Microbiology M.S. or SMP for dental school

[dentally curious]

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Hi all,

My oGPA: 2.87. I am unsure if I should do Barry's SMP or a Microbiology M.S. at my public university. My main goal is to stay in-state and get into any of the three Florida schools. The biggest difference in the microbiology master's and the SMP is the price. Barry is over 20k more. I've reached out to all the schools, and they tell me to just choose a program that is biomed and to pick one that ill excel in. Do I have a far better chance with the SMP or does truly not make a difference?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[macsak]

Hi all,

My oGPA: 2.87. I am unsure if I should do Barry's SMP or a Microbiology M.S. at my public university. My main goal is to stay in-state and get into any of the three Florida schools. The biggest difference in the microbiology master's and the SMP is the price. Barry is over 20k more. I've reached out to all the schools, and they tell me to just choose a program that is biomed and to pick one that ill excel in. Do I have a far better chance with the SMP or does truly not make a difference?

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

you have a far better chance with an SMP
they will have linkage and it's a known school
plus you should be getting predental advising and dat prep/info at the same time...

 

[dentally curious]

you have a far better chance with an SMP
they will have linkage and it's a known school
plus you should be getting predental advising and dat prep/info at the same time...

Thank you for you response. I’m planning on doing it online do you know if this will hinder my chances significantly?

 

[macsak]

Thank you for you response. I’m planning on doing it online do you know if this will hinder my chances significantly?

i would speak with the program and see if there is a difference in matriculation rates for the different cohorts...

 

[D1Bound]

Are you aware of the changes in federal student loans?

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Are you aware of the changes in federal student loans?

This.

OP, here is your primer course…

Thread 'How will you pay for dental school?'

Oct 22, 2025

Pre dents, what have dental schools told you in the interviews for paying for dental school now that federal loans are capped? Are you all planning on taking out private loans? Have private lenders said they'd cover you?

• JacquesVallee
• Replies: 220
• Forum: Pre-Dental

• 

Big Hoss

 

[dentally curious]

Are you aware of the changes in federal student loans?

I am aware. That is why I was asking if the difference in programs would make a difference in my acceptance rate.

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

I am aware. That is why I was asking if the difference in programs would make a difference in my acceptance rate.

I imagine an SMP would help more with dental school admissions. An MS in microbiology would be a better credential if you don’t get in to dental school.

What’s the all in cost for both programs? I ask, because you’re more likely to get into a dental school that’s $600,000 or more because those schools tend to be less competitive. I would never become a dentist if that was my educational debt load.

Big Hoss

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Are you confident that you can get into a MS Microbio program with a sub-3.0 GPA? I'm sure there is greater weight given to your most recent courses and letters of recommendation. But as BTH has pointed out, such programs don't help you with getting into dental or medical school; in fact, most admissions committees expect grad GPA's in such programs to automatically be above 3.0. In short, most adcoms will expect anyone to do well in a traditional biology master's program because that's how the grading works (if you get one C, you are at risk of leaving the program without a degree).

The difference in cost reflects the value Barry has placed in its ability to get you into your desired professional program, based on its history of success. It is high-risk, high-reward, just as any other SMP (like the Masters in Oral Biology at Boston University or similar programs). You definitely need that bump, because you come in with a sub-3.0 overall GPA, and you will take forever to raise it... which is unfeasible, since the number of available undergraduate courses you can take is not infinite.

 

[dentally curious]

I imagine an SMP would help more with dental school admissions. An MS in microbiology would be a better credential if you don’t get in to dental school.

What’s the all in cost for both programs? I ask, because you’re more likely to get into a dental school that’s $600,000 or more because those schools tend to be less competitive. I would never become a dentist if that was my educational debt load.

Big Hoss

Thank you for your response. Barry is $38k and my public university master's is 18k. I definitely do not want to take on $600k in debt. In your experience do you think I have no chance of getting into one of my in-state schools? LECOM or UF

 

[dentally curious]

Are you confident that you can get into a MS Microbio program with a sub-3.0 GPA? I'm sure there is greater weight given to your most recent courses and letters of recommendation. But as BTH has pointed out, such programs don't help you with getting into dental or medical school; in fact, most admissions committees expect grad GPA's in such programs to automatically be above 3.0. In short, most adcoms will expect anyone to do well in a traditional biology master's program because that's how the grading works (if you get one C, you are at risk of leaving the program without a degree).

The difference in cost reflects the value Barry has placed in its ability to get you into your desired professional program, based on its history of success. It is high-risk, high-reward, just as any other SMP (like the Masters in Oral Biology at Boston University or similar programs). You definitely need that bump, because you come in with a sub-3.0 overall GPA, and you will take forever to raise it... which is unfeasible, since the number of available undergraduate courses you can take is not infinite.

Thank you for your time and response this was very informative

 

[Big Time Hoosier]

Thank you for your response. Barry is $38k and my public university master's is 18k. I definitely do not want to take on $600k in debt. In your experience do you think I have no chance of getting into one of my in-state schools? LECOM or UF

Looking at the stats for UF, you’re gonna have a big hill to climb.

2025 Entering Class Stats » Office of Admissions » College of Dentistry » University of Florida

Residency of Enrolled Students GPA of Enrolled Students DAT Averages of Enrolled Students Use the ADA DAT Concordance Table to compare the new scoring to the old. Demographic Description of Enrolled Students Dental Experience

admissions.dental.ufl.edu

I couldn’t find stats for LECOM, but I imagine it’s significantly less competitive than UF.

Best of luck to you.

Big Hoss