What is considered a competitive GPA in dental school??

[OKSOONERBUB]

I was just curious what you guys think is a solid GPA to have in dental school. I feel like I am doing quite well, but then again so are all of my classmates. Judging from the upperclassmen, its seems as if our class (2nd yrs) have been one of the most competitive classes they have had at this school in quite some time.

So anyways, what is considered a competitive GPA in terms of applying to specialty programs, etc? Although I feel as if I am doing well, my class rank is getting screwed because it seems everyone in my class is a "gunner".

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[sajjy]

P

 

[TJNova2011]

I was just curious what you guys think is a solid GPA to have in dental school. I feel like I am doing quite well, but then again so are all of my classmates. Judging from the upperclassmen, its seems as if our class (2nd yrs) have been one of the most competitive classes they have had at this school in quite some time.

So anyways, what is considered a competitive GPA in terms of applying to specialty programs, etc? Although I feel as if I am doing well, my class rank is getting screwed because it seems everyone in my class is a "gunner".

The average GPA could be 3.7... But if a majority of the students are getting that GPA, it really isn't that impressive. That's where your class rank comes into place. There are many of my buddies who tell me that only a handful of students will get A's. So the classrank gives a relative relation where you are in the pack.

That's why it's tough to state what a "good" gpa is. Regarding to gunners... It's like that everywhere. No doubt about it, DS is competitive.

 

[Drcbc]

Its definitely about rank. So many people end up with the same gpa at the top that your rank is the best thing to differentiate.

 

[Ostracized]

Competitive for what? If you don't want to specialize, then competitive is whatever gets you to graduation (60% in every class in my case).

 

[Aceofspades]

Rank, not GPA, is what matters if you want to specialize or go to certain GPR/AEGD programs.

 

[OG1]

Sounds like you'd better gun harder, buck-o. Make me proud.

 

[GonnaDoIt]

Rank is really what matters. For example, the top 10 people in my class (LLU D2) all have above a 3.9 cum. So a 3.89 is GREAT, but you still aren't in the top 10/100. Just do the absolute best you can and be happy with yourself.

 

[laundry]

GPA? Class rank? What is this voodoo you speak of???

 

[PChemGrad]

anything above a 2.0 since you will mostlikely all graduate, they are your competition for when you get into practice.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Generally speaking, you'd better be in the top 10% of your class if you want to specialize (top 1% for Ortho/OMFS). The exception to this is specialty feeder schools like Harvard and Columbia, who send a majority of their students into specialty programs.

If you're not in the top 10% who are specializing, and you're not in the bottom 2% who are failing out or repeating a year, you're in the middle 88% where it doesn't matter what grades you get, as long as you are passing, and as long as you learn all the clinical skills you will need to be a great GP. If you're getting B's, you're either trying too hard or not trying hard enough, depending on your goals.

 

[armorshell]

Generally speaking, you'd better be in the top 10% of your class if you want to specialize (top 1% for Ortho/OMFS). The exception to this is specialty feeder schools like Harvard and Columbia, who send a majority of their students into specialty programs.

There is no way you need to be in the top 1% of your class to do ortho/OMFS

At most schools that would mean you have to be #1 otherwise you're already not qualified.

 

[Ostracized]

If you're getting B's, you're either trying too hard or not trying hard enough, depending on your goals.

So true!