Trends in GPA

[Aja21]

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Hi i'm new to this forum and i have some questions about my sad academic standing.

cGPA: 2.89
cBCP GPA: 2.83

First year GPA: 1.82
Second year GPA: 2.45
Third year GPA: 3.51
Fourth year GPA: 3.83

I haven't taken my DAT yet, it's on Feb 21st.

I'm wondering how much is weighed on academic Trend... because if my First and second year, or even just my first year is not counted... I still have a subpar GPA but not as bad and this one.

Is this increase in my GPA too little too late?

Also, I have some Research experience under a biology professor. Do they even care about Research experience?

Lastly, does Psychology and Neuroscience count in science GPA?

 

[sl2obel2ts]

you have to have 3.0 or higher to be competitive. your upward trend is good, but not gonna make the first cut. you shouldnt apply this coming cycle, do post-bac or masters.

research experience counts and asked at most school interviews. so that's good.

psych is non-science unless it is neuropsych. neuroscience is science i believe.

 

[shinbone86]

I am not one to speak because I am still in the dental application process. My gpa isn't great, but I did get a few interviews. There are students out there that get in with sub 3.0 gpa or with a gpa scratching 3.0, but they are either 1.) URM, 2.) have a lot of leadership experience and a genuine passion to help people, or 3.) pursued a master's or did a postbac to demonstrate that they can handle a health professions school.

I apologize for the sidetracking, but as poor as your performance was in your first two years, I think the steady improvement in your gpa shows your increased level of maturity and motivation for success. Nonetheless, it certainly wouldn't hurt to apply to several schools who take in students with higher than average DAT scores and lower than average gpas. (You would have to destroy the DAT, though). But if you are really serious about getting into dental school, you would probably have to go to a master's program (could be an instate public institution) or take some graduate level courses to boost up that gpa. Again I myself am not sure if I will get in this cycle and am planning on taking a few courses to boost my gpa and engage in other activities to embelish my resume. good luck

 

[klutzy1987]

Hi i'm new to this forum and i have some questions about my sad academic standing.

cGPA: 2.89
cBCP GPA: 2.83

First year GPA: 1.82
Second year GPA: 2.45
Third year GPA: 3.51
Fourth year GPA: 3.83

I haven't taken my DAT yet, it's on Feb 21st.

I'm wondering how much is weighed on academic Trend... because if my First and second year, or even just my first year is not counted... I still have a subpar GPA but not as bad and this one.

Is this increase in my GPA too little too late?

Also, I have some Research experience under a biology professor. Do they even care about Research experience?

Lastly, does Psychology and Neuroscience count in science GPA?

1.82 GPA is failing, I am surprised that you didnt have problems with being expelled from school. However the good news is that the first yearb is so low that you can probably retake every single course from that semester. I would retake every course pull staight A's and then apply. It will bring your GPA up signifigantly and you can get rid of thoseblack marks on your transcript/application.

 

[Plopper]

1.82 GPA is failing, I am surprised that you didnt have problems with being expelled from school. However the good news is that the first yearb is so low that you can probably retake every single course from that semester. I would retake every course pull staight A's and then apply. It will bring your GPA up signifigantly and you can get rid of thoseblack marks on your transcript/application.

how were your grades in the pre-req courses for dental admission? bio, chem, orgo...etc? Retake those and get A's

but honestly, you may need to consider doing some sort of further education

 

[SugarNaCl]

Hi i'm new to this forum and i have some questions about my sad academic standing.

cGPA: 2.89
cBCP GPA: 2.83

First year GPA: 1.82
Second year GPA: 2.45
Third year GPA: 3.51
Fourth year GPA: 3.83

I haven't taken my DAT yet, it's on Feb 21st.

I'm wondering how much is weighed on academic Trend... because if my First and second year, or even just my first year is not counted... I still have a subpar GPA but not as bad and this one.

Is this increase in my GPA too little too late?

Also, I have some Research experience under a biology professor. Do they even care about Research experience?

Lastly, does Psychology and Neuroscience count in science GPA?

I am not an authority on this topic but I do see a few problems... not to say that your application would be unsalvageable. You know your first two years are not good at all and I agree your 3rd and 4th year are competitive. From what I understand MOST (but likely not ALL) dental schools look first at your raw scores (OVERALL GPA and DAT). I have heard about schools that file away overall sub 3.0 GPAs (regardless of what years you did well or poorly in) without ever looking at individual semesters. If this is just a rumor, I'm not certain. If I had to make a recommendation, I'd suggest an MS with thesis or a post bacc (since that counts as undergrad GPA) if you think you can bring your GPA to above a 3.0 with that.

To answer your other questions. Research does matter. I think it was a big reason VCU was interested in my application and I hope to continue it in my 3rd year.

Furthermore, neuroscience counts as science, psychology doesn't.

Good luck to you. 🙂

 

[chober]

Lemme give you an idea of what my grades are like, because my grades are just a little better than yours cumulatively.

Year 1: 2.14
Year 2: 2.55
Year 3: 2.18
Year 4: 2.52
Year 5: 2.23
Year 6: 4.00
Year 7: 3.92
Year 8: 3.54
Year 9: 3.89
Year 10: 4.00

Pretty much I had to take an additional 5 years to show them that I can do it. My case is pretty extreme but I had to be able to show schools that I can handle it. You can try for a special master's program too that would help. Also the research work you did is good stuff too.

 

[Ranelar]

Lemme give you an idea of what my grades are like, because my grades are just a little better than yours cumulatively.

Year 1: 2.14
Year 2: 2.55
Year 3: 2.18
Year 4: 2.52
Year 5: 2.23
Year 6: 4.00
Year 7: 3.92
Year 8: 3.54
Year 9: 3.89
Year 10: 4.00

Pretty much I had to take an additional 5 years to show them that I can do it. My case is pretty extreme but I had to be able to show schools that I can handle it. You can try for a special master's program too that would help. Also the research work you did is good stuff too.

