for those that are in a master's program...

[Dr.Jamie]

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....or have completed one before dental school, how did you tell your graduate mentor? I chose a thesis Masters option for many reasons (mostly academic), and i have about a year and a half to go. I could possibly be done by next august. Anyway, I am applying for this cycle because I don't want to take any breaks from the application process. My graduate mentor has no idea i'm a pre professional student. He doesn't have the slightest clue that I want to go to dental school. He's a cool guy, but I have a feeling he finds pre professional students slightly annoying from a comment he made about teaching them. He's still a really good guy, but I'm getting scared about telling him my plans. I want to ask him for a letter of recomendation this summer after we get going on our research a little more. What should I do? I really do want to be in this master's program, and I really do enjoy biology. I know I need to do it for academic reasons, and its something I feel proud of anyway. So to be honest I am there to learn....while strenthening my app. How should I confront him with this? I'm afraid he's going to think i'm wasiting his time or that I don't really care about the degree, which isn't the case. Anyone been in this situation?

 

[rose786]

Just tell him. No need to "confront" him, just mention it casually. You'll need a LOR from him, and who knows? You might change his mind about pre-health students.

 

[Dr.Jamie]

yes, i know, i need to just tell him. I think i'm going to wait until mid summer. I know he likes me, and I'm his only graduate student. He wants his research published ASAP and he's making it very easy for me. He's not going to stretch it out or make me wait forever to get done, which is good for me because I want to be done sooner rather than later. I think i'm just scared of disapointing him because he is such a nice, unsuspecting guy. Personally, I think my transcript and background screams pre professional student, but I guess its not that obvious.

 

[2BAdentist]

yes, i know, i need to just tell him. I think i'm going to wait until mid summer. I know he likes me, and I'm his only graduate student. He wants his research published ASAP and he's making it very easy for me. He's not going to stretch it out or make me wait forever to get done, which is good for me because I want to be done sooner rather than later. I think i'm just scared of disapointing him because he is such a nice, unsuspecting guy. Personally, I think my transcript and background screams pre professional student, but I guess its not that obvious.

Generally graduate school advisors like to see their students pursue Ph.D. rather than medicine and dentistry. I think that is widely prevalent and known that there seems to be segregation in medicine or dentistry and research. I could be wrong but this is what I felt as a graduate student.

 

[gogh]

I am in 2nd year doing masters and am going to apply this year. I regret not applying last year. Back then, I was very hesitant asking for LOR because my degree wasn't close to completion and my PI and committee kept asking me to switch to phD. and I was worried about publications etc... But I regret not applying last year. after all, it's your life.. And it looks like PI can find master student very easily and replace student easily...
Last week, I asked for LOR and my PI was surprised but oh well, what can you do... Just go for it..