Sour Truth!

[2pac]

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Dental School's advice when my GPA during Under grad years was low. By low I mean 2.6ish(Engineering).

Now, I have 2 Masters one in Engineering(GPA3.95) and other in Business with a 3.58 GPA. Yes, I have even taken higher level Biology classes. Yes, I have take DAT 19/17/15. I graduate in June and donot know if I should even consider applying again for next year.

None of the school even gave me an interview. Frustrations are there but the sad part is there is so much one can do. What do I need to do now?

 

[captaintripps]

Dental School's advice when my GPA during Under grad years was low. By low I mean 2.6ish(Engineering).

Now, I have 2 Masters one in Engineering(GPA3.95) and other in Business with a 3.58 GPA. Yes, I have even taken higher level Biology classes. Yes, I have take DAT 19/17/15. I graduate in June and donot know if I should even consider applying again for next year.

None of the school even gave me an interview. Frustrations are there but the sad part is there is so much one can do. What do I need to do now?

Improve your DAT.

 

[Sprgrover]

While the sour truth is that you didn't get in the last cycle the sweet truth is that I believe you still have a shot. There are a lot of variables to your situation. While your undergraduate gpa is a bit low you have demonstrated an upward trend in grades during your graduate career (kudos!) and that is looked upon very favorably by dental schools. Your DAT scores are alright, but given your past grade performance, a higher score on the test would greatly bolster your chances. I know the prospect of taking that four hour monster is pleasing, but a few weeks dedicated to solid studying should pay off with an increased all-around score. Also, how many dental schools, and more importantly which dental schools, did you apply to? Carefully researching schools that seem to receptive to applicants with similar backgrounds (scores, gpa, etc.) will greatly improve your chances of not only getting an interview but ultimately a coveted spot in dental school. Hang in there! 👍

 

[jk5177]

While the sour truth is that you didn't get in the last cycle the sweet truth is that I believe you still have a shot. There are a lot of variables to your situation. While your undergraduate gpa is a bit low you have demonstrated an upward trend in grades during your graduate career (kudos!) and that is looked upon very favorably by dental schools. Your DAT scores are alright, but given your past grade performance, a higher score on the test would greatly bolster your chances. I know the prospect of taking that four hour monster is pleasing, but a few weeks dedicated to solid studying should pay off with an increased all-around score. Also, how many dental schools, and more importantly which dental schools, did you apply to? Carefully researching schools that seem to receptive to applicants with similar backgrounds (scores, gpa, etc.) will greatly improve your chances of not only getting an interview but ultimately a coveted spot in dental school. Hang in there! 👍

Nice post. Well said.

 

[jk5177]

Dental School's advice when my GPA during Under grad years was low. By low I mean 2.6ish(Engineering).

Now, I have 2 Masters one in Engineering(GPA3.95) and other in Business with a 3.58 GPA. Yes, I have even taken higher level Biology classes. Yes, I have take DAT 19/17/15. I graduate in June and donot know if I should even consider applying again for next year.

None of the school even gave me an interview. Frustrations are there but the sad part is there is so much one can do. What do I need to do now?

It's interesting how you are able to get such a high GPA in engineering and business, yet your DAT is sub-par. What happened? Were you nervous? Did you not study enough? Was it a certain section that caused difficulty. Do you have any dental experience? Shadowing? Interning? How come you are switching to dental, especially after enginnering and business? It seems like you have some powerhouse combo in your masters education.

These are just some of the questions I have. I imagine adcoms or other people may have the same question as well.

 

[Pikeyman]

Dental School's advice when my GPA during Under grad years was low. By low I mean 2.6ish(Engineering).

Now, I have 2 Masters one in Engineering(GPA3.95) and other in Business with a 3.58 GPA. Yes, I have even taken higher level Biology classes. Yes, I have take DAT 19/17/15. I graduate in June and donot know if I should even consider applying again for next year.

None of the school even gave me an interview. Frustrations are there but the sad part is there is so much one can do. What do I need to do now?

