what to do to improve?

[davao4444]

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so with no interviews so far is it safe to say i should start wrapping it up this cycle and start looking at improving for next cycle (ive had no interviews, yet not that many rejections)?

this is my 2nd cycle so far and my obvious problem is gpa (3.1), ive taken the dat twice (19/19/21 first time, 19/19/25 second time).
im currently in the first year of a two year master program. my gpa in undergrad was a 3.06 (oouuuch) however my senior year was a 3.35 (quite an increase from previous smesters. and so far im at a 3.8 in the masters program.

soo what exactly do i do to improve other than the keep up the new gpa and shadow/volunteer more? im reluctant to take the dat again but i dont think my score is too bad as i see its around average for matriculation. is my gpa really hopeless that i should really be taking the dat a 3rd time?

also, does that 25 pat really do anything? i was hoping it would make my dat scores look a bit more favorable since its something that stands out in an otherwise average score. i would love to get into pacific despite my less than average states for specific.. however thats what the stats are.. average, meaning sub20s still get into schools like pacific.

 

[oreoson]

I think it has to do with the fact that you are in the first year of a two year master program. Try to hold out until you defend your thesis or complete your program.

 

[davao4444]

is that really the case where dental schools prefer that i finish the masters before considering me (regardless of what i do in the meantime)?

my hope was to be accepted somewhere before the next winter so i can stop the masters program (with dental school permission of course) to save up on money, get a head start in moving if going out of state etc.

basically, if the gpa is there does actually finishing out and getting the degree a big preference for dental schools?

 

[doanh]

I would really focus on improving your GPA at this point...because that's probably what is holding you back...adding more volunteer hours might not help as much as increased GPA.

And as for the DAT, are you over 17 at least in all of the sections? If not I might want to reconsider re-taking it...or ask for feedback from schools. GL!

 

[adizzle87]

I've been told by an admissions dean that if they see an applicant with borderline grades and enrollment in some sort of masters program, they usually hold off on interviewing the applicant until the person's done with the program. Double edged sword, it helps you in the long run but might hurt you in the short run. This was coming from one particular school though, not all schools will look at master's/post-bac students the same way.

 

[davao4444]

of either times i took the dat the only 17 i got is orgo the second time i took it everything else ranged from 18-22 both times with exception to pat which was 21 to a 25

another reluctance of mine with retaking is that every year i retake the dat is another year removed from orgo and general chemistry (my masters program has no refresher courses on these subjects). even with taking higher level bio classes i find the bio section to be a crapshoot as to which subject it asks (i took a lot of upper level bios senior year before retaking but a good chunk of my bio section was genetics which i havent taken since sophomore year)

i guess i'll just keep chugging along with the masters and volunteering. only realy reason for the volunteering is that i want to show that im doing something while taking the masters now that im removed from my undergrad ec

 

[oreoson]

You don't really like doing research eh?

But being a master student allows you to pursue many things other than research. Have you considered TAing? or maybe internship at WHO?