undergraduate difficulty

[acgeorge]

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Does anyone know how or if schools judge how difficult one's undergraduate courses are? For example, my science dept. was very difficult and sometimes squeaking out with a C+ or B- was considered an accomplishment. I've taken courses at other schools and the difference is substantial. My undergraduate GPA suffered for this reason (2.8) while my post-bac GPA is stellar in all advance BIO/CHM/MIC courses (4.0)

How much do dental schools actually look into this?

 

[a1pha]

I asked the UoP admissions director the same question because my state university has a 2.8 curved science average. She said it's known that some schools have difficult grading while many private schools suffer from grade inflation. However, with so many colleges across the country the only way to really make it fair is by looking at your DAT. I still think it sucks as well, but she made it pretty clear that at least UoP relies heavily upon DAT scores to gauge the academic prowess of an applicant. So there's your answer for 1/55 of the country 😛

 

[acgeorge]

Yeah, its kind of a raw deal if you ask me. From my experience, my GPA would be 0.75-1.0 pts higher had I attended my local state school instead of my expensive private school.

 

[topdent1]

As I was told my dean of admissions of MN...A big fat YES. Other than that, i don't know anything about how they look at or decipher if one school is easier to get an A in.. On another note, anyone else first day back at school? I have a crappy load this semester and am already tired lol. I need a kick in the ass. 👍

 

[PreDent08]

it's hard to judge if schools are more difficult than others but i think most adcoms consider CC courses more easier than 4 year univesities at least.

 

[Daydream46]

my pre-med friend said that a med school she applied to had a list with schools ranked in catagories like "Most Competitive, More Competitive, Less Competitive and Least Competitive".. i dont know if this is a list that many schools have or not, or if any dental schools use a similar guide

 

[HarvardBioGrad]

I have heard as much as 0.4 points added to your GPA depending on the difficulty of your undergraduate school. You won't be able to get a straightforward answer regarding this subject but the admissions committee for any school has been doing what they are doing for a while so they know which schools deserve the added points.

 

[HarvardBioGrad]

my pre-med friend said that a med school she applied to had a list with schools ranked in catagories like "Most Competitive, More Competitive, Less Competitive and Least Competitive".. i dont know if this is a list that many schools have or not, or if any dental schools use a similar guide

I have seen that list which is used by some medical schools but not all. It's a pretty predictable list with most competitive schools being the big time private schools plus UC Berkeley and UVA. I believe other good state schools like UCLA and Michigan fell into the more competitive.

By all means, you can graduate from University of North Dakota and gain admissions at the top schools but you better have a very high GPA as well as high test scores to prove yourself. It's kind of like getting drafted to the NFL or NBA - you can be a great player but if you're from a less known colleges you're gonna need off the roof stats and also prove yourself more so than the same caliber players from big name schools like USC, LSU, and Miami.

 

[Daydream46]

I believe other good state schools like UCLA and Michigan fell into the more competitive.

And Rutgers, according to her 🙂

 

[acgeorge]

Well, hopefully some dental schools have some love for those little private schools in Claremont, CA. =)

 

[doc3232]

I have seen that list which is used by some medical schools but not all. It's a pretty predictable list with most competitive schools being the big time private schools plus UC Berkeley and UVA. I believe other good state schools like UCLA and Michigan fell into the more competitive.

By all means, you can graduate from University of North Dakota and gain admissions at the top schools but you better have a very high GPA as well as high test scores to prove yourself. It's kind of like getting drafted to the NFL or NBA - you can be a great player but if you're from a less known colleges you're gonna need off the roof stats and also prove yourself more so than the same caliber players from big name schools like USC, LSU, and Miami.

👍

 

[alanan84]

I have seen that list which is used by some medical schools but not all. It's a pretty predictable list with most competitive schools being the big time private schools plus UC Berkeley and UVA. I believe other good state schools like UCLA and Michigan fell into the more competitive.

