Masters/NonThesis or Post Bac?! Help!!

[JustwantDDS]

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Hi guys,
I'm applying to some masters programs as a back up.
My sci GPA does need some help @ 3.1 and cGPA @ 3.4
I REALLY don't want to take the GRE- so I'm looking at some non thesis masters- is this the way to go? or is taking higher level courses as a self-made Post Bac a better idea?
😱 Help me outttt

 

[dentalWorks]

Hi guys,
I'm applying to some masters programs as a back up.
My sci GPA does need some help @ 3.1 and cGPA @ 3.4
I REALLY don't want to take the GRE- so I'm looking at some non thesis masters- is this the way to go? or is taking higher level courses as a self-made Post Bac a better idea?
😱 Help me outttt

well.... post-bacc WILL bring up both your science and cGPA. It will bring up your science GPA about twice as fast as cGPA. On top of that, post-bacc is easier (informal) to get into and costs less...

I think the choice is pretty clear here 🙂

 

[JustwantDDS]

But how do you go about getting an informal post bacc?
just take upper level sci courses? how many, what types, etc?

isn't a set-designed program better than a series of classes?

...confused :/

 

[doc toothache]

Post bac would be OK if you were awarded a P.B. degree.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=602095

 

[molar3]

im doing an informal postbacc too. I will be taking upper level science courses (comparative anat, advanced physio, developmental bio, neuro, pharm, pathophysio, immuno, histology etc etc). Also i may take some lower division science courses that I didnt take at my undergrad (I'd only take these because i find them interesting and also to raise my gpa oobviously, anything counts!). I'm doing an informal postbac because it allows me to take the courses i want and i dont have to follow anyones guidelines and perhaps it is cheaper as well (i dont know how much formal post baccs cost). I'd only suggest this is you live near a large university that would allow you to take such courses on a space available basis. If youre intrested, call up some schools in your neighborhood and see what courses they offer and when.
Also a postbac goes into your undergrad science gpa whereas a masters wont count toward that but will be in a seperate catagorey on ur aadsas

 

[dentalWorks]

But how do you go about getting an informal post bacc?
just take upper level sci courses? how many, what types, etc?

isn't a set-designed program better than a series of classes?

...confused :/

Just like molar3, I also did informal post-bacc. I enrolled into a local 4-year university (MSU) and just started taking undergrad courses. It was great, I was working fulltime job and on the side, I tailored my class schedule accordingly.

One of the biggest strengths in post-bacc is it allows you to take additional undergrad level courses after you obtain your bachelors. If you do well in your post-bacc it shows an upward trend AND it also boosts your undergrad GPAs.... so what difference does it make to take it as a formal (pre-set schedule) or informal..... At least with informal, you get to work and tailor your schedule, and I believe its cheaper than a formal (or masters for that matter)

 

[amalgamgrillz]

well.... post-bacc WILL bring up both your science and cGPA. It will bring up your science GPA about twice as fast as cGPA. On top of that, post-bacc is easier (informal) to get into and costs less...

I think the choice is pretty clear here 🙂

Can you explain this a little further? I'm doing a non-thesis master's right now, and all I'm doing is taking all graduate level science courses, so isn't that essentially what a post-bacc is, too? If anything, I think a Master's will counter a low undergraduate GPA a lot better than a post-bacc, since you'll be getting a "new" separate graduate GPA. You "credit hours" in a graduate program aren't weighed down by the MANY undergraduate credit hours. That, and if your GPA is that low, it might help to see a separate calculated graduate GPA, than have it mixed in with your undergraduate GPA, like a post-bacc would do. Also, if you don't get into dental school, at least you'll have a Master's degree, instead of just upper division science classes.

 

[molar3]

exactly!! I've spoken to admissions people at some dental schools and they say they only suggest masters to people as a way of basically saying.....well if you dont get into dental school at least ull have a masters for another job!! um yea, dental school is my dream, "another job" isnt an option for me no matter how long it takes to get to dent school. those are my 2 cents as to why i personally wouldnt want to do a masters.

 

[peanutb123]

25k for masters in state schools
15k for 10 science classes in state schools

Masters can give you an advantage.

