What would you do?

[thimsmits]

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Here is my predent page:

http://www.predents.com/?page=user&user_id=2188

I have been rejected to 8 out of the 16 schools I applied to. I had 1 interview and no word from them. The other 7 schools I haven't heard anything, and those 7 have not sent out any rejections (i believe). UCLA and Columbia are def. out of reach, so that leaves 5 realistic chances.

Obviously, my GPA is low. I have taken the DATs 3 times and didn't take any of them lightly, so I don't think I can raise it considerably.

What would you do in my situation?

Start applying for a master's program?

Thanks for your help! I appreciate it.

 

[Dentisting]

Well... you have a lower GPA than I do... Probably not as much shadowing as I have, and I have already given up.

I am applying to medical school.

 

[jigabodo]

I am applying to medical school.

lol.

I think your main problem comes from the combination of both your GPA and DAT scores. Granted they are not bad scores...but in reality your stat is still below average.

A quick fix would be to retake the DAT and score above a 23, but this is a lot easier said than done.

Depending on how many units you have, you may also choose to enroll in formal/informal postbac or pursue a Master.

 

[Khala Jaan]

are u going to change your career each time you hit a problem? i would highly recommend to pick the career you really want for the rest of ur life..and even if you are looking for an easy way out, im pretty sure med is not easier than dental...

Well... you have a lower GPA than I do... Probably not as much shadowing as I have, and I have already given up.

I am applying to medical school.

 

[Dentisting]

are u going to change your career each time you hit a problem? i would highly recommend to pick the career you really want for the rest of ur life..and even if you are looking for an easy way out, im pretty sure med is not easier than dental...

what makes you think that if you choose dental you can never choose medical? What if I tell you that I love both career paths? Is that wrong to you?

 

[blankguy]

lol.

I think your main problem comes from the combination of both your GPA and DAT scores. Granted they are not bad scores...but in reality your stat is still below average.

A quick fix would be to retake the DAT and score above a 23, but this is a lot easier said than done.

Depending on how many units you have, you may also choose to enroll in formal/informal postbac or pursue a Master.

I agree. The overall package that the OP presents is not strong.

 

[Khala Jaan]

i am sorry if i misunderstood but u said "i give up" followed with "im applying to med school." so it seemed as though you were using med as a cop out. i just hope ppl dont start changing careers b/c of lost hope. sorry again. good luck on your mcat 🙂

what makes you think that if you choose dental you can never choose medical? What if I tell you that I love both career paths? Is that wrong to you?

 

[Dentisting]

well... in a way I have given up... Obviously dental was my first choice, but I see that its not working out right now, and the work that its going to take to get there at this point is definitely NOT worth it. I might as well put that work in towards something actually tangible... that I can actually use, which is a medical education.

Sorry... I am just bitter... being my 2nd year applying, having interviews and nothing after that is just a big disappointment, and I really dont want to go through that ever again. I want something to look forward to.

 

[rjs38]

to OP, you may want to consider mixing graduate with undergraduate classes for the next semester and try to raise your overall gpa, your sci is on the low end of competative but dental schools aren't just looking for complete science nerds they want ppl who do well in science but also have interests in other areas, and your overall gpa shows this...a low overall is looked at almost as badly as sci, but is easier to bring up

 

[thimsmits]

Thanks for your help!

Going into the year, I thought I had a bit more of a chance because of my school and that i was a D-1 athlete. It obviously doesn't help as much as I had hoped...

 

[USU24]

Good luck with midwestern though.

 

[NismoDDS]

Well... you have a lower GPA than I do... Probably not as much shadowing as I have, and I have already given up.

I am applying to medical school.

Just wondering are u planning on attending a carribean medical school. I have a few friends that didnt do well in college and are going to med school in the islands and are doing very well. They will soon be comming to the US to finish up after their boards. Good luck to you.

 

[Dentisting]

Just wondering are u planning on attending a carribean medical school. I have a few friends that didnt do well in college and are going to med school in the islands and are doing very well. They will soon be comming to the US to finish up after their boards. Good luck to you.

Thats exactly what im doing.

 

[Smills91]

Here is my predent page:

http://www.predents.com/?page=user&user_id=2188

I have been rejected to 8 out of the 16 schools I applied to. I had 1 interview and no word from them. The other 7 schools I haven't heard anything, and those 7 have not sent out any rejections (i believe). UCLA and Columbia are def. out of reach, so that leaves 5 realistic chances.

Obviously, my GPA is low. I have taken the DATs 3 times and didn't take any of them lightly, so I don't think I can raise it considerably.

What would you do in my situation?

Start applying for a master's program?

Thanks for your help! I appreciate it.

You're in a similar boat as what I've been in for 4 years.

I have an 18/17/20 for my DAT scores, in-state residency in Kentucky...I moved to Kentucky 3 years ago to gain residency and after 1 year and still no acceptance I began a Master's degree which I will finish in May. I finally got accepted to UofL this year and that's my only acceptance with only 2 interviews. My GPA's are 3.3 overall and 2.95 Science with a 3.5 graduate school GPA.

