New Graduate School Thread

[purduephigam]

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My first attempt to discuss this was bringing to life a thread about graduate dropouts. It's similar to my scenario, but not exactly.

Right now I am in a non-thesis master's program. All in all, it's just a fancy (and expensive) name for "I'm-showing-you-I-can-take-more-classes-and-want-to-go-to-dental-school."

Now it seems that if someone like me is accepted during this cycle, it's acceptable to withdraw from graduate school, not on poor performance, but for other educational opportunities. In fact, my advisor knows that I am here strictly for attempting to get into dental school. Now assuming I get at least one interview this year (hoping anyway), I'm sure the question will come up what I might do if accepted (or vise versa). I would make it clear to them that my intentions of enrolling in a program such as this were to prove that I can handle a rigorous work load, as well as increase my gpa, etc. It is not my intention to attain a master's but if I am not accepted this year then I will have attained my master's by the following May.

It seems like there are some people who set out for graduate school and then started to turn towards dentistry. In my case, graduate school was a backup plan (since I was not accepted last year), and was just a means to continue my education (try to raise gpa) "until" I get to dental school. I feel this shows that I'm more committed to my future as a dentist rather than a researcher, etc.

I'm not sure if anyone else is in my boat or not. I'm hoping this will give me a slight advantage, but again, my only intentions were to take these classes to prepare myself more for dental school and to prove to the schools that I ultimately want to become a D.D.S., not an M.S.

 

[reapply2007]

This is a good question. I wouldn't imagine that a dental school is too terribly worried about you dropping the program if you show them that it is a stepping stone to dental school. This program sounds like an opportunity to have lots of student loans if you aren't careful. I've heard of and met quite a few people who finished their MS (bio-med area) with the goal of dental or medical school. I haven't met anyone who failed to get into their dream field as a result of success in a MS program.

If you do well in your program, I would say it's an asset. However, I don't see how it boosts your GPA until the 2008 admissions cycle since it's only October now and you probably don't have a lot of courses completed yet to support your 2007 application. It sounds like you started maybe three months ago, most likely about a month after AADSAS submission. Without grades to document the coursework it seems like the only thing you can do for 2007 is to send in fall semester grades after Dec 1 if you aren't admitted to dental school on Dec 1. You may end up completing the graduate program anyway, even if it isn't what you prefer.

 

[purduephigam]

Also with this I'm not really sure how much my grades will determine. Again, my grades will be updated at the end of December. Obviously 3 As would look great, but I don't think it will sway my schools. They already know I am taking more graduate level courses, I'm just not sure how much grades will influence my acceptance. I could be wrong, but I think it's more the effort than anything else.

Now don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean I can just twidle my thumbs while waiting for interview letters, emails, etc. Grad school is tough! But I enjoy the challenge, and I feel I am building work ethic for the future, again, proving my dedication towards dental school. Given I still feel I have a chance for this cycle, I am assuming the worst and am prepared to finish my graduate schooling if I am not accepted this year. What ever it takes to get in. If it takes a master's and a post-bacc of 3.0-3.5, bring it.