Q for UMDNJ students

[Aero047]

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Do the adcoms understand if you did poorly the frst semester of college and instead focus on the semesters after it? What would you say a good GPA and DAT score that will make me a pretty good applicant? I'm asking because first semester went absolutely terribly and I've lost hope at getting accepted to any dental school in the tri-state area. 🙁
I don't know if I have it to get into dental school..

 

[DMD_hopeful]

Do the adcoms understand if you did poorly the frst semester of college and instead focus on the semesters after it? What would you say a good GPA and DAT score that will make me a pretty good applicant? I'm asking because first semester went absolutely terribly and I've lost hope at getting accepted to any dental school in the tri-state area. 🙁
I don't know if I have it to get into dental school..

I had a horrible, and I mean horrible GPA my first semester in college. Since then, however, my GPA has been pretty good. A couple of adcom people mentioned it, not in a negative way but more as how well I've improved since then. I wouldn't worry about your first semester in college -- as long as you've shown constant improvement since then.

As for GPA and DAT.. Shoot for the stars and get the highest you can, that way you don't have to worry if it's 'good enough.' This is just my opinion but I would think that with a 20 on the DAT and a ~3.5 GPA, you would be in GREAT shape and be considered a STRONG applicant. This link gives school DAT and GPA averages. They're a few years old but it should give you a good idea of where you need to be.

http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~hpo/dstats.htm

Don't give up. No one ever said it was going to be easy. By the way, there are many more d-schools that are o/s of the tristate area.

Best to you.

 

[Aero047]

You're the best. Thanks 🙂

 

[bfp]

I had a horrible, and I mean horrible GPA my first semester in college. Since then, however, my GPA has been pretty good. A couple of adcom people mentioned it, not in a negative way but more as how well I've improved since then. I wouldn't worry about your first semester in college -- as long as you've shown constant improvement since then.

As for GPA and DAT.. Shoot for the stars and get the highest you can, that way you don't have to worry if it's 'good enough.' This is just my opinion but I would think that with a 20 on the DAT and a ~3.5 GPA, you would be in GREAT shape and be considered a STRONG applicant. This link gives school DAT and GPA averages. They're a few years old but it should give you a good idea of where you need to be.

http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~hpo/dstats.htm

Don't give up. No one ever said it was going to be easy. By the way, there are many more d-schools that are o/s of the tristate area.

Best to you.

Try to get some experience, too. Either assisting or shadowing in a dental office and/or doing the same in a dental lab. That would show your commitment to the field.

Don't stress too much. The majority of Adcoms are very nice and understand that bumps along the college road happen.

Good luck.