Rejection Advice

[j276]

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Hi All,

So I applied to just two dental schools this year not feeling very confident about my GPA/DAT test score. As expected, I got rejected from both. My science GPA is low at about a 2.9 and my overall GPA is around a 3.3. However, my community service, leadership traits and experience in a dental office is above the average applicant. I have assisted my Dad in his office the past few years and have shadowed 4 other specialty dentists. I know these things weigh less in the process compared to GPA/DAT, but, I am extremely motivated and confident that this is the field I want to go in to. In order to get to that point, I know I need to improve my DAT score and go all out in the application process again this summer. However, I am trying to think realistically in this process. Do any low science GPAers or other pre-dental students have any advice? Schools to apply to? Specific things to touch on in the application process?

Thank you so much for any help and hope everyone is having luck with their own applications!

 

[JLT223]

Your first problem is that you applied to 2 schools. If you graduated from college already you will need to do a post-bac; 2.9 for a science gpa is just way too low. What were your DAT scores? It doesn't matter how much dental experience you have if your grades suggest you will not be able to be successful in dental school. Were your letters and personal statement as strong as they could be? Don't overlook the seemingly small things.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

However, my community service, leadership traits and experience in a dental office is above the average applicant.

I have always wondered how people manage to quantify things like these as "above average".

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

I'd work on getting that sGPA to at least a 3.0 with post-bacc classes. Every other aspect of your application needs to be very polished: high DAT scores, solid personal statement, and strong letters of recommendation.
Also, apply more widely next cycle. Best of luck!

Definitely those last 2. Your scores are one thing but adcoms look at EVERYTHING. They want to see the person behind the scores.

If you have time, also try to volunteer at ANY place you can. Keep it consistent. Good luck friend!

 

[pgex2t]

I have always wondered how people manage to quantify things like these as "above average".

The only reliable method of measuring how "above average" the ECs are (I use) is if the applicant scored interviews with sub-par stats. Otherwise, there's no real way of knowing unless they post about the specifics.

Hi All,

So I applied to just two dental schools this year not feeling very confident about my GPA/DAT test score. As expected, I got rejected from both. My science GPA is low at about a 2.9 and my overall GPA is around a 3.3. However, my community service, leadership traits and experience in a dental office is above the average applicant. I have assisted my Dad in his office the past few years and have shadowed 4 other specialty dentists. I know these things weigh less in the process compared to GPA/DAT, but, I am extremely motivated and confident that this is the field I want to go in to. In order to get to that point, I know I need to improve my DAT score and go all out in the application process again this summer. However, I am trying to think realistically in this process. Do any low science GPAers or other pre-dental students have any advice? Schools to apply to? Specific things to touch on in the application process?

Thank you so much for any help and hope everyone is having luck with their own applications!

ECs, PS, and LORs aside, you'll need to push your sgpa (as stated above by @Illumident ) to at least 3.0 to get past some automated systems which filter out sub-3.0s without a great DAT. The easiest way to get schools to give you a shot at being considered academically competent is to ace the DAT. It's true that some people are admitted with both sub-par GPAs and DATs; however, they are in the extreme minority. Expect to apply to at least 20 schools even if you ace the DAT.

Volunteering and the other aspects of your application are definitely important as @DentalLonghorn2014 has stated, but the glaring weakness in your application right now is academic competency. I think your time would be best used to balance your GPA to some extent with a good DAT score.

 

[hellofuturedentists]

I have always wondered how people manage to quantify things like these as "above average".

Most people like to think they're above average. But by definition, most people aren't ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[JLT223]

I strongly believe applicants who score an interview and actually get in with sub-par stats are limited to under-represented minorities. No matter how stellar your extracurricular resume is, no dental school committee will invest in an applicant who have the potential to fail and/or drop out of their program.

👍