Hello everyone,
I am seeking advice on what to do: either take DAT and apply right away, pursue post bacc program, or pursue masters.
My background:
(1) Biotechnology bachelors of science from a Cal State university
(2) Currently three years out of college working in Public Health as an Environmentalist specializing in safe drinking water
(3) Low overall GPA 3.03 due to short change in major to engineering and received C’s in engineering mathematics courses. They were tough and I was not prepared. I didn’t know what I wanted to do while in college and worried about finding a job so I switched to engineering for about a year and then switched back to biotech and graduated shortly thereafter.
(4) BCP GPA ~3.5. I’ve taken advanced genetics, organic chem, physics, virology, parasitology, human anatomy and physiology and received all A’s.
(5) 400+ hours volunteer work
(6) 600+ hours shadowing GP dentist
(7) I can obtain a great LOR from dentist, employers, and possibly professors if they can remember me
I think I can get a decent score on DAT if I study well but will my stats along with an awesome DAT (thinking over 20 at least, 22 or 23) increase my chances? Should I pursue a post bacc or masters? I’m thinking environmental engineering masters. It’s more science based and my current career is in that direction. If I go this route, I would want to continue to pursue dental school after my masters and would use my engineering graduate degree to fall back on. But it would set me back by two years so I would be over 35 once I finished masters + dental school, which is something for me to think about too.
Thank you so much in advance.
I am seeking advice on what to do: either take DAT and apply right away, pursue post bacc program, or pursue masters.
My background:
(1) Biotechnology bachelors of science from a Cal State university
(2) Currently three years out of college working in Public Health as an Environmentalist specializing in safe drinking water
(3) Low overall GPA 3.03 due to short change in major to engineering and received C’s in engineering mathematics courses. They were tough and I was not prepared. I didn’t know what I wanted to do while in college and worried about finding a job so I switched to engineering for about a year and then switched back to biotech and graduated shortly thereafter.
(4) BCP GPA ~3.5. I’ve taken advanced genetics, organic chem, physics, virology, parasitology, human anatomy and physiology and received all A’s.
(5) 400+ hours volunteer work
(6) 600+ hours shadowing GP dentist
(7) I can obtain a great LOR from dentist, employers, and possibly professors if they can remember me
I think I can get a decent score on DAT if I study well but will my stats along with an awesome DAT (thinking over 20 at least, 22 or 23) increase my chances? Should I pursue a post bacc or masters? I’m thinking environmental engineering masters. It’s more science based and my current career is in that direction. If I go this route, I would want to continue to pursue dental school after my masters and would use my engineering graduate degree to fall back on. But it would set me back by two years so I would be over 35 once I finished masters + dental school, which is something for me to think about too.
Thank you so much in advance.
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