Well, I'm bummed.

[Janeausten]

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I just got AADSAS calculated GPA's. They were not really close to what I expected, and I'm thinking my chances of getting in are now shot. 🙁
I was expecting 3.50 oGPA and 3.1-ish sGPA, but I got 3.42 and 3.06 respectively. My DAT scores are just good, not stellar. I got a 19 AA with nothing below a 17. So DAT won't make up for anything. My EC's are great, but I still feel won't make up for anything.
Therefore, my question is, would you recommend an SMP or post bacc? Or should I not worry about that as of yet?

 

[Baba Yaga]

How were your GPA's different tgan what you expected? Did you not calculate them using the AADSAS equivalencies of letter grades (if your school calculates it differently)?

As far as what you should do...

(1) Do you think you did your absolute best on the DAT? If you were to prepare for a retake, how long would that take you?

(2) Your science GPA is really low, so you could benefit from am SMP (if you did well, and well for an SMP is no lower than the 3.7-3.8 range afaik) but the deadlines for most SMP's will have passed by now (acceptances handed out, waitlists made), so it's not really an option for you to start an SMP in Fall 2013 at this point.

(3) I would do the informal post-bacc route. It's basically your only choice right now. Plus, this way you can take as many courses as you can handle and build it up.

Your science GPA is low, and you really need those 4.0 A's at this point. A 3.666 A- won't raise it as much and don't even get me started on the lower grades. If getting A's in the sciences means you have to start off with one class to figure out how to study, then do that and build up from there.

Do you know why your science GPA was so low? Do you know what you need to improve? This is ESSENTIAL.

 

[Janeausten]

Thank you for your input!
I calculated my own sGPA using just integers, the credit hours my college stated, and the grade I received with no + or -. Same for oGPA. I had just one repeated course, but I made sure I factored in both grades.
I could take the DAT again.
As far as science classes go, I did work a couple jobs to help pay for college in the beginning of my college career. I guess I could let them go to study more. (And see my debt rise, but that's a different story. Ha)
I guess my biggest bummer is having to sit out this cycle and having another whole year off. That's not what I wanted, but I suppose I need to suck it up!

 

[Predent92]

Thank you for your input!
I calculated my own sGPA using just integers, the credit hours my college stated, and the grade I received with no + or -. Same for oGPA. I had just one repeated course, but I made sure I factored in both grades.
I could take the DAT again.
As far as science classes go, I did work a couple jobs to help pay for college in the beginning of my college career. I guess I could let them go to study more. (And see my debt rise, but that's a different story. Ha)
I guess my biggest bummer is having to sit out this cycle and having another whole year off. That's not what I wanted, but I suppose I need to suck it up!

You should definitely still apply. I was first batch and applied to 15 schools and currently have two interviews scheduled for September. I have a 19 AA 19 TS and 19 PAT and nothing below 18. My GPA is slightly lower than your overall and my science is a 3.25.

 

[MuskieMan33]

I feel your pain, my GPA after the AADSAS calculation was 0.07 points lower that what my transcripts say. Hang in there!!

 

[Janeausten]

You should definitely still apply. I was first batch and applied to 15 schools and currently have two interviews scheduled for September. I have a 19 AA 19 TS and 19 PAT and nothing below 18. My GPA is slightly lower than your overall and my science is a 3.25.

I did apply a couple weeks ago. I applied to 12 and broadly. And great job! 🙂

 

[Janeausten]

I feel your pain, my GPA after the AADSAS calculation was 0.07 points lower that what my transcripts say. Hang in there!!

Thanks! You too!

 

[Mufasha]

How were your GPA's different tgan what you expected? Did you not calculate them using the AADSAS equivalencies of letter grades (if your school calculates it differently)?

As far as what you should do...

(1) Do you think you did your absolute best on the DAT? If you were to prepare for a retake, how long would that take you?

(2) Your science GPA is really low, so you could benefit from am SMP (if you did well, and well for an SMP is no lower than the 3.7-3.8 range afaik) but the deadlines for most SMP's will have passed by now (acceptances handed out, waitlists made), so it's not really an option for you to start an SMP in Fall 2013 at this point.

(3) I would do the informal post-bacc route. It's basically your only choice right now. Plus, this way you can take as many courses as you can handle and build it up.

Your science GPA is low, and you really need those 4.0 A's at this point. A 3.666 A- won't raise it as much and don't even get me started on the lower grades. If getting A's in the sciences means you have to start off with one class to figure out how to study, then do that and build up from there.

Do you know why your science GPA was so low? Do you know what you need to improve? This is ESSENTIAL.

👍👍👍

I totally agree with Baba Yaga. While applying this cycle won't hurt, start preparing to reapply now by doing an informal post-bacc. Fall classes start in about 3 weeks, so set it up ASAP. If you go this route, I'd suggest setting a goal GPA (particularly for your sGPA; I'd shoot for a 3.3, if you can swing it) and calculating how many science classes will get you there.

