questions from a junior

[invest123]

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Hello,
I'm a junior and i will be applying this summer before my senior year. I always hear that applying early is the way to go however, my question is--I'm also taking 2 summer courses in the summer of 11 which is when im applying (biochem and histology). These classes i plan to 4.0 (and i will) and use to boost my science gpa (as its just mediocre right now, low 3.0 range, im not exactly positive what it is, as my school doesnt do this calculation for me, plus i have 3 sciences that need to be incorporated into this as well from my upcoming spring semester). i WANT the dental schools to see my summer course grades also.
So in my case would it even benefit me at all to apply EARLY since i would still want them to see my 2 summer course grades (this isnt over until the end of august as my schools on a term basis).
Point being....will they wait for my grades? take it into consideration? reject me even if i list the courses as "in progress". is it best for me to WAIT to apply until my grades are in? (ie -at the end of august). Im really confused and am looking for advice from anyone whose applied before.
thanks so much
Also, my senior year i will be taking a few more sciences in my fall semester, do they ask to see these grades?
thanks ;-)

 

[invest123]

anybody?! oh no :/

 

[persenmi]

Hmmm...that is a tough situation. However, in my opinion applying early is more important than waiting for those grades. Most schools recommend having your app in no later than August but a few late apps (Oct. and Nov.) get acceptances every year. AADSAS offers an "Academic Update" around January so if you apply June '11 you can update your app Jan '12 to post your summer and fall grades on your app. Come to think of it, you'll have to do the academic update no matter what so you might as well hit two birds with one stone. It's not an ideal situation but it'll work.

Any other opinions?

 

[invest123]

ahh hey thanks for your input. The only thing i was concerned about is, that they may reject me (do schools reject before dec 1st? or is it only acceptances that are made known on dec 1st?) before i do the academic update as they wont care to wait for my grades. I'm not sure how this whole process works...but then again arent there other juniors out there who apply and havnt finnished/completed their pre reqs or reccomended courses? and plan to take them their senior year? (ie- anat & phys or biochem etc). I wonder if schools ask to see this or if they base their decisions off exactly what they have on their files for the students despite in process classes.
maybe it goes by the way the instituion works? I also know that some schools start reviewing apps in september, and not in the summer even though the application process opens in june. And other schools start immediatley in june.

 

[UCLAzy]

i feel like if you're on the cusp of acceptance or rejection, they wont reject you and you'll be able to update, which will maybe sway them in a positive direction.

however, if they dont find you a strong applicant then two summer courses (where i've read whispers on this forum that sometimes they dont like bio in the summer?? idk) probably wont make a difference.

just apply early!

 

[UABtoothfairy]

This is very helpful!! Thanks!

 

[doc toothache]

When it is all said and done you may or may not want ds to see your summer grades. Applying "early" is not going to improve your stats.

 

[invest123]

oh alright thanks for your advice
it is a summer course however my schools based on a quarter system so all of our "quarters" are about 3 months long. so the summer class is just another quarter, like in the normal school year.

 

[UCLAzy]

that's very interesting. i'm on a quarter system as well, but our summer school has two six week sessions rather than the normal 10 week quarter.. i guess different schools have different ways of doing it!

 

[invest123]

i wish mine was like that!! mine goes from june to the very end of august/beg in september. If i had 6 weeks sessions thatd be amazing. too bad i dont....

 

[doc toothache]

that's very interesting. i'm on a quarter system as well, but our summer school has two six week sessions rather than the normal 10 week quarter.. i guess different schools have different ways of doing it!

The number of weeks is not as important as the number of contact hours which should be the same.