How important is the Master's GPA compared to the undergrad?

[archonsbk]

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I finished my undergrad and start my Master's in the fall and am going to apply for dental schools next summer. My undergrad GPA isn't great (around 3.1) and I believe that my Master's GPA should help me with my poor undergrad.

But how does the dental school admission committee look at those GPAs? Like undergrad 80% and grad 20% something like that?

Let me know!

 

[free99]

We'd all love to know the formula dental schools use to rank us as applicants - unfortunately we don't. People say GPA/DAT are king, and they're probably right, but I do think many (most?) schools look at applicants holistically. Much like undergrad, I'm sure the degree, coursework, research and activities you involve yourself in all come into play when assessing the importance of your grad GPA. But the fact remains: the damage is done to your undergrad, just look forward and do as well as you possibly can in your masters degree.

 

[NRG]

IMO i'd say its pretty important.
both show up on your file. during my interview, both faculty members kept bringing up my undergrad GPA (which was close to yours). I had to remind them about my masters GPA which was very high. they didnt seem to care much about my masters GPA. not sure why.

at least it looked as if they didnt care. but they did bring up the fact that I did get a masters. but never mentioned the gpa.

but thats only 2 interviewers. and my experience.

 

[archonsbk]

We'd all love to know the formula dental schools use to rank us as applicants - unfortunately we don't. People say GPA/DAT are king, and they're probably right, but I do think many (most?) schools look at applicants holistically. Much like undergrad, I'm sure the degree, coursework, research and activities you involve yourself in all come into play when assessing the importance of your grad GPA. But the fact remains: the damage is done to your undergrad, just look forward and do as well as you possibly can in your masters degree.

Yeah I wish we know. You are right. My undergad GPA is done and I need to do well on my Master's and do activities and ace the DAT. Anyway, thank you!

 

[archonsbk]

IMO i'd say its pretty important.
both show up on your file. during my interview, both faculty members kept bringing up my undergrad GPA (which was close to yours). I had to remind them about my masters GPA which was very high. they didnt seem to care much about my masters GPA. not sure why.

at least it looked as if they didnt care. but they did bring up the fact that I did get a masters. but never mentioned the gpa.

but thats only 2 interviewers. and my experience.

Hey, I PMed you!

 

[JAWSSS]

Master's GPA is important. But I think actually just doing a masters is more important...

Every school records the prior education of each of their students and the more students that have a masters or PhD the better. Every school I applied to has a page on their website showing how many students completed a B.S., B.A., MPH, M.S., PhD, etc.

I had a similar experience where my UCLA interviewer was asking questions about my undergrad GPA and I basically defaulted to saying "I have a X.X GPA in my two-year, thesis-based master's program and XX publications from my recent work" and she seemed totally happy with that explanation.

 

[dentalWorks]

I finished my undergrad and start my Master's in the fall and am going to apply for dental schools next summer. My undergrad GPA isn't great (around 3.1) and I believe that my Master's GPA should help me with my poor undergrad.

But how does the dental school admission committee look at those GPAs? Like undergrad 80% and grad 20% something like that?

Let me know!

back in my pre-dent days, I wanted to know the answer for this very question because I wasn't sure between post-bacc vs masters.

after calling and speaking to a bunch of schools, I got the sense that the undergrad GPA is the most favorable still. The only exception I can think of is SMPs, a student with strong SMP gpa is pretty much guaranteed to land a bunch of interviews

 

[doc toothache]

If the gpa is high, it will more likely be significant; if average, it will not make much difference, provided the degree is not in basketweaving.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=996059
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=942453

 

[Glimmer1991]

If the gpa is high, it will more likely be significant; if average, it will not make much difference, provided the degree is not in basketweaving.

But what if it's underwater basketweaving?

 

[doc toothache]

But what if it's underwater basketweaving?

In that case, it would be worthy of a Ph.D. level.

 

[Teeths]

But what if it's underwater basketweaving?

