Which path?

[Jaba]

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Hi, I have been apply for the past two cycles and have not yet heard back from any dental schools in Canada or USA. My cGPA is around a 3.3 and my science is about a 3.2. I am well aware that these are lower than average and I am starting to think that my GPA in addition to my lower DAT scores (which i have attempted a few times) make my application weak. I am aware how competitive it is and I am beginning to lose hope.

I also applied overseas and received several admissions there. I am aware that you receive a BDS degree rather than a DDS/DMD and that if I would want to come back into canada/usa that I would have to re-do almost two years of dentistry on this continent.

I am very tempted to accept an overseas application just because I really want to pursue dentistry. I have volunteered for several years and I know this profession is what I want to do. But at the price of switching continents?

If I start a two years masters and do well do you think it would be more advantagous to go this route? Or should I accept an overseas application keeping in mind that I will have to repeat two years here. What are the equivilance tests like?

Very frustrated. Please someone help!

Jaba

 

[DrEagleMike]

If you're from the U.S. and want to practice in the U.S. then maybe it would be best to do well in the masters program. If you get a 4.0, or somewhere close, then your gpa would increase and adcoms will notice your increased interest and ability. Also, during that time, you can brush up your DAT skills and study hard for it at the appropriate time to retake and reapply. That, to me, would be the best route.

If you're from another continent, then would it be so bad to practice where you're from?

I really think you have to increase your DAT and gpa to have success for next time you apply. If you get your gpa up, which I don't think it's that bad at the moment, and score 20/20 (at least) on the DAT, then you'll get in somewhere. Good luck.

 

[DCalypso]

Although I do agree with DrEagleMike and his/her point of view, I'd like to offer a different persepctive.
If you are not 100% sure that you can pull up your grades in master's (GPA>3.7) and continue IMPROVING your resume with more EC's, then I might suggest taking the admissions abroad.

I would only suggest enrolling abroad ONLY if you feel that you'll be happier and be more successful getting into dental material in the different continent and that the place you're gonna live in is decent.

I mean, look @ it this way:
You go study abroad and study for 2 more years in the States
OR
You go to a master's for 2 years in the States and get accepted in a US dental school.
Either way, you'll be spending the same/similar amount of years studying.
So, I believe that it may be more impressive and unique to take the abroad invitation and have a unique experience and set yourself apart from the majority of US dental students who may go the master's route.
Plus, you'll be spending more years devoted to dentistry, thus more experience.

AND, you're virtually guaranteed to be a dentist if you accept the invitation whereas if you go the master's route, you still have to fight to be accepted into a US dental school 2 years later.

Since you're the only one who can make this decision, research as much as possible about the abroad dental school and find out what you have to do to become a dentist in the US after graduation.

Sorry for the long, unorganized post (I'm tired ) and Good Luck whichever road you decide to take 👍