Should I go ahead and apply this cycle or just do a SMP?

[Ollivander]

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I've been planning to apply for months now, but now I'm not so sure. I just got finished inputting my grades into the AADSAS, and realized I really screwed up before I transferred universities. My current oGPA is a 3.33 and my science GPA is a 3.16. I have 5 W's from my previous university where I screwed up and they are all in math or science courses. I have 5 W's from my current university and 4/5 are from math or science courses. My final grades look like this:

Biology 1: A (taken in high school at a CC)
Biology 2: A (taken in high school at a CC)
Gen Chem 1: A Lab: A (two previous withdrawals from my old university)
Gen Chem 2: B Lab: A (one previous withdrawal during a summer term)
Organic 1: B Lab: B
Organic 2: B Lab: A
Physics 1: B (one previous withdrawal from my old university)
Physics 2: B
Anatomy & Physio 1: C (one previous withdrawal)
Anatomy & Physio 2: A

I recently finished the second anatomy course and the two organic chemistry courses. I'm retaking Anatomy 1 that I received a C in during a summer session and plan to get an A in it this fall. I'm also taking Biochemistry this fall. The other courses that I have withdrawals in include one finance course and the rest are math.

I started thinking about it when entering in my grades and thought it may be a better idea to save the $4,000-$5,000 I plan to use on applying to 17 or 18 schools and put towards a SMP and only apply once after I'm already accepted into the SMP next cycle. I'm also a finance major with a chemistry minor, so I'm not the traditional biology/chemistry major.

I have yet to take the DAT but have been studying a lot. I plan to take it in July. I have exceptional EC's and volunteer work in addition to 116 shadowing hours of dentists. I just get a feeling that I may be blowing $5,000 in applying this cycle only to receive no acceptances when I could be putting that money toward the tuition of a SMP.

Any opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm really unsure what to do now that I've really got into the thick of this application process. I realize I made mistakes due to immaturity and isolation at my old university, but I feel as though I've significantly made up for those lapses at my new university over the last two going on three years. I should mention that I'm currently 23 years old and will graduate this next spring (spring of 2016) and will be 24 years old at the time if you need to factor that in. Again and I can't stress this enough, I appreciate anyone who is kind enough to respond and give advice on my situation.

 

[ajj70]

I would wait to see what you get on your DAT. If you get 22+, apply, if not, wait a year.

 

[Ollivander]

I would wait to see what you get on your DAT. If you get 22+, apply, if not, wait a year.

Do you think a re-applicant that was rejected the first time around and went back, did a SMP, and reapplied would be looked at harder than someone who avoiding applying altogether the first time around and just went the SMP route without even trying to apply to dental school right out of undergrad?

 

[ajj70]

Do you think a re-applicant that was rejected the first time around and went back, did a SMP, and reapplied would be looked at harder than someone who avoiding applying altogether the first time around and just went the SMP route without even trying to apply to dental school right out of undergrad?

That is not something I can really answer since I don't sit on the admissions board. It's generally accepted that if you apply one year and are rejected that if you don't so anything to improve your application, you basically have no chance the 2nd time around. Adding a SMP next year if you don't get in this cycle is pretty much considered necessary. How it factors into their decision, it seems to be favorable for most people but it's just one piece of the puzzle, and without a DAT, impossible to say either way. Then again, if you have the $3000 or so just laying around and don't care if you are tossing it out the window, go for it.

 

[PlasmaMembrane]

10 W's is not going to look good at all...

 

[ICUrunning]

I've been planning to apply for months now, but now I'm not so sure. I just got finished inputting my grades into the AADSAS, and realized I really screwed up before I transferred universities. My current oGPA is a 3.33 and my science GPA is a 3.16. I have 5 W's from my previous university where I screwed up and they are all in math or science courses. I have 5 W's from my current university and 4/5 are from math or science courses. My final grades look like this:

Biology 1: A (taken in high school at a CC)
Biology 2: A (taken in high school at a CC)
Gen Chem 1: A Lab: A (two previous withdrawals from my old university)
Gen Chem 2: B Lab: A (one previous withdrawal during a summer term)
Organic 1: B Lab: B
Organic 2: B Lab: A
Physics 1: B (one previous withdrawal from my old university)
Physics 2: B
Anatomy & Physio 1: C (one previous withdrawal)
Anatomy & Physio 2: A

I recently finished the second anatomy course and the two organic chemistry courses. I'm retaking Anatomy 1 that I received a C in during a summer session and plan to get an A in it this fall. I'm also taking Biochemistry this fall. The other courses that I have withdrawals in include one finance course and the rest are math.

