Should I apply this cycle?

[Leahlocks45]

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Date of submission: Will submit by November 15.
Overall GPA: 2.99
Science GPA:2.99
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Taking DAT in January
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: University of Alabama
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No

Shadowing Experience: 200+
Volunteering Experience: 200+
Employment: 200+ Healthcare-related
School list: Anywhere that still has applications open and will accept late DAT scores

HI everyone. I am feeling very discouraged to apply this cycle due to my stats. I haven't taken my DAT due to covid, but I will be taking it in January. Do you think I should apply now or just wait to apply next cycle? I really want to apply this cycle, but feel like I will not get in. If I apply, I will be applying to any school that still has their application open to apply and takes DAT scores in January. If you do not think I should apply, what should I do? Should I do a post bacc program or master's program?

 

[macsak]

Date of submission: Will submit by November 15.
Overall GPA: 2.99
Science GPA:2.99
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Taking DAT in January
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: University of Alabama
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No

Shadowing Experience: 200+
Volunteering Experience: 200+
Employment: 200+ Healthcare-related
School list: Anywhere that still has applications open and will accept late DAT scores

HI everyone. I am feeling very discouraged to apply this cycle due to my stats. I haven't taken my DAT due to covid, but I will be taking it in January. Do you think I should apply now or just wait to apply next cycle? I really want to apply this cycle, but feel like I will not get in. If I apply, I will be applying to any school that still has their application open to apply and takes DAT scores in January. If you do not think I should apply, what should I do? Should I do a post bacc program or master's program?

wait

 

[Leahlocks45]

wait

Can you elaborate on why you think I should wait and what I should do while waiting?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Wait until you get a DAT score before you decide to apply. Otherwise it's a complete waste of time. I'd also wait because you need some GPA reinvention which needs to be addressed first or else you're just throwing money away.

 

[dnz2]

Date of submission: Will submit by November 15.
Overall GPA: 2.99
Science GPA:2.99
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Taking DAT in January
State of Residence: Alabama

Undergrad Attended: University of Alabama
Major: Biology
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No

Shadowing Experience: 200+
Volunteering Experience: 200+
Employment: 200+ Healthcare-related
School list: Anywhere that still has applications open and will accept late DAT scores

HI everyone. I am feeling very discouraged to apply this cycle due to my stats. I haven't taken my DAT due to covid, but I will be taking it in January. Do you think I should apply now or just wait to apply next cycle? I really want to apply this cycle, but feel like I will not get in. If I apply, I will be applying to any school that still has their application open to apply and takes DAT scores in January. If you do not think I should apply, what should I do? Should I do a post bacc program or master's program?

I think waiting might be best for now, and just taking the time to focus on doing well on your DAT, and if you can maybe look into masters or post bacc programs. I personally think that graduate programs are a better route to go over post bacc but everyone is different. best of luck 🙂

 

[Leahlocks45]

I think waiting might be best for now, and just taking the time to focus on doing well on your DAT, and if you can maybe look into masters or post bacc programs. I personally think that graduate programs are a better route to go over post bacc but everyone is different. best of luck 🙂

Thank you for your advice! Do you suggest I push back taking my DAT in January and just take it later in March/April? I was kind of rushing to take it in January just so I can apply this cycle. I feel mediocre about taking it in January.

 

[2thDoc11]

Thank you for your advice! Do you suggest I push back taking my DAT in January and just take it later in March/April? I was kind of rushing to take it in January just so I can apply this cycle. I feel mediocre about taking it in January.

Don’t take it until you are ready. Unfortunately with sub-3.0 GPAs, the DAT will be weighted more heavily and you need to do well on it. As others mentioned a masters would be a good move to show that you can handle difficult courses. A lot of schools have cut offs for GPA which I’m sure you are aware of

 

[dnz2]

Thank you for your advice! Do you suggest I push back taking my DAT in January and just take it later in March/April? I was kind of rushing to take it in January just so I can apply this cycle. I feel mediocre about taking it in January.

yes! if you arent ready deff push it back! I know you wanted to apply this cycle but in 5-10 years when youre a dentist you wont really care about waiting an extra year to do a masters/applying in a later cycle

 

[frenzysword]

I graduated in 2019 in January and currently taking a gap now. In the gap year, I did not rush myself, I spent 3 months and took my DAT last year in November and finished shadowing last year and this year's summer. Now, I feel everything is ready. I have GPA, DAT, LOR shadowing, Volunteering, all pre-req for classes. I feel I am ready for the class of 2025 and submit my application in the first week when the application opens and all materials in. If I were you, I would wait. As other people mentioned above. Don't rush. You are going to apply once because you want to save money and time. You will be in a dental for 4 years and make it your career for the rest of your life if no major changes. Submit the application when you feel ready.

