Poll for applicants with Masters degrees

[lemoncurry]

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I'm trying to get an idea of how much or little having a Masters degree helps your chances of acceptance. If I don't get accepted this year, I may be pursuing an MS.

If you have a Masters degree, please post what it is/what subject.

 

[DMDreaming]

I am writing my thesis in Biochemistry right now and will defend later this spring. Pursuing my master's was mentioned at both of my interviews and was discussed at length where I was accepted. It's been a positive for me.

 

[SMCohen]

I'm pursuing a Masters in Innovation Management - I incorporated the goals of the program into my personal statement, and I've been asked about it at my interviews. It's basically an accelerated Masters degree in management.

 

[Hysteria24]

At one of my interviews there was a large percentage of candidates either holding or completing a master’s degree. I was pretty surprised by that number.

 

[microserf123]

I'm currently writing my thesis in Experimental Medicine right now. Hope to defend in April so I can be a waste of food and space before school starts in August

 

[dmonee6]

I'm on my second masters degree. My 3.8 gpa in my masters in biomedical sciences didn't seem to impress any schools. Either did my 3.9 GPA in my MBA program really. But thankfully, i did get in this time.

 

[bjhath]

I've got a Master's in Mechanical Engineering and am changing careers.

I think getting into dental school this year is a no go - low DAT (took it before taking ochem or bio - I self studied and did okay, considering, but not the 20+ I feel I need), and I applied late in the cycle.

I am finishing up prereqs this semester (bio and ochem) and will be on top of it for next cycle, assuming I don't get in this year.

enjoy,

brian

 

[denticus]

Yeah, before and without a master's, I got rejected from every single school I applied to with NO interviews either. This time around, with a masters, I got 7 interviews and 2 acceptances so far (maybe no more). Yeah, I did talk with adcoms about my master's project but I don't think that it received anymore emphasis then other aspects of my file. I think that it helped but more for the fact that it simply allowed me to take more classes to raise my GPA and to prove that I could handle upper level science courses and not so much for the research. Applying before without a master's I had 3 publications and it obviously didn't help. Taken together, getting the degree itself and taking the classes associated with the master's helped the most. That's funny that this thread just came up today because I just received the bound copy of my thesis in the mail, also today.

For those considering a master's to improve their application I would recommend it.

 

[Hoprod3]

I'm finishing my thesis and every interview I had asked me about it. I think it is a good way to stand out from other people (even though it appears many people are pursuing their M.S.). I think it is one main reason why I was interviewed and accepted.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

I have a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from UMich, and I have a post-bacc B.S. in Bio from Northwestern.

I got accepted to two schools.

In my opinion for my particular situation, both of these degrees greatly contributed towards my acceptance since my undergrad gpa was only 2.9.

Between these two degrees, I felt that the post-bacc bio degree was more important since it was the most recent, and it is more related to dentistry.

In addition, the post-bacc Bio degree allowed me to get several strong Letter of Eval from both science profs and from an Academic student advisor. I earned my M.S. in engineering 7 years ago.

In conclusion, I believe my post-bacc Bio degree would have been sufficient towards both my acceptances.

 

[jjkim1232]

Hi Everyone,

Do you guys think all/most schools require you to finish the MS before entering school?

I am currently in the process of finishing (I have taken all of my quired courses and now I am just analyzing data and writing) but if I were to get accepted this cycle....would I have to finish my MS degree before I can attend dental school?

I am a bit worried because my data analysis is going slow and I am gonna have to really get it going if I am to finish this summer.

So, which schools (that you guys know of) require a accepted applicant to finish the Masters prior to stat of dental school? And will these schools actually nullify their acceptance if you dont complete prior to starting school?

 

[Hysteria24]

Hi Everyone,

Do you guys think all/most schools require you to finish the MS before entering school?

Yes… Both of my acceptances were contingent on me entering with the courses and degrees that I had listed on my AADSAS application. That means my MS too. An admissions director from another school also confirmed this in a Q/A session for their particular school.

