Another "should I apply this upcoming cycle? " thread

[mOlar1!]

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I can't decide if I should apply this upcoming cycle. I graduate this May and I have to retake my DAT summer I. I have applied to 7 schools for masters and post bacc and got accepted to most of them. However, I am constantly told to apply this year to dental schools regardless. My current stats aren't that good. My cum gpa is 3.45 and science a 3.41 after this semester; not so competitive. Hence, I was thinking to go for my masters first and apply summer of 2018. My Ecs include working and helping with children, Syrian refugees, NGOS in Middle East, helping homeless people and volunteering at a dental camp. Again, pretty basic. Only thing that stands about me that the masters schools have told me over and over is that they are impressed with the fact that I have taken a lot of upper level biology electives and done well in those; even though, I screwed up in my pre reqs. I have aright amount of shadowing hours. Please don't sugar quote your advice. Keep it one hunnit and keep it real SDN fam.

 

[nowaysurvey]

DAT score?

Your ECs are far from basic if you asked me, seems like you have excellent quality patient interaction volunteering background, which is what dental schools want and look for. If you have over 100 shadowing hours, you're good fam. You're oGPA/sGPA is fine too, don't fret too much about it. Don't really see why you need to do a masters, I would just take a couple extra high level science courses to bring up your oGPA/sGPA a bit more and you're good to go.

 

[mOlar1!]

DAT score?

Do I absolutely have to mention it? Is it good enough if I say I absolutely have to retake it, no questions period.

 

[nowaysurvey]

Do I absolutely have to mention it? Is it good enough if I say I absolutely have to retake it, no questions period.

Nope, no need to mention it. But if it's that bad, why not prep for DAT aggressively now, take it around June/July, and apply (broadly) to dental schools this year? Am I missing something? Other than your DAT score, I don't see why you need a masters.

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

Nope, no need to mention it. But if it's that bad, why not prep for DAT aggressively now, take it around June/July, and apply (broadly) to dental schools this year? Am I missing something? Other than your DAT score, I don't see why you need a masters.

I agree. I think with a strong DAT, you could be a competitive applicant without a grad program.

 

[mOlar1!]

Nope, no need to mention it. But if it's that bad, why not prep for DAT aggressively now, take it around June/July, and apply (broadly) to dental schools this year? Am I missing something? Other than your DAT score, I don't see why you need a masters.

The thing is only reason I did bad on my DAT was because I lost my calm test day. I have bad test anxieties lol. I am taking 5 sciences rn so Its hard to prep religiously rn but I have started it. I plan to study full time starting May 15 and plan to take it by mid July.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

You don't need the masters program. You have quite an impressive array of ECs. I think with a charming personality and a great DAT score you can easily get in this cycle

 

[mOlar1!]

I agree. I think with a strong DAT, you could be a competitive applicant without a grad program.

its a risky call lol. Because I know people with my stats and good DAT score that didn't get in anywhere so idk, I just think I am not competitive enough.

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

its a risky call lol. Because I know people with my stats and good DAT score that didn't get in anywhere so idk, I just think I am not competitive enough.

I think that you're more competitive than you think you are. Aim for a 21 or 22 and rock the interviews you get!

 

[mOlar1!]

I think that you're more competitive than you think you are. Aim for a 21 or 22 and rock the interviews you get!

haha Thanks. Also, I had to retake few courses. Would that be an issue? I have real reasons as to why I had to though. I just wanna be mentally prepared for everything if I apply this cycle.

 

[mOlar1!]

You don't need the masters program. You have quite an impressive array of ECs. I think with a charming personality and a great DAT score you can easily get in this cycle

I don't wanna stop taking classes lol. I don't know what am I gonna do in my gap year and if I don't get in this cycle, then what? what do I have to back me up in real world, you know what I mean?

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

haha Thanks. Also, I had to retake few courses. Would that be an issue? I have real reasons as to why I had to though. I just wanna be mentally prepared for everything if I apply this cycle.

