are my stats competitive enough or should I go for masters?

[rabbithawk53]

Hey everyone, sorry for the long post I have been struggling with a decision and would really appreciate your input. I am an international student trying to decide whether to apply in the 2026 cycle or complete a 2-year master program first (tuition waived + $10K/year stipend). The master’s would involve a thesis, and would likely join my current oral biology lab.


Current Stats:
Residential Advisor – 2 years
Research | Oral Biology Dept – 630 hours so far; will have a publication this year (1st/co-1st author) in head and neck oncology
Research | School of Medicine – 300 hours in neuroscience (no pubs, just experience)
Manager of student union building
Office Assistant at university dorm (combined 15 hrs/week with above manager job)
TA for Microbiology and Cell Biology
2 poster presentations
Received $1,500 in student research funding

Upcoming Experiences:

• Academic Assistant – Teaching 8 courses with 10 office hours/week (1 year)
• College Academic Integrity Ambassador – 90 volunteer hours
• Volunteer work – Teaching underserved kids and recruiting tutors for an education access platform across the U.S.
• Shadowing – Plan to get 150–200 hours before applying

Academics:

• Cumulative GPA: ~3.8 by application
• Science GPA: ~3.9
• Upward trend: 2.8 freshman year → 3.8 now

Red Flag:
Academic integrity violation in freshman year due to personal/family issues. I have grown a lot since then and focused on rebuilding my academic and personal life.

My story:
I struggled to fit in as an international student, especially in my dorm. That experience led me to become a residential advisor and pursue teaching/mentorship roles to support students going through similar challenges. Given my red flag and international status, do you think I should apply straight away or complete the master’s first to strengthen my application? Any feedback is appreciated thanks so much!

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[macsak]

Hey everyone, sorry for the long post I have been struggling with a decision and would really appreciate your input. I am an international student trying to decide whether to apply in the 2026 cycle or complete a 2-year master program first (tuition waived + $10K/year stipend). The master’s would involve a thesis, and would likely join my current oral biology lab.


Current Stats:
Residential Advisor – 2 years
Research | Oral Biology Dept – 630 hours so far; will have a publication this year (1st/co-1st author) in head and neck oncology
Research | School of Medicine – 300 hours in neuroscience (no pubs, just experience)
Manager of student union building
Office Assistant at university dorm (combined 15 hrs/week with above manager job)
TA for Microbiology and Cell Biology
2 poster presentations
Received $1,500 in student research funding

Upcoming Experiences:

• Academic Assistant – Teaching 8 courses with 10 office hours/week (1 year)
• College Academic Integrity Ambassador – 90 volunteer hours
• Volunteer work – Teaching underserved kids and recruiting tutors for an education access platform across the U.S.
• Shadowing – Plan to get 150–200 hours before applying

Academics:

• Cumulative GPA: ~3.8 by application
• Science GPA: ~3.9
• Upward trend: 2.8 freshman year → 3.8 now

Red Flag:
Academic integrity violation in freshman year due to personal/family issues. I have grown a lot since then and focused on rebuilding my academic and personal life.

My story:
I struggled to fit in as an international student, especially in my dorm. That experience led me to become a residential advisor and pursue teaching/mentorship roles to support students going through similar challenges. Given my red flag and international status, do you think I should apply straight away or complete the master’s first to strengthen my application? Any feedback is appreciated thanks so much!

have you taken DAT?
how are you at standardized tests?

 

[rabbithawk53]

have you taken DAT?
how are you at standardized tests?

I am taking the DAT around august or next year if I lean towards masters. My practice average is 24

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Have you talked with your prehealth advisor? What is your major?

 

[macsak]

I am taking the DAT around august or next year if I lean towards masters. My practice average is 24

why august?

 

[rabbithawk53]

Have you talked with your prehealth advisor? What is your major?

my pre health advisor has always discouraged me from applying so I stopped listening to her lol. I am majoring in biotechnology

 

[rabbithawk53]

why august?

why august?

My bad I should have specified. I plan to take the DAT by August during the cycle I apply. I believe dental schools require DAT scores to be submitted before September, although I am not entirely sure about the exact deadline. Either way, I make make sure to take it on time. I am aiming for a 25 (if I can...)

