Time for a real plan B.

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I'd like to add that the majority of people who do SMPs don't have the money. Almost everyone takes out loans to cover the cost of the program, in the same way that almost everyone takes out loans to cover D-school. If you have to go that route, just know that it is absolutely a possibility regardless of your financial status.
 
If you get straight As you'll have very similar stats to me. I think if you get a 22 or so you'll probably get an interview! You're still able to salvage yourself and a masters isn't absolutely necessary for you imo.
 
If you really want dentistry, you'll need to show you can handle upper level science courses that are more demanding. Postbacc does very little for GPA and doesn't even showcase that you can handle graduate or professional coursework.

If you really want dentistry, I would do a SMP. The very least would be a Masters with a thesis option.

Edit: PM me if you'd like more advice or even helping you tailor out a program. I will be happy to help you out. I know what it's like. Don't get discouraged. Many of us do not get in on the first or second try.
 
Do you have any especially low sections on the DAT that might not meet some of the minimum cutoffs? Or does your state school indicate a strict 3.0 sGPA cutoff?

I applied this cycle with a 3.28 oGPA and a 3.28 sGPA and a 19TS, 20AA, 18PAT with no sections under 18 on the DAT. I'm a nontraditional student, postbac classes (all my prereqs) have been mostly As and just a couple of Bs. I applied to 5 schools and have 2 invitations to interview so far. I don't say any of this to brag (as my stats aren't much to brag abt!), but rather to encourage. I feel like you are so close. Don't get discouraged! It is still so early in the cycle. If you don't have any interviews or acceptances by March or April, THEN it is time to make a new game plan.

The question at this point is if you get in to another school are you better off to take it and start a year sooner, or do you prefer to improve your application and reapply to your state school? Once you determine the best goal for you I think making decision that will help you get there will be easier and have a more definitive direction.
 
como said:
Do you have any especially low sections on the DAT that might not meet some of the minimum cutoffs? Or does your state school indicate a strict 3.0 sGPA cutoff?

I applied this cycle with a 3.28 oGPA and a 3.28 sGPA and a 19TS, 20AA, 18PAT with no sections under 18 on the DAT. I'm a nontraditional student, postbac classes (all my prereqs) have been mostly As and just a couple of Bs. I applied to 5 schools and have 2 invitations to interview so far. I don't say any of this to brag (as my stats aren't much to brag abt!), but rather to encourage. I feel like you are so close. Don't get discouraged! It is still so early in the cycle. If you don't have any interviews or acceptances by March or April, THEN it is time to make a new game plan.

The question at this point is if you get in to another school are you better off to take it and start a year sooner, or do you prefer to improve your application and reapply to your state school? Once you determine the best goal for you I think making decision that will help you get there will be easier and have a more definitive direction.
Click to expand...

Wow you're a confident gambler! Lol. Only 5 schools. Which 2 did you interview at?
 
DMDDDSHopeful said:
Wow you're a confident gambler! Lol. Only 5 schools. Which 2 did you interview at?
Click to expand...
I consider myself more of a "realistic" gambler than a confident one. My husband already has an established dental practice, leaving me with limited options - get accepted to my in-state school, or go to a school that is close enough that I can realistically, although not inexpensively, come home most weekends. Those are the realities when you are this late in the game and have a family. 🙂 I interview this week at UNLV and next week at UofU. Interesting to note that of the 5 schools I applied to, the stats of enrolled students were the highest at UofU but I thought I'd give it a shot. From what I can tell, I was in one of their very first batches of invitations. Other schools where my stats are right on par with their average enrolled student I am still waiting (anxiously!) to hear from.

My situation is a case that I think highlights the merits of the holistic application process. People get very focused (obsessed at times) on stats. I agree that an applicant needs to meet certain criteria just to have schools look at him/her in the first place. But if an applicant is falling into those "average" categories of enrolled students, I assume this is where experience, research, showing an upward trend in your GPA, strong LORs and PS, shadowing hours, etc. come into play. And let's be honest - at my stage of life I have plenty of all of those things!
 
Wolfbarker said:
I'd like to add that the majority of people who do SMPs don't have the money. Almost everyone takes out loans to cover the cost of the program, in the same way that almost everyone takes out loans to cover D-school. If you have to go that route, just know that it is absolutely a possibility regardless of your financial status.
Click to expand...
EXACTLY! It's such a cop out when someone says "I don't have the money to do bla bla." MOST people don't have the money, thats why loans exist. If you want it enough go do a SMP like almost everyone else with low stats has to do. It's such a bad argument because do you expect to have money for dental school which will cost 4-5x what the masters does? Nope, you'll get loans.
 
Don't be discouraged, the cycle isn't over! This doesn't mean take it easy, you should still be preparing for the following cycle if your serious about this. If doing an SMP is not an option study for the DAT non stop and continue working part time. Study for the DAT, and ace your current semester. 23+ on DAT will help convince adcoms that you are worth giving a chance. ( and apply to a broad range of schools) Shoot for at least 20s sciences though, especially with your lower sGPA.

I know two people that got over 25 AA , they arent the smartest people but they were definitely the hardest working. Show the schools that you are a capable candidate for their program!

best of luck on your application.
 
Manic324 said:
EXACTLY! It's such a cop out when someone says "I don't have the money to do bla bla." MOST people don't have the money, thats why loans exist. If you want it enough go do a SMP like almost everyone else with low stats has to do. It's such a bad argument because do you expect to have money for dental school which will cost 4-5x what the masters does? Nope, you'll get loans.
Click to expand...

