Which way to turn?

[nodoubt]

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Its been a very long time since I've been on this forum. Life took several turns but now I'm back for some feedback. Background:
B.S. Biology-'06
GPA 2.6
M.S. Environmental Science-'08
GPA 3.8
Military-enlisted, then officer-flight school washout but kept my commission as an officer in the reserves.
Opportunities took me on an amazing ride but steered me off what I really want to do. I am now-working for an environmental company managing a multi-million dollar project(yea, not fun). The thing is that dental school is still on my mind as an unfulfilled dream. Its my dream job. I want to pursue the dream and go back to the small country town I was raised in and provide care. I know it's weird but every few years or so, I purchase all the study materials to prep for the DAT. I will admit, not getting through flight training shot my confidence big time and made me very hesitant to go for my dream(s).
I wonder if it's a long shot? I'm trying to figure out how to pickup the pieces since it's been so long. Would I have to do a post bac program? What would be your best advice so I can get on track.
Thanks so much everyone.

Smiles!

 

[Qtn2x]

I am quite in a similar situation, graduated in 04, I didn't even have a master, the last time I took a class was in May 2004. If you would really want to get back, it's never too late. I would say start with a postbacc, taking heavy biomedical sciences. I don't know the curriculum of the evironmenttal science, is it heavy biomedical sciences based? (as in infectious diseases, cell and molecular bio etc...) instead of social sciences. If it is more heavy biomed sciences, then you are in a better shape. Start now with a postbacc and study really hard for your DAT, aim for a 23+ because of your undergrad gpa and the fact that you have been out of school for qutie some time. I took my DAT and got a 23 and got 5 pre-dec interviews, went to 3 and declined 2 and just got 2 acceptances. So there are hopes for non-trad applicants like us. Just work hard for your DAT, i i feel like it is my DAT that got me interviews (my undergrad GPA was good though, it was a 3.87 but it is gpa from 10 years ago so it was expired somewhat).

 

[nodoubt]

Thanks for your quick reply!
No, it wasn't biomedical based at all. Toward my senior year of undergrad most of the research I was doing was pure environmental and bordering environmental engineering so that was the route I took in graduate school to complete the work. I guess in the end, it would be a non-factor that I have the M.S. I figured post-bac would be the way to go. I think there would be a challenge of finding one that would accept me with a GPA <3.0.

 

[Stereum]

Thanks for your quick reply!
No, it wasn't biomedical based at all. Toward my senior year of undergrad most of the research I was doing was pure environmental and bordering environmental engineering so that was the route I took in graduate school to complete the work. I guess in the end, it would be a non-factor that I have the M.S. I figured post-bac would be the way to go. I think there would be a challenge of finding one that would accept me with a GPA <3.0.

Your right about the 2.6 gpa hurting you with a post-bacc admittance, but I don't think all is lost. A place like CSUEB might take into account your 3.8 grad school GPA. With that being said, I would contact dental schools you're interested in and ask them directly what would make you a competitive candidate. I decided to go the post-bacc. route because I wasn't going to go the dental route, but after contacting some dental schools last year, I learned that a masters would have been just as good as a post-bacc. I'm actually kicking myself right now about not pursuing a Masters since I could be teaching at my local CC while waiting on dental school notices if I had one.