First off I want to thank you guys in advance for your help. Even though I'm new to the SDN community I am very impressed with the quality of the answers and the maturity of everyone here. Though, I guess that's to be expected from America's future health professionals.
The goal of this thread is to determine whether or not I should apply in June of 2012 or 2013. I apologize if its long, but I want to paint a clear picture for you guys.
I graduated from the Schreyers Honors College at Penn State in December 2010 with a degree in Bioengineering (concentration in chemical engineering). My overall GPA was 3.86. I graduated with "High Distinction" (top 6% of the college of engineering) and produced an original undergraduate thesis on the molecular biomechanics of kinesin motors. I am also a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society.
I was on the boxing team for 2 years training about 15 hrs/week and I was president of my 90 man fraternity in addition to other leadership positions.
I wanted to take some time off before grad school and work (probably apply in June of 2013), but I haven't been able to get my foot in the door and find a full time job. I've been employed as a part-time private tutor for a while now. The time has come where I have to decide to stick to the plan or try to move the timeline up. For the most part I didn't consider dental school (I always thought of myself as a pre-med), but from all the research I've done dental school seems like the right choice for me.
I calculate my sGPA to be 3.88 from the classes below. The classes are as follows.
Calc 2 - A-
Calc 3 - A
Diff Eq - A
Phys Mech - A-
Phys E&M - A
Cell bio - A
Physiology - A-
Physiology lab - A
Ochem 1 - A
Ochem 2 - A
Ochem Lab - A-
I have two WP's (withdrew passing). One is for E&M honors level spring of freshman year. I was probably going to get a B- and my perfectionism wouldn't allow it at the time (I got a 4.0 that semester). I took that and DiffEQ at the local branch campus over the summer after freshman year. The second WP was for Ochem Lab spring of my senior year. My workload was way too high and I had some personal issues (sick in-house family member) and I didn't want my GPA to suffer. I went back in the following Fall as a part time student and took that course solo. I missed an A by a hundredth of a point due to the previously mentioned family member dying and me spending a lot of time traveling back home. My head just wasn't in the game.
I got AP credit for Calc 1 and for the 8 credits of inorganic chem. I also have a molecular and cellular bioengineering course which I think would likely count as biochemistry (A in that class). I'm not sure if my other engineering classes would affect my GPA, but they were mostly As and A-s with a B+ or two thrown in there.
After some research I've come to see that the AP credits for the inorganic chem would disqualify me from applying at quite a few schools (including Temple and Pitt, which is bad considering I'm a PA resident).
I see myself as having two possible plans, both of which are very open to suggestions/modifications.
1. To apply by June 2012. Take the two inorganic chem classes and lab in the spring and first summer session of this year at the local PSU branch campus, maybe with a microbiology or biochemistry class to boot. While doing this I'll shadow a dentist and study for the DATs and try to get some more volunteer work done (I have 85 hours at the local hospital from college). I will almost definitely get A's in the chem classes and I suspect I'll do well on the DATs.
2. To apply by June 2013. Move back to PSU main campus and take the chem/bio classes in the spring and summer. I'd also plan on enrolling in an EMT course and get my certification. I could also reconnect with some professors and do some more research or TA or whatever. I would have to work at least part time (waiting tables, delivery driver, etc...) in order to help pay for rent/food/living. I could probably get some shadowing/volunteering done, but I wouldn't be able to study for the DATs. I could then move back home in August, work as an EMT, volunteer, shadow and study for the DATs until the next application process.
Plan 1 allows me to move my timeline up and get my life started, but I am concerned about getting the prereqs done before even submitting the application. My prof letters and older prereqs will be more recent. I wouldn't have as much volunteering or shadowing time as plan 2, but it would be sufficient. My DAT score would probably be about the same, but maybe a little lower. I could start studying tomorrow if this is the plan.
Plan 2 gives me more time to do everything and take my classes at main campus, but I worry about my letters being a little out of date or my prereqs getting old (which seems to be an issue at a couple of schools). I could also do more research and take some more upper level classes.
Are my concerns for plan 2 valid? Do I have to worry about my college professors letters being considered "out of date" or my freshman and sophomore prereqs expiring? Is it worth it to try to perfect everything or should I just get the ball rolling and apply in June of 2012? Would being a few weeks late in the application process be a big deal if it comes to that?
I'm really struggling with this decision and I need to make my mind up soon before it is made up for me. I'd like to get into a good dental school and eventually specialize so I can use the engineering side of my brain (maybe ortho?). Can you guys offer any advice? Am I over thinking this way too much? I really really appreciate it.
