Semester from hell

[RachMSU]

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Well, I am really starting to doubt why I want to go to dental school. I mean don't get me wrong, I really want to be a dentist-it's been a life long dream but I honestly don't think I'll ever get into a dental school. I am having such a bad semester. I just missed a 3.5 in biochemistry by 2 points which means my GPA this semester is going to be around a 3.1 That might not be so bad but I got a 3.1 last semester which made my overall a 3.49 (it'll drop this semester). Honestly, how bad is this going to look? I know dental schools like the see an upwards trend and I don't know what my problem is.

Sometime I wonder if I just quit and do something else.

Well thanks to anyone who read that. I am just super stressed and mad and needed to get that out. Any advice would be great.

 

[PERFECT3435]

if you can keep your gpa to 3.49 and do ok on the DAT you would still be an incredible applicant.

 

[dr_benj]

Don't worry about the downward trend too much. I was in the same situation and have been accepted to 3 schools so far....plus my overall GPA was much lower. I think they like to see the upward trend if you have a low GPA to begin with. A 3.49 is still a very comptetitive GPA. Just shoot to keep it at this level. Maybe don't take such hard classes until you have applied and been accepted. Good luck.

 

[Brand]

When I applied my GPA (science) was a 2.76. After my first semester in school I have a 3.92. Still have a few finals left, so this is estimated, but they are pretty much set in stone.

Adcoms understand people who have trouble in undergrad. Just convince them that you will bust out in dental school.

 

[RachMSU]

Hey,
Thanks for the advice guys, I needed it. Physics really killed me this semster. I had a 4.0 going into the final, but the final was a nightmare (I am sure the whole class failed.) Anyways, what schools did you guys get accepted to? I realize my overall is a 3.49 now but I am sure it will drop a little, hopefully I can raise next semester.

Thanks again guys!

 

[mikhiel]

I'm in the same boat. I have about a 3.5-3.6, but this is the quarter from hell, and I'm headed for a 2.something in my Microbiology class. It'll be my worst grade ever, putting my quarter GPA somewhere around a 3.0. It's so not typical, all my other classes are right in line with everythign else I've done... there's just this one isolated incident.

Good to know that I don't need to lose all hope... I'm going to go back to studying, that Microbiology final is in 2 hours... ugh...

 

[ecdoesit]

Just a friendly reminder.
Dental school is a lot harder than undergrad.
I have heard way too many stories from current dentists and dental students saying that undergrad is a cake compare to ds.
the difference is that you can make excuse for adcom, but once u r in, there is no excuse not to do well.

So, pull yourself together and develop good studying habits.
Hopefully, this is not too much.

 

[Pre-Dent-David]

Just go for a 3.5+... thats fine for dental school apps.

 

[Brand]

Dental school is a lot harder than undergrad.

This is soooo not true. It all depends on your undergrad. Mine was much harder than Dental School. All the hoopla about dental school being hard is propoganda.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by Brand
This is soooo not true. It all depends on your undergrad. Mine was much harder than Dental School. All the hoopla about dental school being hard is propoganda.

I have also heard this. Many of my buddies who are already in med or dent are partying their asses off.

I have also heard that Canadian undergrad programs are harder than US undergrad programs. Anyone else?

 

[PERFECT3435]

i know of a friend who is in med school. he tells me that he parties here and there many times during the year. however, i have also heard him say that he has been in the library busting his ass for two-three weeks in times. btw, this guys never got anything less than 95% on any exam while in under grad.

what that means is that:
-you could be the smartest person, but would still have to be smart enough to know when to study and when to party.
-you don't have to study all the time like many say.
-everyone's characteristic is diff. one may not have to study at all while another have to study most of the time.



bottom line,

why take the rsik of failing? after going through hell i mean the app process, you should be smart enough to know better than partying all the time.

at least thats how i feel.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by Brand
This is soooo not true. It all depends on your undergrad. Mine was much harder than Dental School. All the hoopla about dental school being hard is propoganda.

So true, with a caveat. You have to LEARN what to LEARN--that's the secret.

Based on that, my undergrad was 2-3 times as hard as dental school is.

However, if I just looked at the material and took it at face-value, like I did when I first started dental school, I'd probably have an MI and die simply because the material IS vast and IS enormous.

More difficult? Never.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

I have also heard that Canadian undergrad programs are harder than US undergrad programs. Anyone else?

Actually...one of my best friends is from Maine and he transferred to the University of Toronto.....he told me that Canadian undergrad is insane compared to US schools, although he said he is sure that Top 5 universities in the US are probably similar to Toronto. He told me his life totally changed when he transferred to Toronto because he couldnt have a social life anymore to achieve the same grades as he was getting in the US.

Also, I talk with a lot of British students who do exchanges in Toronto during their 3rd year, and they tell me they totally regret choosing Canada, because they cannot keep up with the work/competition....trust me, I did my 3rd year in England, and the difference is shocking!

Trust me guys...University of Toronto is INSANE! THink about it...in order to be ANYTHING in Canada, you need at least a 3.7 GPA, otherwise you are gonna work friggin data entry your whole life. THus, in my biochem class of 1500 people in one lecture room, EVERYONE...and I mean EVERYONG strives to get a 3.7-4.0, which means that if one chooses to go out one night, you fall behind all your other classmates who just study all the time. Of course, the profs only give out a limited number of A's, so they purposely make the tests hard so the average is about a C or C+, ensuring only the few brightest (out of 1500 students in one class) will recieve that A that will allow them to goto Toronto med/dental.