The dentist I shadowed was a pretty fun & funny guy. If anyone ever asked him what degrees he had he always said, "a bachelors in underwater basketweaving, masters in enamel engineering... oh and a DMD" 👍

 

[archonsbk]

If the gpa is high, it will more likely be significant; if average, it will not make much difference, provided the degree is not in basketweaving.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=996059
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=942453

I've talked to some people and they told me that getting a better GPA in grad is somewhat easier than undergrad. Usually, people will get a B as their lowest in the class.
In that case, the good GPA means at least 3.5 or even higher, right?
Certainly, I am aiming at 4.0!!

 

[Bis-GMA111]

^ completely subjective.it all depends on the masters program and what courses you take. the idea is that people think of masters programs as a last resort, so people tend to work a lot harder (based off my experience)

if you screw up in a masters program, consider yourself in a really bad spot for admissions.

 

[dentalWorks]

I've talked to some people and they told me that getting a better GPA in grad is somewhat easier than undergrad. Usually, people will get a B as their lowest in the class.
In that case, the good GPA means at least 3.5 or even higher, right?
Certainly, I am aiming at 4.0!!

yep... I heard that comment many times over and over from the various schools I spoke with

 

[mkhan27]

In my opinion a masters program is kind of a second chance. Say you screwed up in undergrad (maybe you got sick for a course, or you didn't withdraw a course, or you were not studying the right way, or you were just plain old immature), then the masters is an opportunity to show you changed and have matured. Some people do it to better their app because that's all they got now and its their only chance to prove to dental schools that they are a great candidate now than they were during undergrad studies.

As long as you show take a master program that's related to science and shows rigorous coursework in a term, then you are showing them that you are ready for the dental school environment.

 

[doc toothache]

I've talked to some people and they told me that getting a better GPA in grad is somewhat easier than undergrad. Usually, people will get a B as their lowest in the class.
In that case, the good GPA means at least 3.5 or even higher, right?
Certainly, I am aiming at 4.0!!

Are the comments are coming from people with or without an advanced degree? B is the lowest grade a grad student can get to remain in the program.

 

[Teeths]

Are the comments are coming from people with or without an advanced degree? B is the lowest grade a grad student can get to remain in the program.

This isn't necessarily true for individual classes or courses but you have to maintain a 3.0 overall GPA. Maybe that's what you meant, but just clearing it up further.

As far as difficulty, I have to say it's definitely harder than undergrad. Mainly because it's an SMP that I'm in, but all of the courses are science-based, go through a lot more material in a rapid amount of time, and much more is expected of you. I think, like someone else has mentioned, people know this is their last chance to prove they can handle dental school's curriculum so a lot of us got our butts into gear compared to undergrad! 😛

 

[periopocket]

^ completely subjective.it all depends on the masters program and what courses you take. the idea is that people think of masters programs as a last resort, so people tend to work a lot harder (based off my experience)

if you screw up in a masters program, consider yourself in a really bad spot for admissions.

Totally true here. Also, OP you must realize that more important that comparing UG to G GPA, is strengthening your Overall Cum + BCP + SCI GPA's. That is whats more important so any class you take from here on out is important whether in the grad setting or undergrad.

 

[doc toothache]

This isn't necessarily true for individual classes or courses but you have to maintain a 3.0 overall GPA. Maybe that's what you meant, but just clearing it up further.

Individual colleges or graduate programs will set the requirements. It is not unusual for a graduate student to be expected to obtain a B in their major courses. It is also unlikely that a grade of C in either major or minor courses will results in an expulsion. Students on a Ph.D. track that do not meet the grade criteria may find themselves being awarded an MS along with their packed suitcases.

 

[archonsbk]

Are the comments are coming from people with or without an advanced degree? B is the lowest grade a grad student can get to remain in the program.

The comments are from friends in Master's program, but yeah I need to study hard and think of this as my last chance to improve my GPA section.

Thank you and thank you everyone for the information. I really appreciate it.