 

[rabbithawk53]

my pre health advisor has always discouraged me from applying so I stopped listening to her lol. I am majoring in biotechnology

This is another reason I am a little scared because I was not guided by a pre health advisor....my transcript is kind of messy. I took organic chemistry and got A’s in both 1&2, but I later realized that my general chemistry transfer credits wont count toward dental school. So now I am basically taking general chemistry after organic chemistry. I am a bit worried about how schools might view that.

 

[macsak]

This is another reason I am a little scared because I was not guided by a pre health advisor....my transcript is kind of messy. I took organic chemistry and got A’s in both 1&2, but I later realized that my general chemistry transfer credits wont count toward dental school. So now I am basically taking general chemistry after organic chemistry. I am a bit worried about how schools might view that.

that shouldn't be an issue

 

[macsak]

My bad I should have specified. I plan to take the DAT by August during the cycle I apply. I believe dental schools require DAT scores to be submitted before September, although I am not entirely sure about the exact deadline. Either way, I make make sure to take it on time. I am aiming for a 25 (if I can...)

i would advise against waiting until august
the new scores will take 2-3 weeks to process
with an academic integrity issue and being international, you will need to apply broadly and early...

 

[rabbithawk53]

i would advise against waiting until august
the new scores will take 2-3 weeks to process
with an academic integrity issue and being international, you will need to apply broadly and early...

I see! got it thanks for the input. Do you think doing a masters, and getting more ECs and volunteering+shadowing hours would help?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

my pre health advisor has always discouraged me from applying so I stopped listening to her lol. I am majoring in biotechnology

I don't understand. Why would your advisor discourage you from applying? Can you give me the year-by-year GPA trend? Also, what biomedical science classes have you taken with grades? Why did you do badly in your first year?

 

[rabbithawk53]

My advisor basically said its tough as an international student and i would be better off just focusing my time and energy on something else that would be more doable and she said that i cant get dental assistant and shadowing exp since i am international (which was not true). Anyways i tried to get her to give me genuine advice but every-time she would brush it off and anytime i asked her a question she would say i will reach out to you and never did…

My gpa trend 3.2>2.9 (semester i got ai violation and got my grade reduced from A to b+ it was a geography class, later i found my passion in dentistry and changed my major from engineering to something i like) >4>4>3.7> on track to 4 now
My grades of biomedical classes
Micro bio: A
Physiology: A
Anatomy: A
Immunology: A
Biochem: b+
Org 1: A
Org 2: A
Cell bio and gen bio: A

 

[macsak]

My advisor basically said its tough as an international student and i would be better off just focusing my time and energy on something else that would be more doable and she said that i cant get dental assistant and shadowing exp since i am international (which was not true). Anyways i tried to get her to give me genuine advice but every-time she would brush it off and anytime i asked her a question she would say i will reach out to you and never did…

My gpa trend 3.2>2.9 (semester i got ai violation and got my grade reduced from A to b+ it was a geography class, later i found my passion in dentistry and changed my major from engineering to something i like) >4>4>3.7> on track to 4 now
My grades of biomedical classes
Micro bio: A
Physiology: A
Anatomy: A
Immunology: A
Biochem: b+
Org 1: A
Org 2: A
Cell bio and gen bio: A

is the violation on your permanent academic record?

 

[rabbithawk53]

is the violation on your permanent academic record?

Its not. I explained my circumstances to the professor and the office of ai and they gave me a remediation course to take it off my transcript and have no record

 

[macsak]

Its not. I explained my circumstances to the professor and the office of ai and they gave me a remediation course to take it off my transcript and have no record

then you have nothing to worry about...

 

[rabbithawk53]

then you have nothing to worry about...

I hope so. But i was wondering if my stats are good for are international applicant. And also i do have to disclose my ai in the application right ?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Well... you still have to disclose the institutional action, even if the record was expunged. Make sure your office of academic integrity helps you with a statement for AADSAS and other adcoms.

That said, yes, it's a challenge for international students, but many dental schools accept international students. (Medical school admissions is more difficult.) You may want to check out F1doctors.org to help you with anticipating future challenges (like that escrow account).

I would check the Dental School Explorer for schools that accept international applicants in their DMD/DDS program (you are not eligible for international dentist programs unless you were trained as a dentist in a different country). Reach out to the admissions teams for advice.

I don't think a special master's program will help you that much given your strong record with biomedical courses. I might consider continued postbac courses (do it yourself). Again, talk to admissions teams.