Wow... I do not love dentistry enough to do what you did.

 

[chober]

Gotta show these schools I mean business...

 

[doc toothache]

An upward trend is always good. It appears that you are a bio major and with about 6k applicants with the same major the trend alone may not be significant enough to place you in the spotlight. Knocking the DAT into the ionosphere or a M.S. should help.

 

[klutzy1987]

Year 1: 2.14
Year 2: 2.55
Year 3: 2.18
Year 4: 2.52
Year 5: 2.23
Year 6: 4.00
Year 7: 3.92
Year 8: 3.54
Year 9: 3.89
Year 10: 4.00

Like a real Van Wilder.

 

[chober]

Like a real Van Wilder.

Almost but not quite, I did graduate and have a gap 1 yr gap between year 5 and 6. Would've been something if I did all 10 at the same school.

 

[sccr1313]

An upward trend is always good. It appears that you are a bio major and with about 6k applicants with the same major the trend alone may not be significant enough to place you in the spotlight. Knocking the DAT into the ionosphere or a M.S. should help.

lol ionosphere

As most others have mentioned, make everything else in your app stellar
-23+ DAT
-volunteer work
-leadership positions
-retake those C-'s or below from your first 2 years like klutzy said
-etc

 

[Aja21]

Thank you all for your reply,

but my school does not allow me to retake courses (stupid UofT) unless i failed, and somehow i did not fail any courses.

IF i get to pick my own pre-requisite courses, i would have a pretty good pre-requisite GPA (near 3.9).

but if they pick it for me, it won't be good.

Does the difficulty of my courses matter? cause in third and fourth year, all i've taken is senior level biochemistry courses, senior level advanced organic chemistry courses, and research courses in neuroscience.

but I guess my GPA isn't good enough for them to even take a second look at my application.

I'll look into Masters and ace my DAT.

Thank you all.

 

[cookand]

Lemme give you an idea of what my grades are like, because my grades are just a little better than yours cumulatively.

Year 1: 2.14
Year 2: 2.55
Year 3: 2.18
Year 4: 2.52
Year 5: 2.23
Year 6: 4.00
Year 7: 3.92
Year 8: 3.54
Year 9: 3.89
Year 10: 4.00

Pretty much I had to take an additional 5 years to show them that I can do it. My case is pretty extreme but I had to be able to show schools that I can handle it. You can try for a special master's program too that would help. Also the research work you did is good stuff too.

I think this is really great. Good for you my friend. Really impressive imo.

To the OP, the only advice I can give you is that you won't regret getting an MS if that's the route you take.

 

[FutureDDSMD]

Hey, I'm new here and don't want to hijack your thread but I'm in a similar situation.

Year 1 & 2 - 2.4 GPA at School A

Left school, 5 year work experience. Then went back to school. Between Summer 08 and end of Summer 09 I will have exactly 90 BRAND NEW CREDITS. I'm using ZERO old credits. Figured I'd do it from scratch to show 'em I'm doing it right this time.

New GPA so far @ about 45 credits (summer, fall, winter) = 4.0 👍
This includes Chem, Bio, Physics, and Micro
By application, again I'll have 90 total NEW credits, and even more sciences (genetics, and orgo etc).

I am determined to not lose my 4.0

That all being said, I'm super concerned with the way the Application takes ALL your grades, from ALL transcripts! I thought I'd be able to forget Year 1 and 2 ! How bad will this be, even though I'm doing it all over, insane course loads, and a 4.0? I'm also doing Research at a Dental School, and have been shadowing since last year.

And insight is appreciated. I'm very concerned my old history will haunt me bad!

 

[chober]

Hey, I'm new here and don't want to hijack your thread but I'm in a similar situation.

Year 1 & 2 - 2.4 GPA at School A

Left school, 5 year work experience. Then went back to school. Between Summer 08 and end of Summer 09 I will have exactly 90 BRAND NEW CREDITS. I'm using ZERO old credits. Figured I'd do it from scratch to show 'em I'm doing it right this time.

New GPA so far @ about 45 credits (summer, fall, winter) = 4.0 👍
This includes Chem, Bio, Physics, and Micro
By application, again I'll have 90 total NEW credits, and even more sciences (genetics, and orgo etc).

I am determined to not lose my 4.0

That all being said, I'm super concerned with the way the Application takes ALL your grades, from ALL transcripts! I thought I'd be able to forget Year 1 and 2 ! How bad will this be, even though I'm doing it all over, insane course loads, and a 4.0? I'm also doing Research at a Dental School, and have been shadowing since last year.

And insight is appreciated. I'm very concerned my old history will haunt me bad!

Wow thats awesome, keep up the good work. That shows a REALLY strong upward trend. However, those blemishes will still show up, but if you can get your GPA into the low to mid 3s you will definitely have a leg up on me. My GPA is extremely difficult to move now, and I'm considering applying for a masters program

 

[oreoson]

The consensus on SDN is that master's will not help you if you did poorly on the prerequisites assuming you did intro bio,chem, physics in your first year. I can't believe your school doesn't let students retake courses. Perhaps you could retake some courses at some other university to raise your gpa to 3.0.

 

[doc toothache]

The consensus on SDN is that master's will not help you if you did poorly on the prerequisites assuming you did intro bio,chem, physics in your first year. I can't believe your school doesn't let students retake courses. Perhaps you could retake some courses at some other university to raise your gpa to 3.0.

It may be a "consensus" but a successful MS, in addition to improving one's gpa, does provide some evidence that the applicant is capable of graduate level work.