under GPA & grad GPA & current situation

[toothpaste52]

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Hi All,

I am new to this forum and here are my questions. I graduated last year with a BS in Biology, the overall gpa from my undergraduate is 2.938. This Fall, I will start my master study which will last for about 2 years long and consist of 48 units of graduate level classes,

and my question is: when I reapply to D-schools next year 2012, will my under GPA and grad GPA calculated together as one gpa? or they will actually list as two seqerate.

the second question is: I started my undergraduate from a CC and transferred to a 4 year school later on, so do i need to report my class work at CC to AADSAS?


I previously applied to dental schools in 2009-2010 cycle and received 0 acceptance. my current statistics are: 3 years long shadowing experience, 1.5 years long research experience at two different lab, under gpa 2.93, aa17/pat17/as17/rc 14/. I will retake DAT this summer.I will use the upcoming academic year to improve my science gpa ( master) and hopefully I will have one publication before I apply.

So, please give me your advice guys, thank you!

 

[dentalWorks]

and my question is: when I reapply to D-schools next year 2012, will my under GPA and grad GPA calculated together as one gpa? or they will actually list as two seqerate.

AADSAS will split up your GPA into 3 categories:
1) for undergrad alone
2) for masters alone
3) both undergrad + masters

the second question is: I started my undergraduate from a CC and transferred to a 4 year school later on, so do i need to report my class work at CC to AADSAS?

Yes, you MUST report all college course works (even CC)

I previously applied to dental schools in 2009-2010 cycle and received 0 acceptance. my current statistics are: 3 years long shadowing experience, 1.5 years long research experience at two different lab, under gpa 2.93, aa17/pat17/as17/rc 14/. I will retake DAT this summer.I will use the upcoming academic year to improve my science gpa ( master) and hopefully I will have one publication before I apply.

So, please give me your advice guys, thank you!

your undergrad GPA isn't going to move. You will simply get a new GPA column (masters). What killed you this past application was the low GPA+DAT combo.... I think you have a good plan in place (DAT this summer + masters for the next 2 years).

all the best

P.S. Why do you have so much shadowing lol

 

[toothpaste52]

AADSAS will split up your GPA into 3 categories:
1) for undergrad alone
2) for masters alone
3) both undergrad + masters


Yes, you MUST report all college course works (even CC)



your undergrad GPA isn't going to move. You will simply get a new GPA column (masters). What killed you this past application was the low GPA+DAT combo.... I think you have a good plan in place (DAT this summer + masters for the next 2 years).

all the best

P.S. Why do you have so much shadowing lol

when I started CC, My friend introduced me a dental assistant position near by the college, so I thought it could be a great experience anyways and I took it, so with the 2.5 years study at CC and the first quarter at 4 year university, I ended it officially. I know it was a lots hours and experience. but sadly it won't be enough for dental school 🙁

if you don't mind, i have a quick question, is master degree gonna help you to get to dental school??? your graduate gpa is gonna sort of covers up your undergrad?? thanks

 

[dentalWorks]

when I started CC, My friend introduced me a dental assistant position near by the college, so I thought it could be a great experience anyways and I took it, so with the 2.5 years study at CC and the first quarter at 4 year university, I ended it officially. I know it was a lots hours and experience. but sadly it won't be enough for dental school 🙁

if you don't mind, i have a quick question, is master degree gonna help you to get to dental school??? your graduate gpa is gonna sort of covers up your undergrad?? thanks

There are no evidence on the importance of masters vs undergrad GPAs. Rumor has it that the undergrad GPA is the most looked up (and ultimately) most decisive factor.... Again, no clear proof of this, but it is something I believe in.

Back in the day, I was presented with similar options to repair my undergrad GPA. I had an undergrad GPA for 3.0 on 136 credits from my previous bachelors degree.... My options were either post-bacc (informal) or masters. After doing my own research, speaking with a few dental school admission counselors, and reviewing SDN boards..... I decided to go post-bacc.

 

[spearmint]

This could be all hearsay, but I have heard that some schools screen applicants and only look at files with ugpas with at least a 3.0. I have seen ppl here on SDN who did well in their Master's and had great DAT scores, but didn't even get an interview because their ugrad gpa was sub 3.0. The Adcoms probably didn't even have a chance to look at their files because whatever screening programs the schools used had excluded their files early in the game. So this might be something to take into consideration. You might want to consider taking a few upper div ugrad classes to boost your ugrad gpa to 3.0 before you embark on your Master's or you can do it concurrently if the Master's program allows. This is if you want to cover all bases and give yourself the greatest possible option.

