Applying to DS or Masters

[berrydenta]

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Hi everyone,

A little background info: I am a non-science major and the only sciences I have taken are the prereqs. My current GPA is 3.0. I am applying this cycle but after perusing through several posts on here, I am having a few doubts.
Since the first 2 years of dental school are focused on sciences would I still be able to push through and do well with minimum ugrad science background? I recently discovered a few masters programs (Barry,UMDNJ) that help strengthen the sciences. Are prereq sciences enough to do well in dental school?

So now I am at crossroads. Any advice is appreciated. Did anyone go through with these programs? How beneficial were they?

Thanks in advance

 

[ModifiedBass]

With a 3.0 GPA, it will be difficult to get into d-school, but it's good that you applied. Even though I don't personally know much about the programs, I've heard they can be a great help. If I were you, I would do one of the masters programs that you researched, or a post-bacc to help raise your GPA as well as solidify your science background if you don't get an acceptance in this cycle.

 

[berrydenta]

Thanks for the advice! 🙂 I've found only two so far and wonder if there are any more

 

[free99]

An oGPA of 3.0 may not keep you out of dental school this cycle if you have other components of your application that help make up for it. What is your sGPA? BCP GPA? DAT score? SMPs are risky and expensive, and your application might be made stronger by other means. I would avoid those make-or-break masters programs until they are absolutely necessary.

 

[berrydenta]

My sGPA is 3.0 as well and I was supposed to take DAT IN 2 weeks, but I have to get surgery and will have to reschedule the exam until September :/ How are SMPs risky?

 

[free99]

How are SMPs risky?

Take this opinion with a 'grain of salt,' as I've only given SMPs a cursory review and read users' opinions on here. That said, SMPs usually regarded as a last resort to get into a health professional school for those who failed to demonstrate their science aptitude in undergrad. I think the sole purpose of these programs are to get students into medical/dental school - the degree likely won't open up many more career options for you.

You take a heavy course load of graduate level biology classes (histology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, etc., etc.), and are sometimes even taking these courses along side of M1s or D1s. If you succeed (3.5<), that'll bode well for you as you have proven you have what it takes to excel in a rigorous curriculum. If you don't succeed, and by that I mean <3.5, I think you've not only reaffirmed that you may not have the necessary work ethic or aptitude, but you've wasted tens of thousands of dollars on a degree that prepare you much for another career. For reference, check out the career options listed in MWU's SMP.

I think it goes without saying that you'll need components of your application to make up for your low GPA. With the DAT still up in the air, you should strive for the highest score possible on that exam. Head over to the DAT forum for study advice. I honestly think most people can excel on the DAT with the right resources, devotion, and time. In addition to destroying the exam, I would consider taking more undergrad science classes (upper-level biology courses like genetics, anatomy, micro, etc) to boost your sGPA.

Good luck!

 

[berrydenta]

It definitely makes sense, thanks so much for such great advice I appreciate it. Doing my best to destroy the DAT.

 

[Luna724]

Take this opinion with a 'grain of salt,' as I've only given SMPs a cursory review and read users' opinions on here. That said, SMPs usually regarded as a last resort to get into a health professional school for those who failed to demonstrate their science aptitude in undergrad. I think the sole purpose of these programs are to get students into medical/dental school - the degree likely won't open up many more career options for you.

You take a heavy course load of graduate level biology classes (histology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, etc., etc.), and are sometimes even taking these courses along side of M1s or D1s. If you succeed (3.5<), that'll bode well for you as you have proven you have what it takes to excel in a rigorous curriculum. If you don't succeed, and by that I mean <3.5, I think you've not only reaffirmed that you may not have the necessary work ethic or aptitude, but you've wasted tens of thousands of dollars on a degree that prepare you much for another career. For reference, check out the career options listed in MWU's SMP.

I think it goes without saying that you'll need components of your application to make up for your low GPA. With the DAT still up in the air, you should strive for the highest score possible on that exam. Head over to the DAT forum for study advice. I honestly think most people can excel on the DAT with the right resources, devotion, and time. In addition to destroying the exam, I would consider taking more undergrad science classes (upper-level biology courses like genetics, anatomy, micro, etc) to boost your sGPA.

Good luck!

Sums up pretty nicely.

 

[jeffity]

Take this opinion with a 'grain of salt,' as I've only given SMPs a cursory review and read users' opinions on here. That said, SMPs usually regarded as a last resort to get into a health professional school for those who failed to demonstrate their science aptitude in undergrad. I think the sole purpose of these programs are to get students into medical/dental school - the degree likely won't open up many more career options for you.

You take a heavy course load of graduate level biology classes (histology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, etc., etc.), and are sometimes even taking these courses along side of M1s or D1s. If you succeed (3.5<), that'll bode well for you as you have proven you have what it takes to excel in a rigorous curriculum. If you don't succeed, and by that I mean <3.5, I think you've not only reaffirmed that you may not have the necessary work ethic or aptitude, but you've wasted tens of thousands of dollars on a degree that prepare you much for another career. For reference, check out the career options listed in MWU's SMP.

I think it goes without saying that you'll need components of your application to make up for your low GPA. With the DAT still up in the air, you should strive for the highest score possible on that exam. Head over to the DAT forum for study advice. I honestly think most people can excel on the DAT with the right resources, devotion, and time. In addition to destroying the exam, I would consider taking more undergrad science classes (upper-level biology courses like genetics, anatomy, micro, etc) to boost your sGPA.

Good luck!

I like what's said here. I would exhaust all options before this. They're pricey and if you can't do well there, you're pretty much done and left with some initials behind your name. Maybe an MS route would be different. But like the MWU link says, "the MA degree is not considered a terminal degree". From what I gather, they're all pretty rigorous (the 1-yr MA programs). MWU's is hard and expensive. But they also value those who do well in that program. And for good reason. It's almost like doing D1 at MWU. And with the pre-dent club doing some after-hours activities in the sim lab, they're coming in really prepared to hit the ground running and get through that first year (the hardest, they say). As of late June, 24 MA students were deposited into the CO2017.

A stellar DAT score can help compensate for your GPA. Taking it in September might not be too awesome, though. As for your primary question, you can get by with just pre-reqs as your science background before dental school. Many do. But I'm not sure of your definition of 'doing well'. If you're wanting to be top 10% or something, you're going to be working really hard no matter what your undergrad degree is.