help for a fellow North American?

[puzzledcan]

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I’d appreciate any insight into what seems like an impossible predicament:
Please bare with me as this will be quite long.

I am a Canadian citizen currently at a Canadian university doing a thesis-based Master’s in one of the research sciences (Molecular Bio / Micro Bi/ Biochem).

I have done extensive research into what I’d like to pursue after, and based on shadowing and what my friends are doing, have determined that dentistry will be the career that I will enjoy the most and offer me the lifestyle I would most want. I will be applying solely to American dental schools, and I am planning on writing the US DAT and have all my GPA’s (+/-, ogpa, sgpa, etc.) near, or above 3.5. I’ve written the MCAT before and have managed to score over 30, so I’d like to believe that I could do relatively well on the DAT.
I am 1 year and a couple of months into my Master’s, and have done what I feel is decent work towards what my supervisor keeps telling me will be a third author publication (eventually). I have also just completed all my course requirements (except for one ongoing course for which I will receive credit for (3) once two years is up).

The problem is, throughout my first year, I have struggled with the decision of leaving the program. The big hurdle is that I did not do undergraduate research, and when my supervisor offered me the position, I made it clear that I was apprehensive due to lack of training and experience. He kept telling me that this was not a problem; that many labs would want this as it meant that I would be mouldable. The problem is that my supervisor is planning on retiring real soon, and I am the only graduate student left in the lab. It is myself, him, and our lab tech. On top of that, he is the hands-off, let the student be kind of prof. This works for many people, but I find it very difficult as I am trying things over and over and feel that I am extremely inefficient most of the time. I have approached him before about this, but he NEVER offers any criticism in any form and past students have complained about his “pat-on-the-back” attitude. I have had one recent committee meeting, and all my committee members believe that I will finish my experimentation this time next year (2011 winter) after which I can begin writing my thesis. I am sceptical, and my mental health is suffering from this ordeal. I no longer enjoy what I do. My supervisor is nice, but I strongly feel that I am getting too much independence (and that this isn’t an issue of being lazy) and am fearful that I will continue to dig myself a deeper hole from a lack of direction. I’ve tried talking to him about this, but I think that at this point in his career, things are unlikely to change.

So I feel that I have three options:
1.) Leave the program on good terms; offer to wrap up my work by spring and in May, begin a back-up course-based diploma program that I’ve looked into and get on with my life (and go ahead with DENT applications for the first time after writing my first DAT). Problem is I’d likely have to explain why I left the Master’s for job interviews, etc. (anything I do down the road), and I’m not sure how DENT admissions will look at this ( I will also be able to obtain statements from doctor’s I’ve seen in regards to my mental health, but this may present problems in itself). The positives are that I get myself out of something that I feel is damaging to my confidence and that I have no real enjoyment in doing. (the diploma program will offer a GPA boost and hopefully lead to a nice backup career)

2.) Stay the course, doing what I can slowly but surely. Write the DAT, apply in early summer, and hope I gain acceptance into a school in December. Run the risk that the Master’s will drag out longer than expected, but know that I will surely complete it by the time school would start 2012 Sept. However, suffer whatever circumstances staying in the program will have on my well-being. Even though I get a stipend, I’d be able to make a lot more working full-time out of science to make some money before matriculation for the expensive DENT tuition.

3.) Have the idea that the Master’s is only a fall-back. Hold the intention to leave once (if) I gain admission, and work in something else to better manage my debt. Problem is: will most schools make it a conditional acceptance and make it obligatory that I complete my thesis before starting in September? Potential target schools: (bu, nyu, tufts, usc, udm, uop, temple)

Please help; believe me when I say that I have spent way too much labouring over this decision. It is an extremely tough dilemma.
Thanks so much for listening and for any input!

 

[dentalWorks]

I'd appreciate any insight into what seems like an impossible predicament:
Please bare with me as this will be quite long.

I am a Canadian citizen currently at a Canadian university doing a thesis-based Master's in one of the research sciences (Molecular Bio / Micro Bi/ Biochem).

