The Under 3.0 Club part 01

[Yah-E]

Hello to all future dentists and newly accepted students!

Congratulations to those of you that have already received an acceptance! After reading number of posts in this forum, I realize that we have an elite group of applicants in this forum with GPA in 3.5s and DAT in 20/20s!! WOW!!!

I'm going to be realistic here as a non-traditional applicant and say that my number ARE NOT anywhere close to what I've seen in this forum. Here's my scoop:

Then:
Undergrad: Overall GPA 2.76 (on transcripts) 2.43 (on AADSAS application) and Overall Sci. GPA < 2.5
First round DAT: Academic 17 and PAT 24 - 1999
Now:
Post-Bac: Midwestern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine: Overall GPA 3.33
Second round DAT: January 2, 2002 - aiming for 20s

AADSAS application submitted in early November 2001

Schools applied:

Marquette U.
Tufts U.
BU
U. Penn
Columbia
Temple
Nova
NYU
UOP

For the eight schools that I'm applying through AADSAS, I have contacted all of the admission coordinators and directors and sometimes even the Deans themselves about my admission chances! The majority of them stated that with my past and current academic credentials, my chances of earning an interview and a seat in the class of 2006 will greatly enhance if I do well on my second round of the DAT, 20s, in January!

With everything against my applications, the low undergrad GPAs and submitting my AADSAS application late in the application cycle, I am excited to see how far my applications will go with encouragements from admission coordinators/directors! I have ample orientation in academic and clinical dentistry as an applicant and I think that will help my application a bit.

So for some of you out there that are nervous about your own applications, I am a living proof to embark on the "competitive" dental applicant pool with a blemish stats and record!

I have enclosed some of the actual encouragements from dental schools about my application concerns:
-------------------------------------------------
Here's what Dr. Martin J. Davis D.D.S, Associate Dean of Admissions at Columbia University School of Dentistry, wrote to me:

Our DAT Acad Aver is 21+ and the gpa science is 3.4+. All depends on how the DATs turn out. An improving record is helpful; we all had tough freshman years! BUT the total end picture is heavily dependent on the cross the board measure: the DATs.

Here's what Samantha Balzano, Admission Coordinator from BU, wrote to me:

It seems like you have the potential to be a great candidate. I think you should wait and apply through AADSAS when your semester is over and you have re-taken the DAT. If you apply in December your application will get here in January. That still leaves you plenty of time to interview and be accepted.

Here's what Helen Yarenis, Admission Coordinator from Tufts, wrote to me:

As for your post-bac programs, that is definitely a step in the right direction. Your exposure to the field of dentistry is impressive and I am
interested to see your DAT performance.

Here's what Corky Cacas, Admission Director of U. Penn., wrote to me:

Sorry I can not advise you on how to improve your application. You seem to have a good plan in place already. We look forward to reviewing your
application.
------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or inputs, please post! I would love to hear from all of you.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[fourpointohoh]

I'm right there with ya' man!!!! How 'bout we make this club official and actively recruit members! We need encouragement and maybe a shoulder or 2 to cry on. How 'bout you be the prez and I be the vice-prez? All those in favor, reply to the message with stats, a comment or two and a vote!

4.oo

 

[Yah-E]

4.00,

You got it! The Under 3.0 Club (TU3) is now officially in session! As a new club member, I ask of those applicants who are browsing this forum but are intimidated to join and post questions and stats (because they have blemish records) to start posting Qs and #s. I feel that there are a lot of help and resources in this forum and we all can use it!

 

[Yah-E]

TJ,

Thanks for the kind words! A score of 24 in PAT is cool, but I've seen 25s and 28s in this forum believe it or not! I feel pretty good about the DAT right now, I have about a week left to polish up on my studies. I aiming for 20s across the board and if that is acheived, I stronly feel that the schools that I applied to will look at my application more seriously. What's your story, have you applied to dental schools?

 

[UofM01]

I am also in your position with grades. I have a little higher GPA and I have interviewed at NYU and have one coming up at NOVA.

All the other schools that I have applied to such as U of MIch,Creighton and Case Western have told me that they would like to see my Fall postbacc graduate grades before they make a final decsion.

I was enrolled in Histology in which I recieved a grade of a (B) and Endocrine Physiology (B+). During the semestar I held a full time job at a dental office working as an assistant which I have maintaned for the last 5 years.

I hope that I get in this year. Good Luck to you All!!
Sorry about the spelling its late and IM tired.

Good LUCK!

 

[smile_doctor]

Yah-z and fellow hopefuls:

I'm right there with you! Here is my story... I have an overall GPA of 3.0 and a Sci GPA of 2.4. My Sci GPA greatly suffered during my first 2 years of college when I was working & going to school and didn't know how to study for college level science courses (I'd never had to study much before and graduated 4th in my high school class). I ended my freshman year with C's in both Bio I & II, and with D's in Chem I & II. Sophomore year was even worse with a F in Genetics and withdrawal from the O Chem Course.
Then things got better. I grew up alot, I learned how to study, and became adept at balancing a part-time job with my education. The summer of sophomore year I took O Chem I & II in the span of 10 weeks (I don't recommend it) and earned a C in O Chem I and a B in O Chem II. My junior year, I repeated Genetics and earned a B and also repeated Chem I and II and earned an A & B, respectively. My senior year I tackled Biochem and Microbiology and earned a B in each. I only go into this detail so that you can see what I hope dental schools will see- I improved steadily after sophomore year.

