[Journey into Dental School] How I Got into Dental School with a 2.96 GPA. (I didn't)

Quick summary of my pre-dental journey
Hello! My name is Michael Yoo! I'm a first year dental student at Western University (WesternU) in Pomona California! Smiles For Yoo is an educational vlog on tips and insights I acquired on my journey towards dental school. I hope to share these stories with you to help you get in as well!
Instagram: smilesforyoo
SDN: dentalforyoo
Email: [e-mail]
#LowGPA #DentalSchool #DentalStudent
#futuredoctor #futuredentist #predent #predental #dentistry #dental #dentist #dentalschoolapplication #ADEA #AADSAS #DAT #dentalschoolinterview #ASDA #District11 #WesternU #vlog #dentalvlog #dentalsurgery #implant #hygienist #dentalcare #cavities #Loupes #DentalLoupes #tips #odontologia #cavity #dentalassistant #dentalhygiene #dentalhygienist #dentalclinic #hygiene #dentalhealth #dentalimplant
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*[Use At Your Own Risk Disclaimer] Please note that although I am a WesternU Dental Student, in no way am I affiliated with WesternU interviews and admissions. The provided information are personal anecdotes intended to aide pre-dental students for educational purposes only. Any action you take upon the information is strictly at your own risk and no one affiliated with this website, WesternU, and myself can be responsible for your use of the information contained herein.

[@HD-ei2sv]

Love this video! Congratulations on getting into dental school. I was in the same boat as you. Undergrad GPA was around a 3.0 and science GPA was barely hitting 3.0 but with consistency and perseverance, I am now a rising D2 at Marquette. For all the pre-dents out there who are currently doubting themselves and wondering whether or not they are ever going to get into dental school with a low GPA, there’s hope. I am also another example of someone who got into dental school. Thank you, Yoo for making this videos for the pre-dents! (:

[@SmilesforYoo]

Ahhh thats so touching to hear! It is definitely easy to feel hopeless when you get a low GPA in undergrad. You also never hear about us with low GPAs getting into dental school on SDN or other professional forums so it could get pretty discouraging... Thank you so much for sharing your story here and promoting hope for future dentists!

[@gizzelyeah]

Sort of late, but did you do a masters program as well?

[@Gunssbmotbm]

hey, could I message you about your pre-dental journey ?

[@Philanazoie]

Yes👏👏👏

[@zahiradams6158]

Thank you for being honest sir! This really helps others who may be feeling down about having a low gpa. Mad respect to you.

[@SmilesforYoo]

Glad to do it! Everyone goes through bumps and roadblocks in life and we never really hear about the people who make it out of those ditches! Hope it helps those with low gpa's as well. :)

[@readobservelisten7757]

hey broo.. i m ur new buddy.. visit me plz//

[@marisoltorres594]

Congrats on getting in! I was exactly in the same boat as you. I did a dental post-bac program instead and now I’m a third year dental student. Best of luck on the rest of your dental school journey!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Congrats to you too! Being a third year must be awesome! I'm looking forward to the day I get to start working with patients.

[@kristinspringer830]

Where did you do your dental postbac?

[@simmiewimmie]

Thank Yoo so much for this video! I felt like the world was ending when I got rejection letters.. I was like what do I do now?!?!?!?! Awesome tips! Congratulations and many blessings to you!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hahaha I see what yoo did there with the yoo :D Thank you thank you! I know rejections could be hard but if you keep pushing forward, I'm sure good things will come your way :)

[@gatorboydomino]

whhheeeh. You're adorable! I just finished dental school in May...good luck with your journey!

