what schools are atleast gunna give me a chance??

[rashad951]

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hey everyone,

im a 3rd year, and im applying this cycle. i am stressing out (as are most of you.lol), and i would really appreciate your guys' feedback.
i have a 2.74 cumulative gpa, and a 2.71 science. i took the DAT last week..AA 23 PA 22. I am a licensed dental assistant, i spent 1 month in egypt working with a brigade providing dental care to the people(i fundraised myself to be able to pay for the expenses), i have done 100's of hours of volunteer work..which include 2 hospitals, 3 dental clinics, and food/cloth drives for the homeless around southern california. more importantly, is that i was also general manager of my fathers' car dealership. He had two heart attacks in the span of 3 years...and towards the end of my 1st year as an undergrad...i had to take over the business and practically provide for my family. don't mean to have a sob story and make excuses, but in all honesty, i really did struggle balancing full time undergrad, and running a business...but i didnt have a choice.
finally, i am african american...and as ive heard, the chances for me are a little better(sorry..i know the system sucks). i just want to know what dental schools are going to give me a chance. i feel like ive demonstrated my academic ability on the DAT, as I am happy with my score...but will the schools just throw away my application because of my low gpa, without knowing what i had to go through?

thank you very much for taking the time to read this and providing your insight into my personal problem. goodluck to all of you in everything you wish to pursue. cheers.

 

[NyCzPeter]

hey everyone,

im a 3rd year, and im applying this cycle. i am stressing out (as are most of you.lol), and i would really appreciate your guys' feedback.
i have a 2.74 cumulative gpa, and a 2.71 science. i took the DAT last week..AA 23 PA 22. I am a licensed dental assistant, i spent 1 month in egypt working with a brigade providing dental care to the people(i fundraised myself to be able to pay for the expenses), i have done 100's of hours of volunteer work..which include 2 hospitals, 3 dental clinics, and food/cloth drives for the homeless around southern california. more importantly, is that i was also general manager of my fathers' car dealership. He had two heart attacks in the span of 3 years...and towards the end of my 1st year as an undergrad...i had to take over the business and practically provide for my family. don't mean to have a sob story and make excuses, but in all honesty, i really did struggle balancing full time undergrad, and running a business...but i didnt have a choice.
finally, i am african american...and as ive heard, the chances for me are a little better(sorry..i know the system sucks). i just want to know what dental schools are going to give me a chance. i feel like ive demonstrated my academic ability on the DAT, as I am happy with my score...but will the schools just throw away my application because of my low gpa, without knowing what i had to go through?

thank you very much for taking the time to read this and providing your insight into my personal problem. goodluck to all of you in everything you wish to pursue. cheers.

Uhh I think the only schools that will even look at your app are private schools like Columbia. They're usually DAT ******. Still though, your GPA is disgustingly low, so apply for masters programs as well.

 

[sabdul]

Your GPA is horrible - no offence, I'm in the same boat...But, where we lack in numbers, we must make up tremendously in our PERSONAL STATEMENT. You have A LOT of good stuff to speak of, and just mention how you overcame your obstacles, what you learned, and how you became a better person out of it. Hope that helps! Keep your spirit strong!

 

[doc toothache]

i took the DAT last week..AA 23 PA 22. I am a licensed dental assistant, i spent 1 month in egypt working with a brigade providing dental care to the people(i fundraised myself to be able to pay for the expenses), i have done 100's of hours of volunteer work..which include 2 hospitals, 3 dental clinics, and food/cloth drives for the homeless around southern california. more importantly, is that i was also general manager of my fathers' car dealership. He had two heart attacks in the span of 3 years...and towards the end of my 1st year as an undergrad...i had to take over the business and practically provide for my family. don't mean to have a sob story and make excuses, but in all honesty, i really did struggle balancing full time undergrad, and running a business...but i didnt have a choice.
finally, i am african american...

