This is some good info for those of you with low GPAs!

[AUTigers]

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I was doing a graduation check with my advisor today and I happened to ask about a Master's program. I asked her if it would be better to complete a Master's degree, or just take post-bacc classes. She said that once my Master's was finished, the dental schools would only look at the GPA for that degree, and place great emphasis on that GPA compared to undergrad.

I was always kind of confused about this, and I hope that it clears some questions for others.

Also, Sorry if this is much talked about information, I was just too excited that I didn't want to go through the search engine!

 

[packbacker]

Unfortunately, this is not true for all schools. I've contacted several schools about my poor undergrad GPA (and high graduate GPA) with mixed results. While some schools do take the advanced degree into consideration, others such as Case and Temple do not (from my limited conversations with admissions officers).
Doing well in a Master's degree is a BIG positive, but it isn't the "get out of undergrad gpa free card" that your advisor seems to think it is, at least in my limited experience in a similar situation.

PB

I was doing a graduation check with my advisor today and I happened to ask about a Master's program. I asked her if it would be better to complete a Master's degree, or just take post-bacc classes. She said that once my Master's was finished, the dental schools would only look at the GPA for that degree, and place great emphasis on that GPA compared to undergrad.

I was always kind of confused about this, and I hope that it clears some questions for others.

Also, Sorry if this is much talked about information, I was just too excited that I didn't want to go through the search engine!

 

[Pikeyman]

I was doing a graduation check with my advisor today and I happened to ask about a Master's program. I asked her if it would be better to complete a Master's degree, or just take post-bacc classes. She said that once my Master's was finished, the dental schools would only look at the GPA for that degree, and place great emphasis on that GPA compared to undergrad.

I was always kind of confused about this, and I hope that it clears some questions for others.

Also, Sorry if this is much talked about information, I was just too excited that I didn't want to go through the search engine!

There is always a second chance.

But I doubt that it will be easy.

I have seen someone who have 3.5 from his Masters yet failed to get above 19 on DAT.

I don't think the Dental Admissions Committees would only focus on your Master's. They will probably compare your undergrad with your Masters.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't mess up and good luck.

 

[bor0000]

from the limited information that i have on the process of dental admissions, i would surmise to say that harvard would look at your undergrad and master's grades and split it 50/50 +-25%. unfortunately🙁 and i would consider doing master's myself, since i have interests besides dentistry, but afraid that would make me really old, as i already lost 3 years before starting college. also, masters is not exactly ph.d, so to finance it, probably your parents would have to pay, which sucks more balls.

 

[AUTigers]

Hmmm...good information,I guess my next step would be to contact the schools I am interested in and see what their opinions are.

If I do need to go the Master's route, what options are there? Aren't there some one year programs?

Thanks again for the advice!

 

[psiyung]

Advisors are the most useless people in the world.

 

[J2AZ]

Your advisor knows jack about the app process!

 

[cowsgomoo]

Advisors are the most useless people in the world.

I second that!!

 

[savvysearch]

I think some schools, like Boston University, look highly upon a masters. WHen I got rejected from Boston last year, their rejection letter suggested I take a masters program and reapply.

 

[Darby_O'Gill]

Well, let's say you don't have a good GPA and you majored in, let's say, English. Is it really going to be that feasible to get accepted to a bio/science masters?