 

[smile_doctor]

...oops...

As I was saying, I improved. In my favor I did have a semester-long internship with a dental practice (for no credit) and after college was hired as a surgical assistant in an oral surgeon's practice. Unfortunately, the oral surgeon had this habit of cussing his assistants and throwing instruments so I left his practice and the field of dnetistry for a few years.

Now I am 27 and have a great job with a mortgage company (it is financially rewarding). At the end of the day, however, something is still missing. I've figured out that what is missing is the personal satisfaction that comes with making others better: physically and emotionally.
Now I know that I must pursue dentistry again--for the right reasons. I recently completed my first semester post-bacc (repeat Bio I & Lab with an A in each). If I get an A in my coursework next semester, I will have a Sci GPA of 2.5. I plan to study for the DAT next semester and take it this summer. I'd like to apply to dental school in June and take some upper division biology next fall while praying for some interviews. Do you think I'll have a shot?

Keep the faith and best of luck to you all!

Smile_doc

 

[Buckyball]

Smile-doc and Yah-z,

I think you have a good chance. Naturally, they will ask you about your low grades in first and second year, but if you do very well on the DAT, this will overshadow this.

The lowest grade I got was a D in Phys Chem (I hate it!). Some interviewers asked about it, and some asked about why my grades were lower in my first two years (B's and C's) compared to my last two years (A's and A+'s). Some were even sympathetic as to how Phys chem had brought down my science GPA, and they said they would take this into account about my science GPA. It also helps if you do well on the DAT!

I'm confident the acceptances will come!

Good luck,

Buckyball

 

[Yah-E]

Smile_Doctor,

You are exactly where I was, but I think my case was worse! My first quarter of college, I got a 0.69 GPA, that is 3 "F"s and 1 "D"!!! My blood alcohol content (BAC) was higher than that!!! Second quarter wasn't that much better either! To make long story short, a trend of improvement is obvious on my transcript. Although the increasing trend is there, my cumulative GPA is still too low as well as my overall Science from your norm applicant pool! I believe what will really helping me now in my applications are my orientation to dentistry and my post-bac program! My post-bac. program is unique in the sense that I'm not retaking Chem, Bio, or Organic courses all over again, but I'm in a medical school curriculum taking classes with medical students. Like the first semester of my post-bac, I took Medical Biochem. I, Epidemiology, Anatomy I, and a research course and got "A"s and "B"s. With this post-bac program, I'm able to demonstrate to dental schools that I can handle a challenging curriculum. It's tough not to see that if I'm able to earn "A"s and "B"s in medical school, I able to handle a dental school curriculum!

With my undergrad GPA, I even had numerous college advisors and some peers discouraging me to seek admission to dental schools! I understand their perspective, but that simply gave me more incentive to bust my ass off to do well in academics and apply! I've came a long way and now I can further show my determination with the new DAT scores next week!

Bottom line, hang in there, you're in a better position than I was in. One thing for sure that I can share with you is that for those of us applicants with low GPA "DO VERY WELL" (not national averages at 17-18, but 20s) on the DAT and have plenty of exposure to dentistry.

 

[smile_doctor]

Buckyball & Yah-z:

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm sure that acceptances are forthcoming for you both!

Yah-z:

How were you admitted to a medically-oriented post bacc program? Your situation IS very unique.
Also, tell me more about this summer program that you did at Marquette and your "in-house" application. Have you had any other invitations to interview yet? I guess that my greatest concern is that so many applications like ours get overlooked because some adcoms look only at the numbers when "making the cut" and don't bother with the details or other characteristics that actually make us more competitive than others with ideal stats.

Smile_doc

 

[Yah-E]

Smile_Doctor,

Yes, I am very fortunate to be in a such productive post-bac program. What I did was I went to <a href="http://www.aamc.org" target="_blank">www.aamc.org</a> (medical school website) and browsed through all the post-bac programs available in the U.S. I found in the list two types of Post-bac programs:

1) for non-science degree students who wish to apply to medical/dental schools after they've earned their BA

2) A remedial option for students who had low cumulative GPA and wish to enhance their academic credentials and apply to medical/dental schools

There are more post-bac programs for non-science students than the remedial ones.

After intensive research and calling post-bac program directors around the country, I've found my current post-bac program at Midwestern University in Glendale AZ with the College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM)! I knew going into a post-bac program, I wanted to find one that is structured and that will increase my success in getting in a dental school. I felt like there is no point for me to stay in an undergraduate level and take more upper division sciences classes in attempt to increase my undergraduate GPA, but instead I wanted to demonstrate my academic abilities with a graduate level curriculum and what is better than a medical school curriculum!?

I strongly believe that my post-bac program director really had to bent backwards to get me in! The program's GPA requirement was a 2.75, but most applicants for my post-bac program had a GPA above 3.0. I had a lousy 2.76!! There are 20 of us in my post-bac program currently and 12 of them are already accepted into a medical school either allopathic or osteopathic. I'm the only pre-dental out of our bunch!