I started thinking about it when entering in my grades and thought it may be a better idea to save the $4,000-$5,000 I plan to use on applying to 17 or 18 schools and put towards a SMP and only apply once after I'm already accepted into the SMP next cycle. I'm also a finance major with a chemistry minor, so I'm not the traditional biology/chemistry major.

I have yet to take the DAT but have been studying a lot. I plan to take it in July. I have exceptional EC's and volunteer work in addition to 116 shadowing hours of dentists. I just get a feeling that I may be blowing $5,000 in applying this cycle only to receive no acceptances when I could be putting that money toward the tuition of a SMP.

Any opinions and advice would be greatly appreciated! I'm really unsure what to do now that I've really got into the thick of this application process. I realize I made mistakes due to immaturity and isolation at my old university, but I feel as though I've significantly made up for those lapses at my new university over the last two going on three years. I should mention that I'm currently 23 years old and will graduate this next spring (spring of 2016) and will be 24 years old at the time if you need to factor that in. Again and I can't stress this enough, I appreciate anyone who is kind enough to respond and give advice on my situation.

Why don't you apply just to a few schools? Your state school, neighboring school, and a few privates.

 

[Ollivander]

I'm going to bump this one more time just to attempt to gain a couple more perspectives.

 

[danchoi03]

Apply to a few schools ( 15 maybe?) and apply to SMP at the same time. Also, you will need DAT to get in the best SMPs out there like Boston, Nova, and Tulane. Other 1 year masters also accept GRE scores. I suggest do your very best for the DAT in July and apply to both dental schools and SMP. Good luck!

 

[I want to go to there]

Don't take the DAT in July if you aren't ready to get like 23+ on it. You already have 10Ws, so I think retaking the DAT would look bad for you as it shows a trend. If you get a good DAT score, I would apply broadly and just gamble. SMP is really expensive.

 

[Ollivander]

Don't take the DAT in July if you aren't ready to get like 23+ on it. You already have 10Ws, so I think retaking the DAT would look bad for you as it shows a trend. If you get a good DAT score, I would apply broadly and just gamble. SMP is really expensive.

I haven't taken the DAT before now. This would be my first time.

 

[Ollivander]

Apply to a few schools ( 15 maybe?) and apply to SMP at the same time. Also, you will need DAT to get in the best SMPs out there like Boston, Nova, and Tulane. Other 1 year masters also accept GRE scores. I suggest do your very best for the DAT in July and apply to both dental schools and SMP. Good luck!

I've got one year of university left (fall and spring), so I'd probably apply for the SMP next spring and start it during the fall of 2016.

 

[tarheel616]

Apply this cycle to around 10-15 schools, specifically schools such as NYU, USC, BU, Roseman, LECOM, Midwestern(s) that are usually more forgiving with grades.

It might be worthwhile to also contact those SMP's you are interested in applying to (that have dental schools) and get their opinion on your application for this cycle!

 

[danchoi03]

I've got one year of university left (fall and spring), so I'd probably apply for the SMP next spring and start it during the fall of 2016.

Also, don't let the 10Ws discourage you. What matters most is your GPA, sGPA, and DAT. Since you have another year and I am assuming it is your 4th year, try to take many science classes as you can and bring up the sGPA and BCP. If your sGPA is not at competitive by the end of 4th year, stay another year at your university and take more science classes. Don't do SMP or postbach because they are more expensive and they work equally the same for your case. Remember to rock that DAT.

 

[I want to go to there]

Also, don't let the 10Ws discourage you. What matters most is your GPA, sGPA, and DAT. Since you have another year and I am assuming it is your 4th year, try to take many science classes as you can and bring up the sGPA and BCP. If your sGPA is not at competitive by the end of 4th year, stay another year at your university and take more science classes. Don't do SMP or postbach because they are more expensive and they work equally the same for your case. Remember to rock that DAT.

I think what you just described is an informal postbac. So, postbac won't be that expensive compared to SMP and masters.

 

[danchoi03]

I think what you just described is an informal postbac. So, postbac won't be that expensive compared to SMP and masters.

