Schools for lower gpas?

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myameena

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Hey, what schools are you folks who have lower gpa's applying to?

I want to apply to fifteen schools but I'm really running out of options because of my lower undergrad gpa. 🙁 I have no idea what I'm going to do about it. Do I just keep taking undergrad classes for the rest of my life to make up for my past history or what?!!?
 
myameena
when we are talking lower gpa, how low? I am on the lower side when it comes to my science gpa, but i am a psychology major so my overal gpa is pretty good. i think many schools generally focus on the science gpa. and then there are other factors that go into your application, such as the interview and dat scores. so there is always a way to balance things out if you are weak in one area.
 
ladymc25

I just learned today that my undergrad gpa is a 2.7, and that combined with my crappy transfer gpa to this god-forwaken school makes my cumulative gpa a whoppin 2.41 !!!!! My Master's gpa is a 3.42. And I have yet to take my chem II lab, ochems and labs I and II, and my physics I and II. So this next semester I am taking my ochem I and lab plus a ph.d. level bio class. I have to throw in these grad classes to let them know i can handle it. And as if the gpa issue isn't bad enough, I have some bad grades - W's and 2 F's - which I can explain. What a mess eh? Sometimes I wonder if a dental school would ever take someone like me? 🙁
 
Dental schools will take you. Read all the posts in the under 3.0 club. Some people have worse stat than you. And remember, your grad gpa is good, so keep up faith and do well on DAT.
Good luck to you. I know you'll do well on your DAT. I started last year this time as well, and by august, I was extreme ready.
Tink
 
It seems those with a low ugrad gpa have a decent or good grad gpa,

how about those who just have a lower ugrad gpa (3.1 science) which schools are promising then
 
hey tink 🙂

You always make me feel so much better. I like reading your posts because you're always so upbeat! 🙂 I'm just gonna keep pluggin along. The semester is going to start soon and so will my ochem hell (hehe!) but I'm determined to show everyone I can do this, be a mommy and a wife, and hold down my full time job.

While I have you hear I might as well ask you a few things about the DAT. I have this fear of standardized tests (every since I did mediocre on the ACT). When I sit there studying my inorganic I find myself wondering if all those equations will be on the test - remember every little thing we learned in chem II? Yuck! Are there some things the test focuses on more than others in that section? That's going to be my nemesis I think.
 
For g-chem, the DAT seems to ask 1 question for each equation and law. one balance equation, a couple of stoichiometry.
O-chem is fun, it's not very hard when you study for the first time. If you know how the nomenclature works, basic reactions, you should be able to do calculations. I remember I liked it a lot when I studied. However, read evey single line in your text book and don't skip any.
For math, I used the gre test to prep for my math. I like their software much better, and it's actually the same math. I did very well on my math too.
O-chem on the DAT concentrates a lot on the resonance structure part (which structure is most stable?). Make sure you learn well the aromaticity thing.
The proportion of the real DAT is just very close to the officially published old DAT, use it as a guideline. You're gonna do well because you've prepared for a long time. The SAT and ACT are not a good indicator of how well you will do on your standardize test in the future. That was at least 10 yrs ago, you're more mature and tougher now. So, you have to move forward, have everything in the books memorize. For me, the part that took time the most was biology, so I spent like a month to just read over and over. Everything else was fast. I'm very happy with my DAT test, and so will you. Especially you just take ochem and every thing is still fresh. I took all my chemistry classes in 1992, so it was quite a big of a struggle at first.
Good luck
🙂
 
there are still ways of getting into school even if you have a lower gpa. I would recommend studying up for the DAT and try to get a kick a** score. A good overall score would boost your chances...the reading part is a joke; if you paid attention in o-chem you have a good chance of getting an avg score even without studying. My lowest score was the pat (scary!) which is probably the most impt for actually being a dentist; but dont worry, this can be learned.
I also suggest volunteering or working in a dentists office...or go into research depending on what your school "focuses" on. Dont worry, as long as your science gpa is around a 3, youll be ok!
Reality is, having a good science background will be helpful, i am in my first year of dental school and it is shear hell. (not to scare you!) You will take 6-7 major science classes and you will want a good foundation.
Just keep doing what you are doing and you will be fine! Something very impt in your 1st year?--PMA--positive mental attitude!!
😀
 
Chelly180 -

Cool you made it to dental school! Congrats! 🙂 So it's shear hell because of the class load?

I'm working on starting shadowing with my dentist, i'm currently in a research job (neurobiology), and I'm trying to finish my pre-reqs and apply with AADSAS. I'm studying for my DAT also as time permits. I want to be ready to take it in May hopefully!
 
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