As far as my Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSOD) summer program exposure, I found out about the program through their school's website! I applied and got accepted! During last summer, I actually got my hands on dental materials/tools in clinical and laboratory settings. I worked on carving teeth from wax, wax-up teeth on dental-forms, resin composites, amalgams, cast stones, waxed up crowns, took impressions, a dental anatomy course, and ample clinical exposure in assisting dental students and faculties. The biggest thing about my experience at MUSOD, in my opinion, was the exposure to faculty members and dental students. The two months there last summer, I've met all the important personal from the Dean to the admissions director to number of faculty members. I simply submitted an "In-House" application right before I left the summer program. The cool thing was that I actually had one of the faculty member there write me a letter of recommendation for Fall 2002 admission!

I actually just submitted my AADSAS in early NOV., I'm applicant #5450 (I guess this number is pretty high). Again, none of the schools that I applied through AADSAS will have my new DAT scores until I take it on Wednesday, 1-2-02. As you know, the Admissions committee will not even look at applications until it's complete. With that being said, I probably will not hear from schools until February or March! I'm actually cutting it pretty close with Univ. Penn.!! Their deadline to submit anything to them is on 1-15-2002! Hopefully my new DAT scores will get to them on time!


One last thing, about what you've mentioned about admissions committees screening applicants by having certain numbers, the best thing I can tell you is that to do your research and call the dental schools of your interest before you apply. Tell them your credentials (numbers and dental experiences) and ask them bluntly what you're chances are. Believe me, they're usually pretty forward about your chances! That is exactly what I did with the eight schools that I applied to with AADSAS, every single one of them told me that "DO WELL ON THE DAT!!!!" and I will increase my odds. Make sure that you have a chance at a certain school before you waste your money on application fees. If you do all that, then I wouldn't worry about the admissions committee overlooking your application.

I'll stop writing this paper now, anything else, feel free to post!

 

[lboarder]

I was just wondering how you got into the program at Marquette. It sounds great. My gpa is horribly low and I'm looking at every option of increasing my chances of getting into dental school.

Originally posted by Yah-z:
•Smile_Doctor,

Yes, I am very fortunate to be in a such productive post-bac program. What I did was I went to <a href="http://www.aamc.org" target="_blank">www.aamc.org</a> (medical school website) and browsed through all the post-bac programs available in the U.S. I found in the list two types of Post-bac programs:

1) for non-science degree students who wish to apply to medical/dental schools after they've earned their BA

2) A remedial option for students who had low cumulative GPA and wish to enhance their academic credentials and apply to medical/dental schools

There are more post-bac programs for non-science students than the remedial ones.

After intensive research and calling post-bac program directors around the country, I've found my current post-bac program at Midwestern University in Glendale AZ with the College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM)! I knew going into a post-bac program, I wanted to find one that is structured and that will increase my success in getting in a dental school. I felt like there is no point for me to stay in an undergraduate level and take more upper division sciences classes in attempt to increase my undergraduate GPA, but instead I wanted to demonstrate my academic abilities with a graduate level curriculum and what is better than a medical school curriculum!?

I strongly believe that my post-bac program director really had to bent backwards to get me in! The program's GPA requirement was a 2.75, but most applicants for my post-bac program had a GPA above 3.0. I had a lousy 2.76!! There are 20 of us in my post-bac program currently and 12 of them are already accepted into a medical school either allopathic or osteopathic. I'm the only pre-dental out of our bunch!

As far as my Marquette University School of Dentistry (MUSOD) summer program exposure, I found out about the program through their school's website! I applied and got accepted! During last summer, I actually got my hands on dental materials/tools in clinical and laboratory settings. I worked on carving teeth from wax, wax-up teeth on dental-forms, resin composites, amalgams, cast stones, waxed up crowns, took impressions, a dental anatomy course, and ample clinical exposure in assisting dental students and faculties. The biggest thing about my experience at MUSOD, in my opinion, was the exposure to faculty members and dental students. The two months there last summer, I've met all the important personal from the Dean to the admissions director to number of faculty members. I simply submitted an "In-House" application right before I left the summer program. The cool thing was that I actually had one of the faculty member there write me a letter of recommendation for Fall 2002 admission!

I actually just submitted my AADSAS in early NOV., I'm applicant #5450 (I guess this number is pretty high). Again, none of the schools that I applied through AADSAS will have my new DAT scores until I take it on Wednesday, 1-2-02. As you know, the Admissions committee will not even look at applications until it's complete. With that being said, I probably will not hear from schools until February or March! I'm actually cutting it pretty close with Univ. Penn.!! Their deadline to submit anything to them is on 1-15-2002! Hopefully my new DAT scores will get to them on time!


One last thing, about what you've mentioned about admissions committees screening applicants by having certain numbers, the best thing I can tell you is that to do your research and call the dental schools of your interest before you apply. Tell them your credentials (numbers and dental experiences) and ask them bluntly what you're chances are. Believe me, they're usually pretty forward about your chances! That is exactly what I did with the eight schools that I applied to with AADSAS, every single one of them told me that "DO WELL ON THE DAT!!!!" and I will increase my odds. Make sure that you have a chance at a certain school before you waste your money on application fees. If you do all that, then I wouldn't worry about the admissions committee overlooking your application.

I'll stop writing this paper now, anything else, feel free to post!

•••

 

[lboarder]

Thanks for the encouragement. How did you study for the DAT? My gpa is lower than yours and I'm looking for some way to get into dental school. Any advice on the DAT?

Originally posted by Yeah-z:
•Hello to all future dentists and newly accepted students!

