Will Ivy name compensate for lower gpa?

[AzN989]

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I don't know whether I should attend UPenn or George Washington University... if I do decide to go with UPenn, I am a little afraid that my gpa might not be that great since students at Penn tend to be more studious and intelligent.. Which do dental schools, generally, prefer a graduate of an Ivy League school with a lower gpa or a student from a good school, but not Ivy good, with a better gpa? I would guess I would probably be a little below the average at Penn so I anticipate a C average whereas I think might be able to pull a high B avg. at GW. Which school do you guys think I should go to if I want to leave the option of dental school open?

 

[swtcatastrophe]

I don't know whether I should attend UPenn or George Washington University... if I do decide to go with UPenn, I am a little afraid that my gpa might not be that great since students at Penn tend to be more studious and intelligent.. Which do dental schools, generally, prefer a graduate of an Ivy League school with a lower gpa or a student from a good school, but not Ivy good, with a better gpa? I would guess I would probably be a little below the average at Penn so I anticipate a C average whereas I think might be able to pull a high B avg. at GW. Which school do you guys think I should go to if I want to leave the option of dental school open?

i would advise that you go where you think will be happiest and will foster your success, both in and out of the classroom. if you go to a top tier school and have a lower gpa, you can still demostrate that you know the material by doing well on the DAT. someone on this forum once called it 'the great equalizer.' in any case you would want to maximize both your gpa and your DAT scores to show your mastery. from my experience, i think going to MIT brought attention to my application because a pre-dental student at MIT is so rare--there are only 3 in my class of 1100. it's a bonus not a necessity. so again, go where you think you'll be able to shine and feel the most comfortable. do well and show an interest in dentistry.

why do you think you'll be a C student at Penn anyhow? if you're willing to work hard you can do well anywhere.

 

[AzN989]

Is it true that if someone has a weak gpa, like 2.9 or 3.0, they will almost be automatically rejected because their gpa is too low, even though they might have taken a difficult major or been in a very competitive school?

To answer your question.. I am more than willing to work hard, but then probably everyone else is at UPenn and they will likely be able to understand information quicker than me...(just by comparing my SATs to the average)

 

[scuzfly]

I am more than willing to work hard, but then probably everyone else is at UPenn and they will likely be able to understand information quicker than me...(just by comparing my SATs to the average)

What are you worried about? Every where you go someone will be better than you. If I had the choice to go back into time I would have put myself around the people who would push me and make me feel stupid so I have to work hard. That way when it comes time to know the stuff for real I'm certian I've retained the knowledge much better than just knowing it for the test that month.

 

[airsimon]

Go where the girls are hotter!

 

[makushin]

Grades be damned, I would go to PENN. You may change your mind about dentistry.

 

[caloriefree]

i'd look into median grades for pre-req courses at penn..
yeah, ppl at penn may be more hardcore when it comes to studying,
but if their median grades aren't too low (like b-/c+), you shouldn't get c's in your classes if you try hard.

 

[yorkiepoo]

you gotta be kidding me! you got into Penn, so clearly you are smart enough to go there. How can you project that you will be sub par? I mean unless your parents and grandparents all went there and have been paying the school's endowment and you got in solely based on genetics..... but seriously... don't underestimate yourself... and also don't underestimate students at GW... why do you think that you'd do so well in comparison with those students? Go to Penn!!!!! You got in! Congratulations... plus I hear that Ivy's inflate grades as not to let their stats look poor, so you'll be fine. If you got into Penn, you are Penn material, and you have an equal shot as anyone else going there to compete for grades. It's not going to matter where you go if you don't commit to working hard... if you don't work hard you're going to get C's (or maybe worse) no matter where you go. Enjoy! 🙂

But yes, an Ivy or top-tier name will give you some leverage, but I would NOT rely on that as means of getting in and an excuse to slack off. No really... they aren't going to care if you went to Penn if you have a 2.9 gpa, sorry buddy.

 

[ummjoey]

i say go to the "easier" university. would you happen to have gotten any scholarships? i know a few people who picked "easier" universities because they got scholarships.

i think a higher gpa is more important..........

you dont want to be aiming for Bs and Cs? you want to get As...........

 

[tamkhan]

Planning so far ahead is not such a good thing. For now, forget that you'll be applying to dental schools. In four years time, anything could happen. Hell, schools might start awarding extra points to top tier school grads, because everyone seems to be so damn good these days! I doubt it'll happen, though.

Go to a place where the atmosphere suits you.

 

[dentaldentist]

Schools definitly take into consideration where you went to school and the classes you took so going to UPENN will help you, just don't score under a 3.0 GPA. If you are smart enough to get into UPenn, you are smart enough to get at least a 3.5 there as long as you study hard - it might not be easy, but you can do it. Its a hard school, but the students there are smart (as are you) and I bet the average GPA is still in the 3.3 to 3.5 range. Its intimidating going into a good school, but it will be a great experience and you will learn a lot. You will be just fine going there - if you struggle with any classes, I'm sure the school has tutors and a counseling center to get you back on track. GW is a very good school too, not UPenn's level, but a good school so its not a bad choice to go there either, but if you like UPenn better, then go there. I think its a bad choice to pick something simply because it is "easier." Pick the school you think you would be most happy with. And don't be afraid of a challenge.

 

[SHC1984]

Harvard, Yale or Princeton would "help" but I don't know about UPenn....If you have a low GPA you need a REALLY REALLLLLY good school to "help" you out there....