I have done extensive research into what I'd like to pursue after, and based on shadowing and what my friends are doing, have determined that dentistry will be the career that I will enjoy the most and offer me the lifestyle I would most want. I will be applying solely to American dental schools, and I am planning on writing the US DAT and have all my GPA's (+/-, ogpa, sgpa, etc.) near, or above 3.5. I've written the MCAT before and have managed to score over 30, so I'd like to believe that I could do relatively well on the DAT.
I am 1 year and a couple of months into my Master's, and have done what I feel is decent work towards what my supervisor keeps telling me will be a third author publication (eventually). I have also just completed all my course requirements (except for one ongoing course for which I will receive credit for (3) once two years is up).

The problem is, throughout my first year, I have struggled with the decision of leaving the program. The big hurdle is that I did not do undergraduate research, and when my supervisor offered me the position, I made it clear that I was apprehensive due to lack of training and experience. He kept telling me that this was not a problem; that many labs would want this as it meant that I would be mouldable. The problem is that my supervisor is planning on retiring real soon, and I am the only graduate student left in the lab. It is myself, him, and our lab tech. On top of that, he is the hands-off, let the student be kind of prof. This works for many people, but I find it very difficult as I am trying things over and over and feel that I am extremely inefficient most of the time. I have approached him before about this, but he NEVER offers any criticism in any form and past students have complained about his "pat-on-the-back" attitude. I have had one recent committee meeting, and all my committee members believe that I will finish my experimentation this time next year (2011 winter) after which I can begin writing my thesis. I am sceptical, and my mental health is suffering from this ordeal. I no longer enjoy what I do. My supervisor is nice, but I strongly feel that I am getting too much independence (and that this isn't an issue of being lazy) and am fearful that I will continue to dig myself a deeper hole from a lack of direction. I've tried talking to him about this, but I think that at this point in his career, things are unlikely to change.

So I feel that I have three options:
1.) Leave the program on good terms; offer to wrap up my work by spring and in May, begin a back-up course-based diploma program that I've looked into and get on with my life (and go ahead with DENT applications for the first time after writing my first DAT). Problem is I'd likely have to explain why I left the Master's for job interviews, etc. (anything I do down the road), and I'm not sure how DENT admissions will look at this ( I will also be able to obtain statements from doctor's I've seen in regards to my mental health, but this may present problems in itself). The positives are that I get myself out of something that I feel is damaging to my confidence and that I have no real enjoyment in doing. (the diploma program will offer a GPA boost and hopefully lead to a nice backup career)

2.) Stay the course, doing what I can slowly but surely. Write the DAT, apply in early summer, and hope I gain acceptance into a school in December. Run the risk that the Master's will drag out longer than expected, but know that I will surely complete it by the time school would start 2012 Sept. However, suffer whatever circumstances staying in the program will have on my well-being. Even though I get a stipend, I'd be able to make a lot more working full-time out of science to make some money before matriculation for the expensive DENT tuition.

3.) Have the idea that the Master's is only a fall-back. Hold the intention to leave once (if) I gain admission, and work in something else to better manage my debt. Problem is: will most schools make it a conditional acceptance and make it obligatory that I complete my thesis before starting in September? Potential target schools: (bu, nyu, tufts, usc, udm, uop, temple)

Please help; believe me when I say that I have spent way too much labouring over this decision. It is an extremely tough dilemma.
Thanks so much for listening and for any input!

I would not leave your program, thats pure madness. Dental schools, from what I have seen and heard, dislike students who start a project but can't commit to completing it.... Stay the course, complete your program. If you have the extra time to study for the DAT, then thats great.

As far as #3 goes, IF you do happen to land an acceptance and it DOES carry a condition that you finish your masters, then there is nothing else you can do. And no one REALLY knows which schools will do this, some will and others won't..... maybe you can contact the schools individually and ask them, but then again, whatever you hear on the phone isn't set in stone.... Anything less than writing is just "gossip".

Good luck on whatever you decide

 

[AF11]

I started a graduate program that I felt trapped in and opted out after 1 year. I had a speech prepared to explain why I left the program, but I wasn't asked about it by any dental school.
Maybe it's because they failed to see it (They can only tell from looking at the coursework section on AADSAS, as you're obligated to disclose your academic past in its entirety), but I have a feeling that if you're able to articulate your reasons and motivations for leaving, you shouldn't have too much to worry about.

