what should people with low GPA do?

[joonkimdds]

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I know some of my friends who have low GPA.
What do they need to do in order to get into a dental school?

If they retake whatever classes they got B or lower, would it increase their chances? How about doing Masters or Ph.D?

 

[FutureDent020]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=362708&highlight=low+GPA

 

[vlct0ria]

I know some of my friends who have low GPA.
What do they need to do in order to get into a dental school?

If they retake whatever classes they got B or lower, would it increase their chances? How about doing Masters or Ph.D?

hahaha joon your signature with the comment about pet avatars cracked me up...just thought i'd share 😀

 

[dentalWorks]

Low GPA fixers = 2 options

a) if you have not graduated yet, just bust your butt and try to 4.0 any course you take from this point forward. If after you graduate and you are still unhappy about your GPA, read option b)

b) post-bacc courses. meaning continue to take undergrad level courses until your happy with your gpa.

It sounds pretty dry, but thats what it is. Fixing GPA is a nightmare, its costly and requires alot of time and effort.

It took me 54 credits of postbacc (straight 4.0) to bring my overall GPA from 3.0 to 3.3ish. Its not that great, but its better than nothing

 

[yappy]

I am in a simular situation too... was your 3.3 20+ DAT enough?

 

[armorshell]

Low GPA fix = high DAT score

 

[Rubber Dam Man]

a low GPA can definitely be offset with solid DAT scores, however if you're GPA is below 3.0... I would definitely consider a one-year M.S. program in some sort of Biology. If you do well in that, you will be good to go...

 

[dentalWorks]

I am in a simular situation too... was your 3.3 20+ DAT enough?

we'll see. I'll be applying for first time this coming summer

 

[Cofo]

what about those with a low science GPA?
by the time i apply this May, it will be 2.95 ...
should i take two science courses this summer while already having applied to dental schools, or would this be too big a risk?

 

[peerless218]

we'll see. I'll be applying for first time this coming summer

Adding a few leadership positions and tons of extra curricular activities wouldnt hurt you either Well since you're applying soon so hopefully you got all areas covered!!! Good luck!

 

[dentalWorks]

Adding a few leadership positions and tons of extra curricular activities wouldnt hurt you either Well since you're applying soon so hopefully you got all areas covered!!! Good luck!

Hmm, yeh I got my shadowing & volunteering all in line. And looking to apply to 20+ schools so we'll see

 

[The Anhedonia]

How about doing Masters or Ph.D?

that'd be pretty extreme....to earn a PhD for the sole purpose of getting into dental school.

 

[joonkimdds]

that'd be pretty extreme....to earn a PhD for the sole purpose of getting into dental school.

If someone finishes his/her master, has high DAT but still get no interviews, does that person have any hope left to enter dental schools?

 

[The Anhedonia]

If someone finishes his/her master, has high DAT but still get no interviews, does that person have any hope left to enter dental schools?

you make it sound like (a) one could just waltz on into a PhD program and (b) Phd programs are just another easy line item needed to get into dental school. A PhD is around a 3-4 year commitment AFTER a master's degree. so even by the time one was going to finish his or her PhD, his or her DAT score would have expired and he or she would need to retake it anyway.

doesn't sound viable to me.

 

[yappy]

yeah... seems like the time you spent on the phd you could of bust your butt doing UG classes or working on the DAT.

 

[John Durian]

I don't mean this as a blow to people with masters, but where I went to school if you failed out of a PhD program, they practically "gave away masters." This was from the horse's mouth.

As a side note, masters are 1 year but PhD's can range from 4-5 years (depending on how well your research goes). If you suck at research, then your PhD is gonna take forever. I agree with other posters because using a PhD to get into Dental school... well, that's gonna take you like 10+ years before you start practicing