Scared about not making it

[DeeDee]

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My GPA is about a 7.5 and my DAT scores are over a pass (range of 15-18). I am planning on writing the DAT once again, but I am left feeling like I'll never make it with these marks or else it would take me another couple years of undergrad. I'm entering my fourth year of undergrad this year. What should I do? Keep trying or give up? I'm getting scared already. Would it be easier to get in somewhere in the States? I heard you need at least a year's residency in some university's in the states. Is this true? Help!null

 

[MoonGlo]

Don't mean to be a smartass, but how can your GPA be a 7.5? Surely you mean 3.5, or perhaps 2.5. As for your DAT scores, I don't know much about that so i can't help you there. You should take the test over again if you feel your scores are not sufficient. If you want this, you have to GO FOR IT!!! Good luck!

 

[ubcdmd2005]

DeeDee, Are you from Canada, I'm guessing maybe Alberta since your GPA is on the 9.0 scale. Do you know what % your GPA converts to or what it converts to on the 4.0 scale? As for your DAT score I think you should definetly rewrite it and try to get 20 or 21 across the board with a 23 or higher on the carving section (if were talking about Canadian DAT). For UBC the average getting in was around 82% and 20 or 21 on the DAT sections. You can see the exact stats at http://www.dentistry.ubc.ca/academicprograms/dmd/dmdstats2001.stm Definetly don't give up, theres always a way. If your in Canada you probably know that your only real shot getting in will be in your home province unless you have really high marks >85% etc. I hear that Saskatchewan takes the most out of province students but they have a ridiculously high tuition of 35,000 plus other equipment expenses (probably more worth it to go to the US). As for going to the US you definetly don't need a years residency. I met some people at my dentitry interview who had already been accepted to some schools in the states way back in Febuary. Of course you would have to write the US DAT which has Organic Chem, Math, but no carving. Hope some of this info helps and definetly don't give up.

 

[eleannaDDS]

Hi DeeDee,

I definitely agree with ubcdds2005 - you should try to retake the DAT if you have the time and resources to do so. If you score well (>20 Academic, PAT), you may have a good shot at getting into one of your provincial dental schools if you have a good GPA. In some cases, schools may take into account only your two best years (e.g. UWO) or drop your lowest year (e.g. U of T). I've learned that you will achieve your goal if you persist and work hard... even if it takes more than one attempt, you'll get there!

Good Luck 🙂

 

[DeeDee]

A 7.5 GPA on a 4.0 point scale would probably translate to a 3.3. Some universities take the best 3 years of academic work, which may work to my advantage when I'm in my 5th year because I messed up bad my first and second years of undergrad. Anyway, I guess I just shouldn't give up. 😱 null3.3

 

[GoatBoy]

You should probably write the DAT again, as already mentioned (you do not have to write the American DAT for American Dental Schools--the Canadian one will suffice).
Are you from York U or Alberta (both use the 9 point scale)? If you are from York, Ont. is a very hard province and I'm sorry to say that a 3.3 probably wont cut it. Alberta will be pretty tough too (as I think they only have 20 something seats).
However, the good thing is that a 3.3 will give you a fairly decent chance at gaining admission to many schools(with a higher DAT, of course). You will not be able to apply to most state schools because you dont meet their residency requirements, but you qualify for most private schools(NYU, Case Western, Creighton, Tufts, Howard, Temple, etc.) But if you go to the States be ready for a very high tuition compared to the Canadian schools.

 

[DeeDee]

Yes, I am from Alberta and here they use the 9.0 point scale. Goat Boy, what you say about the Canadian DAT being sufficient enough for the States is incorrect. You would have to write the US DAT for entry there. How much tuition do you think we're looking at for a private school in the States? You really think I meet the requirements for a school in the states? If so, that's great news for me. 🙄

 

[groundhog]

Tuition at the privates in the U.S. will run in the $25,000 to $35,000 per year range. That does not include room, board, and other fees(books, instruments, insurance etc).

 

[eleannaDDS]

If I remember correctly, many U.S. dental schools accept the Canadian DAT in place of the U.S. version. Of course, there may be exceptions that I don't know about. On the other hand, American residents looking to apply to Canadian schools must take ours due to the additional carving component. I would say that a Canadian Pre-dental student's best bet would be to try and score well on the one offered by the CDA to maximize the number of schools that he/she could apply to (unless he/she is able to take both).

I definitely think that you have a good shot at getting into a U.S. school with your GPA. The average entering GPA in the U.S. is between 3.3-3.4, whereas the comparable one for Canada is 3.7-3.9. You mentioned that your CGPA was brought down because of your first two years of undergrad. If that's true, you're in a good position as admissions committees tend to look favourably on upward trends in applicants' academic records.

 

[dds2b]

Hey DeeDee

I was in the same boat a year ago that you are in now. I had a 3.3 gpa and fairly good DAT scores of >20 except my carving score of 13. I thought I would never make it into a Canadian U for dentistry, but everything turned out fine and I was accepted with my 3.3 gpa and I also had a horrible first year gpa of 1.68.

I never gave up hope in getting into my provincial school and I'm glad I applied even though I thought I was a long shot. Just apply to UofA because grades and DAT scores are only a part of the admissions process, so try to get some strong reference letters and nail your interview if you get one....you never know what could happen.

I believe the Canadian DAT is accepted by every US dental school except UCLA...and I don't think you'd want to waste your money trying to get in there anyways since you're not a Cali resident. Goat boy mentioned all the schools in the US which have a large representation of Canadian students. Personally, I think you have a good shot at getting into either Tufts, BU, CWRU, Temple and Detroit Mercy. I was gonna go to Tufts if I wasn't accepted at my school.

Well, if you haven't sent in your AADSAS application, you better get the ball rolling because the first round of interviews at most US schools start in late August/early Sept. and it takes AADSUCKS about 4-6 weeks to process and send out your info to the schools...not to mention some schools require secondary apps. you need to fill out before interviews are granted.

Don't give up and good luck!

 

[DeeDee]

The U of A only has two components for Dentistry applicants: the DAT score and GPA. These two things will grant you an interview if they are high enough. There are no reference letter components, personal essays, etc. That's too bad because those two things are my strong points! I don't know, on one hand I've already gotten two rejection letters from my own school, and on the other hand, you guys still tell me to keep trying. Afterall, there are only about 30 spots available per year...what are my chances? What is the average number of spots in most US schools?

Also, I have no idea how to go about filling out an AADSAS application form...am I already too late? 😕

 

[GoatBoy]

You still have plenty of time to apply thorugh AADSAS. I applied in February for this August and I still got in to a few schools (I dont recommend doing it like that, apply now so you can pick and choose between the schools you like).
The application is pretty straight forward, just go to the AADSAS website to fill out the online application -- I think this year you can do the essay right there on the online application.
As for the Canadian DAT, you can use it almost at every American school -- except for UCLA according to dds2b. I did not take the American DAT and I got all my interviews and everything with out any problems. Your GPA sounds okay for many of these schools already mentioned - if your science GPA is also within the same range.