What should I do?

[ilikecookies]

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Howdy fellow readers,

I am a student at a very competitive college in Boston. I will graduate with an overall gpa of a 3.5. However, here is the break down of my science courses and grades
Bio B/B
Chemistry C/D
Organic Chemistry C
Math C
English B+/B+

Science gpa 2.38

I haven't taken physics yet, or my other semester of math, or biochemistry, microbiology, and anatomy.

I would also like to state I am a non-science major, and a junior. Should I take classes this summer? Should I do a postbacc program? What should I do? I need answers soon 🙂

 

[DrEagleMike]

Howdy fellow readers,

I am a student at a very competitive college in Boston. I will graduate with an overall gpa of a 3.5. However, here is the break down of my science courses and grades
Bio B/B
Chemistry C/D
Organic Chemistry C
Math C
English B+/B+

Science gpa 2.38

I haven't taken physics yet, or my other semester of math, or biochemistry, microbiology, and anatomy.

I would also like to state I am a non-science major, and a junior. Should I take classes this summer? Should I do a postbacc program? What should I do? I need answers soon 🙂

You will have to retake than D in chem for sure. You're science gpa must be a 3.5 to get into dental school. That'll average with you're courses taken from a master's program. Seriously, If I were in your shoes and really wanted to get into dental school then I'd apply next cycle and retake all those chemistry and math classes. In your upper division biology classes you must get 'A's. Fix what your doing wrong to do well in the those classes. i.e. find new studying methods.

 

[water88]

You will have to retake than D in chem for sure. You're science gpa must be a 3.5 to get into dental school. That'll average with you're courses taken from a master's program. Seriously, If I were in your shoes and really wanted to get into dental school then I'd apply next cycle and retake all those chemistry and math classes. In your upper division biology classes you must get 'A's. Fix what your doing wrong to do well in the those classes. i.e. find new studying methods.

Many, many people get in with less than a 3.5 sGPA. Just look at DocTootheache's GPA/DAT threads. The averages for many schools are below 3.5, so clearly you don't need a 3.5 sGPA.

 

[tiffster011]

Howdy fellow readers,

I am a student at a very competitive college in Boston. I will graduate with an overall gpa of a 3.5. However, here is the break down of my science courses and grades
Bio B/B
Chemistry C/D
Organic Chemistry C
Math C
English B+/B+

Science gpa 2.38

I haven't taken physics yet, or my other semester of math, or biochemistry, microbiology, and anatomy.

I would also like to state I am a non-science major, and a junior. Should I take classes this summer? Should I do a postbacc program? What should I do? I need answers soon 🙂

I don't want to be a barer of bad news, but you really need to keep your GPA up. It is possible to get in with a lower GPA, but it makes the task more difficult. Getting into school I believe is an endurance race. However, I am not going to say that the journey is easy. Often how you look on paper speaks tons to the admissions committee, although that is not the only deciding factor once you get an interview. Often if you are the type of person they are looking for they can over look lower grades. But you need to keep your GPA high enough that they will look at you in the first place. I would suggest tons of dental volunteering, or just volunteering in general, Research looks good too.

The road to dental school is long and rough. I am finally done with all my classes and haven't been accepted yet. I have a 3.9 GPA, but and average DAT score. Also I don't have a BS degree yet. There are several different things that they look at for admissions, so it is important to give yourself and edge and try your best!!! Hang in there, do you very best. The tortoise won the race... 😀

You either work hard now and play the rest of you life, or you play now and work hard the rest of your life...

 

[ilikecookies]

I haven't taken many of my classes yet, so my science gpa is very much reflective of that as well. Would you suggest a postbacc or trying to finish them on my own.

 

[Vicviper]

Many of the schools (especially in CA) won't even let you apply to the post bacc unless you apply and get turned down (from what the Admissions counselor told me) - so you should plan to at least try and see what happens. The deadlines for most of the Post-bacs are also after when you'd find out if you got accepted or not.

The key with the Science GPA is you really need to get it close to 3.0, because I hear many schools have soft cutoffs at that, meaning that if you don't have something else that really makes you stand out, you'll get cut. I had a 3.01 sGPA and applied late, and I still got into three schools so far, so it definitely is possible. With that many science classes left, you could easily get a 3.0 if you buckle down.

I also got a C and a D ( and then retook for a C) in Ochem, so don't worry, a few bad grades here and there won't kill you, but you'll really need to make up for that in those sections on the DAT. I think if you get above 20 in G chem it could definetly excuse a C in Gchem in the eyes of an Adcom.

Don't stress, good luck, and keep on keeping on!