Masters or just apply? need SERIOUS replies!

[yjkimjane]

Hello,

This is my first time posting here after getting great amount of help and insights from all of you. June is coming and I am about to graduate, so I just needed some serious advice on my situation.

I am in my last quarter at UC Davis, and I have a 3.1 GPA overall, 3.0 for science. I was a biomed engi major for the first two years, and now I am a pharmaceutical chemistry major. I took my first DAT last November ( 23AA/22TS/22PAT) and was planning to retake it this summer. I'm a CA resident, but I'd go anywhere for dental school honestly. Working on my personal statement, had 200+ shadowing experience.

My question is, so I know my GPA is not strong at all... and I have seen a lot of posts about SMPs or 1,2 year masters program. I wanted to get more details on this and hear from people who have done this if there is any? Is there any way I could increase my undergrad GPA? What kind of masters program are there? Can you guys recommend me some? I heard about UCR, Western, etc, can someone get me more info about this?

Or should I just apply this cycle..?

I know there is probably a million similar posts, but please any help would be greatly appreciated!! T_T

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[743291]

Hello,

This is my first time posting here after getting great amount of help and insights from all of you. June is coming and I am about to graduate, so I just needed some serious advice on my situation.

I am in my last quarter at UC Davis, and I have a 3.1 GPA overall, 3.0 for science. I was a biomed engi major for the first two years, and now I am a pharmaceutical chemistry major. I took my first DAT last November ( 23AA/22TS/22PAT) and was planning to retake it this summer. I'm a CA resident, but I'd go anywhere for dental school honestly. Working on my personal statement, had 200+ shadowing experience.

My question is, so I know my GPA is not strong at all... and I have seen a lot of posts about SMPs or 1,2 year masters program. I wanted to get more details on this and hear from people who have done this if there is any? Is there any way I could increase my undergrad GPA? What kind of masters program are there? Can you guys recommend me some? I heard about UCR, Western, etc, can someone get me more info about this?

Or should I just apply this cycle..?

I know there is probably a million similar posts, but please any help would be greatly appreciated!! T_T

I think you have some nice DAT scores I wouldn't retake it, but you can take some upper sciences courses to increase your GPA. I would apply while I take those courses and just send the school an update with your grades, try to ace those classes. That's my opinion, and if you have a great personal statement you will get in somewhere.

 

[bwc]

Yes, your DAT should be fine. If you want to boost your GPA, you can take additional coursework without having to enroll in a master's program. Note that if you do enroll in a master's program, you will be expected to finish. It will reflect poorly on you if you drop out.

 

[JLT223]

GPA is too low. You need a post-bac or SMP.

 

[tombradyschin]

if you take a 1 year "easy" post bacc/masters and get a 4.0, and do additional EC's, you will go from an average candidate to a pretty damn competitive one. You may still very well be able to get in this coming year, but its a little bit risky.

 

[cyu1526]

If it's any consolation, I applied this past cycle with a 3.3 oGPA and 3.08 sGPA, 23 AA and 23 TS. I took two science classes through a 4 year university during the fall so I could send schools an academic update in January.
I received two pre December interviews: USC and UCSF, both of which I am currently wait listed at. I received 1 post December interview: NYU, where I have been accepted. Although I ultimately got an acceptance, I think my GPA being so low damaged my chances at more interviews/acceptances. If I could do it over,I think it would be smartest to take an extra year and do whatever I could to raise my GPA, whether it be a formal program or not. My extracurriculars, letter of recs, personal statement and DAT were all very strong, but only so much can make up for a low GPA. I should also mention that I applied to 16 programs, and got formally rejected from 9 (I think it's safe to assume I have a couple of more rejections from schools that just haven't rejected anyone yet). This has been my experience so far, so take it as it is.. I don't necessarily regret applying this cycle because ultimately I got accepted to a program that I feel fits me very well. I think the only thing slightly killing me is that I got wait listed at my top choice so I'm being hard on myself on what I could have done better to have tipped me over the edge to an acceptance, but ce la vie. Do what your gut tells you!

 

[Likkriue]

Definitely do a masters program, that could turn you into a meh candidate into a great one.

 

[sumin5924]

Tough one. I think a post-bacc to increase your GPA might be appropriate. I know an engineering degree is difficult and it'd be great to do some BCPs to offset that.

 

[yenamel]

I think a lot of people worry about getting behind if they don't get into dental school straight out of undergrad (I was the same). I think it's in your best interest to take 1 year of BCP courses through an informal post bacc, do very well, and then apply. With those DAT scores you'll be a much stronger candidate and the choice of dental schools will more likely be yours.

That being said, I think if you applied this upcoming cycle you'd probably receive a couple of interviews and possibly a couple of acceptances. However, you'll probably be at the mercy of whichever schools want to give you a chance.

 

[BioForLife]

I think a post-bacc might be your best choice, rather than a Master's. Your high DAT means that if you can just improve your GPA a little bit, you'd be a solid candidate. However, I would really think hard about retaking the DAT. 23 AA is nothing to laugh at and you'd be taking a risk by retaking it.

 

[GoldenDomer11]

Why would you retake the DAT with a 23AA? I had a similar GPA and lower DAT and got 3 acceptances. I'd apply this cycle and apply ASAP (batch 1).

 

[dannyZ]

Had the same GPA but strong upward trend since freshman year. Worked out for me

 

[ncide]

I say apply to dental school and enroll in a masters or postbacc as a solid plan B. If you get into dental school, then great, you saved yourself a year. If not, you will be able to become a very good candidate the second time around. I think you'll get in somewhere though.

 

[Teeth4Life1234]

Hello,

This is my first time posting here after getting great amount of help and insights from all of you. June is coming and I am about to graduate, so I just needed some serious advice on my situation.

I am in my last quarter at UC Davis, and I have a 3.1 GPA overall, 3.0 for science. I was a biomed engi major for the first two years, and now I am a pharmaceutical chemistry major. I took my first DAT last November ( 23AA/22TS/22PAT) and was planning to retake it this summer. I'm a CA resident, but I'd go anywhere for dental school honestly. Working on my personal statement, had 200+ shadowing experience.

My question is, so I know my GPA is not strong at all... and I have seen a lot of posts about SMPs or 1,2 year masters program. I wanted to get more details on this and hear from people who have done this if there is any? Is there any way I could increase my undergrad GPA? What kind of masters program are there? Can you guys recommend me some? I heard about UCR, Western, etc, can someone get me more info about this?

Or should I just apply this cycle..?

I know there is probably a million similar posts, but please any help would be greatly appreciated!! T_T

Don't retake your DAT. I had similar scores and all the admissions I talked to said my scores were great. If I were you, I'd apply this coming cycle for both dental school and a masters. That way, if you don't get accepted, you can jump into a masters program right away without wasting a year.