Post-Bacc confusion

[ItalianPrincess]

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I have seen many people mention a post-bacc for students who have lower gpas and do not get into dental school right away. i have a lower gpa, 3.29, and want to know my options just in case i do not get in this cycle

so..what exactly is a post-bacc? where is it offered and what/how do i get into one if need be? How is it different than a masters?

also, while I'm here does anyone know why AADSAS puts math grades into the science GPA? I suck at math and its really weighing me down...

and the last thing, part of the reason my GPA is so low is my school refuses to let you retake classes...all my grades are decent except i got a C in calc 1 and a C- in analytical calculus based physics (a requirement for my chemistry degree)

i'm worried that the C- in physics is going to be a problem, since its a pre-rec and dental schools cant see the difference in the difficulty between the physics course i took and general physics at my school

just looking for some advice 😱

 

[DividedByZero]

Start here: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=640302

Although that thread is for med schools mostly, a good number of those programs take applicants for dental school. Go through the ones that interest you and e-mail them or look on their website to see if they take DAT/GRE scores.

As for that excuse for your low GPA, that isn't a very good one because AADSAS doesn't allow retakes anyway. They average out ALL classes you've ever taken post-secondary. Even though a school may recognize your GPA as higher with retakes, AADSAS won't and that's what matters.

Your GPA isn't even all that low anyway. All you need is a decent score on the DAT and you're fine. As for your C- in physics, you'll just have to retake it by the time you graduate cause you need at least a C or better in all your pre-reqs.

 

[PremedNoob]

Sorry to chime in, but I thought retake grades were accepted and averaged? Maybe I am just not understanding what you mean by the AADSAS not taking them? Probably a dumb question, sorry

 

[DividedByZero]

Yeah, that's what I meant.

The retakes aren't accepted in the sense that they won't drop the previous grade but they are accepted and averaged.

 

[ItalianPrincess]

ah gotcha.. i already took the DAT and got a 21/21/19

 

[dentalWorks]

the word "post-bacc" has NOTHING to do with a masters program.

Post-bacc = taking undergrad level courses AFTER you've obtained a bachelors degree. There are actual post-bacc programs, and you can do your own "unofficial" post-bacc by just taking additional courses at your college after you've graduated.

The nice thing about post-bacc is it adds up into your overall GPA. Whereas maters program, the GPA obtained here will be on a separate category on the application cycle (although there are a few schools out there that combine undergrad GPA + masters GPA)

 

[thez]

hey i saw a lot of talk about post bacc programs so i thought i would ask my question here -- I'm an accounting major at a top 50 undergrad private school. I have a 3.86 gpa and my SATs were as follows: Math-660 Reading-580. Being that I really didn't think I wanted to go to medical school until this year I have no volunteer experience. What are my chances of getting into one of the big three post bacc programs (Bryn Mawr, Goucher, and Scripps)??????? Any and all feedback is welcome!!!

 

[yappy]

It's good to make plans but If you get rejected from any schools make sure and call reguarding why you were rejected. Make sure your efforts in postbac will be fruitful. You'd had to spend alot of time doing somthing that wouldnt make a difference.
That being said I hope you get into D school this year. We have simular GPA's. Somtimes I think I'll have to end up doing a postbacc... which is really troubling b/c its course work taken at a CC 5 yrs ago that is weighing down my gpa (which is unrelated to science).
GL to you and great job on your DAT.