Your gpa is quite lower than the standard, but I have heard people being accpted from that GPA. The most important part is your DAT score now. However, You will not know how well you will perform on the exam until you take it. I would not rush it to prepare exams for 1 or 2 months taking it. You will burn out for sure. It takes time to study especially for the first time.

 

[Leahlocks45]

I graduated in 2019 in January and currently taking a gap now. In the gap year, I did not rush myself, I spent 3 months and took my DAT last year in November and finished shadowing last year and this year's summer. Now, I feel everything is ready. I have GPA, DAT, LOR shadowing, Volunteering, all pre-req for classes. I feel I am ready for the class of 2025 and submit my application in the first week when the application opens and all materials in. If I were you, I would wait. As other people mentioned above. Don't rush. You are going to apply once because you want to save money and time. You will be in a dental for 4 years and make it your career for the rest of your life if no major changes. Submit the application when you feel ready.

Your GPA is quite lower than the standard, but I have heard people being accepted from that GPA. The most important part is your DAT score now. However, You will not know how well you will perform on the exam until you take it. I would not rush it to prepare exams for 1 or 2 months taking it. You will burn out for sure. It takes time to study especially for the first time.

Thank you! I appreciate the advice. I have also heard of people getting accepted with a lower (2.8 GPA) so that is why I was thinking about applying. I definitely think the best option is for me to apply next cycle, but I was wanting to just take the chance and not lose a year. Will take your advice though

 

[2thDoc11]

Thank you! I appreciate the advice. I have also heard of people getting accepted with a lower (2.8 GPA) so that is why I was thinking about applying. I definitely think the best option is for me to apply next cycle, but I was wanting to just take the chance and not lose a year. Will take your advice though

The people with GPAs like that and get accepted probably make up for it somewhere else in their app like experiences and probably have overcome a lot of hurdles.. now I obvi don’t know you but from your post, you sound like an average applicant.. avg shadowing, volunteering, bio major, couples hours of working in healthcare etc... none of that is bad but it doesn’t necessarily offset the GPA and you’re putting a lot of weight into the DAT when you sound like you aren’t 100% confident.. you can take the Dat and apply to a couple schools but it’s risky and expensive .. good luck with what you decide

 

[Leahlocks45]

The people with GPAs like that and get accepted probably make up for it somewhere else in their app like experiences and probably have overcome a lot of hurdles.. now I obvi don’t know you but from your post, you sound like an average applicant.. avg shadowing, volunteering, bio major, couples hours of working in healthcare etc... none of that is bad but it doesn’t necessarily offset the GPA and you’re putting a lot of weight into the DAT when you sound like you aren’t 100% confident.. you can take the Dat and apply to a couple schools but it’s risky and expensive .. good luck with what you decide

Thank you for the response! What schools do you think I have a shot with if I were to apply this cycle?

 

[2thDoc11]

Thank you for the response! What schools do you think I have a shot with if I were to apply this cycle?

I’m not really sure if there are any.. you would need to do the research and gamble a little..

 

[deleted1029135]

Thank you for the response! What schools do you think I have a shot with if I were to apply this cycle?

take more undergrad science classes and get ur ogpa /sgpa above 3.2 to increase your chances! It’s better to take a gap year and get into cheaper schools (e.g. UAB)

 

[Purple_6]

Apply to Howard

 

[Carmencitas]

Apply to Howard

If they’re not URM, why would you recommend them apply to Howard???

 

[DMD12345]

If they’re not URM, why would you recommend them apply to Howard???

He must work for Howard undercover looking to trick people into free donations 👀