sub 3.0ers

[New2this]

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Hi, I am one of several sub 3.0 students trying to get into dental school. I am going into my final year of my bs in molecular biology with a 2.8 gpa. I hope to raise it to 3.0 by the end of the year. Several of you have said that in order to get acceptance into a dental school you took a masters program. Since I am in the same spot as you, I was wondering how did you manage to get into a masters with a sub-3 gpa? What made you stand out in your opinion and what advice can you offer me? I plan on going for a masters since I feel that my chances are low right now of getting accepted as is. So I am gonng prepare to take the DAT next june/sept and hopefully enter a masters program as well. I go to San Jose State Univ and speaking to some people that are involved with the process, they said to be as close to a 3.0 as possible, so thats the goal for now. What else do you think may help me? I also plan on pursuing volunteer/shadowing at a dental clinic sometime soon. Currently I have volunteer experience from UCSF pharmacy along with management internship at Walgreens. I have served as an officer of two school clubs. What more should I try and do to help my chances? Any advice would be great!
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[Hysteria24]

Things you can still do to set you apart:

- Get some great letters of rec. This works especially well if you will be applying to the program at your current school. After all, many of the professors in the department are on the actual committee for granting acceptance to the program. They would think highly of a good letter from one of their own.

- You’ve heard people say to kill the DAT. Well, you can do the same thing with the GRE. A good score here will also impress.

These two worked for me with my sub 3.0 GPA!

 

[TerpFan]

.

 

[Dmoney17]

Yea, i understand where you are comming from. Im about to start my 3rd year of undergrad and i have a gpa of 3.0. Its pretty low, but i have two years left to raise it so we will see. Ive heard of people making it with under a 3.0 so lets just all think positive. Good luck to everyone

 

[predental7200]

These two worked for me with my sub 3.0 GPA!

Did you mean it helped you get into a masters program or into dental school?

PS What's GRE?

 

[PChemGrad]

PS What's GRE?

GRE = Graduate Record Exam

its like the SATs but for Grad school.

Depending on what program you apply to, you will have to take the general GRE and possibly the subject GRE.

 

[diesels]

PS What's GRE?

I love it.

 

[predental7200]

I love it.

Hey, I'm canadian, and I've never heard of that here. So shoot me! lol

 

[Meatwad]

Hey, I'm canadian, and I've never heard of that here. So shoot me! lol

What standardized test, if any, do you guys take before entrance into graduate (not professional) schools?

 

[Hysteria24]

Did you mean it helped you get into a masters program or into dental school?

Helped me get into a traditional masters program. But with my stats even that was a stretch. When I first inquired about the program the director asked what my science GPA was. After I told her she said “that’s bad,” then closed her eyes shook her head and said, “that’s really bad.”

Nothing like a little extra motivation!

What standardized test, if any, do you guys take before entrance into graduate (not professional) schools?

Like stated earlier, the GRE. Heres a little tid bit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Record_Examination

It's a beefed up version of the SAT.

 

[Hysteria24]

What standardized test, if any, do you guys take before entrance into graduate (not professional) schools?

Whoops!!!

Now that I re-read the thread I believe you were asking what test Canadians take for grad school. Sorry, for the mix up. I’ll wait patiently for predental7200 to post.

 

[z3u2]

Hey, I'm canadian, and I've never heard of that here. So shoot me! lol

uh.....
there is GRE here in Canada too......

it may not be a strict requirement to enter a master's program, depending on the school and program..
but, it does exist here and many schools do require GRE scores.

 

[Meatwad]

Whoops!!!

Now that I re-read the thread I believe you were asking what test Canadians take for grad school. Sorry, for the mix up. I’ll wait patiently for predental7200 to post.

Yup, you got it the second time around 😉

uh.....
there is GRE here in Canada too......

it may not be a strict requirement to enter a master's program, depending on the school and program..
but, it does exist here and many schools do require GRE scores.

That's what I thought...

 

[jza70]

When I first inquired about the program the director asked what my science GPA was. After I told her she said “that’s bad,” then closed her eyes shook her head and said, “that’s really bad.”

Nothing like a little extra motivation!