Your DAT score is nothing to sneer at in spite of your gpa. However, you need to get away from making excuses for yourself. You made the choice to try to balance being a full time student and running a business.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527700

 

[OMFS08]

hey everyone,

im a 3rd year, and im applying this cycle. i am stressing out (as are most of you.lol), and i would really appreciate your guys' feedback.
i have a 2.74 cumulative gpa, and a 2.71 science. i took the DAT last week..AA 23 PA 22. I am a licensed dental assistant, i spent 1 month in egypt working with a brigade providing dental care to the people(i fundraised myself to be able to pay for the expenses), i have done 100's of hours of volunteer work..which include 2 hospitals, 3 dental clinics, and food/cloth drives for the homeless around southern california. more importantly, is that i was also general manager of my fathers' car dealership. He had two heart attacks in the span of 3 years...and towards the end of my 1st year as an undergrad...i had to take over the business and practically provide for my family. don't mean to have a sob story and make excuses, but in all honesty, i really did struggle balancing full time undergrad, and running a business...but i didnt have a choice.
finally, i am african american...and as ive heard, the chances for me are a little better(sorry..i know the system sucks). i just want to know what dental schools are going to give me a chance. i feel like ive demonstrated my academic ability on the DAT, as I am happy with my score...but will the schools just throw away my application because of my low gpa, without knowing what i had to go through?

thank you very much for taking the time to read this and providing your insight into my personal problem. goodluck to all of you in everything you wish to pursue. cheers.

Firstly let say hats off to you for your amazing accomplishments....I think you have a strong record of service so that speaks wonders. Although your GPA is not high your DAT is impressive so I can say Howard, Meharry, NYU and maybe Tufts you got a decent chance.

Much Luck and all the best...

 

[rashad951]

Your DAT score is nothing to sneer at in spite of your gpa. However, you need to get away from making excuses for yourself. You made the choice to try to balance being a full time student and running a business.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=527700

thank you for your input doc...i dont mean to sneer in regards to my DAT..i just felt i did well in terms of my own goals. when i look back, yes, i do wish i would have maybe taken a quarter off or something of that sort...or maybe hold off on school a little...but you know..thats life..i did what i had to do, in hopes of getting into dental school as soon as i could, providing a better standard of living for my family(my father's medical bills did us quite a bit of damage financially)...and giving back once ive reached those dreams of becoming a dentist. no one is perfect...and i completely accept the responsibilities of my choices in life, and i hope i will have the priviledge of becoming a dentist one day. cheers.

ps, thank you for the links...GREAT amount of information on there. goodluck and best of luck with your career.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Well, you're a third year, I'd hold off applying until you graduate (don't waste money this cycle, you won't get in). You have this semester, and next year, to bing your grades up: 3 semesters to bring your GPA up to 3.0 overall & 3.0 science (which means an A in every class probably).

You won't get in anywhere with under 3.0 and no Masters. With a 3.0 GPA and 23 DAT, you might get into UoP, Columbia, Tufts, NYU, or BU. Don't take any chances though, apply for a Masters program such as SMP for a year, and get 3.8-4.0. If you get in next cycle, see if that program requires you to finish the Masters or not, sometimes they won't. Good luck, it may take you a couple cycles to get in, but if you put in the work into school (which it looks like you haven't been since you've been running a business), then you'll get in.

hey everyone,

im a 3rd year, and im applying this cycle. i am stressing out (as are most of you.lol), and i would really appreciate your guys' feedback.
i have a 2.74 cumulative gpa, and a 2.71 science. i took the DAT last week..AA 23 PA 22. I am a licensed dental assistant, i spent 1 month in egypt working with a brigade providing dental care to the people(i fundraised myself to be able to pay for the expenses), i have done 100's of hours of volunteer work..which include 2 hospitals, 3 dental clinics, and food/cloth drives for the homeless around southern california. more importantly, is that i was also general manager of my fathers' car dealership. He had two heart attacks in the span of 3 years...and towards the end of my 1st year as an undergrad...i had to take over the business and practically provide for my family. don't mean to have a sob story and make excuses, but in all honesty, i really did struggle balancing full time undergrad, and running a business...but i didnt have a choice.
finally, i am african american...and as ive heard, the chances for me are a little better(sorry..i know the system sucks). i just want to know what dental schools are going to give me a chance. i feel like ive demonstrated my academic ability on the DAT, as I am happy with my score...but will the schools just throw away my application because of my low gpa, without knowing what i had to go through?

thank you very much for taking the time to read this and providing your insight into my personal problem. goodluck to all of you in everything you wish to pursue. cheers.

 

[dentist707]

apply for a Masters program such as SMP for a year.

Doesn't he have to retake the DAT by the time he's done w/ master's?
Does it last couple yrs or a year? I'mnot sure...
But most school I've applied to wanted the DAT score within a year range...

 

[somethinpositiv]

Doesn't he have to retake the DAT by the time he's done w/ master's?
Does it last couple yrs or a year? I'mnot sure...
But most school I've applied to wanted the DAT score within a year range...