Congratulations to those of you that have already received an acceptance! After reading number of posts in this forum, I realize that we have an elite group of applicants in this forum with GPAs &gt; 3.5s and DAT &gt; 20/20s!! WOW!!!

I'm going to be realistic here as a non-traditional applicant and say that my number ARE NOT anywhere close to what I've seen in this forum. Here's my scoop:

Then:
Undergrad: Overall GPA 2.76/Overall Sci. GPA &lt; 2.5
First round DAT: Academic 17/ PAT 24 (1999)
Now:
Post-Bac: Midwestern University, College of Osteopathic Medicine: Overall GPA 3.20
Second round DAT: January 2, 2002 (aiming for 20s)

AADSAS application submitted in early November 2001 and I'm applicant #5450

Schools applied:

Marquette U. (in-house application) - wait listed
Tufts U.
BU
U. Penn
Columbia
Temple
Nova
NYU
UOP

For the eight (8) schools that I'm applying through AADSAS, I have contacted all of the admission coorditors/directors and sometimes even the Deans themselves about my admission chances! The majority of them stated that with my past and current academic credentials, my chances of earning an interview and a seat in the class of 2006 will greatly enhance if I do well on my second round of the DAT (20s) in January!

With everything against my applications (the low undergrad GPAs and submitting my AADSAS application late in the application cycle), I am excited to see how far my applications will go with encouragements from admission coordinators/directors! I have ample orientation in academic and clinical dentistry as an applicant and I think that will help my application a bit.

So for some of you out there that are nervous about your own applications, I am a living proof to embark on the "competitive" dental applicant pool with a blemish stats and record!

I have enclosed some of the actual encouragements from dental schools about my application concerns:
-------------------------------------------------
Here's what Dr. Martin J. Davis D.D.S (Associate Dean of Admissions at Columbia University School of Dentistry) wrote to me:

Our DAT Acad Aver is 21+ and the gpa science is 3.4 +. All depends on how the DATs turn out. An improving record is helpful; we all had tough freshman years! BUT the total end picture is heavily dependent on the cross the board measure: the DATs.

Here's what Samantha Balzano (Admission Coordinator from BU) wrote to me:

It seems like you have the potential to be a great candidate. I think you should wait and apply through AADSAS when your semester is over and you have re-taken the DAT. If you apply in December your application will get here in January. That still leaves you plenty of time to interview and be accepted.

Here's what Helen Yarenis (Admission Coordinator from Tufts) wrote to me:

As for your post-bac programs, that is definitely a step in the right direction. Your exposure to the field of dentistry is impressive and I am
interested to see your DAT performance.

Here's what Corky Cacas (Admission Director of U. Penn.) wrote to me:

Sorry I can not advise you on how to improve your application. You seem to have a good plan in place already. We look forward to reviewing your
application.
------------------------------------------------
If you have any questions or inputs, please post! I would love to hear from all of you. •••

 

[Yah-E]

Iboarder,

For those of us that have blemish undergrad record in both cumulative GPA and overall science GPA and wish to pursue a career in dentistry, the task could be both daunting and discouraging! BUT, if you wanted it bad enough, the opportunity will come!

To answer your Qs, I would suggest the following (recommended by numerous admissions directors/coordinators):

1. Apply to dental schools that emphazie their admission selection largely on your performances on the DAT, like Univ. of the Pacific

2. Enroll yourself in a graduate level curriculum to demonstrate your true academic ability (some dental schools prefers a post-bac and some will recommend a masters)[NOTE:keep in mind that it will be difficult for us to enroll in a masters or a post-bac program with our low GPAs, that is why you'll need to do LOTS of research and calling program coordinators to see if they can offer you a chance]

3. KICK ASS on the DAT (20s in all sections)[I can't emphasize enough how important this credential is for those of us with low GPAs!!] This opportunity, in a sense, is our most effective way to show admissions committees how determined we are to seek an admission and our academic maturity! If you have a low GPA AND mediocre DAT (16-17s) scores, then I'm afraid your travel to meet your first-year dental colleagues will get even longer!

4. Get ANY experience in dentistry orientated fields, whether it's scientific research, summer programs, shadowing dentists, or even get a job in a dental office. The more you have, the better!!

Basically, how I look at "how to get in a dental school" is that there are four (4) BIG components to an applicant, the GPA, the DAT, orientation to dentistry, and who you are! If you lack or are deficient in one, try to make it up by increase the other three!

To study for the DAT, I used just about everything to study for it! The first time I took it, I only used Kaplan (the course and their materials) and I did OK. This second time around, I used my old Kaplan stuff, MCAT books, audio tapes, video tapes, flashcards, CD-ROMs, and even old text books and notes!! Practice, practice, and practice is what I would recommmend!

As far as for Marquette Univ's summer program, go to their website and you will find more info and for other summer dental programs out there look at other dental schools websites! That is how I found Marquette's program. Again, research on info and your options to increase your credentials!

If dentistry is what you want, then you have to take charge of your path. Be active and research what is available out there for you with your academic situation! I once thought that there's nothing out there for me with a 2.76 GPA! Had the toughest time trying to get in a master's program, but they all require a 3.0 to apply? After searching for options, I found psot-bac. programs and further exposure to dentistry like Marquette U.! Now after three years of holding on dental school applications, I said "screw it", I'm applying with what I have. With research experience in dental schools, ample orientation to clinical and academic dentistry, and hopefully with competitive DAT scores (I'm taking it tomorrow), and my determination, I will earn a seat in fall 2002!

