MS in Biology

[periopocket]

Hey guys, I was wondering what you think about doing a regular MS in Biology at a state school? Is that frowned upon? Will it decrease chances or does it all come down to the grades you receive in your course work. Does anyone have any experience with doing a regular MS degree, and being accepted to dental school? Or is it all about a special masters program such as: UMDNJ, MIDWESTERN, DREXEL, TULANE, BARRY?

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[dskies]

I'm a Canadian and am just finishing up a "regular" MSc degree in canada..meaning do research and write a thesis that you defend at the end. I think it helped me a lot to get into dental school this round. I don't really know what the special masters programs at those schools have to offer, but i think that doing a research based masters will only help an application. unless of course you get a bad recommendation from your advisor...

 

[93geo]

Hey guys, I was wondering what you think about doing a regular MS in Biology at a state school? Is that frowned upon? Will it decrease chances or does it all come down to the grades you receive in your course work. Does anyone have any experience with doing a regular MS degree, and being accepted to dental school? Or is it all about a special masters program such as: UMDNJ, MIDWESTERN, DREXEL, TULANE, BARRY?

from what I understand having an MS gives you an advantage over others that only have BS degrees. getting the MS would also give you a chance to improve your gpa and most require you to do research so you would be adding research experience to your resume. you should talk to someone in admissions at the schools you want to attend first before you dedicate 2 years to the MS degree.

 

[periopocket]

Thank you so much for your feedback guys...Im in a dilemma: I applied to dental school this cycle with a 3.2 Cum / 3.1 Sci / 3.15 BCP / 20 AA / 20 TS / 21 PAT (no score below 19). I received only one interview in January...so I know my chances are really low. I have been accepted into an MS in Biology program that starts in the spring at a local state college. FYI: I stayed in undergrad for an extra 3 semesters and my last 4 semesters have consisted of all upper level BIO courses, I have not fallen below a 3.5 for these last four semesters and just got a 3.8 last semester - just to get my GPA up to this level, and its saturated! Choices: (1) Unofficial post bac for spring semester and all summer, followed by reapplication to dental school and several " SMP's" UMDNJ, DREXEL, MIDWESTERN. (2) Start MS in Biology at a regular state school rite away, and can finish it by end of FALL Semester, it consists of only 31 credits, and is non-thesis based, still requiring some research and presentation, but mostly lots of upper level bio courses.

Thanks for your feedback, it means a lot to me. I would prefer not to dance with the DAT again either.

 

[Sisero68]

OP,

I started my MA in Biology the same cycle i applied, So no, special masters are not required (i am a nontraditional and started with 126 credits at a 2.8 oGPA so i know what it feels like to try pulling up an anchor of a GPA) IMO make sure to do the following and you will be in good shape...

1) continued upward trend
2) heavy course load (almost all sciences)
3) dedication through continued learning/experience
4) your DAT is great, so unless a school specifically tells you otherwise dont retake.
5) call a handful of schools and directly ask them how to become a better applicant and let them know your current plan. (Some will be brutally honest, others very insightful)

 

[periopocket]

Thanks so much Sisero, I was hoping to hear from you. Congratulations on your acceptance, you did dam well!! I will follow your guidelines! Not much hope in 1 January 18th interview, but ill give that my all too!!

Anyone who has masters success stories please share with me your journeys!!

Are Informal Undergraduate Post-Bacc's out of the question these days for science majors? Rumor has it, that many schools reject individuals who do informal post bacs heavy in science, following 100+ credits of science courses for those with pre-health/science bachelors??

 

[tntme321]

Sounds like the place where I can share some advice- After applying twice without any luck and a science GPA hoovering around a 3.0, I applied to a MA program at a state school which focuses on students who want to continue with professional education but for some reason or another (low GPA / just something to do in their gap year) are not into thier program yet. Although there was only minor differences between this and most masters programs. After getting some more shadowing hours in and dominating all of my graduate classes plus mastering the DAT I finally have been invited to four interviews this year (two so far with one acceptance, two more this month). Currently I am working on my MS because it was more along the lines of research work I was working on, but I dont think that the MA/MS makes much of a difference, as long as the schools know you can handle the work load and do well at a post-undergrad level. In my personal opinion, I think with my masters I will be more able to cope with the demands of dental school versus two years ago. My research advisor expects me to be working in the lab all times when I am not attending class, which has made me manage my time more effectively, an 8-5 is a normal graduate day and from what I hear this is pretty similar to dental school. If this is what you truely want, there is nothing that will stand in your way. It only takes one school to accept you and see your potential.

 

[periopocket]

Thank you so much for your response, another vote of confidence, do you think that If I have my oGPA/SCI GPA/BCP at 3.33 by the end of the summer, and reapply, that I will have a chance for next cycle given my DAT scores, and MS at hand? Thanks so much for your time again....congratulations on your acceptance tntme321, you earned it!

 

[tntme321]

I think you would have an excellent chance then, but as you get more and more classes under your belt it will be harder and harder for your GPA to change, however most of the schools I have talked to said they take a look at the applicant overall. I myself feared that one look at my GPA and my application would get shredded and my first few semesters of college would overshadow the work I have put into pulling myself out of and academic trench. Keep focused and wake up every morning knowing what you want. Good Luck.

 

[exrag07]

Hey guys, I was wondering what you think about doing a regular MS in Biology at a state school? Is that frowned upon? Will it decrease chances or does it all come down to the grades you receive in your course work. Does anyone have any experience with doing a regular MS degree, and being accepted to dental school? Or is it all about a special masters program such as: UMDNJ, MIDWESTERN, DREXEL, TULANE, BARRY?

I have been down this road before! The first time I applied I wasn't accepted; so, I immediately scheduled a meeting with my state school to discuss the descision of the admissions committee. I was told that it was my science GPA that was the issue. So, I frantically studied for the GRE and applied to the most science-ish program I could find, Molecular Biology. I finished the program with high marks in a year and a half and was accepted this time around. I think the reason dental school's push MS programs so hard for people who aren't accepted is because they want to see that the applicant can be successful at the graduate level. Not to mention you get extensive research / thesis writing experience that most undergrads don't have. At any rate, all that to say....it worked great for me! So good luck!