SMP lasts 1 year. And I'm pretty sure DAT scores are good for a few years. That would be nuts if every year that you had to reapply, you had to retake the DAT.. haha

 

[rashad951]

Well, you're a third year, I'd hold off applying until you graduate (don't waste money this cycle, you won't get in). You have this semester, and next year, to bing your grades up: 3 semesters to bring your GPA up to 3.0 overall & 3.0 science (which means an A in every class probably).

You won't get in anywhere with under 3.0 and no Masters. With a 3.0 GPA and 23 DAT, you might get into UoP, Columbia, Tufts, NYU, or BU. Don't take any chances though, apply for a Masters program such as SMP for a year, and get 3.8-4.0. If you get in next cycle, see if that program requires you to finish the Masters or not, sometimes they won't. Good luck, it may take you a couple cycles to get in, but if you put in the work into school (which it looks like you haven't been since you've been running a business), then you'll get in.

Thanks to all of your guys' response. i was wondering, should i be applying to a master's program right now? or is that something i will have to do in my 4th year? thanks 🙂

 

[OMFS08]

Well, you're a third year, I'd hold off applying until you graduate (don't waste money this cycle, you won't get in). You have this semester, and next year, to bing your grades up: 3 semesters to bring your GPA up to 3.0 overall & 3.0 science (which means an A in every class probably).

You won't get in anywhere with under 3.0 and no Masters. With a 3.0 GPA and 23 DAT, you might get into UoP, Columbia, Tufts, NYU, or BU. Don't take any chances though, apply for a Masters program such as SMP for a year, and get 3.8-4.0. If you get in next cycle, see if that program requires you to finish the Masters or not, sometimes they won't. Good luck, it may take you a couple cycles to get in, but if you put in the work into school (which it looks like you haven't been since you've been running a business), then you'll get in.

Do you work for an AdCom? Are you in dental school? Where are you getting this information from to tell someone not to apply because they will NOT get in??? 😡 You have no right to suggest that to anyone, he has a dream and he is struggling to realize it, any person who reads his personal statement will see this just as I have from what he has written. You never know if you do not try.

Most if not all schools offer some kind of academic enrichment program which can help students that need to strengthen their chances.

 

[dentstd]

Just apply and play the race card shamelessly. Just get in. You already know which schools have a high acceptance rate. Apply to every one of them. UoP, Tufts, Buffalo, possibly Columbia b/c of your DAT, USC, BU, NYU.... Draw on your skills that no one else has that makes you desirable for the field. I bet you have better sales and business skills than most. Sell yourself despite your shortcomings. Just have a backup as you apply.

Blacks have traditionally had lower scores due to the situations that they face growing up. You are no different. Focus on how your past makes you a desirable person in the field. Convince them how that 2.7-2.8 led you to establish a character that is beneficial to them. Find an angle.

Pretend you're Oprah rallying a crowd! 😀 Get them fired up!

 

[rashad951]

Do you work for an AdCom? Are you in dental school? Where are you getting this information from to tell someone not to apply because they will NOT get in??? 😡 You have no right to suggest that to anyone, he has a dream and he is struggling to realize it, any person who reads his personal statement will see this just as I have from what he has written. You never know if you do not try.

Most if not all schools offer some kind of academic enrichment program which can help students that need to strengthen their chances.

thanks OMFS08...i will definitely look into these enrichment programs you mentioned. would that be the same as a post-bac program at a dental school? ive talked to USC earlier in the week, and they told me they have a post-bac program which particularly look for under-represented minorities. i believe i will go ahead an apply this cycle..but just focus on the few schools that many of you have mentioned. eg., howard, meharry, columbia, nyu. but without a doubt, i want to prepare myself with a backup plan so if i do not happen to get accepted this cycle, i will atleast be heading one more step in the right direction. thank you for your advice, and if you know of any post bac programs which i would be eligible for..i would truly appreciate it. cheers.

 

[Jake8]

You have nothing to lose by applying. Go for it and see what happens. Don't forget to add Howard and Meharry to your list. Also apply to either some SMP's or some traditional masters programs as it is obvious your GPA is your weak point. If you want it bad enough its not a matter of if but rather when so keep at it.

