Cheapest options?

[Doctor Asnan]

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Would it be cheaper to:

a.) take postgraduate courses (graduate with bachelors and then take additional classes)
b.) Masters/ other graduate degree program
c.) do not graduate and continue to take classes (I'm not sure if this is possible if you have completed all the courses in your degree?)

Also, are there any other even cheaper options? Any info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Doctor Asnan]

I assume A and C would be the same cost if you stay at the same school. I wouldn't prolong your graduation, though.

Graduate and then take post-bacc courses under another degree program. You don't have to finish the program.

So post bacc costs the same as your first undergraduate degree?

 

[sumin5924]

So post bacc costs the same as your first undergraduate degree?

Be careful though. I have heard of people having hard times registering for classes as a postbacc since they're not considered priority.

 

[Doctor Asnan]

Regarding option C, I'm 99% sure your university will kick you out after you've accumulated a certain number of units.

Haha. Yea I really want to get out of here by next semester and go on to a different program

 

[Doctor Asnan]

What if I started a PHD program and did not finish it? Is this against the rules?

 

[sumin5924]

What if I started a PHD program and did not finish it? Is this against the rules?

If you state that you're in a program in your app, it's expected of you to finish it.

 

[sumin5924]

Wrong. For each school/program listed, you indicate whether or not a degree is expected. The OP could list his undergraduate degree (e.g. U.S. History) as "degree expected" and list an additional program at a totally different school (e.g. Biochemistry) as "degree not expected" in order to complete any science prerequisites.

The only "rules" are the academic requirements each dental school sets, which typically includes having a bachelor's degree and the designated prerequisite courses, which may be part of or in addition to the bachelor degree. This is what the OP is trying to complete.

Declared planned coursework, on the other hand, is typically expected to be completed unless the planned coursework is not a hard requirement. For example, you could list a course in Upper Level Underwater Basket Weaving as planned, but it's highly unlikely a dental school will require such a course completed in order to matriculate. In other words, if you never take the course, they won't care.

All the OP needs to do here is finish the bachelor's degree and then declare a second degree that includes the science prerequisites. There's no need to complicate the process with higher level degree programs.

Before blatantly disregarding my statement, perhaps you should understand the context. My statement was in response to her question. If she started a PhD, she is expected to finish it. Just like how I was expected to finish my SMP and get the degree before matriculating.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

What if I started a PHD program and did not finish it? Is this against the rules?

dont start a PhD, average amount of classes a PhD student take is only 3 classes a quarter/semester (which is also considered a lot) but you need full time to take 4-5 classes to get high grades to pull up that GPA or get an impressive grad GPA.

PhD is just sidetracking you and it doesn't look good for you to tell the interviewer " i will just drop out of PhD to attend dental school if admitted" you are crafting yourself a double-edged sword that will cut you at both edges

 

[Doctor Asnan]

I assume A and C would be the same cost if you stay at the same school. I wouldn't prolong your graduation, though.

Graduate and then take post-bacc courses under another degree program. You don't have to finish the program.

Wrong. For each school/program listed, you indicate whether or not a degree is expected. The OP could list his undergraduate degree (e.g. U.S. History) as "degree expected" and list an additional program at a totally different school (e.g. Biochemistry) as "degree not expected" in order to complete any science prerequisites.

The only "rules" are the academic requirements each dental school sets, which typically includes having a bachelor's degree and the designated prerequisite courses, which may be part of or in addition to the bachelor degree. This is what the OP is trying to complete.

Declared planned coursework, on the other hand, is typically expected to be completed unless the planned coursework is not a hard requirement. For example, you could list a course in Upper Level Underwater Basket Weaving as planned, but it's highly unlikely a dental school will require such a course completed in order to matriculate. In other words, if you never take the course, they won't care.

All the OP needs to do here is finish the bachelor's degree and then declare a second degree that includes the science prerequisites. There's no need to complicate the process with higher level degree programs.

You are correct. But I have completed all my pre-reqs and and just looking for more classes because I intend on having a gap year.
regarding the Ph.D, my questions was directed more towards the idea of "will a Ph.D program let me go if I go on to dental school?"

Before blatantly disregarding my statement, perhaps you should understand the context. My statement was in response to her question. If she started a PhD, she is expected to finish it. Just like how I was expected to finish my SMP and get the degree before matriculating.

You are expected to complete what you have listed as planned coursework. Unless the SMP includes pre-req course work, it isn't mandatory to complete unless they say otherwise.

 

[Doctor Asnan]

dont start a PhD, average amount of classes a PhD student take is only 3 classes a quarter/semester (which is also considered a lot) but you need full time to take 4-5 classes to get high grades to pull up that GPA or get an impressive grad GPA.

PhD is just sidetracking you and it doesn't look good for you to tell the interviewer " i will just drop out of PhD to attend dental school if admitted" you are crafting yourself a double-edged sword that will cut you at both edges

I don't even have to say its a Ph.D, I could just say it is graduate level classes that I am taking to get ready for dental school. Would that be considered lying?

