Should I stay another year doing BS or get MS

[dleodyddlek]

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Hi. I need advice on what I should do to go to dental school

I am a junior in Stony brook. I'm doing my BS in biochem and I recently decided to go to dental school. My GPA is 3.62 and science GPA is 3.67. Finished all my basic pre-req and took some additional courses that might help such as anatomy, microbio, genetics, statistics, and cell bio. I haven't taken DAT yet. I have been TAing in Chemistry dept for a year. I worked as research assistant for a calendar year, voluteer research for a 6 month and assisting with a project now in pharmacology dept which I will be working on till graduation. I have been playing musical instrument for 6 years. Active member of three different clubs and currently president of one of them. That's pretty much it for my resume I guess.

And here's the problem. I have done only about 10 hours of shadowing a year ago. At that time I thought I wouldn't go to dental school so I quited but I now regret about my decision. I know I definitely need more shadowing or volunteering hours but I don't think I can start it right now. Even if I look for it now, I think it might take some time before I get started and I'm worried if I'm late to get enough hours before admission process.

Also, I haven't started studying for DAT which I am planning to study deep over the summer but I doubt if that'd be enough.

So here are my options.

To have extra time to study for DAT and get more volunteer and shadowing experience,

1: I could just work on my MS in chemistry which I was planning to get before deciding to go to dental school and it'll take an extra year since it's a combined program for 5 years.

Or,

2: I could stay as bachealor's for another year taking some more classes that might help me with dental school and boost up my GPA a little. and at the same time, do some intership from cosmetic company and more research.

But in those two cases, I have this strong feeling that I'm wasting a hole year.

That was such a long prologue.
So my final question is;

Should I just apply in this cycle? Will I be able to get enough shadowing hours before the admission committee look at my app? Will I have enough time to study for DAT?

I know the app is available in mid May and if I apply then, I should be getting my LOR's from professors and a dentist but I don't know any dentist yet. and at the same time, they'll want me to write my shadowing hours, but by then, I won't have much hours to write. Will I be able to do shadowing after sending in app and then update it later? If I do so, when's the best, or last time I should update my app? I'm just totally confused as you can see from this messy chunk of thread.... please help me! Thank you!

 

[jigabodo]

Don't wait a year. Since your GPA is good and have completed all prereqs, just apply as soon as the cycle opens up.

You will only need about 100 hours of shadowing and volunteering each with your GPA, and that is not something that will take a long time.

 

[A8]

Don't wait a year. Since your GPA is good and have completed all prereqs, just apply as soon as the cycle opens up.

You will only need about 100 hours of shadowing and volunteering each with your GPA, and that is not something that will take a long time.

Apply for the 09 cycle and you will be fine!

 

[dleodyddlek]

Don't wait a year. Since your GPA is good and have completed all prereqs, just apply as soon as the cycle opens up.

You will only need about 100 hours of shadowing and volunteering each with your GPA, and that is not something that will take a long time.

The problem is, I don't have much time to do shadowing as of now. I heard someone applied first and then did shadowing over the summer and updated his app. and still got accepted to many schools. Is that possible?

 

[ElectraOnAzalea]

I only had 30 hours of shadowing by the time i submitted my application. I continued to shadow more after that and I indicated this on my secondaries. You don't have to spend 100s of hours standing over a dentists shoulder to get into dental school. Just have enough hours so they know you know what you're getting yourself into, and so you can speak about the things you saw and what interests you about the field!