Suggestions With My Stats on App Process

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brandnewstart

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My GPA is low: BCP 2.94, Science 3.07, and Overall 3.27.
I took my first DAT on 8/29. TS:21; AA: 20; PAT:19.
Two LORs from professors are probably not too impressive. Other two LORs from a volunteer adviser and dentist are probably better. Dental shadowing for more than 100 hrs, and community service for more than 200 hrs.

I only have one quarter left at school so the option of raising up my GPA is not entirely realistic unless I take additional courses after I graduate this December. lI'm planning to retake my DAT on 11/28. I'm almost confident I can push for a higher score. The problem is, I know I'm late on the application process. The schools just started to reviewed my app. last week (starting around 9/10). I'm retaking my DAT anyways. But is it necessary to request some schools to hold my app. until early December ( around 12/11 ish) and review it after getting my new official DAT score? Assuming I push my DAT score to a 23-24, would it matter if I ask for a hold?

In other words, with my stats, should I:
1. Go ahead and ask all schools to review my application now, and notify them to re-review my app. with my new DAT score, with the risk they might not even look at it?
2. Ask some schools to hold my app. til December?
 
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Your DAT is fine. If anything sinks your chances, it's your sgpa. That should be your main focus.
 
Your DAT is fine. If anything sinks your chances, it's your sgpa. That should be your main focus.

I agree. In my opinion, it is not worth the risk of possibly doing worse on a retake to turn your really good DAT score into a great one. Also I don't pretend to be an expert on this whole process but I am not sure bringing up your DAT a couple points will even make much of a difference. But what do I know? Keep seeking opinions.
 
The OP's problem is it is easier (or faster I should say) to bring your DAT up a couple points than to bring your GPA up a couple tenths, depending on when you want to apply I would try to take as many "easy" bcp classes as possible and get that number up. I have 92 credit right now (or something close) and if I make all A's for my chem classes, which is 9 this semester, it will bring my BCP GPA up from 3.41 to a 3.55ish, can't remember the exact calculations but it's close to that. Why can't we having rolling admissions the entire app cycle!!
 
You need +22's to compensate for your GPA. Applying this late in the cycle is a bad idea unless you are one the best applicants in this pool.
Your DAT would have been fine if your GPA was >3.4 but it's not.
You can apply intelligently to the appropriate schools if you want to see if you can get in. But if you were on the safe side and had a specific school in mind or were short on money, it would be better to score better on the DAT by dedicating a good month or two. With the resources that are available today, it is very possible to score +22. Worst case scenario is you might have to enroll in a postbacc or master's.
If I were you and my goal were to get into any dental school, I would study intensely for the DAT and apply this cycle only to very selectively chosen schools (NYU, USC, Midwestern, New England, etc.). If I didn't get in, I'd immediately enroll in a postbacc or master's. Some schools like VCU offer a D5 program which I'd advise you to look into.
 
I think you'd be a solid candidate for next year. If I were you, I wouldn't retake the DAT. Those scores are good enough for pretty much any dental school out there. You risk getting lower TS or AA scores. If I were you, I'd archive those LORs and take 18 credits of bio or chem courses in the spring to boost that BCP GPA.

Take something along the lines of
Anatomy and Physiology
Human Physiology
Developmental Biology
Population Genetics
Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Immunology
Microbiology

etc etc etc. Take some upper division biology courses to bring that BCP GPA up. I would take 15-18 credits in the Spring and take 6-9 more in the first session of summer which usually ends I'm guessing July. Submit all your grades in early July and hopefully you'll make second or third batch. I think you'll be in much better shape then. Get that BCP to at least a 3.2 is ideal.
 
You need +22's to compensate for your GPA. Applying this late in the cycle is a bad idea unless you are one the best applicants in this pool.
Your DAT would have been fine if your GPA was >3.4 but it's not.
You can apply intelligently to the appropriate schools if you want to see if you can get in. But if you were on the safe side and had a specific school in mind or were short on money, it would be better to score better on the DAT by dedicating a good month or two. With the resources that are available today, it is very possible to score +22. Worst case scenario is you might have to enroll in a postbacc or master's.
If I were you and my goal were to get into any dental school, I would study intensely for the DAT and apply this cycle only to very selectively chosen schools (NYU, USC, Midwestern, New England, etc.). If I didn't get in, I'd immediately enroll in a postbacc or master's. Some schools like VCU offer a D5 program which I'd advise you to look into.

Thanks for the advice. You're very helpful.
 
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