The goal of this thread is to determine whether or not I should apply in June of 2012 or 2013. I apologize if its long, but I want to paint a clear picture for you guys.
I graduated from the Schreyers Honors College at Penn State in December 2010 with a degree in Bioengineering (concentration in chemical engineering). My overall GPA was 3.86. I graduated with "High Distinction" (top 6% of the college of engineering) and produced an original undergraduate thesis on the molecular biomechanics of kinesin motors. I am also a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society.
I was on the boxing team for 2 years training about 15 hrs/week and I was president of my 90 man fraternity in addition to other leadership positions.
I wanted to take some time off before grad school and work (probably apply in June of 2013), but I haven't been able to get my foot in the door and find a full time job. I've been employed as a part-time private tutor for a while now. The time has come where I have to decide to stick to the plan or try to move the timeline up. For the most part I didn't consider dental school (I always thought of myself as a pre-med), but from all the research I've done dental school seems like the right choice for me.
I calculate my sGPA to be 3.88 from the classes below. The classes are as follows.
Calc 2 - A-
Calc 3 - A
Diff Eq - A
Phys Mech - A-
Phys E&M - A
Cell bio - A
Physiology - A-
Physiology lab - A
Ochem 1 - A
Ochem 2 - A
Ochem Lab - A-
I have two WP's (withdrew passing). One is for E&M honors level spring of freshman year. I was probably going to get a B- and my perfectionism wouldn't allow it at the time (I got a 4.0 that semester). I took that and DiffEQ at the local branch campus over the summer after freshman year. The second WP was for Ochem Lab spring of my senior year. My workload was way too high and I had some personal issues (sick in-house family member) and I didn't want my GPA to suffer. I went back in the following Fall as a part time student and took that course solo. I missed an A by a hundredth of a point due to the previously mentioned family member dying and me spending a lot of time traveling back home. My head just wasn't in the game.
I got AP credit for Calc 1 and for the 8 credits of inorganic chem. I also have a molecular and cellular bioengineering course which I think would likely count as biochemistry (A in that class). I'm not sure if my other engineering classes would affect my GPA, but they were mostly As and A-s with a B+ or two thrown in there.
After some research I've come to see that the AP credits for the inorganic chem would disqualify me from applying at quite a few schools (including Temple and Pitt, which is bad considering I'm a PA resident).
I see myself as having two possible plans, both of which are very open to suggestions/modifications.
1. To apply by June 2012. Take the two inorganic chem classes and lab in the spring and first summer session of this year at the local PSU branch campus, maybe with a microbiology or biochemistry class to boot. While doing this I'll shadow a dentist and study for the DATs and try to get some more volunteer work done (I have 85 hours at the local hospital from college). I will almost definitely get A's in the chem classes and I suspect I'll do well on the DATs.
2. To apply by June 2013. Move back to PSU main campus and take the chem/bio classes in the spring and summer. I'd also plan on enrolling in an EMT course and get my certification. I could also reconnect with some professors and do some more research or TA or whatever. I would have to work at least part time (waiting tables, delivery driver, etc...) in order to help pay for rent/food/living. I could probably get some shadowing/volunteering done, but I wouldn't be able to study for the DATs. I could then move back home in August, work as an EMT, volunteer, shadow and study for the DATs until the next application process.
Plan 1 allows me to move my timeline up and get my life started, but I am concerned about getting the prereqs done before even submitting the application. My prof letters and older prereqs will be more recent. I wouldn't have as much volunteering or shadowing time as plan 2, but it would be sufficient. My DAT score would probably be about the same, but maybe a little lower. I could start studying tomorrow if this is the plan.
Plan 2 gives me more time to do everything and take my classes at main campus, but I worry about my letters being a little out of date or my prereqs getting old (which seems to be an issue at a couple of schools). I could also do more research and take some more upper level classes.
Are my concerns for plan 2 valid? Do I have to worry about my college professors letters being considered "out of date" or my freshman and sophomore prereqs expiring? Is it worth it to try to perfect everything or should I just get the ball rolling and apply in June of 2012? Would being a few weeks late in the application process be a big deal if it comes to that?
I'm really struggling with this decision and I need to make my mind up soon before it is made up for me. I'd like to get into a good dental school and eventually specialize so I can use the engineering side of my brain (maybe ortho?). Can you guys offer any advice? Am I over thinking this way too much? I really really appreciate it.