Hey There,
I can contribute to this question but there is NO definate answer. You will get a bunch of opinions just like mine. I was looking into the exact same thing due to my first year marks (quite low, 14 courses, was told first year marks don't matter, didn't know I'd be applying to American schools, the list continues). I have spoken to members of a few admissions committees, but I was re-assured applications will not be overlooked due to GPA. Although they say this, NOVA for example, has made cuts based on GPA and not look for the rest or wait for new DAT scores (at least this cycle due to competition). They don't have time to go through 4000 applications for 100 spots and that is understandable. Now what should we do?
This is what I have decided. A Masters of Science will take out 2 years of my life. Not only that, it would increase my debts into a research-intensive program I would not have my heart into every single day. I would basically be filling in time waiting for my dental school application. Not only that, the quality of my work would be poor due to my lack of motivation in the research I would be doing. Dental schools will inevitably still look back at your undergraduate GPA and look for the prereq courses and how you performed. Also they will look at your upper level courses relevant to the dental curriculum.
For schools that are research intensive, it could only HELP you. But to tell you the truth, its not worth 2 years of your life doing something that you don't enjoy (I'm assuming you are passionate about dentistry) and just to compensate for your sub-par GPA. Schools also know that masters programs tend to give out higher marks and the courses taken are not reflective of the dental curriculum as are courses like biochem, physiology, anatomy and such.
What else to do?
Take upper level bios that are relevent to the dental curriculum, get all 4.0's and get a 3.3 GPA (Assuming it won't jump up much due to the amount of courses you already taken) and re-apply. You have the rest of this semester, and next semester to get 4.0 and re-apply, do not waste your time doing a masters. Now, I spoke to many schools I am interested in and they told me that this is the best way to go to improve my application and at the same time better prepare myself for the dental curriculum. To me, this is a better way to prove to an admissions committee you are ready for the dental curriculum.
Along with the improved GPA, you can also score well on the DATs, like atleast 20's and you will be able to get some interviews.
I forgot to mention. I am doing a thesis relevant to dentistry already and it counts for only 8 semester hours (a 2 semester-long course) even tho I spend about 15 hours in the lab on average a week and 5 hours outside of lab as well as 2 hours in lecture. I couldn't double or even triple this amount by pursuing a masters degree especially with my supervisor.
Chances are that I will not get any interviews this cycle. Im planning on re-taking the DAT and re-applying next cycle (early). Im starting a MS in biology this Spring and will complete the program by matriculation (assuming I get in). Is anyone is a similiar situation? Does getting a MS degree help your chances much? I have a 3.21 undergrad GPA and figure by getting a Masters it will help me be more competitive. Anyone?