LOL. Not trying trying to poke fun at you, but that was really funny. What was your science gpa btw? Mine is pretty ****ty too. You still working on your masters or you made it into dental school already?

 

[Hysteria24]

LOL. Not trying trying to poke fun at you, but that was really funny. What was your science gpa btw? Mine is pretty ****ty too. You still working on your masters or you made it into dental school already?

It's ok.. I laugh at that story too.

Science GPA then: 2.45

After pulling a 4.0 in a year of upper division / graduate science classes: 3.15

This number should continue to rise throughout the upcoming year. I will finish up my masters in the spring of 08, and am current applicant to hopefully start D-school in the fall of 08.

 

[Jaba]

Is it really necessary to have at least a C or greater in the pre-requisite courses?

I have physics and organic chemistry with D marks and I couldn't help it. All of my other marks are higher and I don't know if it is important to re-take them given my GPA is in the 3.1 + range now (due to the D's).

Any ideas from this group?

THanks
Jaba

 

[Blackjack21]

when u apply u they formulate a BCP (bio,chem, physics) gpa. With that many c's and d's its gonna make that gpa very very low...and unfortunately thats probably the most important gpa they look at (they also calculate an overall gpa and science gpa). I would definitely retake if i were u....and dont show a little improvement..get the A's.

 

[bennijai]

i am also an applicant that has exactly 3.0 gpa overall. but for some reason my sci gpa is a bit higher, its around a 3.38...i dont really know how much it will help but hopefully my letters of recs, extracurriculars, and DAt will give me the boost i need

 

[Meatwad]

Yeah, you've got to retake D's.

 

[jza70]

It's ok.. I laugh at that story too.

Science GPA then: 2.45

After pulling a 4.0 in a year of upper division / graduate science classes: 3.15

This number should continue to rise throughout the upcoming year. I will finish up my masters in the spring of 08, and am current applicant to hopefully start D-school in the fall of 08.

Good to hear. Where you doing your masters at? Hayward (I hear finicalaid coveres a 2nd bachlors over there)? I'm considering my alternatives and options.

 

[Jaba]

when u apply u they formulate a BCP (bio,chem, physics) gpa. With that many c's and d's its gonna make that gpa very very low...and unfortunately thats probably the most important gpa they look at (they also calculate an overall gpa and science gpa). I would definitely retake if i were u....and dont show a little improvement..get the A's.

Because I am good at biology though, shouldn't I just keep taking 4th year biology courses? This will increase the BCP, and re-taking the courses still wouldnt solve the problem of having the D's in those pre-req courses.

 

[shawn_wac]

I skipped the master route, went back and took a lot of community college course to raise my GPA. It worked great for me because I didn't have to apply to a program; I didn't need to take the GRE; it is a lot cheaper than a 4yr program; retaking the science classes was a cheap way to study for the DAT when compared to Kaplan; at the same time I brought up my Science GPA along with the overall GPA; I also had fun doing it because took some art classes to work on my hand eye cord...

I know a lot of people say that the d-schools frown on the CC's, but since I already have a degree it made better sense to save the money. I was worried about doing this, so I spoke with a couple of the schools I am applying to and explained what I was doing. They really seemed to have no problem with this concept. One Dean of Admission even seemed really impressed with my idea and said to make sure and explain this in my apps and interviews... I have an interview with San Antonio next week (13th).

 

[Hysteria24]

Good to hear. Where you doing your masters at? Hayward (I hear finicalaid coveres a 2nd bachlors over there)? I'm considering my alternatives and options.

Wow, good guess, especially with all the schools in the Bay Area. Hayward it is, although the school now is called “East Bay.”

I’m not sure about the fin aid situation. It’s possible that if you are in a true degree program and not just a general post-bac you could get something. I couldn’t get a dime before I was in an official program. I would call to find out for sure. Either way, it’s a state school, which is a pretty good deal for CA residents.

 

[jza70]

Wow, good guess, especially with all the schools in the Bay Area. Hayward it is, although the school now is called “East Bay.”

I’m not sure about the fin aid situation. It’s possible that if you are in a true degree program and not just a general post-bac you could get something. I couldn’t get a dime before I was in an official program. I would call to find out for sure. Either way, it’s a state school, which is a pretty good deal for CA residents.