[@SmilesforYoo]

AHhhhh! Thank you :)

[@shutupsophia420]

My parents are from Cambodia so they’re super strict and expect a lot from me . I am a sophomore in college right now majoring in biology. I started college my junior year of high school so I didn’t take my classes seriously! They stuck with me. I went back to school and now I got a 3.1 gpa. I’ve been so depressed about it and I’ve been trying to bring it up. Thank you for this video

[@SmilesforYoo]

I fully understand the pressure that our loved ones could give us, especially when expectations are placed high. But remember that our loved ones would never trade our health for something like a high GPA. Be sure to take care of yourself and be mindful of how far you have come. You probably worked your butt off to keep your GPA above a 3.0 and because of that, you know that you're fully capable of trying your best to keep pursuing dentistry! At the end of the day, what matters is that we have our health and that we tried our best. Everything else will fall into place if we could keep these two things.

[@buckeye-pe6df]

What's your point? Work harder.

[@alexthomas6024]

Thank you so much for the video - this is beyond relatable for me. I was in the same spot: applied twice with a low undergraduate GPA while relying on my time spent working as an assistant in an oral surgery center. I will be completing a Masters in Biomedical Sciences in May 2019. Praying that this will be enough. Best of luck to you moving forward

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I'm so glad you found this video. Yes, the journey could be hard but it seems like you have yourself on the right path towards reaching your goals. Congratulations on being almost done with your masters program and best of luck to you too!

[@mariahtellechea5570]

i hope you know that every time i’m so discouraged that i consider quitting, i watch this video and get so much encouragement! trusting in God’s plan for me. thank you future Dr. Yoo!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Mariah, Thank you so much for your warm words! Apologies for my late reply too but I just wanted to thank you :)

[@alex42812ify]

wow, I live near Western University. I've been thinking about dental school once I'm done with nursing school

[@SmilesforYoo]

It's a great school! If you ever get the chance, you should look into our WesternU preview days and see how you like the school!

[@Joycethedentist]

Very nice! You are local to me! Great info for the predents 🙌🙌

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello Dr. Kahng! Indeed! I follow your instagram as well as your KZbin. Big fan of your videos and posts! Thank you for stopping by and for your support! :)

[@hjo622]

Thank you so much for your honesty! But I'm actually more worried about social stresses than GPA since I'm kind of introvert and English is not my first language. I can't imagine myself surrounded by so many classmates all day long and probably have to talk a lot? I have no problem communicating but it's just I get so exhausted being around so many people for too long lol I need some 'me' time. Do you have any classmates who might have same issue as me? You seem like complete extrovert :)

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I know I may seem like an extrovert but I consider myself as an introvert when it comes to social settings as well! I call myself a "learned extrovert". It takes time for me to recharge whenever I hang out in large groups for too long. I enjoy solitude and just quietly watching youtube or netflix in my room. But because I now know myself a little better, I make an effort to get to know others and even put myself out there through this channel. Dental school is hard and you need a support group to get you through the tough times. English was my second language also, and I know it could be hard at times to put yourself out there, but I've found more growth and strength by working with others vs. secluding myself away 100% of the time. I think I spent the first month of dental school going back home at any chance I got. I slowly found out that I couldn't be like that for four years. I simply wouldn't survive mentally. For that matter, I made an effort to step out of my comfort zone and found a great group of friends that I'm comfortable with. Of course, they now know that I have this introvert side to me and are very understanding when I tell them that I have to just be at home and recharge. It's perfectly normal to be an introvert in dental school and I'm sure a lot of my classmates are as well. I can count at least 10 off the top of my head. I don't think that you should let this worry you too much. I feel like the only time you are required to talk in dental school is during those large group settings where participation matters. Other than that, you have a mask on during sim lab and everyone is pretty focused on their own projects unless they come over and ask you for help. I suggest taking those opportunities to get not only get to know your peers, but to also gauge how much you could handle. Pretty soon you'll find out what works for you. I definitely have. I didn't really think I would write so much but I hope this helps you! Thank you for question and your support! :)

[@hjo622]

@@SmilesforYoo Thank you! Your comment encouraged me so much.

[@SmilesforYoo]

I'm SO glad! Please let me know if you ever have any other questions or concerns!

[@christinethinguyen5408]

Youve helped me through emails before! It's me christine! :) Thanks for this video!

[@SmilesforYoo]

CHRISTINE!!! Hello! Hope all has been going well! Thank you for stopping by and for your comment!