Did you get W's in those classes, or something else? You should be prepared to be asked about them, but there is definitely a chance that they may never come up. If your university does mock interviews, you could always take advantage of those as well.

 

[Alpha Centauri]

I don't wanna stop taking classes lol. I don't know what am I gonna do in my gap year and if I don't get in this cycle, then what? what do I have to back me up in real world, you know what I mean?

None of our Bio degrees are going to do much in the real world realistically. Graduate and finish up strong. Take a few months off, or study for the DAT straight away and then honestly just chill and enjoy life while doing minor activities to tack onto your application

 

[mOlar1!]

Did you get W's in those classes, or something else? You should be prepared to be asked about them, but there is definitely a chance that they may never come up. If your university does mock interviews, you could always take advantage of those as well.

No, not a W. I received a not satisfying enough of a grade and retake was must. Another thing my masters schools mentioned that my teachers who wrote my LORs mentioned about how I retook a course and overcame my weaknesses in life (which I was very angry about them writing that in there) but the schools pointed out that they liked that.

 

[TeethAreMyThing]

No, not a W. I received a not satisfying enough of a grade and retake was must. Another thing my masters schools mentioned that my teachers who wrote my LORs mentioned about how I retook a course and overcame my weaknesses in life (which I was very angry about them writing that in there) but the schools pointed out that they liked that.

It comes down to how you feel about applying this cycle, but I think you're good to go. 👍

 

[mOlar1!]

None of our Bio degrees are going to do much in the real world realistically. Graduate and finish up strong. Take a few months off, or study for the DAT straight away and then honestly just chill and enjoy life while doing minor activities to tack onto your application

In a parallel universe, this idea sounds very relaxing and happy. in actual reality, lol idk. You are just too optimistic and I am not enough. This only works if one is 100% sure they'll end up somewhere.

 

[nowaysurvey]

I don't wanna stop taking classes lol. I don't know what am I gonna do in my gap year and if I don't get in this cycle, then what? what do I have to back me up in real world, you know what I mean?

I think most of us here believe that you're a competitive applicant (given you do well on the DAT 21-22+) and do NOT need to participate in a masters program. You'll be more than fine with taking a couple more high level science courses during your gap year if it boils down to that. Just continue to volunteer and shadow too. As for the pre-requisites you said you've done poorly on and had to retake them...if your retakes are a C or better, you're good.

Your money, your life though.

Again, if I were you, I suggest studying aggressively for the DAT, take it in June/July, and apply at the same time. This scenario is good as it's still pretty early in the application cycle. Apply broadly too, of course, and I'm positive you'll have a good outlook in this cycle. Heck, my oGPA/sGPA was a little lower than yours, and my ECs are **** compared to yours and I got into a pretty competitive school. Stop being so pessimistic, lol.

Best of luck~

 

[mOlar1!]

It comes down to how you feel about applying this cycle, but I think you're good to go. 👍

yeah I believe I am gone apply and see how it goes lol.

 

[mOlar1!]

I think most of us here believe that you're a competitive applicant (given you do well on the DAT 21-22+) and do NOT need to participate in a masters program. You'll be more than fine with taking a couple more high level science courses during your gap year if it boils down to that. Just continue to volunteer and shadow too. As for the pre-requisites you said you've done poorly on and had to retake them...if your retakes are a C or better, you're good.

Your money, your life though.

Again, if I were you, I suggest studying aggressively for the DAT, take it in June/July, and apply at the same time. This scenario is good as it's still pretty early in the application cycle. Apply broadly too, of course, and I'm positive you'll have a good outlook in this cycle. Heck, my oGPA/sGPA was a little lower than yours, and my ECs are **** compared to yours and I got into a pretty competitive school. Stop being so pessimistic, lol.

Best of luck~

lmaooo! Thank you so much for your advice and help. I sincerely appreciate it.