Help...

[georgiadat]

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Would it be a good idea for me to get an MBA with a GPA of 2.97, Sci 3.14, and DAT of 17/18? I know my stats are not that good, so I figure an MBA or some type of post bac (I've already graduated) would help me. Does anyone have any info on people that have done this?

 

[DMD_DREAMING]

Would it be a good idea for me to get an MBA with a GPA of 2.97, Sci 3.14, and DAT of 17/18? I know my stats are not that good, so I figure an MBA or some type of post bac (I've already graduated) would help me. Does anyone have any info on people that have done this?

I got one (just wanted business knoweldge while I figured out what I wanted to be) and I was told that my Masters would not be factored in because they wanted to see how I did in my science classes. The school said that they would look and see that I had a graduate degree, but it would not be considered a factor in me getting into school. So, I would advise to take a few business classes for basic knowledge, ie accounting and finance and save the extra ~$30,000 and take some upper level science courses to raise the GPA and demonstrate your academic potential. Also, a higher AA would help counter the low GPA. IMHO, Good Luck!

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Would it be a good idea for me to get an MBA with a GPA of 2.97, Sci 3.14, and DAT of 17/18? I know my stats are not that good, so I figure an MBA or some type of post bac (I've already graduated) would help me. Does anyone have any info on people that have done this?

No. In this case I would not advocate a MBA

I finished my Bio degree with a 3.4 science and a little higher overall and went for an MBA before dental school bec I knew I would not go back to school after a DDS.

MBA material is much different from science material and it will not help you in dental school AT ALL!!!

At two of my interviews I was asked how my MBA will help me in dental school and I told them both IT WON'T!!! Both schools were shocked with my response and I explained that it is a different thought process with no relevant material to dental school and the only time it will help me is when I graduate. They told me they were expecting me to tell a story of how a masters has better prepared me..etc and further noted that my DAT score (taken 2 years after my last science class) and science GPA is what will get me in.

Thank goodness I have a good science back ground or I would probably still be applying to schools

 

[georgiadat]

I understand that the material covered in a MBA will not help during dental school, but it seems that it would be beneficial in running a practice. I majored in Chemistry, but really do not like Chemistry enough to pursue a masters in it. What do you guys think would be the next step with having a low GPA and average DAT?

 

[ItsGavinC]

What do you guys think would be the next step with having a low GPA and average DAT?

The *easiest* and *quickest* course of action would be to retake the DAT. While your GPA is low in both areas, a higher DAT score could make a world of difference.

For example, a 20+ would send a strong message to adcoms. Good luck.

 

[BONAFIED]

Someone was asking a similar question the other day. Having an MBA, JD, MA or whatever, can only benefit you in your career as a dentist. But, I would never advocate getting an advanced degree if your intent is to become a traditional dentist or specialist.

Why? The total cost of forgoing dental school for 2 yrs and getting a degree is ~$500k in my estimation ($40k tuition, $40k living expenses, $200k X 2 in income). If you already have the degree before you decide to go to d-school, great, you'll be better for it. $500k better? I doubt it. You can buy a lot of excellent business advice, accounting work, or legal work for a half mil. I see $500k and I think vacation home and a new hobby.

 

[hockeydentist]

Can I get a ride sometime in your airplane? 👍

Thats quite the hobby there mate!


I am thinkin I would like to get a ship and sail up down the coast of the atlantic and through the gulf and then up the pacific coast into alaska.
Call me captain!

HD

 

[georgiadat]

bump

 

[UofT-Girl]

Although the DAT is not the only factor taken into consideration for adcoms, how much is the DAT weighted?

Does the weight of the test vary from school to school, or is there a general weight given to the test?

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Why? The total cost of forgoing dental school for 2 yrs and getting a degree is ~$500k in my estimation ($40k tuition, $40k living expenses, $200k X 2 in income). If you already have the degree before you decide to go to d-school, great, you'll be better for it. $500k better? I doubt it. You can buy a lot of excellent business advice, accounting work, or legal work for a half mil. I see $500k and I think vacation home and a new hobby.

But having an MBA will help you build an efficent dental powerhouse and I estimate over 30 years should bring me in over 1 mil. So minus your 500k and I'm still up 1/2 a mil

making 200k is one thing...knowing what to do with it is another. Most dentist live a 200k life style and forget about the savings part of life. Then life bites them in the ass when they hit 45-50 and realize they aren't worth so much after all and wonder how they can sustain this life style into retirement...then quickly realize they can't, begin to cut back...but its too late!

Edit: My MBA at UF(top 20 MBA school) cost ~$5,000. Citibank paid ~ $4,500 of it and I paid the $500. So $80k for MBA is pretty steep

 

[BONAFIED]

But having an MBA will help you build an efficent dental powerhouse and I estimate over 30 years should bring me in over 1 mil. So minus your 500k and I'm still up 1/2 a mil

making 200k is one thing...knowing what to do with it is another. Most dentist live a 200k life style and forget about the savings part of life. Then life bites them in the ass when they hit 45-50 and realize they aren't worth so much after all and wonder how they can sustain this life style into retirement...then quickly realize they can't, begin to cut back...but its too late!

Edit: My MBA at UF(top 20 MBA school) cost ~$5,000. Citibank paid ~ $4,500 of it and I paid the $500. So $80k for MBA is pretty steep

I wasn't suggesting that having the degree was useless. I actually stated that it would be beneficial. Your example of an MBA making up for the cost of getting the degree is entirely possible. But your also assuming you couldn't get the same result if the same dentist (who is bright and ambitious) just hired a consulting firm to do a work up every 5 yrs.

I disagree with your characterization that "most" dentist are spendthrifts that get bitten in the arse by retirement. I have only anecdotal evidence that suggests otherwise, but you can't tell me there aren't the similar numbers of business professionals that fall into the same trap. I see this largely as a personality trait and not a lack of having an MBA.

BTW, the costs I listed for the MBA represented two years of tuition (@$20k), two years of living expenses, and two years of forgone income as a dentist in today's dollars. If business school teaches you anything, it should teach you about opportunity costs, TVM, and the benefits of specialization.

The cost of MBA programs range from $5,000k to $40,000k a year. My figure was somewhere in the middle. For the sake of discussion don't you think it would be a little misleading to only mention the very lowest end of the cost spectrum. I also think it would be misleading to say that Warrington (which is a fine school) is top 20. It is ranked #26 among public universities and probably barely makes the top 50 overall, which was beside the point before you started exaggerating.

My advice would be to take some business classes, major in business, or get some business experience. If you have an MBA, great, put it to use.