Good luck to you my friend! I will keep you posted on my application progress and you do the same!

 

[tinker bell]

Good luck tomorrow, Yah-ZZZ!
And keep this under 3.0 Club alive.!!!!!!!!!!
You guys are very determined, so I'm sure that you'll get in

tink

 

[Yah-E]

Tinker_bell,

I'm going FULL force right now just taking mock DATs, I think over the weekend, I've taken the 9 full-length DATs that I have in my possession over and over and my mind right now is just ON FIRE!!! My DAT is starting at noon tomorrow, but I plan on getting up at 6 AM and drive to the Sylvan center and find a coffee house and cram in more formulas and mnemonics into my head! So far, I've been getting a 20 or higher in the PAT, biology, reading sections! Chemistry, Organic and Quant. is what I'm worrying about and still studying like crazy!! I'll be sure to post my results tomorrow. Thanks for encouragement!!!

Back to CHEMISTRY!!!!!!!

 

[tinker bell]

Make sure you rest and relax a little bit before the test. Don't stress out too much. I'm sure you will be fine.
Wow, 9 full length tests? Where do you get them?
It'll be my turn next spring.

Best of luck to you tomorrow! It's not the end of the world if something goes wrong.

tink

 

[tinker bell]

Make sure you rest and relax a little bit before the test. Don't stress out too much. I'm sure you will be fine.
Wow, 9 full length tests? Where do you get them?
It'll be my turn next spring.

Best of luck to you tomorrow! It's not the end of the world if something goes wrong.

tink

 

[Yah-E]

I'm bring this thread back alive!! I want to check in with my fellow Pre-dents:

Smile Doctor
Tinker Bell
UofM01
Buckyball
Desidentist
Fourpointohoh

What are you guys doing now or planning on attending (if accepted) or have you scheduled your DATs? Let us know!!!!!

 

[Buckyball]

Hey Yah-zzz,

What's up? I've been following your Nova interview postings... sounds like you're in good shape. I've been busy though... and haven't posted in a while.

I am still waiting on some schools, but Columbia is my choice so far. It sucks about your Columbia situation, but I'm glad to see things are going good for you.

Later,

Buckyball
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

 

[smile_doctor]

Hey Yah-ZZZ:

I've been studying for the DAT a little, but am getting ready to go full force. Hopefully, I will be ready to tackle the DAT by late May or June (just in time to send my results in with my AADSAS app.). I'm currently trying to decide whether or not to repeat O Chem I this summer, and will make my decision based on my performance on the DAT practice tests. If I can re-learn enough of the O Chem without repeating the class, then I'd like to take an upper division bio course this summer to improve my science GPA.

Other than that, I've just been working like a maniac.

Keep me posted about your progress! It's great to see the success that you're having!

Smile_doc

 

[UofM01]

Yah-ZZZ

Well.. as you may already know I have been accepted to both NYU and NOVA. As of right now I am going to Nova and very happy with that choice!! I had my interview at Michigan last week and still have not heard any news yet. If I do get into Michigan that is where I will probably end up going mainly due to money and I still get to be close to my family and Friends.

I have an interview coming up at both Case Western and Indiana Univ. Besides that IM doing great and loving life. For all of you that are applying for next year...KICK ASS!! its worth it more than you realize. If you really want it like I did than it will be such a rewarding feeling that you will forget all the late nights you had to stay up and study..trust me. Good Luck everyone.

 

[dmd1272]

Congrats to all of you, Yahzzz, your insights are an invaluable assest to this forum,it is much appreciated. It is great to see that kind of determination and I'm sure you'll be a great dentist within a few years, hopefully we'll get a chance to meet if you decide to attend Nova(I'm applying for 2003), that's my top choice right now. UofM01, your words are also very encouraging and invaluable as well, same thing if you decide to attend Nova, I'd like to meet you as well...it's always great to meet people with similar drives and motivations...again congrats I'm sure its been a long and ardous process(applying)but the best is yet to come....

 

[Thebeyonder]

Yahh-z how did you do the DAT for the second time?
I am in the same boat as you, I have a low undergrad gpa.
My BCP is a 2.8, my science a 2.59, and my non-science a 3.33. This equals an overall gpa of 2.87. I have taken the DAT's and did well, 22A and 19P. I have been rejected from every school that I applied to except Uconn, Indiana, and BU. I talked to BU and they told me they would give a courtesy interview. I am on the waiting list at Uconn and still in the running for the alternate list at Indiana. I think what hurt my chances was that I also applied to D.O. schools, and I have only over thirty hours of shadowing dentists and specialists.
My gpa has taken a positive upward trend, my overall gpa is ~3.99 for my last 100 credits. My science gpa is ~3.99 for my last 60 credits. Needless to say, I have taken many undergraduate classes and did very poorly at the outset. If you can believe it, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from my last undergraduate college. I graduated with a 4.0.
I am getting fatigued from this whole application/rejection cycle. It has made me a cynical/jaded individual. I have worked very hard in the last few years, but it appears that I have no future prospects to have gained from the hard work. I am happy with my current position at a group home working with the people that I work with, but I was hoping that I could have a job that was science orientated, with good money, prestige, where I would be making most of the decisions, and a position where I would be fixing things. I am still hopeful that I will move on from my past, but it seems to constantly be haunting me.
NEVER GIVE UP- unless not giving up is irrational and selfish......

