GPA weighting for 2 most recent years

[Fade2Black]

I searched for discussion on this particular topic, but did not come across it...ill post it here but if some1 knows where it was previously covered feel free to direct me to it.

 

My first 2 years of university were not terrible, but they were below (< 3.0) what most dental schools consider as cutoff. Im in my 3rd year now and bringing my grades up to well over 3. Does anybody know of any schools that look at your most recent years of study (3 and 4) solely or just weight these heavier. IF i'm not mistaken I heard Western in Canada does this, but to my knowledge i've heard US schools use your cumulative GPA...is this correct; and if so does any1 know of schools worldwide that use this 2yr weighting system?

[Guest vert]

Hey,

 

I don't know about the States, but Western looks at your best 2 years of study, but they don't look at your current year of study. To clarify, as you are in third year now, then if you applied this year they would be looking at your 1st and 2nd year (you only have 2 years under your belt - therefore they will look at both). If you apply during 4th year, they would look at the best two years out of your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year (now you have 3 years completed).

 

So in order for them to look at 3rd and 4th year, you would have to finish your 4 years of undergrad and apply during a 5th year (either a 5th year of undergrad or just a year out of school) - then they would see your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year marks and pick your best 2 years.

 

Hope that helps!

[Williams]

My first 2 years of university were not terrible, but they were below (< 3.0) what most dental schools consider as cutoff. Im in my 3rd year now and bringing my grades up to well over 3.

 

Im in the same poistion as you.... Because I cannot apply until my 5th year in order for 3 and 4th year mark to be considered, I am just going to do a Masters....Reason being there is only 2 dental schools in Canada that consider a 2 year avg (UWO and DAL.. I think).

 

Also, In order to apply for US dnetal schools you must apply a year in advance..(check out http://www.predents.com for acceptance stats). US dental schools use a cumulative average or all years in undergrad... im guessing you would want your 4th year to be considered for US schools... in this case you have to apply in 5th year...but you are applying a year in advance, so this is a considerable amount of time to wait

 

...so rather than just passing time (~1 year -2 years) in hopes of getting accepted, I would suggest either doing a 5th year or Masters along with extra curriculars, volunteering/shadowing, whichever is more appropriate and will contribute to the drive towards your final goal.

 

Cheers.

[laxman]

Hey,

 

Western looks at your best 2 years of study, but they don't look at your current year of study.

 

QUOTE]

 

This is not true. Western looks at your current year of study in the calculation of your average (and will use it if it is one of your top 2 years) and that's why they take so damn long to send out acceptances (unless you are in the initial 15 acceptances).

[wisdom_tooth]

Hey,

 

Western looks at your best 2 years of study, but they don't look at your current year of study.

 

QUOTE]

 

This is not true. Western looks at your current year of study in the calculation of your average (and will use it if it is one of your top 2 years) and that's why they take so damn long to send out acceptances (unless you are in the initial 15 acceptances).

 

how is that possible? they start offering interviews in april, second semester exams for most haven't even finished and final marks haven't even come out yet...

[wisdom_tooth]

when I emailed UWO about transcripts, they told me that if you're a potential candidate, and you've been offered an interview, then you're supposed to ask your school to send in your final transcript, so from this I deduced that they've already offered you an interview therefore it must've have been based on your previous years and not your current year of study and that the only reason they ask for your final transcript after you've been offered an interview is so that you don't end up with Cs and Ds. It's I'm guessing just a check to make sure you aren't slacking off, because you may be under the impression that your current year of study doesn't count or something along those lines.

 

please correct me if I am wrong.

[Fade2Black]

I was under the impression that Western used your 2 best years of undergrad for admissions, but I wasn't aware of Dal. That's good to know... ill have to check it out.

[alcohulk]

Dalhousie looks at your current year, and therefore they ask you to send in your transcripts at the end of Fall semester.

[laxman]

I'm not exactly sure how they screen for interviews, but I assume with the years that you are applying, you must have at least one year that is above 80% and show potential for your current year to make the cut off, if there are no other years above 80.

 

But I can guarantee that UWO calculates the average unless they changed it for this application cycle.