Post-bacc GPA on predents

[healthcaree]

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I was wondering about the post-bacc gpa that people post on predents. Is this the gpa that you receive for the classes that you have taken after obtaining a bachelor's degree? -- literally a post-baccalaureate-- or are they talking about certain post-bacc programs (pre-med, pre-dent)?

I'm considering about taking a few classes at a CC (due to the low cost), like anatomy & physiology I and II (2 consecutive quarters). Would the classes that I take from now on be considered as POST-BACC GPA? I just haven't received one single interview yet (2 rejections: from case and ucsf) and I think I really need to do something about it.. and I think it is my gpa that's holding me back.. i applied to 15 schools total.

btw my mailing date was July 2nd, 2010 AND August 20, 2010 after my DAT re-take: 20AA, 21TS, 22PAT (21RC, 20QR) -- i am a reapplicant btw. only received two interviews last year (post-dec) and was waitlisted at both schools.. obviously I didn't get in for class of 2014.

cgpa: 3.33, sgpa: 3.22

EC: two published papers, been working in the research field since sophomore year, been working in a lab for over a year now. plus I work as a dental assistant on the side. 600+ hrs of volunteer in a dental office.

i want to have some hope, but seeing all those people getting multiple interviews.. i don't know what to do 🙁

 

[hopefulDMD]

from my understanding, it applies to anything you do after your bachelors. and from what i've seen people do for their post-bacc were specialized programs specifically for post-bacc or masters programs.

i wanted to take classes through a CC, but my advisor was against it. if you can, try to take classes at a 4-yr university. apply for a post-bacc or do a masters program.

these are my just opinion though. good luck! i hope you're successful this cycle

I was wondering about the post-bacc gpa that people post on predents. Is this the gpa that you receive for the classes that you have taken after obtaining a bachelor's degree? -- literally a post-baccalaureate-- or are they talking about certain post-bacc programs (pre-med, pre-dent)?

I'm considering about taking a few classes at a CC (due to the low cost), like anatomy & physiology I and II (2 consecutive quarters). Would the classes that I take from now on be considered as POST-BACC GPA? I just haven't received one single interview yet (2 rejections: from case and ucsf) and I think I really need to do something about it.. and I think it is my gpa that's holding me back.. i applied to 15 schools total.

btw my mailing date was July 2nd, 2010 AND August 20, 2010 after my DAT re-take: 20AA, 21TS, 22PAT (21RC, 20QR) -- i am a reapplicant btw. only received two interviews last year (post-dec) and was waitlisted at both schools.. obviously I didn't get in for class of 2014.

cgpa: 3.33, sgpa: 3.22

EC: two published papers, been working in the research field since sophomore year, been working in a lab for over a year now. plus I work as a dental assistant on the side. 600+ hrs of volunteer in a dental office.

i want to have some hope, but seeing all those people getting multiple interviews.. i don't know what to do 🙁

 

[dentalWorks]

I was wondering about the post-bacc gpa that people post on predents. Is this the gpa that you receive for the classes that you have taken after obtaining a bachelor's degree? -- literally a post-baccalaureate-- or are they talking about certain post-bacc programs (pre-med, pre-dent)?

Either one is considered post-bacc. Basically, ANY undergrad level course you take AFTER you've obtained your bachelors degree is considered "post-bacc"

 

[yappy]

I second what these guys said about postbacc - any coursework done "post" graduation that is undergrad level. If I were you I would call the schools that rejected you to figure out what was up. Did you ever talk to them last year? I have heard that CC credits are unidirectional.. meaning it's okay (reletively) to start there but once you're at a university it is best to continue with that level of course work. Hope you alot of luck - keep me posted on how your cycle goes. I have around the same GPA as you.
By any chance do you show an upward trend in your gpa? I hear that helps.

 

[healthcaree]

yappy,

I never gave a call because it's impossible to get a hold of the director of admissions. I already graduated from a 4-year university and was planning on going back to school to take a few more classes, but it's too pricey for the 4-year university as I am financially independent now. My trend of the gpa is about the same. I had some ups and downs, but pretty consistent I would say. I have received like a C+ in one biology (considering about the re-take..), and would receive an A for ochem.

did you by any chance hear back from the schools?

 

[yappy]

I'm not applying this year as I wouldnt be able to finish my four year degree in time. I'm going to apply next cylce. Any advice lol? This process is hard to figure out because there is another thread going on where a guy with very simular stats to you has four inerviews so far....

 

[healthcaree]

that is somehow relieving in a way that I can have my hopes up..? Are you talking about the thread that has "Are 4 interviews enough??" He/she has 22AA which is pretty much different from 20AA I would say. Mine actually is a 20.4AA, and only if I had one more point in any of the sections, I would've pulled a 21AA. DAMN IT.

anyways, I'm a re-applicant and this year I don't think I'm just going to be sitting down and keep waiting. I'm actually looking into Midwestern's master's program for biomedical science. I didn't apply for any post-bacc programs because I was waitlisted at two schools.. but I don't want to take my chances this year. Seeing some people get 18, 19AA and several interviews, I really think GPA is more important in a sense that it shows how well you can manage to study (not just one test like DAT).

 

[mooredge]

If you're just trying to bump your gpa up a bit i'd say go ahead and take a few classes at a CC. Thats exactly what i did after i graduated from a 4 yr. university since my gpa was only around 3.15. Granted its not ideal, but it is way cheaper and if the classes are somewhat relevant i think its perfectly acceptable. I took statistics a nutritional bio class and one other i believe. It raised my gpa to ~ 3.25 when it was all calculated together on the app. I never heard any of my interviewers say anything negative this. Little less than 2 years away from graduating dental school now, good luck all.

 

[Noble6]

I may be wrong on this but from what I understand, schools aren't going to see a separate POST BAC GPA unless you're doing a masters (in which case it would be a MASTERS GPA). So classes that you take after your bachelors will just be lumped into your undergrad GPA.

Of course dental schools could just calculate it themselves but I'm not sure which schools do that.

On predents, some people put classes taken after their bachelors in the POST BAC category even if those classes were not part of a masters program. This helps to show their upward trend to those that view it but I don't think it's an official number that dental schools see.