Full time job or masters?

[Sunn802]

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I just graduated with a bachleors in biology. This will be my second time applying to dental school. I took the DAT in december and will be retaking them by the end of this month. I got accepted into a M.A program in bioethics at Case Western Reserve University. I also just got an interview from the Cleveland Clinic for a full time job as a lab assistant. If I get the job, Which one should I take? What would look better to dental schools? One year masters or one year lab work experience?

My gpa is 3.3 and my dat scores are:

AA 18
TS 18
PAT 17
Biology: 20
O chem: 16
Gen chem: 19
Reading Cmp: 21
QR: 14


Thanks for your help!

 

[Sunn802]

anyone?..🙂

 

[rose786]

Honestly, you're borderline. If I were you, I'd take the job and retake the DAT to bring every score to 18 or up. Your gpa won't be counted against you so much if you kill the DAT. Just my 2 pennies.

 

[MrKnowitall11]

Your stats r almost identical to mine. GPA 3.3 Science 3.4
AA 18
PA 19
Bio 16
GC 17
OC 20
RC 21
QR 16

I was thinking about doing a masters but then I released that it would not raise my GPA that much and also I would be commiting a lot of time and money. I decided to work and focus on the DAT. I am going to retake it at the end of the month and hope to improve my biology and math. I feel that I will be able to get into my state school then. If i was you I would work and study up for the DAT.

 

[Quattro DMD]

Dude you're almost in the same exact situation I was in about 2 years ago. I have a degree in bio and I ended up working in the virology/serology department at a medical lab here in AZ. I applied a 2nd/3rd time to dental school and I still didn't get in. Now I'm back in school and working on a masters degree. I wish I would have done that two years ago instead of working and "waiting" to get in. So in my opinion get a masters degree....as well as retake your DAT etc.

 

[Sunn802]

Thanks for all the input!..i really appreciate it. I was thinking..can i do both?..If i do the job full time, and the masters part time, how would that be?...If i do the masters part time, I wont be able to complete it if i get into the 2009 cycle. How will that look to adcoms if I leave my masters degree without completing it? both are such good oppurtunities and I dont want to give up either.

 

[robg]

The masters is the way to go, I graduated last semester and it is impossible to get a job with only a BS in biology, so I've waisted 2 months looking for a job.

 

[dentaldude8]

It depends on what your new DAT scores are. If you get a 20AA, 20TS, and 18PAT (or better in the respective sections) I don't think you will need a MS to get in. Really, the most important thing with your application is your DATs. With you current GPA you really need at least a 19AA and TS (unless you are a minority). So, if I were you I would retake the DAT, and if I rocked it (20AA 20TS or better) I would not do the MS. If I did OK (18-19AA TS) I would probably do the MS program. If I bombed it (17 or below AA TS) I would not do the MS and concentrate all my efforts on the DAT. Hope that helped.

 

[polarmolar]

both look good but with the job you get paid, so its wiser to go with the job and save up some for interviews etc.