Post-bacc or Work during Gap Year?

[swim83]

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Hey guys, everyone's been super helpful so far.

So my GPA is a 3.4 cumulative and a 3.2 science and I'll be graduating this May. My DAT is definitely going to need to be retaken. I'm worried that my GPA may be too low, but I also really lack in my dental experience. I can have a dental assistant gig for the summer and next year if I choose to go that route, or I can do it this summer and do a post-bacc. What do you guys recommend?

 

[NMC2010]

Hard to say. Your GPA is low, but not to the point where you have no chance. If you get a 21+ AA, I'd say just do the dental assistant job. It probably won't help you get into dental school, but it will at least pay you and give you some more time around dentists. Post-bac isn't going to increase a 4 year GPA by more than 0.1 - 0.15, is it? I guess I'm not sure if post-bacs are added to your GPA or accounted for separately, but if you get below a 21, do the post-bac anyways.

 

[swim83]

Makes sense. It's been a trip just to graduate on time due to sports and transferring, so it was really a longshot to get in last semester anyways. You don't think a dental assistant job would help? Wouldn't it count as experience/shadowing?

 

[NMC2010]

There isn't a section on AADSAS for dental experience, just shadowing. I don't know whether that actually counts as shadowing or not. There have been quite a few threads circulating in the past that being a dental hygienist doesn't help much in the application process. I'm assuming it's the same for an assistant. They care most about your GPA and DAT, but having that as a job definitely wouldn't hurt you.

 

[ILLchief]

when are you retaking your DAT? your GPA isn't terrible that a post-bacc will increase it that much... retake your DAT soon so that you can gauge where you are. if you score 20-21+AA i would say you have a great shot at getting in if you apply broadly.... working as a dental assistant for a year will give you significant advantages when you enter dental school bcuz you will know the ins-n-outs of dentistry/running a practice. you can put this section under work experience on your aadsas and make sure you talk about it as much as possible in secondary apps/interviews.

you could always apply for a post-bacc just to have it in your back packet but make your decision based on your DAT score.

good luck! and nail that DAT

 

[swim83]

I'm applying to post-baccs now, and I'm retaking the DAT in mid-to-late June. I had a 19AA with minimal preparation, and I'm figuring with a full study load I can kill it.

 

[ILLchief]

I'm applying to post-baccs now, and I'm retaking the DAT in mid-to-late June. I had a 19AA with minimal preparation, and I'm figuring with a full study load I can kill it.

hey 19 isnt bad at all! you could even try your luck with those stats.... but seems like a perfect timeline, you should definitely increase that score with a full study load.

 

[swim83]

That's my reasoning. I also had to take Ochem this past summer and didn't take the DAT til August, so it was a longshot that I would get in with October apps anyways.

 

[bobatee]

Can you clarify when you say that a post bacc will only increase your gpa by 0.15? I thought it was a gpa blank slate...

 

[swim83]

I think he means that some of the classes will count toward your undergrad. I've heard they view them separately though, as there will be a new transcript.

 

[spandent14]

I think a dental assisting job WILL help. It'll give you insight to the industry/day-to-day parts of the job and schools LOVE that. I've talked to several dentists, both private and those serving on admissions committees and they all stress getting experience in the field. Plus you'd be making some money, not spending money to try to improve your stats. Apply early, play up your experience, and be able to tell the story of your academic career (sounds like sports and transferring played a role, if there are any C's or W's you could explain those, too). Good luck

 

[beanie5]

I think either would work in your case based on anecdotal evidence. Personally, I would choose work experience over more schooling. Work experience demonstrates you can be successful in the real world and adds depth to your application; schooling is merely an indicator of real-world success and is just more of what you've already been doing.

Dental assisting would be solid work, but if you want to prove you can be successful in science, maybe consider research assisting as your main work and gaining dental exposure via volunteering/shadowing.