What are my chances?

[GBP12]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So I just finished Sophomore year and will be taking the DAT this summer. I have pretty good stats so I figure I might as well apply a year early because I really don't want to go through an extra year of undergrad and want to start dental school ASAP. I know it's getting harder to get in this way because most people applying have a bachelors or masters and it's really competitive but what are your thoughts?

oGPA: 3.87
sGPA: 3.9
BCP: 3.875

UPDATE:
Bio: 19
GC: 20
OC: 21
PAT: 22
RC: 20
QR: 20
TS: 19
AA: 20

I'm finished with both general and organic chemistry and have taken a biology course every semester as well. I will be taking physics and biochem next year.

Involved in pre-dental club for 2 years with leadership positions for 1 year.
~75 hours volunteering at a dental clinic
~75 hours volunteering at boys and girls club
~50 hours volunteering at a blood center
Just over 100 hours shadowing (general, oral surgery, ortho)
I've also been involved in a tennis league(1.5 hours/wk) for this semester as well.

I know I still have to take the DAT and do well on that but what are my chances so far on getting in somewhere without a degree?

 

[I want to go to there]

Tough question and I doubt you will be able to find a definite answer. I know it's rare though. You should directly ask the schools you are interested in.

 

[deleted585480]

you are more than fine...... it's annoying seeing these kids with 3.7+ GPA's low-key just bragging. do you not realize that you cant get better than a 4.0? YOU ARE FINE!

 

[I want to go to there]

you are more than fine...... it's annoying seeing these kids with 3.7+ GPA's low-key just bragging. do you not realize that you cant get better than a 4.0? YOU ARE FINE!

He's a sophomore and won't have a bachelor's degree at the time of matriculation.

 

[GBP12]

He's a sophomore and won't have a bachelor's degree at the time of matriculation.

Ha exactly, that's my main concern.

I feel like it shouldn't be because one more year of undergrad and getting a degree literally does nothing and is a waste of my time IMO because I want to be a dentist and undergrad doesn't help in that. I think I've done enough to show I am capable of handling dental school as well, but I guess with all of the competition it hurts me not having a degree.

 

[customx]

Something to keep in mind, which may or may not pertain to you later down the road, but I believe you need a bachelors degree in order to specialize.

 

[I want to go to there]

Ha exactly, that's my main concern.

I feel like it shouldn't be because one more year of undergrad and getting a degree literally does nothing and is a waste of my time IMO because I want to be a dentist and undergrad doesn't help in that. I think I've done enough to show I am capable of handling dental school as well, but I guess with all of the competition it hurts me not having a degree.

But still, plenty of people get into dental school each year with GPAs under 3.5 and I think it makes no sense that those people with lower GPAs and such should get in over me just because they have a degree.

Or the people who do bad their first year or two but then pick things up and do well and maybe do an extra year for a masters or more courses, I know there are many people like this who get in, but when I have shown my interest in dentistry right from the start and worked hard right from the start to get good grades to get into dental school, I don't see why they should get in and I shouldn't because I don't have a degree and they have a masters.

Few people did get in without a bachelor's degree in the past, so just ask schools you like individually. Shouldn't take you more than an hour or two. You should study your ass off for the DAT though, you will need really good stat to be among the few.

 

[DaToothFairy444]

I applied last summer after my sophomore year. I made sure to apply to schools where I would have all prereqs by matriculation. I scored a 18AA & 20 PAT. my GPA was a 3.65 . I was able to get one interview to a private school. I was wait listed. Honestly I don't regret applying early, however that is a lot of money I won't get back. Most schools are gonna pick someone with a bachelors even if their GPA is a little lower than someone without. I wish you the best of luck if you do decide to apply. It just doesn't seem like there is much chance with out a degree.

 

[Majisk]

If you take a look at the ADEA guide there are schools which require 3 years, 90 credits, or a mix of everything. They like to use the word 'prefer'. You could try applying to those which require 90 credits / 3 years or so if you have that many. You'll probably want to reach that limit, because it seems to be the lowest requirement.

 

[Little Elephant]

Just a bit of anecdotal advice: It's certainly possible, I know somebody who did this this past year and got accepted to one school, interviewed at 2 (not sure how many he actually applied to), however decided he did not want to go there and is now returning for his final year of undergrad anyways, so all of the money he spent is down the drain. However, he DID get accepted (to an in-state school that was not a top choice a all). To be honest, I don't know his stats, but I do know that they were good enough for him to think that he could get into the schools he wanted to without finishing undergrad and this turned out not to be the case.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[super frank]

Temple dental has no preference over selecting someone with a bachelors over someone lacking one, at least that's what the admissions head emphasized in our meeting. No idea if other schools have this similar philosophy.