 

[Yah-E]

WUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAA,

Alright you guys!

Bucky, nice to see you alive, I was wondering what had happened to you! Columbia, huh? I'll have to contact you during our first year and see how you like things at an IVY school?

Smile Doc, have fun studying the DAT! I'm not going to lie to you my friend, IT SUCKS!!! Knowing your motivation and determination, you'll do fine! Remember, if you have questions or just want to shoot the shi#s, give me a ring! Study hard my friend, it will all be worth your while.

UofM, what can I say dude, you gotta do what ya gotta do! U of M is a awesome school, but Nova will be a lot more fun!!! We'll have to keep in contact as well if we end up at different schools. I'm always curious on how different dental schools do different things! It's just funny how a while back, you were afraid that you weren't going to get in anywhere and then you got your first acceptance and then all these other interviews! Life is sweet, aint it?

DMD1272, yeah, if I get into Nova and decided to attend, make sure you swing by and I'll get you more involved so you can increase your chances in 2003. I would love to meet you in person and show you the ropes! I'm very glad to see your motivation and determination. Thank you for your kind words, I'm only on here to contribute to the best of my knowledge and to make "some" enemies at the same time. Good luck to you, but keep at it. It may seem like 2003 is not until another year for you, but it's right around the corner! If you have any questions, feel free to email me!

The Beyonder! You know, for some reason, I always thought that you were accepted already somewhere! To answer your question on my 2nd DAT, I did fairly well! My scores were 20A, 20Sci, 23PAT. Nothing special, but I got what I aimed for - at least a 20/20, just like perfect vision! I feel that your chances are still there even in this late of a game. Keep faith and believe that you will! Hey, just think, I may sound good in this forum, but I'm not even accepted anywhere yet! You never know how things will turn out, I just may also apply in 2003 (hope not)! Applying to DO schools, I'm not going to lie, there's no doubt in my mind, that has hurt your chances! But hey, what can you do?!

Well, my friends, I think there are so many examples in this forum that shows if you believe it and want it, IT WILL HAPPEN! I will continue to look forward to see updates and great news from all of you!

 

[brianm74]

Thebeyonder,
I am in the same boat as you. I screwed up my first years of college, and have been paying for them ever since. I graduated with a 2.7 GPA. I am currently working on my Masters in Biology. I have taken graduate level courses in the department as well as courses through the local medical school (Gross Anatomy!). I didn't really want to do the masters thing, but knew that I had to if I ever was going to get into dental school.
I have also tried to beef up other areas that I know dental schools like to see. I have worked at a local hospital drawing blood (to prove hand-eye coordination skills) and have shadowed local dentists. Research is also a big thing to dental schools. So, hopefully I will get into dental school someday... Just gotta keep chuggin along!

 

[smedly]

Thebeyonder,
I just wanted to ask you to compare the DAT to the MCAT. You've applied to both DS and MS... so I am assuming you've taken both. Any luck with the DO applications? I am asking about the DAT because my fiance keeps putting off studying for them. I studied at least 2 months for the MCAT and keep warning him that these type of tests are not easy. He claims the DAT is not as hard as the MCAT (probably to stop my nagging). So what do you think????
thanks.

 

[tinker bell]

Yah-ZZZ!

Thanks for thinking of me...I have been busy with my research project as it doesn't go really well. I do read your and other posts every morning at work...But I dont want to post anything from work.
I do study a little bit of everything except chemistry. I will take the dat in early summer. I won't register for the test until I'm ready. I'm thinking of buying the topscore cd but I decided that I should wait as it's time sensitive and I don't want it to time out before I even take the test.
sometimes I get really tired with this whole application process and want to give up. But I think of what you and many other people have done
and gone through. I really think it's worth trying....Thanks for your support and keep on posting..I hope that we will be classmate or schoolmate someday..But I'm sure that you will here from nova pretty soon. That's my feeling/
T

 

[EcoRI]

How's the "under 3.0 club" making out?
Any more success stories?
Keep us posted.
I need a little inspiration.
Best of luck to all.
Mike

 

[Yah-E]

EcoR1,

I believe there are many of us that are successful this application cycle. I know that UofM01 and I are in and some others are in the process prepping for the 2003 application cycle and studying for the DAT. If you want it, it will come! Keep at it. I'm a perfect example.

 

[EcoRI]

Yah-E@Nova

First of all, I want to thank you for all your helpful posts in this forum and congratulations on your acceptance to dental school.
I'm part of the crowd preparing for the 2003 application cycle. My undergraduate grades are very similar to yours (Overall 2.9, Science 2.5). I applied to Dental School back in 1995 and not surprisingly, did not get an interview. Since then I have continued doing research. I'm currently finishing up a masters in biology with a graduate GPA (Overall 3.9, Science 4.0). Although, this graduate GPA only reflects seven graduate courses taken. Since the masters program requires a thesis I thought I would try to find something related to dental research. I found a professor doing dental research who agreed to be my thesis advisor. Currently I'm studying the transcriptional regulation of a gene involved in enamel formation. I also just had a first author paper accepted for my research pertaining to my job. I'm hoping that might help me a bit.
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now working full time, taking a class for my masters, taking a Kaplan course, and trying to find time for my thesis work. I'm sure many other out there also feel a bit overwhelmed. Hope it pays off in the long run. Anyway, right now I really need to focus on doing well on the DAT. Planning to take it in late May.