Just last week, I got my essay back in Politics and I worked so hard on it and only got a B. The prof told me the average was a C, and that my paper was one of the better papers in the class and I have nothing to worry about. He told me only a few people got A's. I said, Im glad Im near the top of the class, but Jesus!!! THe grades are the only thing that matters! So getting a B in Toronto puts you in the top 15% of the class.....so what??? where is it gonna get me?

Last year, I talked with one of my profs who was American and did his phD at Cornell....I told him that I was worried about my GPA of 3.1 to get anywhere in US schools, but he told me that American adcoms really know the truth about Canadian schools and that I should be fine. Of course, I am not banking on these comments, but I sure hope its true! 🙁

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by avingupta

Last year, I talked with one of my profs who was American and did his phD at Cornell....I told him that I was worried about my GPA of 3.1 to get anywhere in US schools, but he told me that American adcoms really know the truth about Canadian schools and that I should be fine. Of course, I am not banking on these comments, but I sure hope its true! 🙁

My prof told me the same thing. If a private school has 2 applicants that are exactly the same, except one did his/her undergrad in Canada, the Canadian will looked at more favorably. This is mainly due to the harshness of Canadian undergrad.

 

[ecdoesit]

I feel for you, Canadians.
How likely is it to change the educational system?
I just hope that if we ever graduate, we will at least participate in changing things around that we now think is wrong. Or at least some improvement. Future is ours

Let me explain myself why I said dental school is harder.
It is not necessary the materials, but the workload is enormous.
In undergrad, i took 4-5 classes (quarter system)
but in dental school, probably i will be taking 6-8 classes. based on available hours to study, we have to be more efficient and stay on top of things.

For me, I m tireless if i m doing what i like, i.e. dental stuff.
Perhaps the reason to explain some of my poor grades in undergrad is that i was "forced" to take classes that i have no interest in. Anyway, undergrad is tough cos we are trying to get thru. Important thing is to enjoy what you are studying. It helps.

 

[Dr.BadVibes]

How likely is it to change the educational system?

You make it seem like the education system in Canada is in trouble or something....you are totally missing the point. Its not that Canadians are smarter than Americans or vice versa. Its just that the opportunities up north are not the same due to sheer numbers....thats all it is!

Just imagine in the US, only having 10 state schools for the whole country. Ill tell you that the Under 3.0 club would definitely not exist! This is the situation in Canada, and why you find many Canadians flocking down south....

However...with that being said, the same American professor from Cornell that I mentioned in my previous post did always say that the University of Toronto in his opinion is the Harvard of the North.....hey...these were his exact words, not my take on it....he would always make fun of us the whole year saying that Toronto doesnt get any respect because its in Canada....he was a really funny guy.

But when he says Harvard of the North, he is implying things like research and the quality of the students. For instance, many of the top researchers in their field (especially medical sciences) are faculty in Toronto.....the Hospital for Sick Children is world renowned.....and the students that goto Toronto are the top students in Canada. IF you meet a doctor who was educated in a Canadian med school, you will ALWAYS be assured that this individual is indeed the cream of the crop and deserves anyones utmost respect!

MY point is, when you stick 1000 of the brightest students in one big lecture hall and only say 5-10% are gonna get As.....its gonna be A LOT harder to get an A in Toronto than in Manitoba!

I aplogize to my fellow Canuckers for my Toronto arrogance coming out...but hey...I only speak the truth! 😎 But who cares right?? If you went to Manitoba or Toronto, you are totally equal when it comes to application time! 🙁

 

[ecdoesit]

Yes, I acknowledge what you are saying.
I am from a big university with classes as big as 400-500. I could have a rough idea how a 1000 people classroom is like. Wow, could u take a picture of it some time and send it to me? I am amazed because i have difficult time in those large classes. And I guess Canadian are very dedicated. For that, I give Canada credit. Ya, obviously, there are limited opportunities, so it wont be surprise to focus on cream of the crop students.

What i am trying to say is:
I am saying if you could change the system.
If you think there should be more universities in Canada to increase enrollment, or other brilliant ideas,
could u do anything to change the educational system rather than having the same problem exists.
We will be a professional in the future. We have the knowledge to change the world. I know this is kinda idealistic, but it is feasible.

 

[Bickle]

Originally posted by ecdoesit


What i am trying to say is:
I am saying if you could change the system.
If you think there should be more universities in Canada to increase enrollment, or other brilliant ideas,
could u do anything to change the educational system rather than having the same problem exists.
We will be a professional in the future. We have the knowledge to change the world. I know this is kinda idealistic, but it is feasible.

I'm having problems understanding your post. But from what i'm reading, are you saying that creating more universities will solve the problem?? Answer: no.

Truthfully, there is no problem with the number of uni's in canada. The state of california has a larger population than Canada as a whole. More universities are not needed up here due to the lack of population. Although, I have heard of a university opening for Native Indians, which I think is a good idea.

There is no problem with Canadian education. Its just more competitive and more strenuous than US undergrads. I dont see that as a problem that needs to be solved, rather another hurdle to jump.