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Hello everyone!
I graduated this semester with a degree in biochemistry. I am interested in applying to dental schools next year for 2015 admission. During the upcoming academic year, I plan to do some damage control in order to improve my application before applying. My sgpa is 3.2, and overall is ~3.4. Do you have any suggestions regarding future courses of action? This is what I have considered:
1. Do an informal post-bacc for a semester with upper division bio courses (eg. if I take 2 courses and earn As, it bumps me up to only a ~3.26). I would apply for Spring semester Masters degree programs in the hard sciences (preferably 1-1.5 years in length). This way, only 1 semester's worth of graduate grades will be available before applying.
2. Do an informal post-bacc for two semesters to bump up the sgpa to ~3.3.
3. Hurry and apply to masters programs that start this fall (July deadlines). Two semesters worth of graduate gpa would be earned before applying.
I have browsed many SDN threads regarding post baccs vs masters programs. From what I have gathered, post-baccs can help nudge the undergrad sgpa a little, while masters degrees have their own grad gpa. Some people say that masters programs give you a fresh start, offer upper level science courses and show devotion to the field, while others say that the undergrad gpa is the most important factor (and that the masters degree is like an extracurricular). Do dental schools look at the grad gpa only once the program is done or do they consider grad gpa earned up until the point of application submission?
In my case, what do you suggest to be the best option? Should I regret not applying to fall masters programs earlier (I did not apply earlier because I wanted my spring semester grades to count, and wanted to focus only on my courses)?
Thank you for your time!
I graduated this semester with a degree in biochemistry. I am interested in applying to dental schools next year for 2015 admission. During the upcoming academic year, I plan to do some damage control in order to improve my application before applying. My sgpa is 3.2, and overall is ~3.4. Do you have any suggestions regarding future courses of action? This is what I have considered:
1. Do an informal post-bacc for a semester with upper division bio courses (eg. if I take 2 courses and earn As, it bumps me up to only a ~3.26). I would apply for Spring semester Masters degree programs in the hard sciences (preferably 1-1.5 years in length). This way, only 1 semester's worth of graduate grades will be available before applying.
2. Do an informal post-bacc for two semesters to bump up the sgpa to ~3.3.
3. Hurry and apply to masters programs that start this fall (July deadlines). Two semesters worth of graduate gpa would be earned before applying.
I have browsed many SDN threads regarding post baccs vs masters programs. From what I have gathered, post-baccs can help nudge the undergrad sgpa a little, while masters degrees have their own grad gpa. Some people say that masters programs give you a fresh start, offer upper level science courses and show devotion to the field, while others say that the undergrad gpa is the most important factor (and that the masters degree is like an extracurricular). Do dental schools look at the grad gpa only once the program is done or do they consider grad gpa earned up until the point of application submission?
In my case, what do you suggest to be the best option? Should I regret not applying to fall masters programs earlier (I did not apply earlier because I wanted my spring semester grades to count, and wanted to focus only on my courses)?
Thank you for your time!
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