Hi everyone! I wanted to come on here and ask some advice on my grades and dental route. I’m a current sophmore at my state university majoring in neuroscience with a minor in social work. My current gpa is a 3.45, BCP gpa is a 2.73 (So far I have taken Chem 1 & 2 w/ a B in both. I took organic chemistry 1 last semester and ended with a C), and my cumulative science gpa is around 3.2
As of this semester, I’m taking Bio 1, an upper level neuroscience course, and ochem 2. As of bio, I believe I will end it with a B-. For ochem 2, I also am sure I will end with a B. And for the neuroscience course, a C (This was genuinely the hardest course I have ever taken at my school, struggled a lot in this class, even more than ochem 1). If I end the neuro class with a C, this will be my third C (I had a C in a neurobiology 1 course last summer—first summer course, was very fast paced). I understand multiple C’s are a red flag, and I will be asked to explain them eventually, but I have been really worried about my grades, and with this, I have a few questions,
Will these deter admissions from my application? How should I improve moving forward? What score should I aim for on the dat? (plan on studying for & taking it this summer!) What other gaps should I fill other than grades in my stats as time goes on? (I would hope to apply next summer). I hope I don’t sound like a neurotic predental student but I’ve been feeling very anxious about this for a while and would totally love some honest advice.
Other things:
- First Gen student, URM
- Currently in the process of shadowing (30hrs so far)
- 40~ish volunteer hours
- In a scholar program for my school
- Board officer for the neuroscience organization at my school
- Board officer for a URM club
- A Pre-dental program certificate from my school (2 ish months)
- Completed a year long pre-dental program at my school (connected really well with them)
- Did the bridge to dental program