WAMC - Low undergrad GPA, High PostBacc, no interviews as of 11/5/2021, what do I do from here?

[mclaren593]

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Date of submission: 6/1/2021
Overall GPA: 3.35 Undergrad, 4.0 PostBacc (DIY PostBacc at 4 year, across 16 credit hours, 2 classes per semester, classes were upper level sci and retook Genetics)
Science GPA: 3.06 Undergrad (Strong upward trend, had Cs in first year and half of college such as OChem 1 and 2 as well as Genetics), 4.0 PostBacc
Bio-Chem-Physics GPA: 2.9 Undergrad, 4.0 PostBacc
DAT score (include AA and all sections): 20AA, 16 PAT, 16 QR, 30 RC, 18 TS (20 Bio, 19 GC, 16 OC)

State of Residence: TX
Major: Business Administration

Minor: Neuroscience, Exercise and Sport Studies
Minority? No but first gen college grad

Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No
Shadowing Experience: 72 with General Dentist, 36 with Oral Surgeon
Volunteering Experience: 100 hours
Employment: Unemployed
Research: 108, for academic credit

Other Extracurriculars: Alpha Phi Omega (Service fraternity), Delta Omicron Epsilon (Economics Honor Society), local Powerlifting team (Will not disclose who)
Relevant Honors or Awards: Dean’s List for 1 semester, Academic Scholarship recipient
LOR type and strength: Committee Letter (Strong) along with letters from Dentist and Oral Surgeon (Strong), the committee letter comprised of science professors of classes that I did well in

Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere/Red Flags: I am aware that the numerous 16s in the DAT and the science GPA from undergrad is holding me back. Well before submitting my app, I was explicitly warned by my advisor already that I may need more than one cycle to get in. If I needed to reapply, my main concern was aside from retaking the DAT, will the PostBacc be enough and will I be better off doing another year of PostBacc coursework (Additional 22 credit hours, includes retaking both OChems) followed by a SMP and call it a day before reapplying? I am in no rush to get into dental school and am not limited financially.

School list:
All Texas Schools (Baylor College of Dentistry, UT San Antonio and Houston, Texas Tech El Paso)
WesternU
Meharry
Howard
Both ATSU (ASDOH and MOSDOH)
Both Midwestern (AZ and IL)
LECOM
Roseman
Touro
UNLV
UNE
BU GSDM
Tufts

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Well, you have to retake the DAT. Any 16's could be automatic rejection at some schools. There is no grade replacement with retaking OC when it comes to your application GPA. What did you take in your postbac coursework?

 

[mclaren593]

Well, you have to retake the DAT. Any 16's could be automatic rejection at some schools. There is no grade replacement with retaking OC when it comes to your application GPA. What did you take in your postbac coursework?

Thank you for the reply. I agree with the 16s being an issue. Regarding class retakes, I have heard from some schools such as WesternU that they would take the higher grade so I was not sure if each school had their own stance. My postbac coursework so far has been A&P 1 and 2, Cell Biology (not Intro to Cell Biology), and Genetics, all with labs. I retook Genetics because I had made a C in it and the same intent was there with OC. In the future I had planned to take classes such as Immunology, Applied Ecology, Physiology, and Quantitative Analysis to name a few.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for the reply. I agree with the 16s being an issue. Regarding class retakes, I have heard from some schools such as WesternU that they would take the higher grade so I was not sure if each school had their own stance. My postbac coursework so far has been A&P 1 and 2, Cell Biology (not Intro to Cell Biology), and Genetics, all with labs. I retook Genetics because I had made a C in it and the same intent was there with OC. In the future I had planned to take classes such as Immunology, Applied Ecology, Physiology, and Quantitative Analysis to name a few.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure how much applied ecology or quant will help you with dental school. I would think about taking histology if it is offered.

 

[mclaren593]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure how much applied ecology or quant will help you with dental school. I would think about taking histology if it is offered.

Of course! According to UTHSCA's DDS program (D.D.S. Admissions Requirements | UT Health San Antonio) they had mentioned that classes such as quant or applied ecology would be helpful. I agree Histology would be a great choice, however my undergrad and even the 4 year I am doing the PostBac does not offer it unfortunately as that can show up in DDS and MD curriculums. The CCs may offer it but I do not think making As in CC classes will look good to the schools. I am just unsure if a SMP would be necessary at this point as schools have been becoming more competitive, even with all the As from the PostBac moving the needle as the undergrad GPAs can't be changed.

 

[PerioDont]

What is your current overall GPA and sGPA in aadsas. Also I think I would start with your DAT improvements.

Though I actually think more shadowing hours is a good idea as well, that is not the problem with your app.

 

[mclaren593]

What is your current overall GPA and sGPA in aadsas. Also I think I would start with your DAT improvements.

Though I actually think more shadowing hours is a good idea as well, that is not the problem with your app.

If you combine the undergraduate work with the postbaccalaureate, 3.41 cGPA/3.30sGPA on AADSAS. Regarding shadowing, I planned to shadow an Orthodontist as well as my GP in December as I will not be taking any classes until January. I agree that the DAT is a sore spot. Thank you for the reply and feedback.

 

[deleted994703]

you should be patient. post dec interviews are a thing. start thinking of a plan when it’s march and you haven’t heard back

 

[macsak]

If you combine the undergraduate work with the postbaccalaureate, 3.41 cGPA/3.30sGPA on AADSAS. Regarding shadowing, I planned to shadow an Orthodontist as well as my GP in December as I will not be taking any classes until January. I agree that the DAT is a sore spot. Thank you for the reply and feedback.

if you have a 3.3-3.4 GPA, the issue is your DAT
don't do an SMP...

 

[mclaren593]

you should be patient. post dec interviews are a thing. start thinking of a plan when it’s march and you haven’t heard back

True. My plan was to retake the DAT and do another year of postbac before reapplying if things did not work out this cycle.

 

[mclaren593]

if you have a 3.3-3.4 GPA, the issue is your DAT
don't do an SMP...

If that is the case, what kinds of applicants would benefit the most from a SMP?

 

[artist2022]

If you combine the undergraduate work with the postbaccalaureate, 3.41 cGPA/3.30sGPA on AADSAS. Regarding shadowing, I planned to shadow an Orthodontist as well as my GP in December as I will not be taking any classes until January. I agree that the DAT is a sore spot. Thank you for the reply and feedback.

Are these GPAs all your grades, because AADSAS does not do grade replacement (for genetics, both your C of 4 units and your A of 4 units will just be averaged out to a B of 8 units). Do these GPAs reflect this?

If that is the case, what kinds of applicants would benefit the most from a SMP?

Career changers or those with undergrad GPAs below/very close to 3.0, to prove that they can handle upper division graduate-level coursework.

 

[mclaren593]

Are these GPAs all your grades, because AADSAS does not do grade replacement (for genetics, both your C of 4 units and your A of 4 units will just be averaged out to a B of 8 units). Do these GPAs reflect this?

Career changers or those with undergrad GPAs below/very close to 3.0, to prove that they can handle upper division graduate-level coursework.

Those GPAs include all my grades as is and reflect both the C I had made in Genetics as well as the A from the retake. For the SMP, that makes sense so it would also be under post-graduate coursework like a postbac and I would not need it as the sGPA is already well above a 3.0.

 

[macsak]

Those GPAs include all my grades as is and reflect both the C I had made in Genetics as well as the A from the retake. For the SMP, that makes sense so it would also be under post-graduate coursework like a postbac and I would not need it as the sGPA is already well above a 3.0.

postbacc is undergraduate GPA
SMP/Masters is graduate GPA...