I say go for masters its just me. Some of dental schools have masters programs which will almost guarantee you a spot if you do good.

Call the D-schools you are going to apply if its close by ask them for an appointment to talk to them regarding this matter and what is more advantageous.

There are many masters programs which do not require GRE...

 

[dentalWorks]

Can you explain this a little further? I'm doing a non-thesis master's right now, and all I'm doing is taking all graduate level science courses, so isn't that essentially what a post-bacc is, too? If anything, I think a Master's will counter a low undergraduate GPA a lot better than a post-bacc, since you'll be getting a "new" separate graduate GPA. You "credit hours" in a graduate program aren't weighed down by the MANY undergraduate credit hours. That, and if your GPA is that low, it might help to see a separate calculated graduate GPA, than have it mixed in with your undergraduate GPA, like a post-bacc would do. Also, if you don't get into dental school, at least you'll have a Master's degree, instead of just upper division science classes.

masters is good.... post-bacc is simply better.
Many dental schools in the nation have a bare minimum GPA cutoff (usually 2.75 and sometimes even 3.0)... If your undergrad GPA doesn't meet the cutoff, then you are almost-assured an automatic rejection.... even if you have obtained a perfect 4.0 GPA in your masters.....

This is where your post-bacc shines, cause it raises your overall GPA as opposed to masters (for most schools, its just a new category)

Anyways, this thread here summarizes my feelings for this whole post-bacc vs masters debate: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=765735&highlight=post-bacc

 

[peanutb123]

masters is good.... post-bacc is simply better.
Many dental schools in the nation have a bare minimum GPA cutoff (usually 2.75 and sometimes even 3.0)... If your undergrad GPA doesn't meet the cutoff, then you are almost-assured an automatic rejection.... even if you have obtained a perfect 4.0 GPA in your masters.....

This is where your post-bacc shines, cause it raises your overall GPA as opposed to masters (for most schools, its just a new category)

Anyways, this thread here summarizes my feelings for this whole post-bacc vs masters debate: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=765735&highlight=post-bacc

To sum it up

Safe bet vs. risky bet(attractive only if you think you will do good)

I say gamble up brotha...

 

[dentalWorks]

To sum it up

Safe bet vs. risky bet(attractive only if you think you will do good)

I say gamble up brotha...

haha, good summary, I like it 👍

 

[bevoMBA90]

Yeah, my dream was DDS. However, colitis sidelined me in the 3rd year. Anyway, if you go for a masters, be sure it will reinforce the dental curriculum. Take anatomy or/and pathology. One guy in my class had a PhD in Biology and didn't have to take 6 or 7 biology classes. Visit my blog for my war stories.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

masters is good.... post-bacc is simply better.
Many dental schools in the nation have a bare minimum GPA cutoff (usually 2.75 and sometimes even 3.0)... If your undergrad GPA doesn't meet the cutoff, then you are almost-assured an automatic rejection.... even if you have obtained a perfect 4.0 GPA in your masters.....

This is where your post-bacc shines, cause it raises your overall GPA as opposed to masters (for most schools, its just a new category)

Anyways, this thread here summarizes my feelings for this whole post-bacc vs masters debate: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=765735&highlight=post-bacc

are you sure that's correct? From my understanding, schools have a minimum cumulative cutoff, not minimum undergraduate cutoff. A masters improves both your undergrad and your cumulative, while giving you a separate graduate GPA as well.

 

[peanutb123]

are you sure that's correct? From my understanding, schools have a minimum cumulative cutoff, not minimum undergraduate cutoff. A masters improves both your undergrad and your cumulative, while giving you a separate graduate GPA as well.

so i have my masters.

So my undergrad gpa is in one column, then graduate than cumulative

like this
|undergrad| Grad| cum|

but what dental schools actually see is your individual Undergrad GPA. in one Row
Then Graduate GPA in one column like this

Undergrad GPA
--------------
Grad GPA

I know this b/c i visited one d-school and the nice secretary showed it to me 😉

BASED ON SDN: dont know if its true: So some schools cut you off for undergrad; people were complaining about this couple months back.