Masters vs. Just Plugging On...? Third year applicant.

[tkorech]

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I'm about to be a third time applicant, and I've been asking about ways to inprove my application, and I've heard a lot of gread ideas. When it comes down to it, there are two categories: things I can do in addition to work (I'm currently a quality control chemist makig a decent living) such as taking classes, retaking the DAT, volunteering, trying to find part time dental work or research....or stopping everything and applying for a masters program in biology (biomedical or more specific).

I feel as though doing well with a masters may be the surest ticket in to dental school...but that would mean another year of school and not working, and a lot more debt on top of the already outrageous dental school debt. If perseverance and continuing to improve my dental application in "smaller" ways is just as likely to get me in, I don't want to waste the money. However, I do want do whatever I can to fulfill this dream. Advice??

Follow up questions, if masters is the way to go:

Do I still have a chance to apply for a masters in Fall 2013?

Can apply for dental school a third time in June AND masters program at the same time as a back up? Will that be frowned upon or will my efforts be admired?

Biomedical or simply a biology major? (I was a chem major in college, so still missing two of the "recommended" biology courses)

 

[Hawkteeth]

Definitely apply this cycle, to at least 15 schools. I would recommend a biomedical sciences masters, I went to Barry in Fl and they start in fall and spring so if its too late to apply you can always start in spring. I think your stats are good enough to get in, maybe you just didn't apply to the schools that would give you the best chance of gaining acceptance. Would you care to share?

 

[devz4lf]

Well the reason, and from what I feel atleast, why you havent made it yet is because either your DAT or gpa is not good enough. Now taking the DAT would be one option, and if you score significantly better when compared to your first DAT score that would be huge and can get you in. A second option, in which I strongly recommend would be to do a masters in biology. In all honesty it depends on your gpa from undergrad. If your are on the border, lets say a 3.2-3.4, I would do the DAT and try to rock that. If you are below that I would do a masters program. Some people I know do both, some do one or the other depending on what they lack in.

 

[Dentgrl2984]

I am in the same boat as the OP....Im kinda weary of doing a 1 yr masters also. My GPAs are 3.3, non trad student, working orthodontic asst for 5+ yrs but I am retaking DAT. I have undergraduate debt, then I would need loans for Masters and then loans for Dental school....am I able to get loans for Masters AND D school?

 

[Hawkteeth]

I am in the same boat as the OP....Im kinda weary of doing a 1 yr masters also. My GPAs are 3.3, non trad student, working orthodontic asst for 5+ yrs but I am retaking DAT. I have undergraduate debt, then I would need loans for Masters and then loans for Dental school....am I able to get loans for Masters AND D school?

You will be able to get loans for both. I would highly recommend it if you have applied a couple times and not gotten in. At my program almost all of the students there were reapplicants and I don't know anyone who didn't get in this cycle, or the previous one (I wasn't close with every student).

 

[tkorech]

Well the reason, and from what I feel atleast, why you havent made it yet is because either your DAT or gpa is not good enough. Now taking the DAT would be one option, and if you score significantly better when compared to your first DAT score that would be huge and can get you in. A second option, in which I strongly recommend would be to do a masters in biology. In all honesty it depends on your gpa from undergrad. If your are on the border, lets say a 3.2-3.4, I would do the DAT and try to rock that. If you are below that I would do a masters program. Some people I know do both, some do one or the other depending on what they lack in.

My Scores: GPA=3.47, SGPA=3.35 (and improving, since I've been taking science clases)
DAT March 2011: AA=19, TS=18, PA=19
DAT July 2012: AA=20, TS=20, PA=18

So my scores seem good enough to get in, but they aren't good enough to make me stand out.

 

[hope_to_match]

My Scores: GPA=3.47, SGPA=3.35 (and improving, since I've been taking science clases)
DAT March 2011: AA=19, TS=18, PA=19
DAT July 2012: AA=20, TS=20, PA=18

So my scores seem good enough to get in, but they aren't good enough to make me stand out.

Have you tried applying to NYU? From what I heard here on SDN- those scores (given that there is plenty of ECs, shadowing etc...) would sometimes be enough to get in

 

[Hawkteeth]

Have you tried applying to NYU? From what I heard here on SDN- those scores (given that there is plenty of ECs, shadowing etc...) would sometimes be enough to get in

NYU is one of many schools that people with lower stats should apply to. Others are Tufts, BU, Temple, Marquette, Case, UDM, Nova, LECOM, etc. Apply to your state school, private schools, expensive schools and new schools.

 

[hope_to_match]

NYU is one of many schools that people with lower stats should apply to. Others are Tufts, BU, Temple, Marquette, Case, UDM, Nova, LECOM, etc. Apply to your state school, private schools, expensive schools and new schools.

with those gpa's mentioned what would be a good DAT score to get into NYU (or other schools you mentioned)

 

[Hawkteeth]

with those gpa's mentioned what would be a good DAT score to get into NYU (or other schools you mentioned)

19 or 20 could get you in but higher is better. Also the application process is random so nothing is guaranteed, I thought I would for sure get an interview at NYU but I didn't.

 

[hope_to_match]

19 or 20 could get you in but higher is better. Also the application process is random so nothing is guaranteed, I thought I would for sure get an interview at NYU but I didn't.

is nyu your state school?

 

[Hawkteeth]

is nyu your state school?

No

 

[aznboi89x]

Nyu is not a state school whatsoever