This is not true. Postbac is only when you do undergrad classes after you receive your bachelor degree. However, OP hasn't received his bachelor yet so if he extends his undergrad to 5 years instead of 4 years, he is still an undergrad. The benefits of extending to 5 years is that you get cheaper tuition fee, qualify for financial aids, and other perks that all undergrads receive as opposed to doing formal or informal postbac. When you do informal postbac, the tuition cost will be slightly higher because you are not matriculated student.

 

[I want to go to there]

This is not true. Postbac is only when you do undergrad classes after you receive your bachelor degree. However, OP hasn't received his bachelor yet so if he extend his undergrad to 5 years instead of 4 years, he is still an undergrad. The benefits of extending to 5 years is that you get cheaper tuition fee, qualify for financial aids, and other perks that all undergrads receive as opposed to doing formal or informal postbac.

Oh, so what you are saying is for him to take science classes that doesn't contribute to his major so he doesn't get a degree after 4 years? I would think upper lvl courses outside his major will be pretty hard. He might screw up his GPA instead of improving it. If he were to take lower lvl courses unrelated to his major in his 4th year, it would look bad.

 

[danchoi03]

Oh, so what you are saying is for him to take science classes that doesn't contribute to his major so he doesn't get a degree after 4 years? I would think upper lvl courses outside his major will be pretty hard. He might screw up his GPA instead of improving it. If he were to take lower lvl courses unrelated to his major in his 4th year, it would look bad.

I don't understand what you are suggesting. Doing a postbac is the same thing taking more science classes to boost your oGPA and sGPA. Now you are telling me that he will have difficult time taking classes outside of his major and he may screw up his GPA. Tell me what is the point of convincing him doing postbac then. You are making no sense.

 

[predent3591]

That is not something I can really answer since I don't sit on the admissions board. It's generally accepted that if you apply one year and are rejected that if you don't so anything to improve your application, you basically have no chance the 2nd time around. Adding a SMP next year if you don't get in this cycle is pretty much considered necessary. How it factors into their decision, it seems to be favorable for most people but it's just one piece of the puzzle, and without a DAT, impossible to say either way. Then again, if you have the $3000 or so just laying around and don't care if you are tossing it out the window, go for it.

i think you mean more like $30,000+

 

[I want to go to there]

I don't understand what you are suggesting. Doing a postbac is the same thing taking more science classes to boost your oGPA and sGPA. Now you are telling me that he will have difficult time taking classes outside of his major and he may screw up his GPA. Tell me what is the point of convincing him doing postbac then. You are making no sense.

Doesn't University give you degree and graduate you when you reach the graduating requirement for you major? I thought you were telling him to take more classes that don't count towards his graduating requirement so he can graduate later.

 

[danchoi03]

Doesn't University give you degree and graduate you when you reach the graduating requirement for you major? I thought you were telling him to take more classes that don't count towards his graduating requirement so he can graduate later.

No you can delay your graduation and graduate in 5 years. I did it and so did many others that I knew.

 

[I want to go to there]

No you can delay your graduation and graduate in 5 years. I did it and so did many others that I knew.

Oh, mine just said off you go.

 

[ajj70]

No you can delay your graduation and graduate in 5 years. I did it and so did many others that I knew.

They let you stay even if you have completed all of your requirements or do you register for classes your senior year that are for a "minor" or whatever and then finish required classes in your 5th year? Not many schools will allow you to just take classes, and get financial aid, just because you want to go a 5th year.

 

[danchoi03]

They let you stay even if you have completed all of your requirements or do you register for classes your senior year that are for a "minor" or whatever and then finish required classes in your 5th year? Not many schools will allow you to just take classes, and get financial aid, just because you want to go a 5th year.

The maximum varies for different schools and different majors. For engineering, max units you can take is 230 units while the major only requires 180 units. You will need to speak to your advisor about the maximum units you can take. If you have reached the max units, then you may need to declare a double major or a minor. Again, speak to your advisor.

 

[ajj70]

The maximum varies for different schools and different majors. For engineering, max units you can take is 230 units while the major only requires 180 units. You will need to speak to your advisor about the maximum units you can take. If you have reached the max units, then you may need to declare a double major or a minor. Again, speak to your advisor.

I don't need to speak to my advisor, I know how it works at my school and once you have taken all of your required classes, you graduate, end of story. If you have declared 2 or 3 majors and need the 230 credits, that's one thing, but to just let you take classes when you have met all the requirements for your major and the college is not normal.

My brother brought in enough credits to have a junior standing freshman year. He needs one more class to complete all of his major courses and gen ed's. They were going to make him graduate in December since he was done so he added a second major. He will still finish early doing that.