I came across this question not only once. How low is low? How low is acceptable? Do I have any chance when GPA is too low? Which school accepts low GPA? Well I am not in any way a specialist but I do have a couple of thought that may benefit you.
In my school (University of Colorado SODM), we ISP students have chances to contribute in the ISP interview. This is an honor and we fully understand all the responsibilities to come with it. Therefore, I cannot share specifically what I learned in the interview rooms but I will try to convey some general messages. Most of the time, school depends on GPA to evaluate candidates’ academic ability. That’s why you may read somewhere that you should have GPA no less than 3.0 to be considered. That is not wrong but also not totally true. It does depend on schools. I have learned that not every school will pick candidates the same way. Some schools prefer candidates with a great story like being a refugee, living through a war, having some drastic change in one’s life. Some schools prefer candidates with the best academic performance. Some schools like my school – according to the program director – “we value what are components of a holistic approach, not just academic performance or extensive clinical experience”.
In my opinion, it’s not fair when judging one’s study capability only based on GPA. Some schools’ program is tougher than other schools. When I studied dentistry in my home country, passing score is 5/10. Most people would fall in the 5-6 category. Having a 7 will be “Yayy”. Having an 8 means “oh gosh I am so smart”. Having a 9 means “what the hell, how could I get that”. I don’t remember seeing a 10 except maybe in public health – that subject was one of the easiest in my program. I had a 9 with communism theory. I guess I am really good at writing passionately about something I completely don’t understand. For anyone wondering, it’s a must in my home country as we had to study this continuously for 4 years. That makes me wonder how someone not from these countries knows the whole picture to evaluate one’s performance accurately? Different schools from the same country will score their students differently, let alone different schools from different countries. So when we convert the GPA at home to U.S GPA, it is like a punch to our heart. All of the hard work in 5 or 6 years, all the tears and effort now have such a low value and will potentially harm our future. Not that I think ECE/WES don’t do a good job – I know they try their best – but I think schools should not cut people off just based on GPA because someone having 2.8 may be as good as someone having 3.8.
So what does it mean to evaluate candidates with holistic approach? “Don’t judge a book by its cover” - Everything will be taken into consideration from clinical experience, GPA, research, community service, your effort, your personality, your defying-the-odds story, etc. They want to see if you really commit in dentistry, and if you have a great personality. That is your job to prove to them that you love dentistry, you are not a lazy person, and you are not a quitter! Between someone who doesn’t have any change or any improvement years after years and someone working so hard to earn the opportunity, never let their situation define them, never give up on their dream no matter how long and how far they have to go, I think schools will invite the latter to the interview.
So how to prove? I don’t have an answer that will match everybody. If you are practicing in your home country - you are very lucky, keep practicing! Several years ago University of Washington State had a 2-day prep course for anyone interested in applying for their advance standing program. When I asked one of the consultants there if I had any chance considering I had no U.S education/experience background like other attendees, she smiled and told me “You have real experience working as a dentist and it’s one of the strongest points”. If you don’t have a lot of experience because maybe you moved to the U.S right after dental school, then strengthen your resume from academic standpoint – applying for MPH, going through preceptorship programs, doing research, etc. If you are not practicing and cannot choose the academic pathway either due to certain hardship, volunteering or working in a dental office as front desk/assistant, working as a hygienist, shadowing dentists, etc all help. When you constantly expose yourself to dentistry, that shows how much commitment you have for the career. It’s not rare to see someone having all three – they are practicing in their home country, they completed a certificate program in a U.S dental school, once a year they also would fly here to shadow some dentists. I can’t help but being more humble meeting these people. Bottom line, the question is not “which schools accept my low GPA?” but should be “I have this GPA, what else can I do to strengthen my profile in order to prove to the school that I deserve this chance?”
Honestly, it’s hard for me to write this article since I know there are many people out there deserve to have my spot, sit here and write about their journey. I am not better than anyone, I am only luckier than some so I was admitted. Who am I to give out advice? Please consider me as your local tour guide who just happened to go through the journey 1,2 years before you. Be patient, you are almost there.