 

[OMFS08]

thanks OMFS08...i will definitely look into these enrichment programs you mentioned. would that be the same as a post-bac program at a dental school? ive talked to USC earlier in the week, and they told me they have a post-bac program which particularly look for under-represented minorities. i believe i will go ahead an apply this cycle..but just focus on the few schools that many of you have mentioned. eg., howard, meharry, columbia, nyu. but without a doubt, i want to prepare myself with a backup plan so if i do not happen to get accepted this cycle, i will atleast be heading one more step in the right direction. thank you for your advice, and if you know of any post bac programs which i would be eligible for..i would truly appreciate it. cheers.

Your welcome. The Post Bacc and Enrichment Programs are basically the same thing from my knowledge. I know for dental schools you have to be recommended by the Adcom for either program. Once you take these programs and do well/pass then your accepted to the school.

I know of people in your exact situation who got accepted to dental school so you will be fine. Apply EARLY, get your recommendation letters together now before professors leave for vacation and if you need any more information read my step by step on how to get into dental school here : http://knol.google.com/k/n-egolum/how-to-get-into-any-dental-school-of/ljn7aqqq20k0/1##

Good luck man, keep in touch...

 

[who knows...]

Reading from above that you've been to egypt, I will take a chance that you know what this word means: duaa...Use it!! 🙂

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Rashad951, The University of Tennessee in Memphis traditionally accepts URM with slightly lower stats. They do not use AADSAS.

I am a non-traditional student with grades on the low end of the spectrum (3.09 cGPA, 3.2 sGPA, 3.5 for the last ~3 years that I've been taking prerequisites and misc. science). I got my BA in English in 2001 from Michigan. The reason I was given for not being accepted to Tennessee this year was due to my low "core" GPA (which I assume to be the 45 credits that they require, including the usual suspects, plus 3 credits of Biochemistry and either Histology/Comparative Anatomy/or Upper-Level Micro) being under 3.0... It was 2.94. This GPA would have been 3.17 if they had only used my latest grades, instead of also using grades from when I was a freshman at Michigan in 1997-98 (like most schools, if you retake a class, they will use an average of the two grades). Honestly, I don't know if this 3.0 hurdle applies to URM, too. Tennessee also only requires a 130 score on the DAT, if you add up all scores on your score report. The higher the better, obviously, but it sounds like you would be a good candidate. In fact, they would probably accept you over me! 🙂

Michigan might be another one to consider... I got my teeth cleaned at the dental clinic when I was a student there and one of the faculty members finished my braces. I am pretty sure that Michigan still uses affirmative action in their admissions processes, though I don't have any experiences applying to the dental school.

I hope your dad is doing well now! Good luck!

 

[OMFS08]

Rashad951, The University of Tennessee in Memphis traditionally accepts URM with slightly lower stats. They do not use AADSAS.

I am a non-traditional student with grades on the low end of the spectrum (3.09 cGPA, 3.2 sGPA, 3.5 for the last ~3 years that I've been taking prerequisites and misc. science). I got my BA in English in 2001 from Michigan. The reason I was given for not being accepted to Tennessee this year was due to my low "core" GPA (which I assume to be the 45 credits that they require, including the usual suspects, plus 3 credits of Biochemistry and either Histology/Comparative Anatomy/or Upper-Level Micro) being under 3.0... It was 2.94. This GPA would have been 3.17 if they had only used my latest grades, instead of also using grades from when I was a freshman at Michigan in 1997-98 (like most schools, if you retake a class, they will use an average of the two grades). Honestly, I don't know if this 3.0 hurdle applies to URM, too. Tennessee also only requires a 130 score on the DAT, if you add up all scores on your score report. The higher the better, obviously, but it sounds like you would be a good candidate. In fact, they would probably accept you over me! 🙂

Michigan might be another one to consider... I got my teeth cleaned at the dental clinic when I was a student there and one of the faculty members finished my braces. I am pretty sure that Michigan still uses affirmative action in their admissions processes, though I don't have any experiences applying to the dental school.

I hope your dad is doing well now! Good luck!

LOL @ Affirmative Action...I don't think they practice those policies anymore but I may be mistaken. He will get accepted on his own strength, no need to speak of hand outs.

 

[BillytheEchidna]

LOL @ Affirmative Action...I don't think they practice those policies anymore but I may be mistaken. He will get accepted on his own strength, no need to speak of hand outs.

Affirmative Action = hilarious? Hmmm... Well, they got sued, so they're not going to broadcast their policies. According to various news sites, the Law School still uses Affirmative Action, but I must confess that I didn't even look at Michigan Dental. They would laugh at me if I tried to apply there. 😳

I agree that he can get in on his own merits -- he has an incredible story, but he himself and others have pointed out the URM thing, so I followed suit.

