What are my chances?!

[snoopy120]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey all, its Jon. I went to UIC. Majored in molecular biology and minor in chemistry. I don't have the hottest GPA right now and am WORRIED! I'm not sure how high my DAT score needs to be for me to be accepted into my choice schools, like UIC, michigan, marquette, and SIU.

Background:

Started off poor at about 3.1 freshman year
Did worse soph year at about 2.9
Then brought it up after a personal intervention to 3.3
Then senior year did even better. A- in biochem, A- in molecular biology, and other advanced level course to a 3.6

Avg undergrad is 3.13 cGPA and 3.09 sGPA

Going to community college and maxing out w all sciences and very confident to get straight As w easy easy courses.

applying w probably a 3.2 cGPa and 3.15 sGPA.

Going to UIC for grad school non-degree/classes at will. Taking 15 credit hours in fall, and 15 in spring. Of those 15 credits, ~5 credits of grad school courses like pharmacology and Stem Cell Research/SEMESTER.

SO question is, how crazy high of a score do I need?

I have research credit from a hospital (was pre-med) and wrote a thesis on a protein complex 🙂 I worked at a dental office in the city for about 8 months, while in senior year. Community service at my mosque for many years!

Hope to have a 3-4 people look over personal statement.

THANKS ALOT GUYS in advance!

 

[nze82]

Hey all, its Jon. I went to UIC. Majored in molecular biology and minor in chemistry. I don't have the hottest GPA right now and am WORRIED! I'm not sure how high my DAT score needs to be for me to be accepted into my choice schools, like UIC, michigan, marquette, and SIU.

Background:

Started off poor at about 3.1 freshman year
Did worse soph year at about 2.9
Then brought it up after a personal intervention to 3.3
Then senior year did even better. A- in biochem, A- in molecular biology, and other advanced level course to a 3.6

Avg undergrad is 3.13 cGPA and 3.09 sGPA

Going to community college and maxing out w all sciences and very confident to get straight As w easy easy courses.

applying w probably a 3.2 cGPa and 3.15 sGPA.

Going to UIC for grad school non-degree/classes at will. Taking 15 credit hours in fall, and 15 in spring. Of those 15 credits, ~5 credits of grad school courses like pharmacology and Stem Cell Research/SEMESTER.

SO question is, how crazy high of a score do I need?

I have research credit from a hospital (was pre-med) and wrote a thesis on a protein complex 🙂 I worked at a dental office in the city for about 8 months, while in senior year. Community service at my mosque for many years!

Hope to have a 3-4 people look over personal statement.

THANKS ALOT GUYS in advance!

According to predents.com, here are the DAT scores you need for some of the schools you're interested in:

Michigan:
*******
DAT: 19.58
PAT: 19.25
Overall GPA: 3.51
Science GPA: 3.41

Marquette:
********
DAT: 18.44
PAT: 18.08
Overall GPA: 3.5
Science GPA: 3.43

SIU:
***
DAT: 19
PAT: 18.1
Overall GPA: 3.64
Science GPA: 3.6

Notice that most of them require fairly high GPAs. In order to compensate for your average GPA, I think you need a score of 20 or higher on your DAT and PAT in order to be competitive enough for these schools.

Good Luck!

 

[achytooth]

Almost every east coast school I've talked to say they will not accept credits from community colleges.

FYI

 

[nze82]

Almost every east coast school I've talked to say they will not accept credits from community colleges.

FYI

I know for a fact that UPenn doesn't accept units completed in community college, because it's specifically mentioned on their website. Haven't read anything like this on other schools' websites. I know NYU doesn't have a problem with that, because most of my friends who go there were transfer students. So, you might wanna either read the admission requirements for different schools, or call them up and find out!

 

[DoctaWalnuts]

Almost every east coast school I've talked to say they will not accept credits from community colleges.

FYI

I definitely believe you achytooth and I am sure they told you that but..I would take this with a grain of salt because a lot of people on SDN say that TUFTS took them with community college credits even though they said they won't. But the best thing to do is call and tell them your situation. Every school I apply to, I will personally call and ask if they accept CC credits.

 

[achytooth]

I definitely believe you achytooth and I am sure they told you that but..I would take this with a grain of salt because a lot of people on SDN say that TUFTS took them with community college credits even though they said they won't. But the best thing to do is call and tell them your situation. Every school I apply to, I will personally call and ask if they accept CC credits.

of course, but why take the chance if the admissions office said they won't =)

Also people might have really high gpas, and the school might have not factored those classes in their decisions.

 

[4thMolar]

Yeah, but if I understand correctly, you're trying to load up on science courses at a CC after you have already finished a four year university correct? That just makes it seem like you are trying to take the easy way out and trying to increase your GPA by taking these CC courses, which I'm sure adcoms would notice. If you had gone to a CC before your university, it would be a different story. I would check with the schools now before you waste any time with CC courses. Your best option would be to take post-bacc classes or a masters in the sciences.