[@michaele.7137]

Thank you for sharing your story!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Michael E. Thank you for stopping by!

[@jessicapucci8283]

Hey, your video is super reassuring. Thanks for sharing your story. Also, you’re adorable. Your mannerisms remind me of my husband’s. ❤️🦷

[@SmilesforYoo]

Thank you for you kind words! I'm glad I could help you and your husband :)

[@TheDedloc]

lol good to know my 96 in English for 2 years is going to help me :( AND my dental assisting degree.. lots of volunteer work. I'm with you, my marks in science might be a little lower than Id like.. my GPA is going to be right there around 2.9 - 3.0 at a community college at that. I mean obviously, I am not trying to get into Harvard, but I mean I might send them one so they can have a good laugh... denying people their hopes and dreams for being .04 off the mark is hard work! No, but really I think I could do a LOT better in my science classes if I didn't have to do math and English at the same time. Is that the only solution though is to take a masters course?! Seems silly that the way to get in after that is to take even more difficult science classes. I would much rather just retake any classes I got low marks in. I have a feeling my journey has much much more in store for it than I ever thought. I'm not a 4.0 student at the top of my class. In fact, I was just the opposite. In high school, I was ranked the lowest in my class and became a dropout, 12 years later here I am. I am going to do whatever it takes. There is no backup plan. Thank you for the video Yoo! It helps! And give me lots to think about.

[@SmilesforYoo]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! I dont think going through a masters program is the only option but the *quickest option I have seen out there. It really does suck that being a few points off the required mark will keep you behind BUT that's the process that we all unfortunately have to go through. Best of luck to you and I hope you find your path!

[@ehsOFspades]

This video brought on a really good vibe !

[@SmilesforYoo]

So happy that it did! Thank you so much for your support!

[@_jamesthor]

When I grow up, I wanna be like yoo michael

[@SmilesforYoo]

Interesting. Cause I tell everybody that I wanna be like James when I grow up.

[@dreavasquez89]

You’re awesome!!! Thanks for helping other pre-dents!!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Andrea vasquez Thank you! :) glad to have a wonderful class with you in it!

[@elizabethkim9254]

really appreciate your videos! :)

[@SmilesforYoo]

Aww thank you! Glad to help!

[@danielbronson9066]

I have the opposite problem. I have a good enough GPA, but it's partly because I've spent all my time studying and haven't done enough extracurricular activities. How heavily do they weigh things like leadership experiences and research?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello, I've definitely seen students get into school with minimal extracurricular activities but you still need to meet the specific requirements of each school (shadowing hours, volunteerism, work experience, etc.) I would definitely look into these prior to applying and if you see that the specific program emphasizes either volunteerism or research more, compare your stats and options to see if your stats match. Above all of this, however, try to pick a school that has a mission statement that matches your passion for wanting to become a dentist. I hope this helps!

[@danielbronson9066]

@@SmilesforYoo Thanks! That does help.

[@RasLesGoldcoastnupe]

Hey Mike it’s Lesley from UW 🙌🏿

[@SmilesforYoo]

Lesley! Glad to see you're doing well!

[@ErikaCorrea]

Great video! Keep it up!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Thank you so much! Love your stuff!

[@victoriatran2243]

Hi Michael! Your videos are awesome and inspiring. I'm a rising senior and starting really late in the game. I really want to look into doing a post-bacc or master's program and I was wondering if I can get your advice on how to research programs and choose the one that fits for me. Also, I was wondering if you could help me with dentistry related job searching. You said you were trained on the job, but how were you able to find a place of employment that does that? Many places near me have a minimum experience requirement of 2 years. Thank you!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hi Victoria! Thank you for your support and kind words! When looking into Post-bacc and masters programs, you're going to want to look at the ones that are directly tied to dental school programs or have a high rate of students matriculating into dental school afterwards. For example, CSU East Bay has a Pre-Professional Post Bacc that isn't directly tied to a dental school but has had a lot of success in students getting into dental school. The Post Bacc at UCLA and WesternU are also good ones to look into. Although all are challenging, the knowledge you obtain will be worthwhile in dental school. I talk more about this in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2PLgpmIf7mhfJY. As for job searching, it could be hard because a lot of people do usually ask for that 1-2 year of experience. If you're coming across this problem, I would call the dentists you know or look around your area to see if anyone is willing to take you on as a entry level assistant. If that doesn't work, ask your pre-dental friends if the office they are working at is hiring and willing to train. My first dental assisting job came from a referral from another pre-dental friend. Best of luck and please reach out again if you have any more questions! I hope this information helps!