Speaking of suits:

"On June 23, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decisions in two challenges to the consideration of race as one of many factors in certain admissions processes at the University of Michigan: Grutter v. Bollinger et al. (Law School) and Gratz v. Bollinger et al. (undergraduate College of Literature, Science, and the Arts). The court made clear that the consideration of race as one of many factors in the pursuit of a diverse student body is a compelling interest that produces educational benefits for all students, and further held that any consideration of race must be done in an individualized and holistic way." http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=3144

 

[Concepcion10]

Wow every single one of you that are so pessimistic and down right rude should be ashamed!!! After all the career we are all aspiring for is to improve the lives of others. All of you who automatically put this guy down are rediculous!! Theres is so much more to life and dentistry than gettign a high GPA and DAT. Besides what the hell do you all plan on doing once you graduate with your cool stats and awesome scores...run a business. THis guy has so much experience that you wont find anywhere in dental school. Good luck taking exams and doing well on boards but when youre done NOW WHAT!!!!! To the OP I hope to hell that you get in this cycle!! You should apply and if by chance I don't become a dentist tell me where you work so I can come to you!!!! Screw all these people that put you down and use words like "disgusting GPA..or the worste". Apply to UNLV, UOP, USC, and any other school you want to. Call some of these places and speak with them before hand and let them know your past. THey could give you a ball park of where you would stand. Hope your dad is ok! ALL OF YOU THAT PUT HIM DOWN SHOULOD RETHINK YOUR DESICION TO BECOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BECAUSE YOU MISSED THE INITIAL REQUIREMENT...THAT BEING A GENERAL DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS!!!!

 

[Jake8]

Wow every single one of you that are so pessimistic and down right rude should be ashamed!!! After all the career we are all aspiring for is to improve the lives of others. All of you who automatically put this guy down are rediculous!! Theres is so much more to life and dentistry than gettign a high GPA and DAT. Besides what the hell do you all plan on doing once you graduate with your cool stats and awesome scores...run a business. THis guy has so much experience that you wont find anywhere in dental school. Good luck taking exams and doing well on boards but when youre done NOW WHAT!!!!! To the OP I hope to hell that you get in this cycle!! You should apply and if by chance I don't become a dentist tell me where you work so I can come to you!!!! Screw all these people that put you down and use words like "disgusting GPA..or the worste". Apply to UNLV, UOP, USC, and any other school you want to. Call some of these places and speak with them before hand and let them know your past. THey could give you a ball park of where you would stand. Hope your dad is ok! ALL OF YOU THAT PUT HIM DOWN SHOULOD RETHINK YOUR DESICION TO BECOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS BECAUSE YOU MISSED THE INITIAL REQUIREMENT...THAT BEING A GENERAL DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS!!!!

Have you actually read any of the thread? I don't think anybody put him down rather encouraged him.

 

[license2kill]

Uhh I think the only schools that will even look at your app are private schools like Columbia. They're usually DAT ******. Still though, your GPA is disgustingly low, so apply for masters programs as well.

Yeah, I agree. There is a person I know who got into Columbia with a 2.9 GPA from undergrad but had real good DAT score. The obvious schools to apply would be Meharry and Howard.

 

[somethinpositiv]

Just apply and play the race card shamelessly.

My bad OP, you do have a chance this cycle since you are URM, I missed that in your first post. My apologies. If you weren't URM and had 2.7, you would have been auto-ject, but you def do have a chance.

Like people have said, apply to HOWARD, MEHARRY, Tennessee, Columbia, Tufts, BU, NYU, Buffalo, VCU, USC...

 

[je ne sais quoi]

The Post Bacc and Enrichment Programs are basically the same thing from my knowledge. I know for dental schools you have to be recommended by the Adcom for either program. Once you take these programs and do well/pass then your accepted to the school.

exactly what i was about to suggest.

rashad, first of all, congrats on the DAT scores, theyre nothing short of amazing. and those telling you its nothing to be proud are trying to undermine your achievements. dont let them. those are high scores, and most schools consider 19, 20 as competitive.i only hope to be that lucky when i take mine this summer.

im in a pretty similar position as far as science gpa, a bit higher, and if i listened to half of the things said on this site, i wouldnt be applying right now. you learn to take everything with a grain of salt on this site bc there is a ton of resources to be found here.