I'm no expert but I'm sure Admissions Committees would question the quality of your graduate GPAs after they look at your DAT.

Everyone I know with 3.4 or above got at least 19 on every section.

Just put yourself in Admissions Committees' shoes and look at your resume and eveything. I'm sure everything will come to you.

If not, I suggest you get a "Colon Blow" at your local supermarket and chuck it down.

Good ideas usually strike when sitting on a toilet.

 

[2pac]

Here is what I got on DAT:

First time Second time

PAT 15 15
READ 17 14
MAth 15 17
BIO 16 19
ORG 22 18
INORG 17 18
AA 17 17
TS 18 19

As you could see I messed up in reading for whatever reason. And donot forget I took the test while I had a full load of 20hours of work and Graduate classes. I wish I could replace 14 in read with a 17 in reading.

Please make comments now:

 

[fruity_trident]

i think your scores are fine, if not great...but take my words with a grain of salt...i don't know much, i haven't gotten into dental school.

if u decide to stick with your DATs, and u're asked to explain them, do not throw in "I took the test while I had a full load of 20hours of work and Graduate classes". I obviously haven't been through that, but I'm sure others have (with families too!!! -wow!), and implying that you were busy with other things might not be to your advantage from the adcom's perspective.

just something to think about.

 

[eric275]

Dental School's advice when my GPA during Under grad years was low. By low I mean 2.6ish(Engineering).

Now, I have 2 Masters one in Engineering(GPA3.95) and other in Business with a 3.58 GPA. Yes, I have even taken higher level Biology classes. Yes, I have take DAT 19/17/15. I graduate in June and donot know if I should even consider applying again for next year.

None of the school even gave me an interview. Frustrations are there but the sad part is there is so much one can do. What do I need to do now?

I'd say the bigger question is what is your accum. gpa with your under-grad + your two masters degree's? While you show an upward trend in your academic performance some dental school's only care what your accum gpa is, a good friend of mine is in the exact same boat.

He did four years in the navel acadamy, 168 credits, with 2.8 ish gpa and has since completed a masters and another B.S. degree with all A's except 1 B+. With the huge amount of credits he recieved at the navel acadamy his most recent performance has changed his gpa little. Our state school has basically told him that he should take another two years of classes to raise his gpa or apply to schools that take into account the caliber of school that the navel acadamy is, and the 24+ credit hours a semester that is required every semester during their four years. If I were you I'd do some calling to dental schools and find out which ones will look favorably on your most recent performance and not just weed you out because of your accum gpa.

 

[2pac]

Yes, I have a low undergraduate GPA. This was because, I was new in United States so it took a long time for me to get accustomed to the studies. Believe it or not I did very poorly in Non-science classes like history, psychology blah blah. Then came the science classes, sme I did well in and some I completely screwd up. When I graduated, I made up my mind not to screwup my grades. By taking classes, I was amazed that it wasnot me it was my studying habots which enabled me to perform badly. I scraped the old goals of trying for medical profession(dentistry) and started working very hard. My goal was to keep my GPA above 3.5 but I managed ot above that. And here I am almost graduating with 2 master which improved my overall science and Non-science GPA. I should have a cummulative of above 2.9 GPA. Very close to hitting 3.0. I definitely have above 3.0 in BCP and Non-science but going to hard engineering classes my GPA suffered and it stands around 2.9ish cummulative.

I hope this suffice.

PLEASE COMMENT.

 

[balance]

Yes, I have a low undergraduate GPA. This was because, I was new in United States so it took a long time for me to get accustomed to the studies. Believe it or not I did very poorly in Non-science classes like history, psychology blah blah. Then came the science classes, sme I did well in and some I completely screwd up. When I graduated, I made up my mind not to screwup my grades. By taking classes, I was amazed that it wasnot me it was my studying habots which enabled me to perform badly. I scraped the old goals of trying for medical profession(dentistry) and started working very hard. My goal was to keep my GPA above 3.5 but I managed ot above that. And here I am almost graduating with 2 master which improved my overall science and Non-science GPA. I should have a cummulative of above 2.9 GPA. Very close to hitting 3.0. I definitely have above 3.0 in BCP and Non-science but going to hard engineering classes my GPA suffered and it stands around 2.9ish cummulative.