[@rosinalvarte6115]

This gave me hope. I also graduated with a bad undergrad gpa. Currently in the master program, with what gpa did you graduate with?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! Glad to see you're in a masters program! I'm sure it will help out your future applications! I try not to discuss my stats anymore because I don't want pre-dental students to get so fixated on them. I hope your studies are going well!

[@christyama340]

Thanks so much for this video it's so encouraging! I applied recently for the 2019 Fall matriculation cycle and though my GPA isn't super high, I'm trying to stay positive and am also thinking about post-baccs. Do you think your study habits got better as you went through Midwestern's program?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! Thank you for your comment! Yes, I definitely think my study habits changed with my masters program. I also made lifelong friends through that program as well! If you ever need any tips on the application process please let me know! :)

[@HoodSwami]

Hey Christine! Any updates on your situation?

[@Darklovesto]

Hello i just wanted to say great video man. Im a junior high school right now and im thinking about going to dental school. if i was to major in biology what classes should i take my freshman year of college?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Thank you so much! It's great that you're looking into dental school resources so early on! Students generally start out by taking one science course (either biology 101 or chemistry 101) and gradually work through all the prerequisites most schools require. You could find this list of pre-requisites on the ADEA website here. www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/Preparing_for_Dental_School/Prerequisites.aspx Good luck with your journey, make sure to stay curious, and please keep stopping by for more helpful information from my classmates!

[@OneCheapEric]

Jealous of that dank ass desk plant and the random puppy video.

[@SmilesforYoo]

HAHA thank you so much! Hope you and Mrs. Cheapassreviews are doing great!

[@jeanieyeung555]

Hi Michael, my stats are very similar to yours and I'm applying this coming cycle HOPING that I might get in...If not I was interested in possibly enrolling in the same post bacc program and was wondering how much it costed you? I really want to avoid a post bacc considering how expensive they can be but considering my low GPA I might not have a choice.

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hi Jeanie! Thank you for reaching out! Tuition for the masters program costed somewhere around $40K. But with extra living costs the program costed somewhere around $67K. There are far cheaper programs out there and I would be happy to discuss this with you! Please email me at [e-mail]!

[@CMT-p6q]

You the best, thank you

[@SmilesforYoo]

Thank you for your support! I'm glad my videos are resonating with you! :)

[@readobservelisten7757]

good content broo... love it..//

[@SmilesforYoo]

Thank you so much! Appreciate it!

[@wsuth3rland]

What were your DAT scores? I have a 3.36 and I’m considering a post-back program, but I haven’t taken the DAT yet!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! 3.36 isnt bad but when are you thinking of taking the DAT!?

[@ummasadia6855]

I have a question…is DAT compulsory for international Students to apply in dental school ??

[@harshbhatti7897]

Sir great vid...🙃🙃but I have a question that Can we join dental school after secondary high school??........is graduation is imp ??

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! You will have to get a bachelors first in order to apply to dental school. I hope this information helps!

[@UriValdez]

Great video

[@SmilesforYoo]

Ahhh thank you so much for your support!

[@user-cu8ci4vb2d]

you mentioned working as a dental assistant, did you go through a program or did you get on-the-job trained?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! Thank you for watching! I ended up getting trained on the job.