what i would suggest is not to ONLY focus on the schools that tend to accept 'urms'. that status was created to look at the individuals special circumstances and should not be used to put people in a narrow box in terms of where they should/should not apply. ( of course its a great place to start though). what is more important is to look at private vs public schools, and which schools accept more out of state students if you are applying to schools outside of your state (go to predents.com if you havnt checked it out yet). apply to 20 + schools if you can afford it ( even admissions officials have suggested this to me ). There are PLENTY of people with much higher GPAs and competitive DATs and you know what? theyre not getting accepted. Your experiences, hardships ( hope your father is doing better), and achievements are sure to set you apart from the crowd. anyone who has done even a little research will tell you it is NOT all about the gpa and dat, so don't let others opinions intimidate you.

i hope you apply this year, and give it all you've got. You have nothing to lose. If you dont get in, you have another year to strengthen your gpa to add to your already solid background in other aspects of your application.
Also, it would be best, especially in your case( and mine too) to apply early, in other words as soon as the cycle opens ( june 1). earlier applications will definitely boost your shot by more than you can imagine. good luck !!

He will get accepted on his own strength, no need to speak of hand outs.

I couldn't have said it better.

 

[OMFS08]

exactly what i was about to suggest.

rashad, first of all, congrats on the DAT scores, theyre nothing short of amazing. and those telling you its nothing to be proud are trying to undermine your achievements. dont let them. those are high scores, and most schools consider 19, 20 as competitive.i only hope to be that lucky when i take mine this summer.

im in a pretty similar position as far as science gpa, a bit higher, and if i listened to half of the things said on this site, i wouldnt be applying right now. you learn to take everything with a grain of salt on this bc there is a ton of resources to be found here.

what i would suggest is not to ONLY focus on the schools that tend to accept 'urms'. that status was created to look at the individuals special circumstances and should not be used to put people in a narrow box in terms of where they should/should not apply. ( of course its a great place to start though). what is more important is to look at private vs public schools, and which schools accept more out of state students if you are applying to schools outside of your state (go to predents.com if you havnt checked it out yet). apply to 20 + schools if you can afford it ( even admissions officials have suggested this to me ). There are PLENTY of people with much higher GPAs and competitive DATs and you know what? theyre not getting accepted. Your experiences, hardships ( hope your father is doing better), and achievements are sure to set you apart from the crowd. anyone who has done even a little research will tell you it is NOT all about the gpa and dat, so don't let others opinions intimidate you.

i hope you apply this year, and give it all you've got. You have nothing to lose. If you dont get in, you have another year to strengthen your gpa to add to your already solid background in other aspects of your application.
Also, it would be best, especially in your case( and mine too) to apply early, in other words as soon as the cycle opens ( june 1). earlier applications will definitely boost your shot by more than you can imagine. good luck !!



I couldn't have said it better.

Thanks, I am just sick of people spitting out bad advice on here and as a workaholic I hate hand outs so implying someone needs to use affirmative action to get acceptance is just plain insulting.

Good luck to you on your app as well.

 

[Hordel]

thank you for your input doc...i dont mean to sneer in regards to my DAT..i just felt i did well in terms of my own goals. when i look back, yes, i do wish i would have maybe taken a quarter off or something of that sort...or maybe hold off on school a little...but you know..thats life..i did what i had to do, in hopes of getting into dental school as soon as i could, providing a better standard of living for my family(my father's medical bills did us quite a bit of damage financially)...and giving back once ive reached those dreams of becoming a dentist. no one is perfect...and i completely accept the responsibilities of my choices in life, and i hope i will have the priviledge of becoming a dentist one day. cheers.

ps, thank you for the links...GREAT amount of information on there. goodluck and best of luck with your career.

It is this type of attitude that I believe will help you to a large extent. Make sure that if you mention this hardship at anytime in your app process that you DO NOT make excuses. It is okay to say why it happend, but if you keep this attitude and own up to your mistakes that will speak volumes about you as a person. Honestly, your racial status will definatly help you. With your great DAT's, even despite your poor GPA, you will have a chance. Try your state school and private schools. I would look into Meharry, Howard, and NYU. Keep that great attitude of yours and I think that you can make your mark and earn a spot in an interview. Also, you might want to think about a masters program just in case things don't work out. Best of luck to you!

 

[BillytheEchidna]

Thanks, I am just sick of people spitting out bad advice on here and as a workaholic I hate hand outs so implying someone needs to use affirmative action to get acceptance is just plain insulting.

