Important question - which path to chose after undergrad!

[In2Infinity]

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HI there,

I am a fourth year university student studying biology. I will be done my degree this april. Of course, I want to get into dentistry, and will for sure begin to study for the US DAT in april, and then write the DAT june or july.

Now my concern lies with what I should do for my next academic year. I don't want to take the year off and just hope for an acceptance though. Either I begin a masters study, take 1 or 2 important courses (anatomy and physiology) and hope to get some interviews during the first year. If I dont get any interviews, I would have the second year of masters to fall back on.

My second choice would be going back to school the next year, but be a part time student. I would take anatomy and physiology for sure, and one extra course per semester. I would have more time to volunteer and shadow as well. But if I dont get any acceptances that year, the next year would be kind of difficult.

I am stuck between these 2 choices, and am having a tough time deciding. Any help for this masters or part time student debate would be great!

thanks

 

[yappy]

What is your GPA going to be?

I'm no expert, but why take more course work than you need to? Why not work full time @ an NIH lab, biotech, or in a dental lab or assist? It just seems like you're going to be giving up a years worth of earnings to take 2-4 classes that wont really impact your GPA that much. I guess the masters is another deal altogether; but, that would be two years till you could enter dental school.

Just throwing some ideas out there.

 

[doc toothache]

You should shadow first then you can worry about everything else.

 

[In2Infinity]

My science GPA will be around 3.75.

The classes would be anatomy because that's a tough one to face in first year dental, and physiology because some Canadian schools require it.

 

[McKnightRider]

You should shadow first then you can worry about everything else.

Agreed. Until u try it u'll never know

 

[NOLAdentist2016]

I'm a firm believer in taking a year off from school to work in a research lab (or something similar). Dental school is going to cost you A LOT of money. So you can either accumulate even more debt by taking more classes before you even start dental school, or you could work, save up some money and have plenty of free time to apply to dental school. It worked out well for me. Plus the experience looks good.

 

[wired202808]

My science GPA will be around 3.75.

The classes would be anatomy because that's a tough one to face in first year dental, and physiology because some Canadian schools require it.

3.75 is a high enough GPA to warrant skipping the masters. You should focus on doing well on the DAT and then simply find a job. If you can pull at least a 19 on the DAT you will get accepted to at least one school.

 

[wizi]

No master for you. Just take a few upper level Bio classes and shadow, volunteer

 

[devz4lf]

I was in the exact same shoes as you. I decided to do Research because A) I wanted to make some $, some of which I can use for paying for D-school and B) I took all the courses I needed in college that I would see again in D-school.
Doing a masters does seem good too but you have a good gpa and if you get around a 20-21 on your DAT I wouldnt see why you would not get any acceptances.

 

[toothexplore]

I was in the exact same shoes as you. I decided to do Research because A) I wanted to make some $, some of which I can use for paying for D-school and B) I took all the courses I needed in college that I would see again in D-school.
Doing a masters does seem good too but you have a good gpa and if you get around a 20-21 on your DAT I wouldnt see why you would not get any acceptances.

don't start your masters with the intention of quitting / attempting to finish too early. it will suck you in for the long run