Word of advice: just get your bachelors. College is the best time of your life, even if it's spent busting your rear for a majority of the time.

 

[tortelliniboy]

The plan isn't sound. You have the choice of extending a great time in your life and further strengthening the non-academic portion of your cv at your leisure...

Or

You can severely limit yourself to the few schools that will take a student in your position which may or may not coincide with a higher tuition institution. In addition you'll be competing against people that have what you have plus a degree. There's also something to be said about maturity that comes not only with age but mostly so with just experiencing life.

Summary: stay in college for that extra year and get krunk.

 

[flossiraptor863]

If you have the funds to do it, and you want to do it, then do it. Keep in mind you're looking ~$200 per school. Call each school in advance and ask if they will even consider your app.

If you don't have the money to do it, and are aware that you may have to spend even more money applying the next year, then I'd wait until next year.

 

[andreadds]

So I just finished Sophomore year and will be taking the DAT this summer. I have pretty good stats so I figure I might as well apply a year early because I really don't want to go through an extra year of undergrad and want to start dental school ASAP. I know it's getting harder to get in this way because most people applying have a bachelors or masters and it's really competitive but what are your thoughts?

oGPA: 3.87
sGPA: 3.9
BCP: 3.875

I'm finished with both general and organic chemistry and have taken a biology course every semester as well. I will be taking physics and biochem next year.

Involved in pre-dental club for 2 years with leadership positions for 1 year.
~75 hours volunteering at a dental clinic
~75 hours volunteering at boys and girls club
~50 hours volunteering at a blood center
Just over 100 hours shadowing (general, oral surgery, ortho)
I've also been involved in a tennis league(1.5 hours/wk) for this semester as well.

I know I still have to take the DAT and do well on that but what are my chances so far on getting in somewhere without a degree?

I had a friend who was 20 when she had her requirements and UF told her to wait a year because of her age

 

[GBP12]

Just took the DAT today and thought I would update it now that I pretty much have my whole application complete.

Bio: 19
GC: 20
OC: 21
PAT: 22
RC: 20
QR: 20
TS: 19
AA: 20

Thoughts on chances now? Also with that in mind, do you guys know any schools that are known to take students without a degree at matriculation?

 

[predent3591]

shouldn't your TS be 20?

 

[GBP12]

shouldn't your TS be 20?

I'm guessing because biology has more questions, it was weighted more towards the bio section for the TS.

 

[predent3591]

I'm guessing because biology has more questions, it was weighted more towards the bio section for the TS.

dang! thats so annoying either way you did well!

 

[FeralisExtremum]

shouldn't your TS be 20?

TS isn't an average, it's a separate scale.

 

[GBP12]

Any suggestions on schools? I don't want to apply to many since I'm applying early. I have Marquette and Creighton right now. I also want to apply to UNC and UCONN but it seems like they don't really take matriculants without a degree.

Also I was thinking of Colorado too but from what little I could find on their school, it doesn't seem like a good clinical school so I don't think I want to apply there.

Also I'm guessing I have no shot at Baylor?

 

[gsquared]

From what I know, you would be great if you already had your degree and were applying with your current stats. That is, you would likely get interviews. From the little bit I know about early admissions, it is reserved for students who have a 3.9 or higher and at least a 20 on the DAT.

 

[GBP12]

From what I know, you would be great if you already had your degree and were applying with your current stats. That is, you would likely get interviews. From the little bit I know about early admissions, it is reserved for students who have a 3.9 or higher and at least a 20 on the DAT.

Well I just found out that an A- is a 4.0 for AADSAS so my cumulative is actually a 3.94, science 3.9, and BCP 3.87. And all my DAT scores are above 20 except 19 bio, 19 TS.

 

[whitepapertree]

Well I just found out that an A- is a 4.0 for AADSAS so my cumulative is actually a 3.94, science 3.9, and BCP 3.87. And all my DAT scores are above 20 except 19 bio, 19 TS.

Not all schools use the "without +/-" system, so not necessarily.

 

[GBP12]

Not all schools use the "without +/-" system, so not necessarily.

Meaning not all schools look at the AADSAS? Rather they look at the universities?

 

[whitepapertree]

Meaning not all schools look at the AADSAS? Rather they look at the universities?

There's two grades given by AADSAS, with +/- and without +/-. Schools decide which one they want to look at.

 

[GBP12]

There's two grades given by AADSAS, with +/- and without +/-. Schools decide which one they want to look at.

Oh ok, thanks!