Master's? SMP? Post-bac?

[asdfff1]

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Hello world,

Waitlisted at one school, 2 rejections, and no responses to 7 other schools. Although I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I'm thinking my chances are done for this year's cycle. I'm planning on applying to the 1 year Rutgers MBS Program for the Fall '15 semester.

My question is....
If I apply to the Rutgers program and then apply to dental schools entering the '15-'16 cycle around the same time, how will dental schools know whether or not to reject me with my new classes and updated GPA, for i'd finish my first semester of the program by December.

More generally, what do you guys think of doing a masters program. My GPA is 3.0 Science and 3.3 Overall, with a 21AA, 20TS, 18 PAT.

Obviously, you guys would need more info about my application, but from the statistics, what do you think is the best plan of action?

• Summer classes?
• Retake DAT?
• Pursue SMP?
• Keep fingers crossed for waitlist?!?!

Thanks guys. This forum has been such an invaluable resource for me. Hoping for good news for all of y'all too!

 

[asdfff1]

bumpty bump

 

[cacajuate]

If I was you I would just do a postbacc and save a bunch of money over the rutgers program. Your DAT is good and your GPA could become good after a couple semesters of science classes.

 

[DentalLonghorn2014]

If I was you I would just do a postbacc and save a bunch of money over the rutgers program. Your DAT is good and your GPA could become good after a couple semesters of science classes.

Yup. Just do well. Upward trends are key for low GPA applicants.

 

[Mikdarb]

I did Masters right after undergrad. I have been interviewing at three schools and so far I got accepted at one school.
Every interview, the interviewers say my masters degree is the strongest part of my application (even though I got 23AA and 27 PAT. I also have 2+ years of research with a co-first authorship publication)
So I would say doing masters is a better option. Also, instead of MBS, I would recommend public health related.

Good luck

 

[TourdeTeeth]

I also did a 2-year Masters right after undergrad. It was the best decision I ever made. I had one semester of grad classes on my transcript when I applied and I only received 1 interview with a 4.0, good DAT score, an insane amount of community service and shadowing, and lots of research hours. Here is a quote from another thread that answers exactly what you're asking about having grades posted on your transcript. Here's the link to the other thread, as well.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/how-does-a-masters-program-work.1116698/#post-16103881

It all depends on your situation. SMP's are one year programs, while most thesis based master's take two years. So there is a year of lost revenue that you won't be making as a dentist if you do a two year master's. The price of an SMP and the lost revenue from that year you won't be working as a dentist will probably even out.

But there is one thing they don't tell you about SMP's. If you apply for one of these programs to begin taking courses in the fall of 2015, then you will be forgoing the 2015 application cycle that begins classes in fall 2016. With an SMP you will graduate Spring 2016. But, if you're banking on good grades in an SMP to get you into dental school then you won't be able to apply with your SMP grades on your transcript until the 2016 application cycle, to begin classes in fall 2017. So you'd have to find a job or something for your year off and I don't think that an SMP would be as marketable as a thesis based degree. And with a thesis degree you could stay in your program until May 2017 and that would most likely be paid for as a graduate assistant on your campus.

 

[Blake1e]

Take more undergrad sci courses to boost your sciGPA to at least 3.2, this should be priority number one. If youre up to it and confident you could get a 22AA or higher and at least a 20 in all sections, then you should retake the DAT. While youre working on your GPA, you could also do some EC. Shadow in clinics, in private offices, gen dentists, and diff specialties. The more diff types the better. Also look into doing bio or chem research, it could really help.