Time Gaps in my studies: Am I in trouble?

[terry2356]

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Hello,

I am currently first year student at Faculty of Science at University of Alberta , Canada. My situation is that I attended my first semester (5 course load) in fall 2009. Took 2 courses in spring/summer 2010 and I am planning to take 3 courses in spring/summer 2011. By the start of fall 2011,I will complete 30 credits of coursework( first year) out of 120 that is required for my undergraduate degree. Now there are gaps in between my studies where I did not take any courses ( winter 2010 , fall 2010 , Winter 2011). These gaps were due to personal reasons. Now my question is , being a prospective Dental student , am I at a disadvantage for admission because of these gaps? These 7 courses plus the 3 courses I am planning to take will probly make my first year gpa at about ~2.5. I am willing to go US . Do american dental schools count spring/summer courses in their cumulative GPA or it depends the school?

Fall term 2009 (5 course load)
Calculus I D
General Biology I B-
Gen Chemistry C
Introductory Stat C
Humanities elective Language Punjabi A

Summer/Spring 2010
English 121 C+
English 124 B

Reason for the Gaps in my studies:

Having done no career research and enrolling in university for the heck of it. Being imature student having come straight out of high school. When i got low grades thats when it hit me. It was a wake up call. I took some time off and thats where the gaps come from. In this time I became more serious and got to know what was at stake: my career. I researched and found out what my passions were. Helping people and computing science. I also worked for couple of months to help my family financially.

 

[Philippines03j]

I took 8 to 11 credit course loads from my senior year in high school and then for a year after. I had 35 credits total. Took 2 years off of school. At that time my gpa was 2.9 and my science courses were the ones bringing me down. So my science gpa was much lower. Came back and completed the rest of my degree in 2 1/2 years with a 3.93 from a university. This made my overall gpa a 3.61 and science a 3.42. (you can read the my entire story at http://dentaldat.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-have-had-few-requests-to-share-story.html). Anyways, I am now in dental school. The schools want to see you turn yourself around and do well. You need to approach the rest of your academic career as if your life depends on it. Because it does! This could be a big life changer for you.

U.S. schools count any class that you take...It does not matter when it is taken.

My first 35 credits (Not all just ones I remember)- they are in quarters thats why there are 3 biologys and chemistry.
Biology I-III -- Cs and B
Chem I-III-- Cs and Bs
Physics 105--C+
Physciology -- F😛
English-- B-
History -- A- 😉

Now I am in dental school!! You can do it too!