What should i plan to do now??
Started by kies89
Your DAT is fine. I think you should take more classes to raise your gpa or show upward trend.
Yea, I'd agree. I'd recommend you take more classes to hopefully bump up your GPA, and perhaps showing schools that you're taking harder science classes might reel them in to giving you an interview?
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This..+1
Taking more science courses and possibly improving your DAT score (if you got scores 18 or lower on any sections) is important but also try to look into your personal statement. Also what about your letter of rec? have at least one dentist who you shadowed/volunteered with? I would suggest at least 40hours in private practice and 100+ in community volunteer setting.
obviously, a higher GPA would be much in your favor, but depending on where you are in your education, it can be very hard to improve your GPA. The more credits you have the less plasticity there is in your GPA and if you have already finished your bachelors, then you would have to deal with going back to school.
The easiest thing for you to do is to improve on your ECs. Shadowing and volunteering can be important factors depending on the school. If you are still in school, make sure that you do as well as you can for the academic update. I think you should still be in the running for post-Dec interviews and it would be advantageous if you could show some sort of improvement from your application if they show interest in you later in the cycle. Hang in there! You and me are in this together, I am also hoping for post-Dec interviews
I'm almost in the same boat, numbers-wise. I haven't gotten as many rejections, maybe around 4, but no invites yet either. I know I had great letters and ECs, so the only thing I think is that I took my DAT late even though I applied early (DAT = Sept, Apps went out = July). The other possibility is that there is a ton of competition? But with the opening of several new schools I figured it might be easier to get an interview... it's perplexing to me as well, and of course worrisome. I am currently looking at places to apply for a 1-year Masters to show a WHOLE NEW gpa which may catch some adcom's attention next time around (reapplication next year). Like stated above, do your best this semester for that academic update and just apply for a 1-year Masters for next Fall (just in case!). Also, don't lose hope because you may hear back in the Spring, all is not yet lost. Best bet- call the schools and ask them what it was on your app that turned them away. I know for me it was my sgpa b/c I called and asked (sgpa ~ 3.1, ogpa ~3.2).
Best of luck and PLEASE keep us updated!
Best of luck and PLEASE keep us updated!
Thank you all for giving me some comments.
yeah, i shadowed a dentist for about 100 hours.
oh and my RC score was 16. maybe i should have mentioned this.
I am sure i have all the requirement met, but i guess my personal statement was good enough also.
(besides having lower GPA than average)
i didnt get any interview yet, but hopefully i can get one.. at least one!
i think i really should call schools for their feedback and areas to improve.
thanks everyone
yeah, i shadowed a dentist for about 100 hours.
oh and my RC score was 16. maybe i should have mentioned this.
I am sure i have all the requirement met, but i guess my personal statement was good enough also.
(besides having lower GPA than average)
i didnt get any interview yet, but hopefully i can get one.. at least one!
i think i really should call schools for their feedback and areas to improve.
thanks everyone
and for the taking extra classes to raise my GPA,
does that mean postbacc or masters program
or should i just continue my undergrad? and take any science classes that will raise my GPA?
i am about to graduate soon, but i think i can continue taking classes as an undergrad(not sure tho)
should i do that?
does that mean postbacc or masters program
or should i just continue my undergrad? and take any science classes that will raise my GPA?
i am about to graduate soon, but i think i can continue taking classes as an undergrad(not sure tho)
should i do that?
IMO its most likely that 16 RC coupled with low GPA.
Honestly 20 AA is not bad at all.
I think taking more classes will be a plus, even if you decide to retake the DAT.
You can either:
a) Take classes at your undergrad, full courseload, all upper div science and get As.
b) Take classes after you graduate (postbac), whether you can select from formal or informal option. I would just keep taking classes as super senior because of enrollment priority and it's cheaper tuition compared to postbac.
c) Or find 1 year master program (non-thesis based). From what I gathered, there are the SMP types, where you get a either a certificate or MBS (Master of Biomedical Science). You take classes with either med or dental student. Or just regular Masters, same idea, you only take lecture classes, non-thesis, but classes are not taken with med or dental students.
Your 3.2 is very iffy, because both options could work. 1 year of undergrad of 4.0 with full courseload could bump to 3.4, coupled with 20AA is competitive. Or you could have a nice separate graduate GPA column with 3.7+ GPA.
I would personally call each school, ask what you need to improve and see how many schools tells me to improve my GPA and/or retake DAT and decide from there.
Your GPA and RC score put you in a very weird situation that you have many possibilities, either improve GPA and/or retake DAT.
Best luck
Honestly 20 AA is not bad at all.
I think taking more classes will be a plus, even if you decide to retake the DAT.
