Dental School Worries - Please Help

Pre-Dentistry & Dental School
1

So I am one of those people who DID go to a community college for my associates where, in order to earn that degree all my pre-reqs where completed here. I KNOW OK ITS NOT THE BEST DECISION BUT IT IS MY DECISION THAT WORKED FOR MY LIFE REGARDING FINANCES AND GRADUATING ON TIME. This past week I met with my pre health advisor who told me to retake orgo 1 and 2 at Rutgers (my university currently), take a year off of school, and dont apply this cycle. This is extremely detrimental to my future and not something I was ready for, although I understand his reasoning.

I currently have a 3.6 GPA at rutgers, i have yet to take systems phys, exercise phys, and biochem (all upper level courses). i do have to still take orgo 2, and i cannot just take orgo 2 at rutgers because i took orgo 1 at CC. (rutgers wont allow it). Therefore my options are either continue on my path and dont listen to my prehealth advisior…take the classes I need to graduate, study for the DAT to take this june, (taking systems phys this summer before applications as well as orgo 2) and then apply this cycle. OR take his advice, take orgo 1 and two over again this summer at rutgers (or a 4 year university) and then take a year off and apply next cycle.

like i said my current GPA is a 3.6 (subject to change after this semester)’
i have worked with and shadowed an orthodontist for 3 years
I am currently volunteering at the hospital 4 hours a week for the next 6 months or so
I work part time
and I commute an hour to and from school

I am a very hard worker and have had this passion since I was 14 years old to become a dentist and hopefully an orthodontist some day (baby steps lol). I could really use some insight on what to do here as I am very lost and unsettled with my future

2

@dentalgirl Are you a junior now? Or are you graduating?

Your advisor is right—you are not ready for the cycle that opens June 1. Without orgo 2 and biochem, the DAT will be tough. You want the first test you take to be your best. And, really, your application should be ready to go the first 2 weeks in June and you are really far behind.

Very few students are getting accepted during senior year for immediate entry to dental school. Most take that extra year to do interviews in the fall, do research, work for a dentist, etc. The average age in my daughter’s class of 2021 was 24 for first year students.

You need to have at least 8 weeks of dedicated study time for the DAT using an online course like DAT boot camp or Kaplan. Self-study won’t be enough since you need to learn how the test is set up, how to make sure you finish in the allotted time, what will be covered. The expectation is that you have the basic chem, bio, and physics completed. You only get 3 tries on the DAT so you don’t want to waste one with no or lack of preparation. If your first score is mediocre, you have to wait 90 days to retake it. Schools look at GPA, sGPA, and DATs as the first weeding element.

Your advisor will write the committee letter for you: the idea that you won’t listen to the advisor will be reflected in the letter, if they even agree to write one for you at this time. Is your application ready to go? Do you have the letters of recommendation requested and in your file? Have you written your personal statement, had it critiqued, and rewritten? Your first application is your best chance to wow interview committees. Every year 12000 students apply to about 5500 first year dental school spots. More than 1 out of 2 are rejected. You have to be methodical and prepared. Listen to those that can help you.

Once your application is filed with AADSAS, it will take about a month for everything to be uploaded and your status labeled as complete. Only then will the schools be able to see your file. If you wait until late summer, you will be shut out of many schools. Interview invites begin in late August, interviews start September 1, and acceptances begin December 1. You aren’t ready for this cycle.

There is no shame in going to a CC, or finishing in 4 years for financial reasons. It’s actually very smart—dental school is extremely expensive.