Withdrawing from first semester of masters program. Please help!

[DariaMo]

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Hi everybody,
Recently I started my first semester of a masters program in biomedical. I've been feeling extremely depressed and anxious and it's been affecting my studies. I want to withdraw but keep thinking how it's going to affect my prospects of going to dental school. In undergrad I had an overall GPA of 3.8 . I'm not sure what my science Gpa was. Can anybody give me some advice? If I withdrew this semester, I would have 2 w 's. In undergrad I also withdrew from a science class with a lab.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

With an overall GPA of 3.8 (assuming your science GPA isn't substantially different), why are you doing the masters program at all if your goal is dental school?

 

[DariaMo]

With an overall GPA of 3.8 (assuming your science GPA isn't substantially different), why are you doing the masters program at all if your goal is dental school?

I thought it might make me look better for dental school since I've been out of school since spring 2015. I also only got an 18 AA on my DAT which isn't a competitive score

 

[FeralisExtremum]

I thought it might make me look better for dental school since I've been out of school since spring 2015. I also only got an 18 AA on my DAT which isn't a competitive score

Being out of school since 2015 is not going to hurt your application at all with the exception of maybe Texas schools. It's the DAT score that will hold you back more than anything. Are you retaking?

 

[DariaMo]

Being out of school since 2015 is not going to hurt your application at all with the exception of maybe Texas schools. It's the DAT score that will hold you back more than anything. Are you retaking?

Yes I plan on retaking. I just don't know when. How bad are these w's going to look. I haven't been able to focus. I feel like if I stop doing this program it'll look terrible.

 

[FeralisExtremum]

Yes I plan on retaking. I just don't know when. How bad are these w's going to look. I haven't been able to focus. I feel like if I stop doing this program it'll look terrible.

It will look worse if you perform poorly in the program. If you can come up with a good reason why you withdrew after starting the program, it could be overlooked by most schools, but again your reasoning needs to be solid. IMO the correct course of action isn't more coursework, it's dedicating time to preparing for a retake.

 

[845302]

A good reason and a good retake should be able to land u an interview. DAT with 20+ should be good and with lots of preparation and determination, it is a very achiveable score. Your undergrad GPA is really good as well. During undergrad, did u complete the pre reqs which most dental schools require? And when did u take ur AA18 DAT? Have you been working as a Biomedical Engineer before going back to do ur masters?

-Fyz

 

[sobertiger]

I had many more withdrawals but still got interviews. Just be able to explain what happened.

 

[DariaMo]

A good reason and a good retake should be able to land u an interview. DAT with 20+ should be good and with lots of preparation and determination, it is a very achiveable score. Your undergrad GPA is really good as well. During undergrad, did u complete the pre reqs which most dental schools require? And when did u take ur AA18 DAT? Have you been working as a Biomedical Engineer before going back to do ur masters?

-Fyz

Yes I completed the general prerequisites. I took the DAT around October 2015. I started volunteering December 2014 at a low income dental/medical clinic then got hired in April 2016 at that same clinic first as a front desk receptionist then as dental assistant.

 

[DariaMo]

I don't know whether to continue the program. I'm on the fence. I'll be meeting with my advisor tomorrow.

 

[mapetite]

I don't know whether to continue the program. I'm on the fence. I'll be meeting with my advisor tomorrow.

Who told you to do this program? With a 3.8 and a 2 year gap (which actually makes you a stronger candidate at most schools, not weaker) you could have probably gotten some interviews, even with your 18. I would say withdraw from the program and focus on getting a better DAT score and some dental/volunteer experience.

 

[711769]

Who told you to do this program? With a 3.8 and a 2 year gap (which actually makes you a stronger candidate at most schools, not weaker) you could have probably gotten some interviews, even with your 18. I would say withdraw from the program and focus on getting a better DAT score and some dental/volunteer experience.

How does a 2 year gap make one a stronger applicant?

 

[doc toothache]

Hi everybody,
Recently I started my first semester of a masters program in biomedical. I've been feeling extremely depressed and anxious and it's been affecting my studies. I want to withdraw but keep thinking how it's going to affect my prospects of going to dental school. In undergrad I had an overall GPA of 3.8 . I'm not sure what my science Gpa was. Can anybody give me some advice? If I withdrew this semester, I would have 2 w 's. In undergrad I also withdrew from a science class with a lab.

Quitting a program is bound to impress nobody.

Being out of school since 2015 is not going to hurt your application at all with the exception of maybe Texas schools. It's the DAT score that will hold you back more than anything. Are you retaking?

You mean Texas only accepts applicants fresh from the assembly line?

 

[DariaMo]

Who told you to do this program? With a 3.8 and a 2 year gap (which actually makes you a stronger candidate at most schools, not weaker) you could have probably gotten some interviews, even with your 18. I would say withdraw from the program and focus on getting a better DAT score and some dental/volunteer experience.

