Year off Before Dental School

[holmeswatson]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am graduating in Summer 2012 and am applying for dental school at the same time. I am graduating a year early so I have a year off before dental school. However, my problem is that my GPA is not that good...

I am studying for the DATs now and am planning to take them in January, and if that doesn't go well, then one more time in the summer. Since I have a year off, I was wondering what do dental schools like to see students do with their time?

I know Post-Bac program is a good idea if I want to improve my GPA, but is there anything else I can do that will make me stand out? Does anyone recommend any one year programs for volunteering or something non-science based? Because I heard that dental school does like to see that a student is well-rounded in other areas than just science (I am interested in subjects such as philosophy, humanities, english, etc).

Also, if I apply to dental schools this upcoming summer and then join a post-bac program, will dental school take that into consideration when deciding whether to give me admission or do they wait until you have completed your post-bac program to see what grades you have gotten? Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you 🙂

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

I am graduating in Summer 2012 and am applying for dental school at the same time. I am graduating a year early so I have a year off before dental school. However, my problem is that my GPA is not that good...

I am studying for the DATs now and am planning to take them in January, and if that doesn't go well, then one more time in the summer. Since I have a year off, I was wondering what do dental schools like to see students do with their time?

I know Post-Bac program is a good idea if I want to improve my GPA, but is there anything else I can do that will make me stand out? Does anyone recommend any one year programs for volunteering or something non-science based? Because I heard that dental school does like to see that a student is well-rounded in other areas than just science (I am interested in subjects such as philosophy, humanities, english, etc).

Also, if I apply to dental schools this upcoming summer and then join a post-bac program, will dental school take that into consideration when deciding whether to give me admission or do they wait until you have completed your post-bac program to see what grades you have gotten? Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you 🙂

If your GPA is "not that good" then why are you graduating early and then trying to enroll into a post-bac?

Why not just graduate at the normal time and just stuff in a year of w/e science classes and what not to bump up your GPA.

 

[holmeswatson]

Because I attend a private university which costs $40,00 0 a year and I don't want to waste all that money when I have completed all my requirements and I can enroll in a post bac program or take classes at some state school for way less.

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Because I attend a private university which costs $40,00 0 a year and I don't want to waste all that money when I have completed all my requirements and I can enroll in a post bac program or take classes at some state school for way less.

Then graduate, and go to a cheaper school to do a post bac. And do a post bac in something science related. Dental schools don't care too much about philosophy classes, humanities, etc. It's a science based career.

 

[holmeswatson]

Say I am not accepted into a post-bac program and decide just to take science classes at some state school, will those classes still count towards my GPA/ dental admission even though I have already completed by degree?

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

Say I am not accepted into a post-bac program and decide just to take science classes at some state school, will those classes still count towards my GPA/ dental admission even though I have already completed by degree?

Yes that would be an informal post bac. That's fine too. It would count towards your dental school application GPA. Just load up on the science courses and ace them.

 

[holmeswatson]

thank you! 🙂

I am a little confused however, because I want to apply this June, and if for the 2012-2013 year I do a post-bac or informal post-bac, how will the dental schools I apply to know that this is my course of action for the year I have off and how would they know if I improved my GPA in that one year?

 

[AwesomeTeeth]

thank you! 🙂

I am a little confused however, because I want to apply this June, and if for the 2012-2013 year I do a post-bac or informal post-bac, how will the dental schools I apply to know that this is my course of action for the year I have off and how would they know if I improved my GPA in that one year?

On your application, there's a section you put down for planned activities for the upcoming year. You can put down the school you intend to go to and the courses you plan on taking.

However, the schools do take it with a grain of salt because they don't know how you will actually do in the classes. You can update them with your fall grades in December but most interviews would have already happened by then. Depending on how your GPA is, it might be better to do a post bac first and then apply after that.