[@armandonodal4897]

Loved the video! Is there any way you could answer a question I have based on living expenses. I was just wondering how are you paying those expenses and while not being able to hold a job in Dental school?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I just rely on budgeting my loans for now to pay for living expenses. That means groceries, gas, rent, etc. I would be more than happy to do a video on my loans but I have no clear answer for how I'm going to pay for loans until I graduate. So perhaps a video three years down the road!?

[@cdp729]

You're my idol.

[@SmilesforYoo]

You're parry much my idol!

[@HoodSwami]

Was your DAT score still valid? I’ll be graduating undergrad in May and I took the DAT on May 14th 2022. If I end up doing a 2 year masters wouldn’t my scores be invalid and then I’d need to take it again while finishing the masters program? Thank you.

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello, Thankfully, my DAT score was still valid. They typically stay valid through three years from the time you take it. I happened to take mine just three years before graduating from my masters program. If I did not get into dental school that same year I was graduating my masters program, I would have had to retake it.

[@ramankaur6662]

Hi! Just wonder which program did you took at midwestern, I live close to that university and I have a 3.4 . GPA right now but I was wondering what DAT scores do you need to get into there program or the university that you are enrolled in.

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I did the Masters in Biomedical Sciences program at Midwestern-AZ. DAT score requirements vary from school to school but generally you will want to get somewhere around a 20 and up.

[@trulymexoxo925]

Hi! I was wondering why you chose Western over Midwestern after completing your Masters at Midwestern? Thank you 😊

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hi Sonia! There were a number of reasons. The most important, however, was the overall feeling I got from both interviews. At WesternU's interview, I felt like I was being welcomed into a family before even being accepted there. For that reason, I also saw myself enjoying my education in this type of setting. For the most part, I have thoroughly enjoyed my past 3 years here and would definitely recommend WesternU.

[@trulymexoxo925]

@@SmilesforYoo Thank you for getting back to me, Michael! That is great to hear. I’m currently applying to post bac programs and have been wondering whether I should give more consideration to programs that are a part of a dental school. I was hoping that in doing so I could get a more natural perspective of the community and a deeper understanding of my potential in supporting the schools mission and vice versa. I’m really happy to hear that although your experience at Midwestern was good you were able to connect with Western at the level you did! I remember the warm feeling of joy I felt when Alberto came to UC Merced to introduce the dental program at Western U - it’s definitely something special. I’d love to learn more about your experience in the future.

[@SmilesforYoo]

@@trulymexoxo925 No problem at all! I would highly consider looking into programs that have dental schools attached to them. Not only will you be able to network, you will also be able to get a feeling for the school. Alberto is great and has helped our ASDA pre-dental team out tremendously in the past. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to email at [e-mail]

[@whitesox2624]

I heard doing a masters program helps a ton, is this similar to what you did?

[@SmilesforYoo]

It does help a ton! Exactly the same as I did :)

[@gurtejsandhu113]

Did you not try hard enough in undergrad? Why did you get a 2.96

[@SmilesforYoo]

HAHA very good question. You could say that I didn't know how to study and I was dealing with a lot of stuff at the time. BUT simply put, yes, I did not try hard enough. I did not try hard enough to learn HOW to study effectively, and ddid not have the proper skills to overcome whatever I was going through at the time. It took me years to figure everything out and that's how I eventually got into dental school.

[@Jalyn333]

What was your gpa when you graduated from midwestern

[@SmilesforYoo]

I graduated with a 3.0 but I'm unsure of how this combined into my undergraduate GPA. Hope this helps!

[@Jalyn333]

It does, one last question! What was your dat score?

[@jennareynolds6589]

Was it hard to get into a master’s program based in science with a low gpa? And my bachelors isn’t in biology (or science, really) but I took all pre dental prerequisites and have enough credits for a minor in chem. I have a 3.3 over all gpa but lower science gpa and am applying to dental school but know I probably will need to do a masters. However, have seen that they sometimes have the same requirements to get into as dental schools themselves. Thanks!