I think most of the time people don't want to pay for a program that leads to nowhere if they don't get into dental school after finishing the SMP.
 
DC206R said:
I think most of the time people don't want to pay for a program that leads to nowhere if they don't get into dental school after finishing the SMP.
Click to expand...
Then do a traditional two year masters that is funded. That's what I did actually I did a traditional two year research masters because it was free and led to a more useful degree than a SMP, but if you can't even get into those then an SMP is your only option and you need to suck it up and take out those loans.
 
Manic324 said:
Then do a traditional two year masters that is funded. That's what I did actually I did a traditional two year research masters because it was free and led to a more useful degree than a SMP, but if you can't even get into those then an SMP is your only option and you need to suck it up and take out those loans.
Click to expand...

And how has your options been and invites?
 
como said:
I consider myself more of a "realistic" gambler than a confident one. My husband already has an established dental practice, leaving me with limited options - get accepted to my in-state school, or go to a school that is close enough that I can realistically, although not inexpensively, come home most weekends. Those are the realities when you are this late in the game and have a family. 🙂 I interview this week at UNLV and next week at UofU. Interesting to note that of the 5 schools I applied to, the stats of enrolled students were the highest at UofU but I thought I'd give it a shot. From what I can tell, I was in one of their very first batches of invitations. Other schools where my stats are right on par with their average enrolled student I am still waiting (anxiously!) to hear from.

My situation is a case that I think highlights the merits of the holistic application process. People get very focused (obsessed at times) on stats. I agree that an applicant needs to meet certain criteria just to have schools look at him/her in the first place. But if an applicant is falling into those "average" categories of enrolled students, I assume this is where experience, research, showing an upward trend in your GPA, strong LORs and PS, shadowing hours, etc. come into play. And let's be honest - at my stage of life I have plenty of all of those things!
Click to expand...

The reason why I said gamble was because with your GPA and DAT, most of us apply to 20+ schools. But honestly, good for you that you applied to so little and already received quite a good response. I guess every case is different because experience, upward trend, research, publications, honor society, graduate degree, etc. has been meaningless in my attempts for dental. Best of luck to you and your family. Did you put shadowing your husband? Lol. That's pretty cool if you ask me.
 
Manic324 said:
I received 5 interview invites and 3 acceptances last year, I doubt any would have happened without the masters because my undergrad was baaaaaad. I'm in my first year now.
Click to expand...

Dang. That's pretty awesome. I need some of your luck! How many schools total? What was your Masters GPA? Thesis? Research? EC? Tell me your life story!! Lol jk
 
Don't give up! I applied last year in September as well and only received 1 interview invite. I reapplied early this year and I have 5 interviews so far! Although my GPA is slightly higher (similar DAT) I think timing has a lot to do with it. If you have to reapply I would recommend to apply no later than late June or first week of July. Also really do your research on dental schools...some prefer higher DAT scores and others higher GPA.🙂
 
ebmirand5 said:
Don't give up! I applied last year in September as well and only received 1 interview invite. I reapplied early this year and I have 5 interviews so far! Although my GPA is slightly higher (similar DAT) I think timing has a lot to do with it. If you have to reapply I would recommend to apply no later than late June or first week of July. Also really do your research on dental schools...some prefer higher DAT scores and others higher GPA.🙂
Click to expand...
What's your oGPA and sGPA??
 
collectedgp said:
Thank you so much for your responses, guys.
To explain a little bit more, I'm not a US citizen nor a permanent resident; that's why I "don't" have money. It'd be much more difficult for me to take out on a loan than you guys(I do have SSN and work permit, BTW) since I'm not US citizen/permanent resident. That's why I want to save my "loan" option for dental school. Otherwise, I'd go to grad school tomorrow. I'd need multiple cosign from multiple US citizens and that I don't want to blow that chance on master's and end up not be able to pay dental school tuition later. I am considered a state "resident" in my state for tuition purposes so that's why I'm trying to get in there.
I spoke with the adcom of the state school from which I got a rejection email and they said I'm very close and they recommended taking master's course. I asked them if upper-level post-bacc. courses would work and they said it's a great option. The person I spoke with specifically told me to apply again next cycle after having taken 18 credit hours (I told her my plan for the next spring). What was interesting was, she said I don't really need to retake DAT but told me to retake it if I want to. She also told me not to worry even if I get a lower score on my second DAT attempt because they'll look at my first score as well. Funny huh?
Anyways, thank you so much for your input. I feel hopeful!
Click to expand...

The non US citizen status might be holding you back significantly. Usually Dental schools take USA students before international.
 
Manic324 said:
Then do a traditional two year masters that is funded. That's what I did actually I did a traditional two year research masters because it was free and led to a more useful degree than a SMP, but if you can't even get into those then an SMP is your only option and you need to suck it up and take out those loans.
Click to expand...




Hi Manic324, Do you mind telling us what's the name of the funded masters program?
 
We all take loans.
Fact is this is your dream job, a job that 90% will pay you back unlike other fields.
You have to put money to get there.
I know some are lucky to be rich or very deserving to get a scholarship. but, the rest of the world is not like that.
The truth is. Because you worked during your studying, you didn't get the grades you deserve. Now, first don't lose hope you might get accepted at other schools. Secondaly, you should apply for master degrees, I know some schools pay for their students.
 
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