But the OP was the one who brought it up! I was the first one to use the term "Affirmative Action," and I apologize if this is not PC anymore. I was trying to be helpful, though, because the OP acknowledged the existence of this practice in his post and asked for help identifying schools that might give him a chance. He asked for feedback about it.

As for "implying someone needs to use affirmative action to get acceptance" being insulting, whether or not he needs to "use handouts" or not is irrelevant -- by identifying his race on his application, he will automatically be given the handout (if it exists) and treated more favorably by schools that use it, whether he wants to or not. There is no "race card" that has the option of not being played in this case! He is aware of that and acknowledged that the system could possibly work for him. Please don't assume that we're all a bunch of racists who are putting him down for having low stats, when we were simply trying to be helpful in an imperfect world, where inequities exist and corrections are made. My inspiration for posting my "if you had a dental school, who would you let in?" post was a thought: If I ran my own dental school, I would totally admit Rashad. He sounds like the kind of dedicated and well-rounded individual that I would want at my school.

I stand by my advice, and if i have offended you, Rashad, I am very sorry.

finally, i am african american...and as ive heard, the chances for me are a little better(sorry..i know the system sucks). i just want to know what dental schools are going to give me a chance. i feel like ive demonstrated my academic ability on the DAT, as I am happy with my score...but will the schools just throw away my application because of my low gpa, without knowing what i had to go through?

 

[rashad951]

But the OP was the one who brought it up! I was the first one to use the term "Affirmative Action," and I apologize if this is not PC anymore. I was trying to be helpful, though, because the OP acknowledged the existence of this practice in his post and asked for help identifying schools that might give him a chance. He asked for feedback about it.

As for "implying someone needs to use affirmative action to get acceptance" being insulting, whether or not he needs to "use handouts" or not is irrelevant -- by identifying his race on his application, he will automatically be given the handout (if it exists) and treated more favorably by schools that use it, whether he wants to or not. There is no "race card" that has the option of not being played in this case! He is aware of that and acknowledged that the system could possibly work for him. Please don't assume that we're all a bunch of racists who are putting him down for having low stats, when we were simply trying to be helpful in an imperfect world, where inequities exist and corrections are made. My inspiration for posting my "if you had a dental school, who would you let in?" post was a thought: If I ran my own dental school, I would totally admit Rashad. He sounds like the kind of dedicated and well-rounded individual that I would want at my school.

I stand by my advice, and if i have offended you, Rashad, I am very sorry.

thank you to everyone who has responded! and i just wanted to add, i definitely do not want any handouts. i believe success should be awarded to those who work hard towards their goal...the ones who are persistent and determined to reach them...and i know everyone on this site, is. i personally do not find it fair to accept one person from another based on race or because of they are an "under represented minority". in all honesty..its a bunch of ****.lol. you are what you make of your life..and it upsets me to see blacks and other minorities blame their heritage for their current disposition in life.
i just wanted to say thank you to all the positive input everyone has put in, your advice and humble clarity has very much helped me in more ways than one. and no, BillytheEchidna, i am not offended..lol..your input has given me plenty of hope and a clear direction of what i need to do from now. i do wish you all a successful journey in your pursuit of dentistry and all the goals that drive you. cheers.

 

[rashad951]

Honestly, I don't know if this 3.0 hurdle applies to URM, too. Tennessee also only requires a 130 score on the DAT, if you add up all scores on your score report. The higher the better, obviously, but it sounds like you would be a good candidate. In fact, they would probably accept you over me! 🙂

Michigan might be another one to consider... I got my teeth cleaned at the dental clinic when I was a student there and one of the faculty members finished my braces. I am pretty sure that Michigan still uses affirmative action in their admissions processes, though I don't have any experiences applying to the dental school.

I hope your dad is doing well now! Good luck!

i really do hope you get in this cycle..if you havent already, BillytheEchina. you have great a sense of warmth and good intentions in the way you present yourself...and it is a shame that there are very few doctors, dentists, and other professionals, who can demonstrate the same level of compassion as you do. i think that is the problem these days. speaking in regards to my own doctor and dentist...they are smart individuals, but when it comes to comfort and having a genuine interest in their patients rather then their paycheck, i can confidently say they lack what you appear to have. so goodluck with your future endeavors, and you'll make a fine dentist one day. cheers.

ps, my father is doing well...he is retired and trys to stay away from stress at all costs...especially when it comes to the business. and we are actually considering the possibility of selling the dealership if i do, hopefully, get accepted this cycle. it'll be enough to take care of everyone until i finish 🙂

 

[somethinpositiv]

If the OP brings his GPA to 3.0 (which is very possible in 3 semesters), with his high DAT he will get in on is own accord, regardless of race, and will have earned his spot on merit.