 

[the toothfairy]

I’d appreciate any insight into what seems like an impossible predicament:
Please bare with me as this will be quite long.

I am a Canadian citizen currently at a Canadian university doing a thesis-based Master’s in one of the research sciences (Molecular Bio / Micro Bi/ Biochem).

I have done extensive research into what I’d like to pursue after, and based on shadowing and what my friends are doing, have determined that dentistry will be the career that I will enjoy the most and offer me the lifestyle I would most want. I will be applying solely to American dental schools, and I am planning on writing the US DAT and have all my GPA’s (+/-, ogpa, sgpa, etc.) near, or above 3.5. I’ve written the MCAT before and have managed to score over 30, so I’d like to believe that I could do relatively well on the DAT.
I am 1 year and a couple of months into my Master’s, and have done what I feel is decent work towards what my supervisor keeps telling me will be a third author publication (eventually). I have also just completed all my course requirements (except for one ongoing course for which I will receive credit for (3) once two years is up).

The problem is, throughout my first year, I have struggled with the decision of leaving the program. The big hurdle is that I did not do undergraduate research, and when my supervisor offered me the position, I made it clear that I was apprehensive due to lack of training and experience. He kept telling me that this was not a problem; that many labs would want this as it meant that I would be mouldable. The problem is that my supervisor is planning on retiring real soon, and I am the only graduate student left in the lab. It is myself, him, and our lab tech. On top of that, he is the hands-off, let the student be kind of prof. This works for many people, but I find it very difficult as I am trying things over and over and feel that I am extremely inefficient most of the time. I have approached him before about this, but he NEVER offers any criticism in any form and past students have complained about his “pat-on-the-back” attitude. I have had one recent committee meeting, and all my committee members believe that I will finish my experimentation this time next year (2011 winter) after which I can begin writing my thesis. I am sceptical, and my mental health is suffering from this ordeal. I no longer enjoy what I do. My supervisor is nice, but I strongly feel that I am getting too much independence (and that this isn’t an issue of being lazy) and am fearful that I will continue to dig myself a deeper hole from a lack of direction. I’ve tried talking to him about this, but I think that at this point in his career, things are unlikely to change.

So I feel that I have three options:
1.) Leave the program on good terms; offer to wrap up my work by spring and in May, begin a back-up course-based diploma program that I’ve looked into and get on with my life (and go ahead with DENT applications for the first time after writing my first DAT). Problem is I’d likely have to explain why I left the Master’s for job interviews, etc. (anything I do down the road), and I’m not sure how DENT admissions will look at this ( I will also be able to obtain statements from doctor’s I’ve seen in regards to my mental health, but this may present problems in itself). The positives are that I get myself out of something that I feel is damaging to my confidence and that I have no real enjoyment in doing. (the diploma program will offer a GPA boost and hopefully lead to a nice backup career)

2.) Stay the course, doing what I can slowly but surely. Write the DAT, apply in early summer, and hope I gain acceptance into a school in December. Run the risk that the Master’s will drag out longer than expected, but know that I will surely complete it by the time school would start 2012 Sept. However, suffer whatever circumstances staying in the program will have on my well-being. Even though I get a stipend, I’d be able to make a lot more working full-time out of science to make some money before matriculation for the expensive DENT tuition.

3.) Have the idea that the Master’s is only a fall-back. Hold the intention to leave once (if) I gain admission, and work in something else to better manage my debt. Problem is: will most schools make it a conditional acceptance and make it obligatory that I complete my thesis before starting in September? Potential target schools: (bu, nyu, tufts, usc, udm, uop, temple)

Please help; believe me when I say that I have spent way too much labouring over this decision. It is an extremely tough dilemma.
Thanks so much for listening and for any input!

I totally agree with dentalworks.
Stay with what you are doing, don't quit. If you want to be a dentist there is always time to do it. The schools that you have targeted would want an applicant who knows what they want and goes for it especially finishing a masters.

Remember there will be many students applying for a position in the incoming class. So you with a Masters you will have a better chance for acceptance.

Good luck with your decision. 😉

 

[Munchy]

one question.

What if you quit and get rejected from dental schools? What then?