Like Baba Yaga said, you'll probably need straight A's to make a real difference, but at least you'll know exactly where your dedication, time, and money could potentially get you GPA-wise and how many classes you should take to get there. I've been using this ADEA GPA calculator which is great (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=903183). Just enter your grades the way ADEA did and add in planned coursework, which should be 100% BCP.

 

[asne0407]

What is your BCP GPA? A lot of schools consider this your science GPA.

 

[Papasmurf1234]

It's interesting to see people talk about their GPAs going down after calculations. Mine actually went up quite a bit...

 

[Baba Yaga]

It's interesting to see people talk about their GPAs going down after calculations. Mine actually went up quite a bit...

Really? I'm confused as to how it changes at all.

 

[Papasmurf1234]

Really? I'm confused as to how it changes at all.

Well, mine went up a little bit overall but i'm guessing that's because AADSAS factored in my 12 units of CC credits while my university doesn't. Also, my w/o +/- went up around .15 b/c I have a couple A+'s

 

[tbond5]

My gpa went from 3.45 to 3.57 for my cc. It helps when washington gives you a gpa for the grade instead of a letter grade so my original C+ went to a BC and my other C+ went to a B-. Half of my classes were boosted that way.

 

[Baba Yaga]

Thank you for your input!
I calculated my own sGPA using just integers, the credit hours my college stated, and the grade I received with no + or -. Same for oGPA. I had just one repeated course, but I made sure I factored in both grades.
I could take the DAT again.
As far as science classes go, I did work a couple jobs to help pay for college in the beginning of my college career. I guess I could let them go to study more. (And see my debt rise, but that's a different story. Ha)
I guess my biggest bummer is having to sit out this cycle and having another whole year off. That's not what I wanted, but I suppose I need to suck it up!

Oh okay, well of course using that method wouldn't be very accurate in calculating GPA.

It doesn't sound like you want to take the DAT again, and if you think that's the best you can do then maybe don't retake...but if you retook and were able to get a high score (22 or so) it'd probably help you in making up for the GPA.

Are you saying you didn't study enough because of your jobs? That's a good reflection, but you should go beyond that when you explore why your grades were not what you wanted them to be. You don't have to share these things on the forum if you don't want to, but taking responsibility and owning up to your choices and how they have led to where you are is important when you want to make a change.

If you were to do an SMP, you would certainly be taking on more loans and quitting your job, since SMPs are expensive and difficult. I can understand being frightened of loans, but is there a way to mitigate that? Can you move in with a relative and take classes at a local 4 year college?

I think beyond being bummed out at this point you should see how this cycle goes and put your all into preparing for next cycle. It's the smart thing to do. Don't waste time feeling bad when you can use that time to do things to improve your application!

 

[Janeausten]

Oh okay, well of course using that method wouldn't be very accurate in calculating GPA.

It doesn't sound like you want to take the DAT again, and if you think that's the best you can do then maybe don't retake...but if you retook and were able to get a high score (22 or so) it'd probably help you in making up for the GPA.

Are you saying you didn't study enough because of your jobs? That's a good reflection, but you should go beyond that when you explore why your grades were not what you wanted them to be. You don't have to share these things on the forum if you don't want to, but taking responsibility and owning up to your choices and how they have led to where you are is important when you want to make a change.

If you were to do an SMP, you would certainly be taking on more loans and quitting your job, since SMPs are expensive and difficult. I can understand being frightened of loans, but is there a way to mitigate that? Can you move in with a relative and take classes at a local 4 year college?

I think beyond being bummed out at this point you should see how this cycle goes and put your all into preparing for next cycle. It's the smart thing to do. Don't waste time feeling bad when you can use that time to do things to improve your application!

I wouldn't necessarily say that I "want" to retake the DAT, but I definitely wouldn't mind it. I'm just worried if any score were to drop! Although, I think that 3 months of studying for the DAT should be a 22+ AA. That's just my assumption.

I do have a local inexpensive 4 year college I can take courses in. My former university won't let me take any more courses since I just graduated in May, so I have a hold until September, which is a shame since my former university has a great reputation in the science areas. The local 4 year college has no reputation. I think I'll register for the local college regardless of its lack of reputation. I wasn't required to take Anatomy at my university, so I'll start off with an Anatomy course! Even though it is just 5 hours, it'll already take my sGPA to a 3.15 with an A.

I really do appreciate your input. Thank you! 🙂

 

[Baba Yaga]

I think I'll register for the local college regardless of its lack of reputation. I wasn't required to take Anatomy at my university, so I'll start off with an Anatomy course! Even though it is just 5 hours, it'll already take my sGPA to a 3.15 with an A.

I really do appreciate your input. Thank you! 🙂

This is exactly the attitude you should have. Look at how nicely that A would improve your GPA. Plus it's anatomy and that will help you when you get to dental school. 🙂

From what I have heard, reputation doesn't matter as long as you have the grades. As long as you keep focused and put your nose to the grindstone, you will make it.