 

[nze82]

Yeah, but if I understand correctly, you're trying to load up on science courses at a CC after you have already finished a four year university correct? That just makes it seem like you are trying to take the easy way out and trying to increase your GPA by taking these CC courses, which I'm sure adcoms would notice. If you had gone to a CC before your university, it would be a different story. I would check with the schools now before you waste any time with CC courses. Your best option would be to take post-bacc classes or a masters in the sciences.

I agree with 4th molar! Too many CC course won't look good on your application regardless of your intentions. If you were a transfer student, well then there's not much you can do about your CC course, but if you're trying to take a heap of CC courses just to boost your GPA, they will notice that. I think your better off with an average GPA from a prestigious school rather than a cheesy GPA from some random CC.
Don't get me wrong. I have some CC course myself, and I love the easy A's at CC. But dental schools don't share my vision, so they'll look down upon your CC courses.

 

[snoopy120]

I was a transfer student before going to UIC for undergrad. Also I am not stopping school after taking a 4 course at a CC. I am registered in 15 credit hours of graduate level biology and physiology courses at UIC GRAD school. Im just taking a few courses at a CC in the meantime to further enhance my GPA. My aadsas will show a fall and spring semester at UIC with 500/600 level courses attached for future semesters. I spoke w one lady from UIC. She mentioned to take a bunch of courses to enhance my GPA and reapply OR start a masters program. I have no prob with the masters, but by the time I realized all this, it was too late to submit app and take the GRE for the masters program. To compensate, I will take courses at the CC and UIC graduate school in the fall.

Courses at CC are Survey of Biology, Environmental Bio, Lab/Computation Chemistry, Survey of Physics. Its not like im taking Earth science 101.

UIC grad school is microbio, Human AP (w cadavers), medical pharmacology II (GRAD), Stem Cell Research (GRAD).

Did the math and I should have roughly a 3.26 cGPA and a 3.22 sGPA after CC and UIC GRAD fall semester(spring not included).

I know UIC, SIU and michigan don't mind CC credit. And you're absolutely right that select east coast schools don't take CC credit and I will def heed ur advice and call in to make sure I apply to schools that don't mind CC. I have taken rough courses, and have dealt with biochemistry and cell physio, and rocked it. I did research at children's memorial hospital, while maintaining a job. So I'm pretty sure they know I can handle the material. They probably just don't want someone to lower their class GPA tooo much.

SOO what minimum DAT score do I need?

 

[nze82]

I was a transfer student before going to UIC for undergrad. Also I am not stopping school after taking a 4 course at a CC. I am registered in 15 credit hours of graduate level biology and physiology courses at UIC GRAD school. Im just taking a few courses at a CC in the meantime to further enhance my GPA. My aadsas will show a fall and spring semester at UIC with 500/600 level courses attached for future semesters. I spoke w one lady from UIC. She mentioned to take a bunch of courses to enhance my GPA and reapply OR start a masters program. I have no prob with the masters, but by the time I realized all this, it was too late to submit app and take the GRE for the masters program. To compensate, I will take courses at the CC and UIC graduate school in the fall.

Courses at CC are Survey of Biology, Environmental Bio, Lab/Computation Chemistry, Survey of Physics. Its not like im taking Earth science 101.

UIC grad school is microbio, Human AP (w cadavers), medical pharmacology II (GRAD), Stem Cell Research (GRAD).

Did the math and I should have roughly a 3.26 cGPA and a 3.22 sGPA after CC and UIC GRAD fall semester(spring not included).

I know UIC, SIU and michigan don't mind CC credit. And you're absolutely right that select east coast schools don't take CC credit and I will def heed ur advice and call in to make sure I apply to schools that don't mind CC. I have taken rough courses, and have dealt with biochemistry and cell physio, and rocked it. I did research at children's memorial hospital, while maintaining a job. So I'm pretty sure they know I can handle the material. They probably just don't want someone to lower their class GPA tooo much.

SOO what minimum DAT score do I need?

I think I answered that question. Scroll Up!😉

 

[jay47]

-

 

[jay47]

Yeah, but if I understand correctly, you're trying to load up on science courses at a CC after you have already finished a four year university correct? That just makes it seem like you are trying to take the easy way out and trying to increase your GPA by taking these CC courses, which I'm sure adcoms would notice. If you had gone to a CC before your university, it would be a different story. I would check with the schools now before you waste any time with CC courses. Your best option would be to take post-bacc classes or a masters in the sciences.

Dude! Where did you get that avatar?! That's awesome!

 

[Chesnok]

Hi, I'll be short , you need to hit at least 20 AA (and maybe not less than 19-20 in every section)..and it's not all about DAT but you ECs are great I guess and your higher-level courses should def. help.
GL.