I took the long road, but I got there. I wouldn't recommend the 'get rich quick' silver bullet idea of how to get into dental school. The reality is it's hard work coupled with determination. If you work towards it, it'll happen, I'm living proof of that.

I'd say graduate school is a wonderful opportunity to improve your situation as an applicant, learn something else, and become a solid foundation as a stepping stone into dental school. Worse case scenario, now you have something to fall back on.

 

[predentn]

Here is my predent page:

http://www.predents.com/?page=user&user_id=2188

...

Start applying for a master's program?

Thanks for your help! I appreciate it.

It's a start.

 

[axum]

See if you can raise your GPA. Apply again next year, but this time, look at each school carefully and make sure that they have a high out of state acceptance rate (for those schools that are not in-state schools for you). I would also consider the average GPA and DAT scores that they accept, and apply to those schools that are closer to your stats. No offense, but you wasted some cash applying to places like UCLA and UPenn, which both have pretty high avg. GPA's and DATs. Also submit all your stuff as early as possible, like pre-June.

 

[harjay]

At our predental meeting tonight, Dr. Hal Lippman from Nova Southeastern University College of Dentistry spoke to us about the best way to fix a poor application. Hands-down, the best way to get your application noticed by dental school admissions is to go to a Masters program.

A Master's in biomedical sciences basically gives you the same classes you will be taking as a D1 or D2. You can apply to most programs in May or June (conveniently placed after you realize you won't be getting in to d-school).

Admission is fairly simple, and some of the programs (usually the ones offered at dental schools) use the same AADSAS application. Admission is usually not extremely competitive, and is largely based on how many bio/science classes you've taken.

A Master's program gives you an opportunity to effectively forgive your undergraduate grades and can give you time to study for the DAT again next year. If you do well in the masters program, it truly gives you a chance to redeem yourself.

 

[dru180]

Harjay,

Did Dr. Lippman mention to ya'll that if you enroll in Nova's master's program and get all A's and B's that upon completion of the Master's program you are GUARANTEED acceptance to Nova, as well as every class you earn an A in will 1- be waved from the dental curriculum and consequently 2- your A will count towards your Dental gpa?

I'm pretty sure i remember hearing this when i went on a tour of the dental school there, but Im not sure so, i dont want to say definitively that this is true. But, if it is true, this would be an EXCELLENT route for those who didn't get in their first cycle to consider.

 

[thimsmits]

See if you can raise your GPA. Apply again next year, but this time, look at each school carefully and make sure that they have a high out of state acceptance rate (for those schools that are not in-state schools for you). I would also consider the average GPA and DAT scores that they accept, and apply to those schools that are closer to your stats. No offense, but you wasted some cash applying to places like UCLA and UPenn, which both have pretty high avg. GPA's and DATs. Also submit all your stuff as early as possible, like pre-June.

My app was submitted in May. I retook my DAT in August after I had applied to UCLA and UPenn. I thought I would have done better and would have been competetive at those schools.

 

[axum]

I think that unless you scored 25's across the board, your DAT scores would not have made up for your low GPA. And also, when I say apply early, that means to have all your stuff in on May 1st.

 

[blankguy]

I think that unless you scored 25's across the board, your DAT scores would not have made up for your low GPA. And also, when I say apply early, that means to have all your stuff in on May 1st.

AADSAS doesn't open until mid-may. A good guideline for timing is the schools receive the application from AADSAS by late August. The schools that tend to review early begin in August but definately have it in by Sept. 1st.

To the OP I think you should retake the DAT and aim higher and consider enrolling in a Masters since you've been majoring in Biology.

 

[Physics Guy1421]

Harjay,

Did Dr. Lippman mention to ya'll that if you enroll in Nova's master's program and get all A's and B's that upon completion of the Master's program you are GUARANTEED acceptance to Nova, as well as every class you earn an A in will 1- be waved from the dental curriculum and consequently 2- your A will count towards your Dental gpa?

I'm pretty sure i remember hearing this when i went on a tour of the dental school there, but Im not sure so, i dont want to say definitively that this is true. But, if it is true, this would be an EXCELLENT route for those who didn't get in their first cycle to consider.

dru180...just wondering if you have confirmed any validity of this statement? If so that is an awesome option! Is it a specific master's program that it works for?

 

[thimsmits]

I actually wrote my thesis in nutrition, and it is something I am passionate about. I probably would have majored in nutrition if it was offered at my university.

With all the crossover in nutrition and oral health, do you think that would be an appropriate master's program to attend in order to improve my standing as a future dental applicant?

Again, thanks for all your help guys!

 

[Smileen]

Many people have changed from Pre-Med to Pre-Dent because they because they can't do MCAT which is much harder than DAT (from many dentists I know).
I also know that there are a few dentists and PharmDs are attending at MED SCHOOL. You can try to take the MCAT practice exams to see if you do well then prepare to apply to MED SCHOOls.

GOOD LUCK!!!😀