 

[jjkim1232]

Yes… Both of my acceptances were contingent on me entering with the courses and degrees that I had listed on my AADSAS application. That means my MS too. An admissions director from another school also confirmed this in a Q/A session for their particular school.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply....and info.

Can anyone confirm this to be true at Midwestern?

 

[chipab]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply....and info.

Can anyone confirm this to be true at Midwestern?

I believe you must be completed with everything before you start dental school. I think this goes for almost all dental schools. I don't think you would have time to finish your masters and go to dental school at the same time.

 

[SMCohen]

I believe you must be completed with everything before you start dental school. I think this goes for almost all dental schools. I don't think you would have time to finish your masters and go to dental school at the same time.

My acceptance to Nova is actually unconditional - I called in December to check what the requirements were, and they said it was only contingent on finishing my undergrad (which I had completed last spring). So, maybe my Masters in management didn't play a role in my application. Too bad it's not partially refundable 😛

 

[pishi1361]

Well, I am hoping to finish my masters by summer, I am getting my masters in biochemistry, I have a 3.9 GPA in my masters, and my undergrad GPA was 3.2, my DAT was pretty good but I only applied to California Dental schools though. I already had 3 interview, but no acceptance so far,,, and UCSF already rejected my applications!!! so I don't know how this is all gonna turn out,,,,, I hope it helps,,,,, but I am loosing my hope,,, but I think if you don't mind moving out of California, I think you will be having a great chance of acceptance

 

[dr bojangles]

i'd suggest at the very least, apply for masters now. if you get into DS, just leave masters before starting. if no DS, then fine, alls well as you start your masters.
and yes, most schools require you finish all aforementioned studies/degrees before matriculation. some schools will let you transfer credits from DS into your masters, so you get masters degree after 1-2 courses in first year DS.

 

[Smills91]

I've applied for 4 years now. First year I just threw my application in hoping I'd finish my undergraduate in time and get accepted. I got my BS done, but did poorly on the DAT my first time(I took it a week before I got married, DUMB).

Next year I moved to Louisville to establish residency in Kentucky - it had two schools, best odds(I thought). I worked for a year and applied and re-took the DAT. I upped it considerably. I was put on the next to be contact list at Louisville(my first and only interview)and was ultimately rejected in late May.

So for the next year I decided to start a Master's degree. Since I was kinda late in the game, I found out about the Master's in Public Health at Louisville, a 2 year program. I applied, got accepted and started. I applied to D-school again and was put on the next to be contact list at Louisville again(my first and only interview of that cycle) but I was strung out all the way until the 2nd day of classes before I was rejected.

Since the MPH is a 2 year program, here I am now finishing up my MPH here in May. I interviewed at Louisville again on Aug. 30th and also was invited at Midwestern on Sept. 17th. I was accepted to Louisville on Nov. 30th and rejected by Midwestern on Dec. 15th - I chose the Global Warming essay to write about and took a very HONEST and CONSERVATIVE(politically speaking) approach...I think that did me in, lol. Oh well.

So after 4 years of applying and probably 10,000 in the hole from applying and 40,000 grand in the hole for my Master's I'm finally IN, but I do get the in-state tuition break now. So, I guess it's all worked out in the end for me.

The MPH degree isn't what I thought it would be, but it's still a very highly respected degree especially amongst many health professionals. The one pro to it vs. other Master programs is that it has a PRACTICUM experience(more hands on practical approach) rather than a THESIS(more academic/research based).

IF you don't get in, I highly suggest a Master's degree, because it helped me to get in, but more importantly, if the unthinkable had happened, I now have a plan B to fall back onto.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Lemoncurry,
Your grades and DAT scores are solid. You even show that you have a 3.77 post-bacc gpa. However, the only weakness I see on your profile on predents is that you only applied to 5 schools.

From the little info I have about you, I would think that a full-blown M.S. for you would be overkill. I would personally just keep taking a few post-bacc bio classes at night (like at UC Berkeley Extension) and find a decent day job. Maybe you could get a research job. Avoiding an M.S. program could save you $30,000 - $50,000.

If things don't work out this year, reapplying in May 2009 to around 10 schools should lead to an acceptance.

