. I had a double major in psychology and economics, 3.2 gpa (in-majors gpa is probably 3.4, 3.6ish. I'm not exactly sure what I was thinking as an undergrad as far as a career goes. I wavered between thinking I wanted to pursue clinical psychology as a grad student, and just getting any job working for a financial company. As I approached graduation, however, I realized I did not want to do either. Around a month or two before graduation I became very interested in dentistry. It just seems like something I would enjoy doing the rest of my life. I decided to try out some of the science prerequisites to see if it was a realistic option. Over the summer I took Inorganic 1,2 and physics 1. I actually took inorganic1 my first semester freshman year and got a C+, but I decided to retake it because I remembered nothing. I ended up with an A- in chem1 and A's in chem2 and physics1. I'm currently enrolled in physics 2 and bio 1. I figure I can finish organic1,2 and bio2 by the end of next summer, then take the DAT. All the while, I would be working part time, hopefully putting in many more hours of shadowing, and hopefully getting a job in a research lab.

Okay, now for too many questions...
1. Do you think I have enough time to do all this, and apply next fall?
2. How do you think it looks to go straight from graduating to taking courses part time as a post bac student? Would the fact that taking these courses part time give less credibility to good grades?
3. If i can keep my science GPA around 3.75, hopefully 3.5 at the lowest, and score average on the DAT would I be a competitive applicant? (I know these are big IFs)
4. I know alot of schools require higher level science courses (biochem...), would I be able to take them next fall while applying?
5. How important are many hours of shadowing and research? (I don't want to do the bare minimum but I would rather be making money and studying with my time.)
6. Finally, how much would my undergrad 3.2 GPA work against me? All throughout my undergrad I had the same mentality as most of my non-healthcare oriented peers, where the degree is much more important than the grades.

I'm sorry for this long noobish post, and I would truly appreciate any responses. Thanks.

 

[sm1nty]

GO for it!
You can actually start studying for the dat now on your own. You don't have to completely finish orgo II before taking it. Bio's also pretty much a self-study subject.
You can take the higher level science courses while applying.

 

[small]

No problem, you can definitely do it! I am also a post-bacc pre-dental student (originally music major). I managed to get all my prereqs done (-biochem) in 2 semesters+2 summers. I wasn't working, but since you are spreading yours out a bit more work shouldn't present a problem. Average or above average DAT, solid 3.5 or higher GPA and your set. Do some volunteer work (I was asked about mine in my first interview) and even get friendly with a prof and do a little research, if you can (also asked about that). Good luck!

 

[Regmata]

1. Should be able to

2. Looks like you found what you wanted to do and despite the inopportune timing decided to go for it. Taking the courses part time will not look bad as long as you are working and/or filling your time with activities to improve your application.

3. Yes

4. Yes, may not have time to take all of the courses you want to, but you can get a good chunk of them out of the way in a year.

5. Research isn't terribly important. Shadowing and dental experiences will be though. The schools want to know that you know what you are getting yourself into and that you have seen enough dentistry to know that it is really what you want to do.

6. If you achieve the grades you plan to, it won't be a hindrance to you.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I'm a reappliant from last year. I have three degrees, BUT my undergrad gpa of 2.9 (mech eng from a big-ten school) from 1997 is my boat anchor that keeps dragging me down. Since then, I earned an M.S. in engineering (3.45) a B.S. in Bio (3.3), and a DAT of 21/21/21. As of today, I only have one interview. With all of that in mind, here's what the dental schools have been telling me in regards to your questions:

1. You have no choice to but make time for all of your upper-level bio classes, shadowing, and the DAT. The schools want to see that you are intense about getting into dental school. They want to see a heavy course load with all A's and B's.

2. The part-time issue varies with different dental schools. UofP told me they only seriously consider applicants that have simultaneously taken at least 4 classes per term, and 3 of them must be basic science classes. Several dental schools told me they ignore repeated classes. I.E., they are not impressed with a C in Orgo1, and then an A the 2nd time. They are only impressed with your perf in upper-level classes, i.e. advanced Orgo.

3. Yes. If you get a 3.5 science gpa or higher, you should hit 20's on your DAT. I am amazed when people say they got over a 3.5 science gpa and still score in the mid teens on the DAT.

4. Yes. When you apply to AADSAS, the system allows you to state what future classes you will taking over the next year. Assume you apply in summer. You would then state your future classes, then the system will let you update your grades when they become available. Adcomms will see all of your planned classes.

5. Shadowing is very important. OHSU requires a minimum of 50 hours. UIC stated during their open house that they take shadowing very serious. Get as much as you can. I have no research experiance, and it hurts. Some schools preferentially pick students with research experience. This is highly school dependent.

6. Your undergrad gpa hurts you in the sense that AADSAS will blend all of your post-acc grades with your undergrad. Therefore, even if you hit straight A's for the next year, your cum gpa will only move a small amount. The good news is that most schools will focus on your most recent perf, so I don't think your gpa of 3.2 is really going to hurt you as long as you do well next year and on the DAT.

 

[sublimegd]

Thanks for the encouraging responses. Now I just have to do my best to get the grades, and get off my ass and do some serious shadowing. One more question though... My school calculates GPAs with an A- as a 3.75, B+ as 3.25, B as 3.0, B- as 2.75, C+ as 2.25 and so on. Is this the standard way of calculating the GPA? I know my parents have told me both their schools calculated any A as a 4.0, any B as 3.0, and so on. And what exactly is an adcom? Thanks again.

 

[sublimegd]

Nevermind I read through the application instructions at adea.org. But now I'm just nervous about the science GPA. I always figured the science gpa would be just chem, bio, and physics. If I calculate in the C I got in calc 1 my first semester freshman year, 5 years ago, it really screws up my science gpa. Same with a random business stats class I took and got a B in. I was basically counting on pulling off a 3.5 by getting mostly A's with a few A-s and maybe B+s. After going through the math, If i get all A's on all the prereqs from here out the highest my science GPA can be is a 3.46. All A-'s and it drops to 3.33. All B+s and i'm at 3.15 for my science GPA. When people list their science GPA on predents and on this messageboard, are they refering to their science/math GPA or their BCP GPA? Also, would it be stupid to retake the Calc1 class I took 5 years ago to proove that I can an A in it, and bring up my GPA?