[@SmilesforYoo]

It wasnt too hard for me but different programs have varying requirements. Having a non-science major is okay as long as you did well in those science classes. If not, a post-bacc or masters is recommended. You're also very correct when saying their pre-requisites are the same! I had to take my DAT's instead of the GRE's to get into my masters program. Best of luck to you!

[@estherrodriguez6380]

Hi, what program did you apply to before dental school?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I applied to a lot, I mean A LOT of different schools before getting into WesternU. I think during one application cycle, I may have applied to 25+ programs. Again, I didn't know what I was doing.

[@estherrodriguez6380]

@@SmilesforYoo Is this the master's program you applied to? www.westernu.edu/biomedical-sciences/biomedical-sciences-academics/biomedical-sciences-msbs/ Thank you!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! Apologies! I completely misunderstood your question! I ended up doing the M.A. BMS program at Midwestern University. I HIGHLY recommend WesternU's MSBS program though. They have a better record of getting students into their respective fields :)

[@estherrodriguez6380]

@@SmilesforYoo Oh! Thank you so much!!

[@ynkybomber]

Mid 30's 3.7 GPA with a criminal justice major. I don't even know my science GPA because it never needed to know it ha. Thinking about dental school, but is it to late? I barely remember college I started in 2002. Any advice?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello! I think the best course of action would be contacting the dental school closest to you! I have a classmate that's 45 years old and that's where he started. Only reason I recommend this course of action is because some schools will not accept pre-requisite classes that are more than 10 years old. Of course this isn't the case for all schools but that's exactly why it would be beneficial to check in with the school in your vicinity. Definitely not too late to have a change in career and always so rewarding to have different perspectives come into the field of dentistry. I hope this helps!

[@danfiske7094]

Im 33 and just started a postbac program. I majored in public health and never took any of the science pre-reqs. In my program theres students of all ages and backgrounds. If you want it, go get it. good luck

[@cristallanda1309]

This is really inspiring. I’m getting ready to apply and find myself getting discouraged. If there is any way you could provide mentorship please let me know !

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello Cristal. I understand fully how discouraging the application process can be. I remember distinctively telling myself, "Maybe I shouldn't apply." Remember that you're your own biggest critic and the barriers you set for yourself will keep you from reaching your goals! If you message me on instagram, Smilesforyoo or email me at [e-mail] I'll be sure to answer any other questions you have (mentorship)!

[@mariamlovescoco]

What did your GPA raise to?

[@SmilesforYoo]

It was barely above a 3.0. I'll have to look at my application to give you an exact number. I'll be sure to get back to you ASAP! :)

[@mariamlovescoco]

Smiles for Yoo thanks! :)

[@mariamlovescoco]

@@SmilesforYoo thanks, it did!

[@tammynguyen5765]

Could you please tell me your GPA in your master program?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Hello, for many reasons, I do not give out my GPA anymore. Some pretty bad run in's with students thinking my GPA was what you needed to get into dental school (which isn't the case) I hope you understand.

[@oftenthisawesome2485]

So your science gpa was a 2.96 undergrad?

[@SmilesforYoo]

Yes indeed it was. Had to work hard to increase it over time.

[@oftenthisawesome2485]

@@SmilesforYoo so you finished with a bachelors in science with a 2.96 with or with out volunteer hours?

[@oftenthisawesome2485]

And if volunteer hours did you complete them before or after going into the masters program

[@wendylee2744]

Always a school out their for dentistry - they want the $$$$$$$$!!!!!

[@SmilesforYoo]

Wendy Lee apologies, I’m not sure what your comment means. Could you reiterate?

[@dr.apollo4226]

@@SmilesforYoo dental schools are insanely expensive.

[@SmilesforYoo]

Yes, I understand that, but the sentence isn’t too clear.

[@kajalmalani2512]

Hey I m from India.., I did my bachelor from India. In gpa they count practical marks too,?? Or just Theory mark??

[@SmilesforYoo]

Kajal Malani if I’m understanding correctly, I believe they only take your theory marks. Unless! You already have your dental license from India. Then it’s a complete different story. Please email me!