what is next?

[UCSD student123]

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Hello future dentist,

First I would like to say Merry Christmas and happy New Year for everyone in here and I hope next year will be wonderful for all of you.

Second, right now and after I saw all the high GPAs and DAT scours for people in here I feel that my chances are ZERO. I have a GPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 2.98 from UCSD. I took the DAT the first time and I had 18 (I'm planning to retake it). I have around 700 hours of dental-related volunteering, 200 nondental related volunteering, two years of work in ochem lab, two years of gen chem work.

Let’s say I will get 21 in DAT do I have any chance of getting next year? Should I think of master? Postbac?


Please help

 

[blablabla1]

Hello future dentist,

First I would like to say Merry Christmas and happy New Year for everyone in here and I hope next year will be wonderful for all of you.

Second, right now and after I saw all the high GPAs and DAT scours for people in here I feel that my chances are ZERO. I have a GPA of 3.2 and sGPA of 2.98 from UCSD. I took the DAT the first time and I had 18 (I'm planning to retake it). I have around 700 hours of dental-related volunteering, 200 nondental related volunteering, two years of work in ochem lab, two years of gen chem work.

Let’s say I will get 21 in DAT do I have any chance of getting next year? Should I think of master? Postbac?


Please help

What exactly do you mean by gen chem work?

Personally, I would keep my goals high. If you put a ceiling of a 21 on yourself, it's going to become that much harder to do better. And you're going to want higher than a 21 with that GPA. Tell yourself you're going to get a 24+, study like it, and you'll be surprised by the results.

I'm not sure if schools have a 3.0 cutoff or not for science GPA. I would check on that and if they do, I'd do a post bacc to prove that you can handle a science course workload (especially if you get less than a 23 on the DAT)

I have empathy for those who come out of undergrad with low GPA's, even if their grades are not due to external circumstances and rather their own laziness. It's a long road ahead but, in a sense, it is a blessing in disguise. The amount of effort that is required to become competitive is really going to help solidify your love for the field. Good luck!

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

Let’s say I will get 21 in DAT do I have any chance of getting next year? Should I think of master? Postbac?


Please help

1.) Yes.
2.) Maybe, if you don't get anything with the 21AA.
3.) Same as #2.

As far as whether to do a postbacc or Masters, that's another question.

 

[UCSD student123]

What exactly do you mean by gen chem work?

Personally, I would keep my goals high. If you put a ceiling of a 21 on yourself, it's going to become that much harder to do better. And you're going to want higher than a 21 with that GPA. Tell yourself you're going to get a 24+, study like it, and you'll be surprised by the results.

I'm not sure if schools have a 3.0 cutoff or not for science GPA. I would check on that and if they do, I'd do a post bacc to prove that you can handle a science course workload (especially if you get less than a 23 on the DAT)

I have empathy for those who come out of undergrad with low GPA's, even if their grades are not due to external circumstances and rather their own laziness. It's a long road ahead but, in a sense, it is a blessing in disguise. The amount of effort that is required to become competitive is really going to help solidify your love for the field. Good luck!

I used to work as a chemistry technician.
well, my plans, for now, is to starts studying for the DAT in march, and take it in June. I will have three months of full-time DAT which should be good enough since i know the material

 

[UCSD student123]

1.) Yes.
2.) Maybe, if you don't get anything with the 21AA.
3.) Same as #2.

As far as whether to do a postbacc or Masters, that's another question.

UCSD doesn't have postbacc for predental/dental students so I will have to find a different school.
so I guess t all depend on my DAT now

 

[Μοlar Βear]

I pulled a 2.8 up to a 3.16 after 65 credits of straight As (all post bac) .. you are just fine.. just show them the upward trend. 20AA here.. so 21+ would look great. 24 would probably put you on almost equal playing field (ONLY my opinion)

 

[UCSD student123]

I pulled a 2.8 up to a 3.16 after 65 credits of straight As (all post bac) .. you are just fine.. just show them the upward trend. 20AA here.. so 21+ would look great. 24 would probably put you on almost equal playing field (ONLY my opinion)

where did you do your past bac in?
3.16 is not competitive for most schools so you most did good in your DAT right?

 

[Μοlar Βear]

It was informal (NIU university) and they were all science classes.. I got a 20AA. Upward trends are very important if they're super strong. That's what I banked on and I lucked out. You'll do the same.