By all means, you can graduate from University of North Dakota and gain admissions at the top schools but you better have a very high GPA as well as high test scores to prove yourself. It's kind of like getting drafted to the NFL or NBA - you can be a great player but if you're from a less known colleges you're gonna need off the roof stats and also prove yourself more so than the same caliber players from big name schools like USC, LSU, and Miami.

Just to debunk this not very good sports to dental analogy, let's compare some players:

Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois) > Matt Leinart (USC)
Ladainian Tomlinson (TCU) > Reggie Bush (USC)

Yeah the list could go on and on and on but I have better things to do. To make a long story short, a good student at North Dakota could be just as good a dentist if not better than a good student at your beloved Harvard. The only way to tell is by a stardardized test. In the NFL, it's the combine, for dental school, the DAT.

 

[TarheelKid24]

I know this list has its problems (like how they compare these schools and how many representatives actually respond) but it is also really convenient in a relative manner...

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search

 

[doc3232]

I know this list has its problems (like how they compare these schools and how many representatives actually respond) but it is also really convenient in a relative manner...

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-search

It is decent. I don't think we have anything else or anything better.

 

[HarvardBioGrad]

And Rutgers, according to her 🙂

I'm sorry but what are Rutgers? I've never heard of them.

Just to debunk this not very good sports to dental analogy, let's compare some players:

Tony Romo (Eastern Illinois) > Matt Leinart (USC)
Ladainian Tomlinson (TCU) > Reggie Bush (USC)

Yeah the list could go on and on and on but I have better things to do. To make a long story short, a good student at North Dakota could be just as good a dentist if not better than a good student at your beloved Harvard. The only way to tell is by a stardardized test. In the NFL, it's the combine, for dental school, the DAT.

My point was about about gaining admissions to dental school being comparable to being drafted in the NFL. It has nothing to do with your future success as a dental student or an NFL player. As far King of Troy and President Bush are concerned, they both went high first round pick so that's comparable to getting into Harvard. Mr. Tomlinson was also a high first round pick despite coming from a University of North Dakota equivalent of a football program. But like I said,

you're gonna need off the roof stats and also prove yourself more so than the same caliber players from big name schools like USC, LSU, and Miami.

Of course he performed well at the combine but I believe Mr. Tomlinson also broke just about any record at his alma mater. That would be comparable to having a 4.0 in University of North Dakota.

Mr. Romo is irrelevant in this conversation because his sorry ass went undrafted as a result of being a good college player coming from an unknown college. Being at the quarterback position, it's hard to wow people and raise your stock value at the combine unlike other more athletic positions like WR or CB. He is an equivalent of a 3.5 student from University of North Dakota who scored a 18~19 on the DAT. Could that student become a great dentist later in life just like Mr. Romo became a great QB? Sure! Anything is possible in life. Would I, admissions committee, NFL scouts, or you for that matter if you can be honest, bet on it? Doubtful.

 

[rewJW]

I'm sorry but what are Rutgers? I've never heard of them.

I have the sneaking suspicion that Mr. Harvard Graduate knows that Rutgers is the state university of New Jersey, or at least that it is a college, and is just being an arrogant a**.

 

[acgeorge]

Mr. Harvard's point was SO valid and coherent until he called Romo a great QB

 

[alanan84]

Mr. Harvard's point was SO valid and coherent until he called Romo a great QB

Oh come on, you're hating. It's pretty hard to deny after two solid years in all the games he's started that he's definitely good.

To Harvard, I see you point. I actually counted 5 out of the top 20 drafts from this year to be from nonpowerhouse schools though. So yeah, they are getting in there.

 

[1992Corolla]

Dental schools also look at upper trends so I would definitely say that the trend of your 2.8 to a 4.0 will get looked at. Talk about it in your personal statement.

They may go as far as to set up a spreadsheet of all the applicants. By clicking on the tabs on top they can organize everyone by GPA, DAT, school, etc. and then compare every applicant from Harvard to North Dakota CC. If you are the only applicant from Harvard with a 2.8 and everyone else has a 3.4 then that may be a telling tale. If you have a 2.8 and everyone else has a 2.6 than you are ahead of the harvard curve.

Good luck