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[futuredentist7918]

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[deleted]

 

[doc toothache]

Neither. Time might be better spent on improving the gpa.

 

[macsak]

Hi SDN! I am taking a year or two gap before going to dental school. This next year I want to do both research as well as dental assisting; however, the DA job I got is a full time 9-6 M-Th and 9-2 on Fridays. Would I still have time to do research? Or should I just try to focus on one or the other instead of both. And if that is the case, which do you think would be more beneficial?

Stats:
cGPA: 2.92/ sGPA: 2.52
DAT: 23
Shadowing: 160 hrs

If I do not get in this round, I plan on applying to a masters and doing well in order to boost my GPA (hence the 1-2 years of gap) -- undergrad was a rough time for me, but I've learned from my mistakes and fixed other things that were going on. My dream schools are Boston University and UIC. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!

go immediately to a masters

 

[Mcat__cat!!!]

You should focus on your master program. Doing well ( 4.0) in master program is the main thing that get you in dental school.
Research and dental job are good to have but not too essential. Many students got in without those. Good luck!

 

[futuredentist7918]

My issue right now is that it is too late to apply to master's programs. So I would have to take a year regardless before matriculating into a masters program. But I want to stay immersed in the dental field while I wait which is why I asked about research and the assisting job.

 

[FanOfCostco]

you wont have time really to do research if your working a full time job.

 

[Diamond_9]

My issue right now is that it is too late to apply to master's programs. So I would have to take a year regardless before matriculating into a masters program. But I want to stay immersed in the dental field while I wait which is why I asked about research and the assisting job.

Since UIC is your dream school I am assuming you are from Illinois? There are quite a few masters programs in Chicago that you can apply to and if it is too late, I would apply for spring (I did a masters in Chicago). In my experience, I had applied to a masters program that started in the spring and was accepted to dental schools while still completing the masters degree. Most of the masters programs in Chicago allow you to do research as well. If I was in your position, that is what I would do instead of taking an entire year off.

 

[futuredentist7918]

Since UIC is your dream school I am assuming you are from Illinois? There are quite a few masters programs in Chicago that you can apply to and if it is too late, I would apply for spring (I did a masters in Chicago). In my experience, I had applied to a masters program that started in the spring and was accepted to dental schools while still completing the masters degree. Most of the masters programs in Chicago allow you to do research as well. If I was in your position, that is what I would do instead of taking an entire year off.

That's what I am kind of thinking of doing! In your case did you end up doing dental school alongside the masters, or were you able to drop the masters program? Also, what masters program if I may ask?

 

[Diamond_9]

That's what I am kind of thinking of doing! In your case did you end up doing dental school alongside the masters, or were you able to drop the masters program? Also, what masters program if I may ask?

I had the option to not continue the masters, but I decided to finish it since it was only one year long and I had only one semester left. However, it is up to each school to determine if you need to finish the program or not.