What should I do? I had an advising appointment with a dental school!

[toothhornet88]

So today I had an advising appointment with my number one choice dental school. I talked to them about my academic stats. I will be graduating university after this semester. I am a business major and took 2 science classes a semester (i couldnt take more because of my business classes) The admissions counselor told me that my chances of getting accepted at that school are very slim because i have not take a full science load. (which is 3 or more classes per semester) They advised me to take 1 more year of a full load of science courses to prove to the board that i am capable of carrying a full time science course load! I know this is one dental school's opinion but now i dont know what to do. SHould i just wait and not apply this cycle but take 1 year of just science classes and then apply in 2012. What would you pre-dents suggest I do. By the way my Overall GPA is 3.5 and my science GPA is 3.1 with an upper trend (i had a rought 1st year but my other 4 years at a university i averaged a 3.7 gpa)

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[bing12]

you should apply this upcoming cycle with what you have, because some schools will consider you with your current situation. while you apply, enroll in some class next fall just incase you have to reapply. apply broadly.

 

[lkdeidaho]

I agree about going ahead and applying. You never know what some other schools will look for. They worst they can tell you is no. 🙂
If you want to throw money away, you could apply to your #1 choice. From what you said, it kind of sounds like they told you that you wouldn't get accepted there. Then again, if you can make your app stand out from the rest, you may have a shot there too.
My philosophy is that you never know unless you try. I dont want to look back 10 years from now and think "What if...."
Good luck!

 

[AlexOdentchkin8]

So today I had an advising appointment with my number one choice dental school. I talked to them about my academic stats. I will be graduating university after this semester. I am a business major and took 2 science classes a semester (i couldnt take more because of my business classes) The admissions counselor told me that my chances of getting accepted at that school are very slim because i have not take a full science load. (which is 3 or more classes per semester) They advised me to take 1 more year of a full load of science courses to prove to the board that i am capable of carrying a full time science course load! I know this is one dental school's opinion but now i dont know what to do. SHould i just wait and not apply this cycle but take 1 year of just science classes and then apply in 2012. What would you pre-dents suggest I do. By the way my Overall GPA is 3.5 and my science GPA is 3.1 with an upper trend (i had a rought 1st year but my other 4 years at a university i averaged a 3.7 gpa)

i would still apply, even your #1 choice. I spoke to the Advisor to my #1 school last summer and she told me I had to improve my stats in every category to be considered competitive. So I applied to my #1 + back ups, and in the mean time, improve my DAT, took a full science course load (all upper level bio), got an interview to my #1 and next thing you know, I'm in. if it worked for me, it can work for you.

 

[Darce101]

Let me guess... it's UOP you're talking about.

So today I had an advising appointment with my number one choice dental school. I talked to them about my academic stats. I will be graduating university after this semester. I am a business major and took 2 science classes a semester (i couldnt take more because of my business classes) The admissions counselor told me that my chances of getting accepted at that school are very slim because i have not take a full science load. (which is 3 or more classes per semester) They advised me to take 1 more year of a full load of science courses to prove to the board that i am capable of carrying a full time science course load! I know this is one dental school's opinion but now i dont know what to do. SHould i just wait and not apply this cycle but take 1 year of just science classes and then apply in 2012. What would you pre-dents suggest I do. By the way my Overall GPA is 3.5 and my science GPA is 3.1 with an upper trend (i had a rought 1st year but my other 4 years at a university i averaged a 3.7 gpa)

 

[slm266]

I'd take the adcoms advice. I think people give too much credit to the idea that getting a degree in business will make them very diverse and help them get in. A dean of admissions told me he wished he didn't see so many business majors that only take a few science prereqs.

Go ahead and apply now, but increase your science load.

Ps for those who are thinking about doing a business major, i'd look into other options such as working (for free if you have to) in a dental office to learn insurance, marketing, finance, etc... If you surround yourself with good teachers and are willing to learn, you will gain much more practical knowledge than in Econ 101, business 101, accounting 101 etc...

 

[poki]

I personally dont think business majors and not taking a full science load is frowned upon by most dental schools... 2 sciences courses per quarter is fine as long as you do well in them...there is nothing wrong w having a non science major as long as you have a good gpa...that being said your science gpa is a bit low I would try to raise it a bit before applying to 3.3-3.5 if possible

I had 8 interviews and no one viewed my business degree or lack of full science workload negatively

 

[yappy]

This is interesting because everything I've heard and witnessed has always been the hgih GPA + DAT trumps all - despite a slightly lesser course load.
If I was the OP I would apply... maybe if you have not atken the DAT yet really rock your TS. Who knows... maybe that guy wont be the one reviewing your app and he was just putting his opinion out there rather than a universal policy.


EDIT: Poki, I bet the reason why is because of your amazing DAT and great science GPA.

 

[Osity]

I also disagree that having a business degree is a disadvantage. I have had some killer finance and economic classes, just as had as physics or biochemistry or any other upper-division science course. I got accepted to seven schools, and almost every school was interested and liked the fact that I'll have a business degree.

You will definitely learn about a dental office's finances by working/shadowing in one, but the ability to understand accounting, finance, interest, time value of money, etc, will greatly increase your capacity as a dentist. Every dentist I've ever shadowed (who has a biology/chemistry undergrad degree) has said that they wish they would have known more about business when they finished dental school.

 

[poki]

I recall meeting w my prehealth advisor when I started my postbacc and he told me the same thing take at least 3 science courses per quarter b/c adcoms want to see a "full" courseload... Instead of doing that I took only 1-2 classes per quarter and used the extra time to study for the dat and do extracurriculars... In the end I'm glad I didn't listen to him b/c my dat score, research and volunteering, as well as the high gpa I was able to maintain by taking fewer courses helped me land alot of interviews

 

[dantemac]

I agree with all who say it won't hurt you. I have never heard of such things as "3 or more science classes" per semester. With gen-eds, sometimes science majors don't even take that many per semester.

 

[JonNCSU08]

I don't think your science load is a problem, i believe it is your science gpa. I graduated with a business degree, took the minimum prereqs plus a few extra science classes, zo, genetics, biochem. I was accepted to three dental schools this year, but my science gpa is a 3.67, not a 3.1. This is only my opinion.

 

[lnngu]

I agree with all who say it won't hurt you. I have never heard of such things as "3 or more science classes" per semester. With gen-eds, sometimes science majors don't even take that many per semester.

I do not know this to be always the case.

What it comes down to is that the schools want to know that you can handle the didactical, science heavy dental school curriculum. If you're a student like Poki with a 3.8 sGPA from a top school and a 24 DAT, you have nothing more to prove. If you're the OP, haven't taken the DAT yet and have a 3.1 sGPA, then...

By the way, my own GPAs were significantly lower than the OP's (I'm not hating on him/her) because of decade old academic indiscretions. When I eventually had to go back to school, I took 18-21 credits per quarter for over 2 years, with 3-4 science classes each time. I absolutely believe that it helped me get accepted, if nothing else because the fact was brought up at each of my interviews.

Anyway, I agree with what's being said here: GPA/DAT >> everything else, but with the caveat that lots of science classes>less science classes...if you can handle it.

PS: I wouldn't bother applying to the school he just visited with, if I were the OP. They've already told him/her what they wanted, and not following through will decrease the chances of acceptances. There are better ways to spend $150.

 

[toothhornet88]

Should I extend my graduation date for another year or graduate and just do 1 more year as postbac...im relying on financial aid so i was wondering which way would be better! thank you