Best of luck to all,
Mike

 

[Yah-E]

Dear Endonuclease,

I have no doubt that you will do well in the 2003 application cycle! Your dental research will definitely looked heavily upon in your application. One sincere and EFFECTIVE advice: DO WELL ON THE DAT!! Sounds like you "may not" have enough graduate lecture course type credits for dental schools to base on your academic performances and capabilities, but if you get 20s on your DAT, you will definitely demonstrate to them that you can heck it! I guarantee you. Study hard and keep us posted.

 

[brianm74]

EcoRI,
I am in the same position as you. I graduate in August with my Masters in Biology. My thesis is on the kinematics of the jaws, tongue and hyoid bone during feeding in humans. I have taken 7 graduate courses as well. I applied to dental schools this past year and was only offered one interview (NYU). I am waiting to hear back. Like Yah-E said, study for and do well on the DAT. Good luck!

 

[EcoRI]

Hey guys
Thanks for the feedback.
Yah-E@Nova,
How many post Bach. courses had you taken when you applied to dental school?
Brian,
Just curious as to how many universities you applied to? I see that you're from Ohio. Did you apply to Ohio state? I'm originally from Ohio myself. I did my undergrad at the University of Cincinnati. Best of luck with NYU.

 

[Yah-E]

EcoR1, I was taking all the basic science courses with the medical students, I believe a total of 9 courses = 28 credits, something like that!

 

[EcoRI]

brianm74

You didn't happen to do your thesis work in Rebeca Germans lab did you? I don't even know if she is still there.
My friend who's a dentist did some undergraduate work in her lab that sounds similar to your thesis studies.
Did you start your masters immediately after under grad? Full time?
Keep us updated on NYU.
Best of luck
Mike "EcoRI"

 

[brianm74]

Mike,
I am in Rebecca German's lab! How funny! I applied to OSU, but did not even get an interview (very bitter)... What is your friends name? (you can email me if you don't want to post it).
I took 2 years off and worked in an immunology lab before my masters. I knew I wanted to go to dental school and so I chose to work with Dr. German on some of her feeding studies.

 

[space kacy]

Hi,

My overall GPA was a 3.2 but my Sci was about a 2.8 or 2.9 and I basically had C's in all my chem and ochem classes. I also had a rough 1st semester but I did get in. I felt I needed to score well on the DAT so I took Kaplan and I was not doing well. My midterm looked like this:

Sci: 15
Bio: 16
GC: 13
OC: 15
PA: 19
Read: 17
QR: 13

Kaplan recommends you take the test right after the course but I knew I wasn't ready. The ADA gives you a year to take the test so I took the year. I was out of school too so even better. If you can afford to take a year off to study for the DAT, do it. In the meantime, do a little volunteer work or get a job in a practice. I made notecards which I've never done before. They were so helpful because you can take them anywhere. I worked on my stamina and accuracy. I took half tests then worked up to full tests. Then, I worked on my timing. There's nothing worse than running out of time or zoning out on a single question. When I finally took the test, this is what I did:

Acad: 20
Sci: 20
Bio: 20
GC: 19
OC: 19
Read: 21
QR: 19
PAT: 19

I got into Creighton and NYU. I'm an alternate at UOP and I'm waiting on some others. I did go to an interview at Columbia but I didn't get in. I also went to Michigan but haven't heard from them yet. I applied to 15 schools and got 8 or 9 interviews. If your GPA is low you should apply to 10-20 schools. It's expensive but if you get in, it's worth it. Make sure you include your state schools and some safe schools. It's fun to apply to Columbia, Harvard and Penn out of curiosity but don't overload your application with hard schools. We don't have a school in Hawaii so I basically applied to all the schools that let in the most out of staters. Oh yeah, you should include NYU because they let in the most students. It's too late now but if you're applying for next year get your app in early! I sent mine in Dec and looking back, that was a little late. Notecards and practice tests helped me out the most on the DAT. Get your timing down also. Anyway, If I don't get into UOP, I'm probably going to Creighton. I like NYU and the NYC but Creighton is $30 g's less expensive and it's near the main campus. I don't think I'll get into Michigan. I did get an interview offer from USC on 3/25 but I haven't heard any positive comments about their PBL approach so, I don't know. It's funny. I went to all these interviews...spent a ton of money and Creighton just accepts me w/o an interview. Anyway, hang in there and good luck!

 

[Yah-E]

Ibo Man,

Maybe you'll find some answers in this thread!! Good luck in your 2003 AADSAS!

 

[UofM01]

 

[Dr. Kulkarni]

science gpa: 2.8
overall: 3.2

DAT: academic/perceptual --- 20/18

 

[dragonj]

adding my stats to the "below 3.0 club"

undergrad Boston University gpa: 2.69
only took 2 science classes at that point.
i got an F in hospitality administration!how embarrasing.
and a D in physiological psychology.

i also did one year in a master's architecture program at georgia tech. i wonder how the admissions will view the fact that i dropped out of that. got an F in structures. gpa=3.2

my post bac overall and science gpa so far are both 3.5
and i still have 6 science classes left to take.

i've taken a practice DAT but i didn't have enough schooling for the science section. pat=23, reading=20, math=21

does anyone have any views on how this all looks so far? chances of getting in.

i'm also the co-events coordinator of georgia state u's pre-dental club and a member of AMSA. still have to do shadowing

 

[b-hahn]

Yah-zz,

I don't know if you want to disclose your name or anything, but how are you doing. It has been a long time since we has written, spoke, etc. How is dental school treatin ya.

