What are my chances? Lower GPA, community college credits, but lots of working experience

[HB33124]

Hey!

My DAT is coming up, and I'm preparing with DAT Bootcamp. I'm concerned about my GPA being a 3.264 with community college credits. I've taken Anatomy, OChem II, and Biochemistry 2 times each. (A- in anatomy, C in OChem II, and A in biochem second time around)

I've worked over 1000 hours in dental offices as an assistant. I've worked chairside doing preop impressions, instrument passing, prepping rooms, sterilization, and pouring stone models, along with many other assistant jobs. I've also worked with a sleep apnea and TMD specialist in my area where I take PANs, deliver appliances, adjust appliances, and communicate with sleep physicians and lab techs.

I think I'm very much qualified as far as experience goes, but maybe not quite as much with GPA. What should my expectations be for DAT to have a realistic shot to get into a dental school?

Thank you so much!

Date of submission: Still in progress
Overall GPA: 3.264
Science GPA: 3.085
DAT score (include AA and all sections): Scheduled
State of Residence: MI

Major: Biomedical Science
Minority? No
Reapplicant? No
Nontrad? No

Shadowing Experience: 100 hours
Volunteering Experience: K-5 Dental Hygiene Program for lower-income area (660-ish toothbrushes and instruction to K-5 students all organized and run by myself), COVID CPAP recycling to PAPRs, Children's museum (only a few hours)
Employment: 1000+ hours working as an assistant/clinician
Research: None

LOR type and strength: 4 Dentists (3 I have worked for, 1 I have shadowed with on a few occasions), 2 Professors (biochemistry, anatomy)
Misc Info/Things not stated elsewhere: At top

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[Hi Just Lurking]

Hello! Well, not much we can say without a DAT score. With 3.2/3.0 cGPA/sGPA, you should aim for 21+, but realistically 23+ to be more competitive. When is your DAT scheduled for?

 

[HB33124]

Hello! Well, not much we can say without a DAT score. With 3.2/3.0 cGPA/sGPA, you should aim for 21+, but realistically 23+ to be more competitive. When is your DAT scheduled for?

I'm scheduled for September 10th. I know this is pretty late, but I needed to retake biochemistry this summer and it got pushed from the first half of summer to the second half. This is included in my COVID statement, so I'm hoping that will help. I was aiming for a 23+, and I've been naturally good at PAT and QR. Hoping DAT Bootcamp will help with the rest of the test if I continue to hammer out 8-10+ hours a day until my testing date.

 

[Hi Just Lurking]

Are your upper level Science classes from Community College or from a 4 year institution?

And you can do it! Doing well on the DAT is just about putting in the time.

 

[HB33124]

Are your upper level Science classes from Community College or from a 4 year institution?

And you can do it! Doing well on the DAT is just about putting in the time.

All upper-level science classes are from my 4-year. I'm also taking immunology, histology, cadaver-lab, and physiology in the fall. It was quite the adjustment to the university, and I've been trending upward, getting 4.0s in the three classes I've taken this summer (10 credits) while working full-time. Wasn't easy, but that gives me a ton of confidence going into this fall. I'm hoping I do well enough on the DAT to at least get waitlisted and really knock this fall out of the park. Interviewing skills are top-notch, so if I get a couple of interviews, I will be very optimistic about my chances.

 

[Hi Just Lurking]

Well sounds like your summer classes will give your GPA a boost. What schools are you applying to. This is also a factor that plays a large role, applying to your state schools and OOS friendly schools.