Heh, just assumed you'd prob go to the school with the quater system. Everywhere else, SF and San Ho, are semester. I'll end up going there too if it comes down to doing any extra work.

 

[z3u2]

does D count as a passing grade?
i thought it's the same as fail?

 

[Meatwad]

does D count as a passing grade?
i thought it's the same as fail?

D is passing at most undergrad schools, but if it's a prereq for dental school, you've got to retake it.

 

[Jaba]

D is passing at most undergrad schools, but if it's a prereq for dental school, you've got to retake it.

I just talked to a few schools and they told me as long as it has been completed and that the science GPA is ok then it is not required to re-take them again.

Why all this negativity around here? I am aware D is low, but I was about to re-take all of those courses, which really wouldnt do me that much better.

 

[Meatwad]

I just talked to a few schools and they told me as long as it has been completed and that the science GPA is ok then it is not required to re-take them again.

Why all this negativity around here? I am aware D is low, but I was about to re-take all of those courses, which really wouldnt do me that much better.

Hey, wahtever you want to do, it's up to you. I personally would retake D's; they don't look good at all, and maybe some schools take them, but I'm sure a lot of them don't. So that limits the schools you can apply to.

 

[Jaba]

Hey, wahtever you want to do, it's up to you. I personally would retake D's; they don't look good at all, and maybe some schools take them, but I'm sure a lot of them don't. So that limits the schools you can apply to.

Yea, the only problem I am facing is that here in Canada they take your best two years into consideration at many schools. Best two years is very competitive at > 89% average so this is why I am trying to stay away from repeating those. I want to re-take them, but at the same time, this could really hurt my chances of getting acceptance into a Canadian school.

Any ideas? Maybe I can take them next summer again? (Many Canadian schools dont include summer courses in the GPA).

HELP
Jaba

 

[jza70]

D is passing at most undergrad schools, but if it's a prereq for dental school, you've got to retake it.

C- and below is failing at my school and same with my friends school too.

 

[rmg50]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and i just became a member.

I am a freshman in college right now and I have just had a few questions. Some info about me is that I attend a small private university in Houston. I am really worried about not getting into dental school because i got a 3.2 and a 3.0 science gpa my first year and I know that i still have a lot of time to bring up my gpa but it is still hard. I have taken bio 1 and 2 chem 1 and 2 but for bio 1 i got a C and i got B's in the rest of my science classes. Next semester i am taking genetics organic chem and physics. I know i have to start early with research and shadowing. My dad is a cardiologist and my brother is a first year student at UT medical school in houston so i have a lot to accomplish.

The few questions I have are:

Will I still be able to get into dental school if my gpa does not go up any higher than about a 3.2-3.3?

I go to a private school in Houston called the university of st. thomas and i heard that if i transferred to UT Austin that it would give me a higher chance to get into UT dental school in houston. Should i transfer?

Also, I am a biology major but im thinking about changing to a liberal arts major. Is that a bad idea.

Last, What should i do this summer? Should I shadow, get an internship, get a job at a dental office, or research? Which one is the best?


Thanks.

 

[supermax]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and i just became a member.

I am a freshman in college right now and I have just had a few questions. Some info about me is that I attend a small private university in Houston. I am really worried about not getting into dental school because i got a 3.2 and a 3.0 science gpa my first year and I know that i still have a lot of time to bring up my gpa but it is still hard. I have taken bio 1 and 2 chem 1 and 2 but for bio 1 i got a C and i got B's in the rest of my science classes. Next semester i am taking genetics organic chem and physics. I know i have to start early with research and shadowing. My dad is a cardiologist and my brother is a first year student at UT medical school in houston so i have a lot to accomplish.

The few questions I have are:

Will I still be able to get into dental school if my gpa does not go up any higher than about a 3.2-3.3?

I go to a private school in Houston called the university of st. thomas and i heard that if i transferred to UT Austin that it would give me a higher chance to get into UT dental school in houston. Should i transfer?

Also, I am a biology major but im thinking about changing to a liberal arts major. Is that a bad idea.