I hope this suffice.

PLEASE COMMENT.

I have a feeling you can do a lot better on DAT if you raise your goal higher, just the way you did it for your MS degrees. Perhaps you might want to change your studying habits for DAT as well.

You got a 15 and a 17 in the Math section of DAT. I have a feeling you are not familiar with the test techniques, otherwise, the MATH section should be no-brainer for engineers? (From an engineer to another engineer).

Also you might want to take the Kaplan DAT class to learn some of the techniques.

By the way, which schools you applied to?

 

[snoopy99]

Hey Pac, together we're 2 of Amerika's most wanted

At the same Mo-fo forum? at the same Mo-fo time?

-Just keep your hand on the books cause they got us on the run
Now we're back in the classroom waitin for the outcome
Gettin 2pac in dental is all thats on my mind
But at the same time, I gotta try to get mine
so Just get smart and get sneaky n ****
and put together a pimp App for them ADCOM peeps

Aint nuttin but a Sub 3.0 Gangsta Party

They tell us not to cram, so now we gotta prioritize
Sleepin in late, tryin to find an Alibi
They wonder how I apply with 5 F'S
Brothers is hard to flunk on my block
Schemes for A's and cheating related
Affiliated with the keeners till we made it


2pac and S-N-O-O-P D-O-G-G

--> Both with a Cumulative 2.9 GPA, pimp the wares

Good luck with your Appz Tupac

 

[dentalklaus]

Here is what I got on DAT:

First time Second time

PAT 15 15
READ 17 14
MAth 15 17
BIO 16 19
ORG 22 18
INORG 17 18
AA 17 17
TS 18 19

As you could see I messed up in reading for whatever reason. And donot forget I took the test while I had a full load of 20hours of work and Graduate classes. I wish I could replace 14 in read with a 17 in reading.

Please make comments now:

Having a 17/14 in reading is understandable since English isn't your first language. But 15/17 in Math section for an engineering student bothers me, regardless of GPA.

 

[2pac]

Having a 17/14 in reading is understandable since English isn't your first language. But 15/17 in Math section for an engineering student bothers me, regardless of GPA.

Good observation DentalKlaus, I also ask myself same question some times. But I can try to answer: the fact that I wasnot a typical Biology student I had to work twice as hard in the bio/chm section. With the result of which I neglected some of the sections including Math and Reading. I was amazed that I was scoring real well including in the PAT section during practice but I think being nervous added fuel in the situation also.

Please continue COMMENTS

 

[J2AZ]

The answer to your problem is very simple STUDY HARD for the DAT. You need to study your a$$ off and score atleast a 19 or 20 in most sections. As stated before your poor DAT score draws your post-grad GPA into question. The only section you can explain away a poor score in is reading comp. However, this score should atleast be a 17. So, my advice once again is study study study from now until August. Have your app in by June and take your DAT in early August. Make sure you take a ton of practice tests before test day.

 

[jk5177]

Here is what I got on DAT:

First time Second time

PAT 15 15
READ 17 14
MAth 15 17
BIO 16 19
ORG 22 18
INORG 17 18
AA 17 17
TS 18 19

As you could see I messed up in reading for whatever reason. And donot forget I took the test while I had a full load of 20hours of work and Graduate classes. I wish I could replace 14 in read with a 17 in reading.

Please make comments now:

That is an explanation on why you didn't do well, but in no means does it justify the reason why you didn't do well. There is a difference.

 

[jk5177]

I'm tired of viewing this thread. The point is YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR DAT, 2PAC. Nuff said.

 

[hockeydentist]

I'm tired of viewing this thread. The point is YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR DAT, 2PAC. Nuff said.

And whatever JK5177 says is the law of the land! Yah I higher DAT should be in order.

HD