The UNLV dental school is a blast; we taking an integration aspect in school. I would hate to say this, but dental school isn't that bad (intensity of the class curriculum).

Give me some feedback brotha

- bbbbbbbbbbbbbb-hahn

 

[rimpy823]

Space Kacy:
I am in the exact (in terms of grades)situation as you are and i am really hoping that with my grades i can get into NYU...i will be taking the DAT in january, i know that's really late but i spoke to Amy Knowles at the school and she said it was ok...could you please share your thoughts on the school and everything and anything about NYU that may help me and others in this forum

 

[slave4MD]

If anything at all, try not to screw up on the math portion of the DAT. It is non-calculus based and is mere simple problem solving.

It's almost like a cross between the SAT math section and the NYS High School Regents Exams for Sequental Math I/II/III.

There's nothing on the math part that will trick you.

 

[djsux]

Hey all - figured that i should stop lurking and post my stats.

My undergrad was a dismal 2.5, but i've been doing a 3.8 in my post-bacc work. It's up to a 2.8 ... aww yeah.

Anyways, I'm applying to the texas schools (baylor, uth, utsa) right now, and hoping for an interview, but it's good to hear of the success stories of other intrepid souls in this thread.

I just finished taking my DAT yesterday (20 PAT, 21 Aca) - and although I didn't do as well as I would have liked, hopefully it'll garner some attention.

As far as all this talk on the PAT being harder than any of the practice tests, I didn't think so. The angles were more difficult, but that was probably the only part that was more so. If you stare at those angles long enough, you really start to second guess yourself!

Hopefully, I'll add my success story here soon...

 

[Yah-E]

Congratulations to all with acceptances to Class of 2007. I want to give a special pat on the back for those "Under 3.0 Club" members that never gave up their dream of becoming a dental student and got in this year:

smile_doctor
Rhea

See, hard work does pay off!! As the founder of this club, I have to say low undergraduate GPAs should only motivate you to do better with graduate level courses in a Master's degree or Post-Bac. programs. Never let the low numbers stop you from your passion to pursue dentistry.

Hey I, too, had a 2.4 cumulative undergraduate GPA when I applied to AADSAS, not only my new DAT scores helped to demonstrate my determination, but my graduate level Post-Bac courses definitely illuminated my ability to do well in a professional level curriculum. Now I'm kicking butt in first year dental school, elected Prez, and landed my first Oral & Maxillofacial Surger Externship as a D-2 this upcoming summer (OMS externships are usually for D-3s and D-4s)!

For those of you that haven't interviewed yet because you submitted your AADSAS late, do not worry! There are plenty of seats left, I guarantee you. As I recall, in the 2002 cycle, people were interviewing into March and still getting accepted! Heck, NYU was interviewing into May and people were still getting accepted!

Maintain your spirits and never give up.

 

[dentist2B]

I am a card carrying member of the Under 3.0 Club. When I applied to dental school, my cum GPA was 2.8 and my science was a 2.9. This might not sound like much, but I remember when I was on academic probation with a 1.8 GPA. But you know what-- me and my 1.8 GPA were still going up to the dental school, meeting people, making contacts, and beginning my own personal "grade rehab" program. These low grades were generally in non-science courses so I made a concerted effort to do well in my science courses. My transcripts therefore reflect a major academic progression in much more difficult subject matter.

I spent a lot of energy worrying about other people's stats. That being said, yesterday, I received a letter of acceptance from Baylor ! First round! And I have seen on this site that there are quite a few people with much prettier numbers that have gotten rejections.

To me, this means that there are some schools who really look beyond numbers and truly give consideration to personality traits, such as leadership, motivation towards dentistry, and overcoming adversity (which I have had a ton of).

So my suggestion to all you fellow members would be to not give up and definitely- do not fret about what others have that you don't because obviously, there was something that I had that others didn't --just as there is something special about you!

I know this has been said before, but trust me, if I can do it, so can you! Hang in there!

 

[dragonj]

dentist2b

your story is encouraging and i hope i do as well as you!
i was wondering if you did a post bac program or a master's program, what your gpa's were after undergrad and what schools you applied to.

thanks. dragonj

 

[myameena]

Hey everyone...

My first 2 or maybe even 3 years of college were bad and eventually got only to mediocre. Finally after being dismissed from school for a semester I got it together and an upward trend definitely started. Yes I have 3 F's and some W's from my first 3 years. Now if I get A's in my physics and ochems I should have a gpa of 3.02 cumulative or soemthing like that. Science would be around 3.2 I think. I also did my Master's in Biology so at least they can see that I got on with life. I have research experience under my belt, but what I'm lacking is dental experience. I'm a busy Mom who works full time and goes to school....so when do I get the chance to shadow? I wonder if I can find a dentist who works saturdays?

I plan on taking the DAT early next fall or even summer if I'm lucky. When should I start collecting applications and info from the schools themselves then? Is now too early to start writing to them to ask for info packets etc?

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with a blemished record. Thanks for being here guys!