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

You are correct. But I have completed all my pre-reqs and and just looking for more classes because I intend on having a gap year.
regarding the Ph.D, my questions was directed more towards the idea of "will a Ph.D program let me go if I go on to dental school?"


You are expected to complete what you have listed as planned coursework. Unless the SMP includes pre-req course work, it isn't mandatory to complete unless they say otherwise.

you can drop PhD or any programs anytime you like. this is America. Freedom trumps. however, the hard part is to persuasively explain to the interviewers how dropping out of a program without finishing still makes you a desirable student.

it is not required you to complete any programs you are in, but it is highly recommended by the adcoms to do so (who will interview you and make the decision based on your answer of quitting the program you are in without finishing it). SMP is either 1 year or 2 year so technically you can just stop after 1 year and it is still enough.

I don't even have to say its a Ph.D, I could just say it is graduate level classes that I am taking to get ready for dental school. Would that be considered lying?

yes, you can say it is a master program, that would not be lying but again, what is your ultimate purpose of this? raise GPA by taking more science classes? postbach classes are better for this rather than a PhD or a thesis-based 3 year master program.

 

[Doctor Asnan]

you can drop PhD or any programs anytime you like. this is America. Freedom trumps. however, the hard part is to persuasively explain to the interviewers how dropping out of a program without finishing still makes you a desirable student.

it is not required you to complete any programs you are in, but it is highly recommended by the adcoms to do so (who will interview you and make the decision based on your answer of quitting the program you are in without finishing it). SMP is either 1 year or 2 year so technically you can just stop after 1 year and it is still enough.



yes, you can say it is a master program, that would not be lying but again, what is your ultimate purpose of this? raise GPA by taking more science classes? postbach classes are better for this rather than a PhD or a thesis-based 3 year master program.

Yea but the masters or Ph.D includes more classes geared toward an actual topic (I.E anaotmy ) instead of me just taking a bunch of random classes by themselves

 

[BeaverLover]

Then just do the damn Ph.D and cross your fingers

 

[sumin5924]

I said you are EXPECTED to finish it. Sure, you're not required to, but tell me how that helps you in any way. Why would an adcom pick a student who drops any program midway? What's to stop them from matriculating into dental school and dropping out?

Besides, I don't know of any school that just lets a student take graduate courses for the hell of it.

Best of luck!

 

[fogorvostan]

http://biology.usf.edu/bioadvise/degrees/post-bac.aspx

Doing something like that would probably be the cheapest option. At my undergrad university (USF), graduate level courses cost more than undergrad level courses.

I would highly recommend not starting a phd program and dropping out. You would need to study and take the GRE. Plus it's not super easy to get into a phd program. You need to convince admissions that you want to be there and have a passion for research in your subject field.

 

[frozenicecreamDMD]

http://biology.usf.edu/bioadvise/degrees/post-bac.aspx

Doing something like that would probably be the cheapest option. At my undergrad university (USF), graduate level courses cost more than undergrad level courses.

I would highly recommend not starting a phd program and dropping out. You would need to study and take the GRE. Plus it's not super easy to get into a phd program. You need to convince admissions that you want to be there and have a passion for research in your subject field.

sorry but I think it is very easy to get into a PhD program, not a super highly rated Ivy PhD program. you should check out how there is a super max glut of phD graduates that can't use their degree and end up as post docs slaves for multiple years and then project scientists (some don't even make it here)

however, PhD program just takes a lot of time in the lab, finding a thesis advisor that may be a scumbag and all the troubles of applying for NSF (the grant that makes science PhD programs free, the school only covers you for the first year, at least it is so at my school)

 

[fogorvostan]

sorry but I think it is very easy to get into a PhD program, not a super highly rated Ivy PhD program. you should check out how there is a super max glut of phD graduates that can't use their degree and end up as post docs slaves for multiple years and then project scientists (some don't even make it here)

however, PhD program just takes a lot of time in the lab, finding a thesis advisor that may be a scumbag and all the troubles of applying for NSF (the grant that makes science PhD programs free, the school only covers you for the first year, at least it is so at my school)

Maybe it was just at my grad school then, but our PhD programs in public health were notoriously difficult. Plus it was required to have a Masters before you could even apply. The different concentrations only accepted 3-5 people per year.

 

[tussiN1]

sorry but I think it is very easy to get into a PhD program, not a super highly rated Ivy PhD program. you should check out how there is a super max glut of phD graduates that can't use their degree and end up as post docs slaves for multiple years and then project scientists (some don't even make it here)

however, PhD program just takes a lot of time in the lab, finding a thesis advisor that may be a scumbag and all the troubles of applying for NSF (the grant that makes science PhD programs free, the school only covers you for the first year, at least it is so at my school)

is this why ppl apply to med and dent schools instead of phd?