You can either:
a) Take classes at your undergrad, full courseload, all upper div science and get As.
b) Take classes after you graduate (postbac), whether you can select from formal or informal option. I would just keep taking classes as super senior because of enrollment priority and it's cheaper tuition compared to postbac.
c) Or find 1 year master program (non-thesis based). From what I gathered, there are the SMP types, where you get a either a certificate or MBS (Master of Biomedical Science). You take classes with either med or dental student. Or just regular Masters, same idea, you only take lecture classes, non-thesis, but classes are not taken with med or dental students.
Your 3.2 is very iffy, because both options could work. 1 year of undergrad of 4.0 with full courseload could bump to 3.4, coupled with 20AA is competitive. Or you could have a nice separate graduate GPA column with 3.7+ GPA.
I would personally call each school, ask what you need to improve and see how many schools tells me to improve my GPA and/or retake DAT and decide from there.
Your GPA and RC score put you in a very weird situation that you have many possibilities, either improve GPA and/or retake DAT.
Best luck
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That's not necissarily true. I know of at least 2 schools that don't care if you have a crappy RC score. If you have a 15+ you should be fine, at least for a handfull of schools.
Increasing your GPA is a tough one, mainly because if you are going to make any real impact on it, you will need a few years and you will be in danger of having your DAT expire.
What I would do: look into doing a 1 year masters or maybe slightly longer. Several schools offer a Masters in Biomedical Science (Midwestern has a 1 yr program that is well respected) which I think I would recommend over an MPH / MBA or something similar, unless your science gpa is already solid, in that case I would do an MPH. I did the online MPH through ATSU and I really liked it. Other than that, you can never have too much service, especially dental related.
My GPA is about the same as you, but I only have a 19 on the DAT. I have 4 pre december interviews. I think what helps me the most is my service and my MPH.
he is right, look at my stats below and I got a handful of invites. 16 RC is doable!
I need 3 majors because of my low DAT scores!! Well, what you see now on my signature are my new scores which one of them still low QR 13 🙁 so I need everything else to be fabulous to be consider for interviews when I reapply again
Those 3 majors work against you. Schools will wonder why you didn't just focus on one subject and get a higher gpa.
Haha, actually after I completed my BS my GPA was still low so SCHOOLS recommended to do a Master degree to increase my GPA...I have taken my DAT 3times and now I am a better candidate for DS because better DAT scores and Higher GPA. When I was doing my first Degree I was very young and immature, if that helps to answer your question. It was throughout time and experience that I discovered that I wanted to continue my education in the field of dentistry. I am hoping that schools will see how over time i had improve
Plus everyone have different life experiences and not able to have a 3.5+ gpa every semester.. some people have to work full-time and have responsibility, you know?
RC is a joke. You can search destroy it and guess on the rest and end up with a 19 like me. The PAT is a joke, Qr irrelevant and the sciences are the only thing that really matter since they standardize everyone's education. The content and story in your essay are HUGE. Your letters are HUGE especially if you have a lower gpa. Also, your working experience is also huge and goes a long ways to prove you are well-rounded. I think it is a bonus to have a lot of experience in several different positions in several different industries as compared to just dental related experiences. The gpa is above the min and the 20 AA is solid but focus on the TS. Kinda just rambling but like everyone else said the higher the gpa and dat, the better the probability.
i did search and destroy method for my practices and i got around solid 19 everytime i used that method.
however, during the RC, search and destroy DID NOT WORK at all.
yeah.. so i kinda panicked and time ran out 🙂..
And thank you for all good advices, i am staring to call schools right now to figure out
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oh and for masters or post bacc program,
i cannot start taking classes in the middle right? i mean my school has a quarter system and i am taking fall quarter now before graduating. So just wondering, if i choose to do masters, i have to attend during fall quarter, or semester? just like regular undergrate?
i cannot start taking classes in the middle right? i mean my school has a quarter system and i am taking fall quarter now before graduating. So just wondering, if i choose to do masters, i have to attend during fall quarter, or semester? just like regular undergrate?
They're making changes to the DAT? That's interesting, I hadn't heard of it yet. Do you know what all they'll be changing?
And to the OP, you can take classes at any university or university extension after you graduate to build your GPA. It's like an informal post-Bacc, or you can do the formal one, or you can do the masters. Up to you really--depending on how rigorous you want your quarters/semesters to be. Personally, I'd recommend taking more classes rather than taking the DAT (if you had to choose between one or the other...do both if you think you can handle it, but I know it's harder said than done), because in a few years from now, your GPA might still hold some relevance, whereas the DAT won't (completely my opinion).
Hi Member 902507,
I found a thread from this past November which discusses the changes and also includes a link to the ADA website. Hopefully this provides a decent explanation. 🙂
Sorry here's the link: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=962675
That's what I get for posting at 1:30AM lol
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I actually applied late (submitted in mid-Sept) and have similar stats as yours. I applied to 12 schools and so far have received no rejections and two interviews. I know a stream of rejections are coming my way, but I really don't think you would receive that many rejections that quickly unless you may have overlooked a requirement or some small issue?? Don't worry though, there is always hope for post-dec interviews!
