What Do You Think?

[ChrisM07]

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I have begun to think that everyone else in the world has wayyy better grades than I. It is kind of disheartening given that it may be time to apply within the next year. I wanted to see what you guys thought.

I am a junior that recently switched majors from Biology to Geology. I realized that if dentistry doesn't work out, I don't want to be relished to lab work with a bachelors degree in biology. Geology is pretty interesting to me and I have found that I really like the classes I am now taking for that. Plus, I like the job opportunities more with geology than with biology.

I have already taken most of the prerequisites required for dental school, and have just done average in them.

-Gen Chem 1: C- (retook)
-Gen Chem 1 Lab: C+
-Gen Chem 1 (second time): A-
-Gen Chem 2: C+
-Gen Chem 2 Lab: C+
-Organic 1: B-
-Organic 1 Lab: C+
-Organic 2: WITHDREW (plan to re-take in the spring semester)
-Organic 2 Lab: B-
-Biology 101: B
-Biology 102: B-
-Physics: yet to be taken

Overall GPA NOW: 2.8 (along with core classes and other stuff).
My science GPA is probably even lower.

I know that repeats and W's are major red flags, but there is nothing I can do about them now. I am not a lazy student, nor do I 'not care'. Just the opposite. Coming to college was a big change for me and that was the excuse I was going to use for my first semester. But I cant keep re-using that. My worry is that my science grades so far will be an automatic turn off to admins. I have really tried, and I feel that now there will be some sort of upward trend in my grades. As weird as this sounds, I believe that I am better at studying than before. I have kind of figured out something that works for me (I just wish I figured it out earlier 😳)

I have realized that I may need a post-bacc or something to compensate for the low science GPA. With that said, will these undergrad classes be an automatic NO to dental schools?

Sorry for the long post, but I just want to hear what you other pre-dents and dental students think. Were any of you in my same spot, and how did you fare in the end?

Thanks,
Chris

P.S.: anything inspirational would help...

 

[cherr1pop]

Adcoms like upward trends so hopefully you can start building that the next few years. Maybe you need better study habits? The material will get harder & there will be more material that can be tested so it's essential to have your own study habits down before going into upper div classes..
Also studying hard for the DATs will help because DAT has G chem, G bio, & O chem. If you score well on them, then it'll show the schools that you know the material.

 

[chober]

You may have to spend an extra year or 4 but if you can keep that upward trend going then you would be doing very well. I messed up not 1 semester or 1 year but a whole 5 years. Since then I've been back in school for awhile and have brought my grades up but they still hang below 3.0 on my AADSAS. However, schools are still willing to interview me. So, just keep at it!

By the way I have about 15-20 Cs and a few Ws, Ds, and Fs too.

 

[telebeans]

I don't think your GPA will be an "automatic NO," but you're definitely going to need a lot of improvement to become a competitive applicant.

I think completing a masters program (and doing really well) would be one avenue to explore. Otherwise, you could always work for a few years before applying to school. A friend of mine worked for a biotech company for about 5 years after undergrad and then decided to go dental (she was accepted to many schools).

If you're set on applying soon, I would try to get straight A's or as close as you can for the rest of your undergrad career. I know, easier said than done... try to use campus resources, like tutoring programs.

Most importantly, do well on the DAT. It can show that you have been learning even if your grades might not always reflect it.

GOOD LUCK!!! 🙂

 

[supraman]

ace everything from here on