Will this effect my chance of getting in?

[BTR1208]

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Little back story...

So I have been on my own financially since I was 16. ZERO parent support what so ever. Parent's telling me I will never amount to anything, blah, blah, blah. That really effected me in high school. Got poor grades. I then went to community college knowing I was going to do whatever I could to turn my life around. I decided I wanted to be a dentist. Since then I have been busting my butt to get good grades and have the life my parents never could give me and flat out old me I would never have. I let that negativity turn into my drive.

Right now I am in my last semester of CC. Have a 3.9 oGPA, 4.0 sGPA. I am transferrting to my state school next Fall to finish my prerequisites (orgo 1&2, biochem, micro plus some other classes for my degree). I have done all my research and know what schools will accept my CC credits and am very excited to finally apply next Summer.

A couple concerns...
Through the last 3 years I have been working two jobs and full time, sometimes even overnights while going to school. This has made it difficult to carry a full course load every semester. I think I have two semesters with 9-10 credits, the rest are 12-15. Also I have 4 W's because a couple weeks into the course I cannot make it work with my work schedule. However I come back every time and get an A in that class I had to drop.

Next year I have it all figured out so I can go to school and work part time. This will be the first time I have been able to do that. I am carrying heavy course loads to show I can keep up and succeed.

Fall: Orgo 1, Calc, Genetics, English course
Spring: Ogo 2, biochem, ecology, elective

Then studying for and taking the DAT.

I am planning on having at least a 3.8 oGPA, 3.8 sGPA. 20 DAT.

With my circumstances will schools be open minded. Will they understand why I have had to take a lighter course load and start at a CC? If my GPA is where i plan and DAT is 20 will I have a good shot at getting in?

I have faced a lot of adversity but I think it shows that I can overcome a lot. I can handle the downfalls life can dish out. If I can get in dental school with all I have had to deal with I feel I can do anything.

The day I get my acceptance letter will be the most emotional day of my life and I can not wait!

Thanks for any advice guys!

 

[Aetherius]

If there would be any effect your story would have in the admissions process, it would only be positive 🙂
Looking forward to hearing about your acceptances when the time comes!

 

[sjv]

Ditto, will have a positive effect, you're fine.

 

[ICUrunning]

Be sure to let d schools know on your personal statement you were independent and financially responsible for your well being at an early age. Obviously, put your work experience on the application.

Keep doing what youre doing and schools would love to have you. Good luck!

 

[techyguy]

Well, just based on your story, I'd love to have you as my dentist. 😉

 

[NMC2010]

Well, just based on your story, I'd love to have you as my dentist. 😉

Likewise (once you're through DS of course haha). Way to go dude.

 

[bgriff]

There's no issue here. If anything you automatically stand out. Detail these issues in the socioeconomically challenged part of the application. Once you do get to state/univ, try and do waht you can to take a full load of courses. That may mean taking loans out. I'm not your financial advisor (although I was briefly one), but the small amount of loans you may need to take now (relative to the loans in dschool) will pay off in the long run. Don't shortchange your education in order to get out of school with no loans. Schools want to see you handle the rigors of a full load of science classes and excel in this environment. If you can do that and keep up with a pt job, then go for it. But if not, I would personally take out the educational loans I need and get that couple of semesters of full course load when I apply.

 

[BTR1208]

Wow this is all so good to hear!

Thank you guys so much... Made my day week. 🙂

 

[BTR1208]

Also forgot to mention tat the way my classes transfer from my CC I will not have my bachelors degree prior to matriculating. That being said I will have more hours than most graduates..

Will this be okay under my circumstances? Again, I have looked at the dental school guide and know which schools are most likely to accept me without my degree.

So with the circumstances stated earlier...
3.8 oGPA
3.8 sGPA
20 DAT
no degree

Still a chance?

Thanks again everybody! You guys seriously rock!

 

[Gaucho4Life]

Also forgot to mention tat the way my classes transfer from my CC I will not have my bachelors degree prior to matriculating. That being said I will have more hours than most graduates..

Will this be okay under my circumstances? Again, I have looked at the dental school guide and know which schools are most likely to accept me without my degree.

So with the circumstances stated earlier...
3.8 oGPA
3.8 sGPA
20 DAT
no degree

Still a chance?

Thanks again everybody! You guys seriously rock!

Not many matriculate without a degree. Like pretty much none

 

[CWL]

I was accepted into a school. I asked them whether if I must take the last art class towards my degree. Because I wanted to use the summer time to join a community service project in South America or Southern Asia.
In other words, I asked whether if I can be matriculated without a degree (-1 art class with a good reason). Their response was no. Therefore I have to take the art class.

Moral of the story: Don't try to mess with the adcoms.

On second thought, our cases are different. Since you are being considered based on the fact that you won't have a degree. In my case, they accepted me upon the condition of receiving a bachelors degree.