With the OP's current GPA of 2.7, he will only get in by playing the "race card". That's not being racist to state that, that's just reality.

 

[OMFS08]

If the OP brings his GPA to 3.0 (which is very possible in 3 semesters), with his high DAT he will get in on is own accord, regardless of race, and will have earned his spot on merit.

With the OP's current GPA of 2.7, he will only get in by playing the "race card". That's not being racist to state that, that's just reality.

I knew this was your general thought process....you have opened your mind and spewed out your guts and they are not pretty.

As many people will tell you, your undergraduate Gpa is not necessarily the best indicator of intelligence. His DAT scores I am certain are higher than some people that have gotten accepted to Dental school in the past.

You are extremely unprofessional and your choice of words abrasive, I think the moderators ought to close this post and you need to apologize to the OP for your inflammatory remarks.

I am done subscribing to your ignorance. Good luck Rashad and please keep in touch with me on your progress.

 

[somethinpositiv]

I knew this was your general thought process....you have opened your mind and spewed out your guts and they are not pretty.

As many people will tell you, your undergraduate Gpa is not necessarily the best indicator of intelligence. His DAT scores I am certain are higher than some people that have gotten accepted to Dental school in the past.

You are extremely unprofessional and your choice of words abrasive, I think the moderators ought to close this post and you need to apologize to the OP for your inflammatory remarks.

I am done subscribing to your ignorance. Good luck Rashad and please keep in touch with me on your progress.

Dude, chill out. First of all, did you read the rest of the thread? I gave the OP the best advice I could give, and wished him well and good luck in the process. Secondly, where did I say that GPA is "the best indicator of intelligence"? I fully believe that DAT is a sign of intelligence, and GPA is more related to school choice and work ethic. The OP has an amazing DAT, I bet he's smarter than me, no joke. But with that GPA, let's be real, if he was white or Asian he likely would not had a shot until he brought the GPA up a little bit, whether that is right or wrong is an entirely new subject for debate (seems like beating a dead horse here, jeez). I'm not trying to be "inflammatory", nor do I feel the need to apologize. Mods could close the thread, since the OP has all the advice he'll need to succeed and get into dental school, either this cycle or next, and that's a great place to be. 👍

 

[NyCzPeter]

I knew this was your general thought process....you have opened your mind and spewed out your guts and they are not pretty.

As many people will tell you, your undergraduate Gpa is not necessarily the best indicator of intelligence. His DAT scores I am certain are higher than some people that have gotten accepted to Dental school in the past.

You are extremely unprofessional and your choice of words abrasive, I think the moderators ought to close this post and you need to apologize to the OP for your inflammatory remarks.

I am done subscribing to your ignorance. Good luck Rashad and please keep in touch with me on your progress.

Relax man guys like him are the ones keeping SDN interesting. If we're all cheerleaders spewing crap like "you can do it!" or "never give up!" I would sure as hell be zZzZzzzz. The people with personalities keep life interesting.

 

[Dentgirl09]

I think you can get in if you apply. You have shown your commitment by doing well on the DATs and studying. If you GPA shows an upward trend you should be fine. Don't listen to people who say not to apply> I applied with a ****ty GPA and I'm not even a minority... I think the reason I got in was a I had a great personal statement and above avg DAT scores (in most sections and overall--not as good as yours but my GPA was above a 3.0). Plus you're black... and that will help.

I don't htink you are making excuses by saying you had a lot of other things on your plaet during school----not everyone is born with the ability to go to school and do JSUT that. I also have worked 20-30 hours a week and YES it does take a toll on your grades.
But like you said, you do what you have to. Be proud of what you've done with the DAT and use it to your advantage in yoru personal statement. Confidence is the key. I think you have what it takes in terms of how you can potentially represent yourself on paper.

I'd apply to BU, Meharry, Howard, USC, NYU, Temple, your state school, and any schools that you would like to go to(if you ahve the $$... its worth the shot-you never know til you try!) I'd do a lot of schools just in case--always better safe than sorry.

GOOD LUCK!