 

[lemoncurry]

Ron, you're looking at last year's profile. I applied to 11 schools this year. I've had 5 interviews and a 6th coming up for an alternate spot.

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Wow, I'm an idiot. For some reason, when I clicked on your profile in predents, the screen went straight to the 2007 stats and I of course I didn't notice.

Best of luck to you on your six interviews.

 

[Hysteria24]

Wow, I'm an idiot. For some reason, when I clicked on your profile in predents, the screen went straight to the 2007 stats and I of course I didn't notice.

Yeah, there is some weird glitch. If you are browsing the 2007 or 2006 data and then close the window, it will automatically bring you back to that year the next time you go to predents.com.

 

[Sawmoo]

I believe you must be completed with everything before you start dental school. I think this goes for almost all dental schools. I don't think you would have time to finish your masters and go to dental school at the same time.

Can we complete our Masters after we complete our dental? I started my Masters bc I applied late to dental school last time and I wanted to stay in "study-mode" since I've heard it is somewhat hard to start studying again after graduating from college, but now I will only need an extra semester to finish my Master which will be during the Fall of 2008 (aka start of dental school) and I won't be able to finish when dental school starts.

Can I finish it after my dental degree? Will the school still accept me?
😕

 

[presjc2]

I have an MPH in Epidemiology from UT Houston School of public health and an MA in Biochemistry from Rice Univ. I haven't been accepted but I interviewed at SA and Houston. Getting a masters just shows your committment to education, you still have to do well. I don't think doing an MPH is better than a research masters (Ive done both) or vice versa, you should decide whether you would like a professional (Do the MPH) or a lab job (do the MA or MS) to fall back on if you don't get in. For me, even if I still don't get in, I'll keep trying but in the meantime, I'm looking for a clinical research study coordinator type position that incorporates both public health and basic science/medical research.

 

[presjc2]

Sawmoo: Most schools require you to have the masters done before you enter, although I've heard of some schools that will still let you start dental school but they will expect you to finish off the masters during your own free time (usually summers). And they have a deadline, usually you have until 2nd-3rd year to get it done. Otherwise, they force you to take time off so you can finish it meaning you will not graduate with your incoming class. Bottom line; Check with the school you get admitted to.

 

[dr bojangles]

lemoncurry, it seems you'd like to stay out west, or midwest. thought about more schools in the east besides maryland or vcu?
by the way, your stats look great. aside from you numbers and the shadowing, do you have any research/volunteer/work experience or other EC's?

 

[lemoncurry]

bojangles, it's interesting that you would assume that I want to stay out west. VCU made the same assumption about me last year. I have no particular desire to stay here, but I applied to more schools out this way simply because more of them appealed to me. Turns out that I have very compelling reasons to head back east, but part of the problem seems to be that people assume I want to stay in CA.

I have no research experience as of yet, although that is due to change next quarter. I have no work experience in the health care industry, but I do have 7 years of work experience under my belt prior to returning to school. Schools know all this stuff. I think too many assumptions are being made about me.

 

[denticus]

bojangles, it's interesting that you would assume that I want to stay out west. VCU made the same assumption about me last year. I have no particular desire to stay here, but I applied to more schools out this way simply because more of them appealed to me. Turns out that I have very compelling reasons to head back east, but part of the problem seems to be that people assume I want to stay in CA.

I have no research experience as of yet, although that is due to change next quarter. I have no work experience in the health care industry, but I do have 7 years of work experience under my belt prior to returning to school. Schools know all this stuff. I think too many assumptions are being made about me.

Hey, good luck with your UoP interview. I know you've probably heard this a thousand times with respect to other schools, but I thought you ought to know that I think your chances at UoP would...again...be high considering the amount of people I've seen so far who got into UoP with stats worse then yours. I'm still BOGGLED with respect to the whole "VCU incident." I seriously am clueless as to why they would even consider me when they have someone with your caliber applying there. I hope you get in there in a few weeks. Also, did you hear ANYTHING from Case or Creighton? I know that they have been sending out 2nd rounds recently. Good luck Lemoncurry!!!