Masters or Post Bacc? Big time help needed!

[m1lkman]

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Firstly, I thank you for taking the time to read this.

So my story goes as follows, I'm Canadian, I tanked my first two years at University, and then attended a CC to boost my GPA. I am now back at my University, I have killed my 3rd/4th year Biol and Psych courses. I'm year(ish) away from graduating with a Bachelor of Science deg in Combined Biology and Psychology.

The issue I am facing is that I am more than certain my GPA is far too low to gain admission to a dental school in US/Canada. I'm sitting at/around a 2.7gpa but with a very steep upwards trend.

I have decided to pursue my lifelong dream of Dentistry and am prepared to do whatever it takes to reach it. So comes the dilemma, should I be looking into a Masters program or should I do a Post-Bacc? There are several Dental/Oral Biology related MSc programs in Canada, which only look at your last two years of coursework in GPA calculations (thank god).

My other options are doing a post-bacc to up my undergrad GPA, but quite frankly speaking, with the amount of classes I didn't do well in, I believe it will be a VERY long process. I am also thinking of applying to a program in the US, such as MSc Biomed Sci at Barry University.

I have always wanted to be a dentist, as I have had pretty much every dental procedure done to me. (from gum implants to jaw expansion to maxillofacial jaw surgery on upper and lower jaws). I believe that my personal experience and determination will get me to my goal. So, please give me any advice you can and I'd greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thank you!

 

[kaDa]

First, I think you should have posted this in the postbac forum, but I'll give you my 2 cents anyway.

Your UG GPA is pretty low, low enough that it probably won't get you into any decent Master's programs. There is also a threshold most D-schools have that you need to be over. Concentrate on getting your cumulative and science GPA >3.0 (retakes are averaged). THEN go for a Master's. Just my opinion. If you have a few years of solid grades, a few D-schools might give you a shot with an awesome DAT. But be prepared to do a Master's, especially since getting your UG higher will be difficult due to the # of credits weighing your average down.

 

[m1lkman]

Your UG GPA is pretty low, low enough that it probably won't get you into any decent Master's programs. .

Thanks for the reply. As far as my low undergrad GPA and admission to Masters programs goes, most programs in Canada I've been looking at average your last two years (provided you have a full course load) in GPA calculation. My GPA this year (just finished) was 3.3. So from what I gather, I do stand a chance for Masters programs here at home.

My uGPA will be a bit higher by the time I graduate, as I have 14 courses left. So should I continue working on it even after I finish my degree requirements? Or should I do a Masters program if I gain admission into one? That's the dilemma I'm facing. As it will take a very long time to get my GPA over 3.0 because I've taken so many courses. But if its worth going this route, then it's something I must do.

 

[jslo85]

Firstly, I thank you for taking the time to read this.

So my story goes as follows, I'm Canadian, I tanked my first two years at University, and then attended a CC to boost my GPA. I am now back at my University, I have killed my 3rd/4th year Biol and Psych courses. I'm year(ish) away from graduating with a Bachelor of Science deg in Combined Biology and Psychology.

The issue I am facing is that I am more than certain my GPA is far too low to gain admission to a dental school in US/Canada. I'm sitting at/around a 2.7gpa but with a very steep upwards trend.

I have decided to pursue my lifelong dream of Dentistry and am prepared to do whatever it takes to reach it. So comes the dilemma, should I be looking into a Masters program or should I do a Post-Bacc? There are several Dental/Oral Biology related MSc programs in Canada, which only look at your last two years of coursework in GPA calculations (thank god).

My other options are doing a post-bacc to up my undergrad GPA, but quite frankly speaking, with the amount of classes I didn't do well in, I believe it will be a VERY long process. I am also thinking of applying to a program in the US, such as MSc Biomed Sci at Barry University.

I have always wanted to be a dentist, as I have had pretty much every dental procedure done to me. (from gum implants to jaw expansion to maxillofacial jaw surgery on upper and lower jaws). I believe that my personal experience and determination will get me to my goal. So, please give me any advice you can and I'd greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thank you!

Thanks for the reply. As far as my low undergrad GPA and admission to Masters programs goes, most programs in Canada I've been looking at average your last two years (provided you have a full course load) in GPA calculation. My GPA this year (just finished) was 3.3. So from what I gather, I do stand a chance for Masters programs here at home.

My uGPA will be a bit higher by the time I graduate, as I have 14 courses left. So should I continue working on it even after I finish my degree requirements? Or should I do a Masters program if I gain admission into one? That's the dilemma I'm facing. As it will take a very long time to get my GPA over 3.0 because I've taken so many courses. But if its worth going this route, then it's something I must do.

Kada is right that you should be posting this in the post-bacc forum and his advice though short is on the right track.

The question I think that only you can answer is whether you wish to attend dental school in Canada or the United States. If it's the former then I assume attending a Masters program there will probably be more time efficient for you to do so, but if in the United States, it will be a more tedious process.

You currently say you have a 2.7 with an upwards trend and that you have courses left but that it will be sub 3.0. Have you done an AASDAS coursework calculation on what your sGPA will be?

In the United States for your situation, there are two types of programs that your situation would more or less call for: SMPs and AET formal post-bacc programs. The former (SMP) will provide you with a GPA that will for all essential purposes be a clean slate in the graduate category and they often offer dental/medical school courses taken wih the D1s at the medical/dental school OR dental/medical school equivalent graduate courses taught by the D1 core science faculty. As these courses are often graded against the D1 average, there is a distinct advantage in successful SMP students in applying to dental school.

You need to be careful when selecting which program you wish to apply to if you choose this route because if you choose to apply elsewhere after completing the program, often the "preference" that other schools will place on you having completed the program depends largely on whether they have heard of the school/program that you have come from. Certain programs that would cater to pre-dental students would be BU MAMS (oral dental track), NSU MBS, Tufts MBS, UMDNJ MBS, Midwestern MBS (AZCOM and CCOM), PCOM MBS and a few others. The one you cited, Barry MBS is subjective as they do not have their own dental school (being a podiatry school) but has linkages within the region to NSU. If you end up choosing Barry (I think there are better programs to attend), aim only for the 1 year accelerated track.

For formal AET programs, there are a few offered around the US but I would choose one that offers linkages within the region or to certain schools.

Anyway, you should work on obtaining a good DAT score. With a sub 3.0 GPA, you aren't competitive for most of the SMPs I listed with the exception of Barry and an acceptance there for you would revolve around what DAT score you obtain to offset your GPA. I'd work on obtaining a DAT score and making up your mind whether you wish to attend dental school first (Canada vs. US).

If you want more information, PM because I never check this forum. Posting in the post-bacc forum would also probably help you as there are many pre-dental students in the same boat as you there.

Good luck