 

[toothpaste52]

This could be all hearsay, but I have heard that some schools screen applicants and only look at files with ugpas with at least a 3.0. I have seen ppl here on SDN who did well in their Master's and had great DAT scores, but didn't even get an interview because their ugrad gpa was sub 3.0. The Adcoms probably didn't even have a chance to look at their files because whatever screening programs the schools used had excluded their files early in the game. So this might be something to take into consideration. You might want to consider taking a few upper div ugrad classes to boost your ugrad gpa to 3.0 before you embark on your Master's or you can do it concurrently if the Master's program allows. This is if you want to cover all bases and give yourself the greatest possible option.

that means that if you take undergrad classes as a MS students, it will still improve your undergrad gpa, is that right? even though you are not claimed as a undergrad student while taking these classes?

 

[amalgamgrillz]

that means that if you take undergrad classes as a MS students, it will still improve your undergrad gpa, is that right? even though you are not claimed as a undergrad student while taking these classes?

A stellar Master's does not compensate for a terrible undergrad. Schools do look at your grad GPA, but in terms of the numbers game for interviews, they look at your cGPA. A 4.0 in your Master's means nothing if it's only 30 credits, since an undergrad generally consists of 100+ hours of crappy grades.

So if you're doing a master's, good for you..just make sure you take enough credits to boost your cGPA to above a 3.0

 

[thewobblytooth]

i'm not too sure about those statements. after talking with the director of admissions at ucsf, james betbeze and the director of admissions at uop, stan constantino, they have always seemed to look FAVORABLY upon post-bac students and special masters students. But then again, those post-bac and master students may be from their own program, since they both have post-bac schools. Either way, if you can do post-bac, you should I feel like it would help. They've accepted many students from post-bac, so i don't see why other schools wouldn't. But then again, not every school is gonna be like them.

 

[Dynamo]

I once had a very similar problem.

My undergrad gpa was low but slightly above 3.0 so I guess maybe I never worried about the screening process eliminating me, but still even slightly above 3.0 worried me

I personally called the schools I was most interested in and asked them. Once school flat out told me they dont like masters degrees, but a post bac really grabs their attention. They said if I really wanted to do a Masters for personal fulfillment, then I should take upper level undergrad courses concurrently with the Masters if the school allowed it (some schools with SMPs are strict about about picking classes according to a set curriculum and dont allow that). Another school told me that either one is fine, and yet another school specifically told me a Masters or SMP would stand out and to do my best in it, and make more As than Bs.(an MS, not MA, MPH, etc.) .

Call the schools you are interested, and ask them. Then start researching Masters and post bacc programs. It seems like the middle ground would be to take Masters and upper level science courses together and in my opinion it is totally doable. If you enroll as a masters student, you will be classified as a Masters student and taking undegrad courses will add to your undergrad gpa. The masters courses will have their separate gpa (atleast thats how aadsas calculates it). I think that was one of your concerns?You could also enroll as a non degree student and take undergrad and masters courses, but I think that makes it a little complicated. It all depends on that specific program and school. You look like you have a solid plan to strengthen your application! 👍

 

[BoxerRumble]

Do you mind telling me which school did not like master's program vs post bacc? You can PM if you want. Thanks.

 

[toothpaste52]

A stellar Master's does not compensate for a terrible undergrad. Schools do look at your grad GPA, but in terms of the numbers game for interviews, they look at your cGPA. A 4.0 in your Master's means nothing if it's only 30 credits, since an undergrad generally consists of 100+ hours of crappy grades.

So if you're doing a master's, good for you..just make sure you take enough credits to boost your cGPA to above a 3.0

THE master program I go to will give me at least 52 lecture units and 24 research units

 

[amalgamgrillz]

THE master program I go to will give me at least 52 lecture units and 24 research units

Good. 52 lecture units of 4.0 should bring you up to a good cGPA, no?

 

[yappy]

Is their a seperate column for post bacc? If not how do schools know if you're post bacc.

 

[amalgamgrillz]

Is their a seperate column for post bacc? If not how do schools know if you're post bacc.

It's puzzlework on their part. They look to see when you graduate, and then they see if you've done any more courses after that, I guess?

 

[youknowthedrill]

call the schools you are interested, and ask them. It all depends on that specific program and school. You look like you have a solid plan to strengthen your application! 👍

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