I actually decided to do it for the reasons i said previously,but recent financial burdens have been influencing my anxiety levels which is making me do poorly.

 

[mapetite]

How does a 2 year gap make one a stronger applicant?

If you use it productively and gain experience in that time. I was worried because I have a 5 year gap and was told by admissions that it made me a stronger applicant. I guess it's all situational though

 

[DariaMo]

If you use it productively and gain experience in that time. I was worried because I have a 5 year gap and was told by admissions that it made me a stronger applicant. I guess it's all situational though

What about letters of recommendation? Can we use one's other than professors

 

[mapetite]

What about letters of recommendation? Can we use one's other than professors

Yes you can. I got a committee letter from my undergrad and a letter from my research adviser.

 

[DariaMo]

Yes you can. I got a committee letter from my undergrad and a letter from my research adviser.

What about employers

 

[FeralisExtremum]

You mean Texas only accepts applicants fresh from the assembly line?

I don't think only, but Baylor at least places heavy emphasis on not having gaps in time when it comes to coursework.

 

[doc toothache]

I don't think only, but Baylor at least places heavy emphasis on not having gaps in time when it comes to coursework.

In the absence of contact with academia, all schools will wonder whether or not the synapses are functioning properly and that may explain the emphasis on age of the DAT. The mean age of enrollees ranges from 23-26 with the national mean at ~24. It does not appear to be a coincidence that, with the exception of a handful of school whose range of age is under 30, the remaining dental schools have range into the 30's and 40's. In 2015, Nevada's range was at 57. The other Texas dental schools are pretty much in the same boat.

 

[doktorinprogres]

I don't know whether to continue the program. I'm on the fence. I'll be meeting with my advisor tomorrow.

You should withdraw, you can use financial pressures as your reason for withdrawing. But a 3.8 is not something you want to risk especially if you're sensing the semester is going poorly

 

[mapetite]

What about employers

Sure! If you think they can write you a strong letter and it's dental related.

 

[cometx3]

.

 

[LittleKay]

If you're experiencing Depression/Anxiety during the start of your Master's, how do you expect schools to offer you an acceptance when you're going to be in an even worse state upon starting Dental School?

 

[amariesa]

If you're experiencing Depression/Anxiety during the start of your Master's, how do you expect schools to offer you an acceptance when you're going to be in an even worse state upon starting Dental School?

Im assuming the same way she got a 3.8 in undergrad.

 

[LittleKay]

Im assuming the same way she got a 3.8 in undergrad.

I assume the depression/anxiety was not present during her Undergrad.

 

[caffeine jitters]

I assume the depression/anxiety was not present during her Undergrad.

And you don’t think it’s the least bit problematic to be making assumptions about someone you know nothing about?

 

[cometx3]

.

 

[LittleKay]

Man don't be so harsh. Life happens, people become depressed and then overcome it. That doesn't mean they won't do well in dental school. I think OP does need to make sure the depression goes away before pursuing dental though.

I'm not being harsh, I'm asking from personal experience. I experienced depression as an Undergrad, I had to dig myself out both mentally and emotionally to even have a shot at getting into AN SMP and now Dental School.

I had to dedicate and remain focused for years battling insomnia and panic attacks to get my A's and improve my DAT score.

I had do to a Post Bacc & an SMP to get where I am today. So why exactly can I not ask a very basic and important question? OP doesn't have it rough at all, they have a phenomenal uGPA and just need to potentially improve their DAT score. They also have the ability (as someone here already stated) to pass off their "withdrawal" as some kind of fib (family issue, financial pressure, etc).

Criticize me all you want, but I'm asking the same questions that people here asked me when I was in a position worse than OP's. Except I had a sub 3.0, and OP has a sub 4.0

 

[clark5013]

I don't think only, but Baylor at least places heavy emphasis on not having gaps in time when it comes to coursework.

Its A&M now, get with the times. lol. And no to the fresh off the assembly line thing, its more like they dont want you sitting and twiddling your thumbs for semesters at a time. They'd rather you stay busy with coursework. BTW thats just my take on it.

 

[amariesa]

I'm not being harsh, I'm asking from personal experience. I experienced depression as an Undergrad, I had to dig myself out both mentally and emotionally to even have a shot at getting into AN SMP and now Dental School.

I had to dedicate and remain focused for years battling insomnia and panic attacks to get my A's and improve my DAT score.

I had do to a Post Bacc & an SMP to get where I am today. So why exactly can I not ask a very basic and important question? OP doesn't have it rough at all, they have a phenomenal uGPA and just need to potentially improve their DAT score. They also have the ability (as someone here already stated) to pass off their "withdrawal" as some kind of fib (family issue, financial pressure, etc).

Criticize me all you want, but I'm asking the same questions that people here asked me when I was in a position worse than OP's. Except I had a sub 3.0, and OP has a sub 4.0

OP is asking about what a withdrawal will do to her application to dental school, not your opinion of her mental struggles.