Last, What should i do this summer? Should I shadow, get an internship, get a job at a dental office, or research? Which one is the best?


Thanks.

Keep your science GPA up, get A's in rest of your classes. A science GPA between 3.2-3.3 and good DAT score would be sufficient. You should start shadowing, find volunteer positions on campus or in your community, and research work if possible.

 

[magriva]

I go to st thomas too (I'm a junior). Your Gpa is not bad. keep up! Don't take genetics with dr simmons. =)

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and i just became a member.

I am a freshman in college right now and I have just had a few questions. Some info about me is that I attend a small private university in Houston. I am really worried about not getting into dental school because i got a 3.2 and a 3.0 science gpa my first year and I know that i still have a lot of time to bring up my gpa but it is still hard. I have taken bio 1 and 2 chem 1 and 2 but for bio 1 i got a C and i got B's in the rest of my science classes. Next semester i am taking genetics organic chem and physics. I know i have to start early with research and shadowing. My dad is a cardiologist and my brother is a first year student at UT medical school in houston so i have a lot to accomplish.

The few questions I have are:

Will I still be able to get into dental school if my gpa does not go up any higher than about a 3.2-3.3?

I go to a private school in Houston called the university of st. thomas and i heard that if i transferred to UT Austin that it would give me a higher chance to get into UT dental school in houston. Should i transfer?

Also, I am a biology major but im thinking about changing to a liberal arts major. Is that a bad idea.

Last, What should i do this summer? Should I shadow, get an internship, get a job at a dental office, or research? Which one is the best?


Thanks.

If you transfer anywhere, transfer to A&M. They have agreements with Baylor for reserving seats and they have the most people that get into dental schools everywhere. Obviously, I'm not an aggie fan lol but they are the place to go if you want to get to dental school.

And no, don't change your major. That would just show that you couldn't handle the bio and took the easy way out. Study harder and get better grades.

This summer, I would get a job at a dental office and do research.

You're a freshman, plenty of time to pull it together.

With all the MD doctors in your family, why did you not choose to go that route? Or go to a DO school? I hope you're not thinking that dentistry is easier to get into so you're just doing that to have a respectable position in your family. Ask yourself this, if MD and dental school required the same GPA, test scores, etc., would you still go? Because if you do get into dental school, you better LOVE what you do especially at Baylor. I know of couple of people who hate their choice of dentistry after they go and can't turn back. Just something to think about.

 

[Dynamo]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to know everyones thoughts.

What does a 3.08 sci and 3.28 overall with a 22 AA/TS, current masters student with lots of shadowing,volunteer & work experience look like?

Honest opinion?

 

[Sunspear]

I skipped the master route, went back and took a lot of community college course to raise my GPA. It worked great for me because I didn't have to apply to a program; I didn't need to take the GRE; it is a lot cheaper than a 4yr program; retaking the science classes was a cheap way to study for the DAT when compared to Kaplan; at the same time I brought up my Science GPA along with the overall GPA; I also had fun doing it because took some art classes to work on my hand eye cord...

I know a lot of people say that the d-schools frown on the CC's, but since I already have a degree it made better sense to save the money. I was worried about doing this, so I spoke with a couple of the schools I am applying to and explained what I was doing. They really seemed to have no problem with this concept. One Dean of Admission even seemed really impressed with my idea and said to make sure and explain this in my apps and interviews... I have an interview with San Antonio next week (13th).

omg! this is pretty much what I've done, too! I'm hoping it'll grant me some interviews as well.

 

[toothpaste52]

Things you can still do to set you apart:

- Get some great letters of rec. This works especially well if you will be applying to the program at your current school. After all, many of the professors in the department are on the actual committee for granting acceptance to the program. They would think highly of a good letter from one of their own.

- You’ve heard people say to kill the DAT. Well, you can do the same thing with the GRE. A good score here will also impress.

These two worked for me with my sub 3.0 GPA!

you mentioned about a good GRE score will impress adcom...can you be more specific..like they will take your GRE into evaluation sort of?..or what..the reason why I asked is because I did amazing at GRE..the score is 98 percentile and 89 percentile MATH......