Hey! Welcome to SDN!
I think it would be a great idea to pursue a master's with your science gpa. Additionally, if you are able to, I would try to talk the pre-req classes ASAP. When are you planning on taking the DAT?
I posted this on a few other posts, but if you are interested in doing a post-bacc or Master's program make sure you do one connected to a dental school. Here's a list of some of the programs; I wouldn't apply all of them but take a look at some of these programs to get an idea and reach out to dental schools you would be interested in attending to see if they have a program that is linked to their school.
Master Programs:
Dental:
Roseman:
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MBS)
guaranteed interview $25k (online or in-person)
BU:
Master of Science in Oral Health Sciences | Graduate Medical Sciences
$69k - 90% get accepted into Dschool, take courses w/D1s
Colorado:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) MHA Pathway to Dentistry Program
*Reserved DMD acceptance* - to late to apply :/
Dental & Medical:
LECOM:
Masters of Medical Science Curriculum - Bradenton
$22k (online or in-person) - guaranteed interview
Midwestern (AZ):
College of Graduate Studies, Glendale Campus
bridge program? $60k
Midwestern (IL):
College of Graduate Studies, Downers Grove Campus
bridge program? $60k
NOVA:
Master of Biomedical Sciences
$40k - change from guaranteed acceptance to
guaranteed interview
Medicine & dental?? - set up a meeting and ask if you are interested, for sure medical though
Loma Linda:
Biomedical Sciences — M.M.S. < Loma Linda University
- Cali school
Post-bacc:
**note most post-bacc you need to finance yourself, no/minimal student loans**
Temple:
Postbaccalaureate Admissions
$45k
Marquette:
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES PRE-DENTAL POST-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM (BMPD) // Biomedical Sciences // Marquette University
$35k - guaranteed interview
Creighton:
Pre-Dental Post-Baccalaureate
Reserved seat for DMD
There are many more programs than this; these are just some of the programs that are well-known and linked to a dental school. If it were me, I would stay away from midwestern, BU, and the post-bacc programs (besides creighton) solely for how expensive they are. Do you really want to pay $70k for a Masters and then pay another $360k for your dental school tuition? That's not counting all of the other costs... (fees, living, etc.)
The main programs I would be interested in are
LECOMs (
$22k - Online) or
Roseman (
$25K), especially if you have a family. You would save a lot of money compared to the other programs.
Both dental schools are inexpensive compared to most -
LECOM $55k x 4 =
$220k
Roseman $90k x 3 =
$270k (3-year program) - also the extra year of income
Roseman would be my top choice. Smaller program, they only have a dental school currently (adding med school in 2024) and so most people in the program will be pre-dental. Compared to LECOMs +
100 class size that is mainly medical! Roseman is also switching to a 3-year dental school. The one larger issue I do have with Roseman MBS is its curriculum. They are a P/F school, and most people doing an MS want to increase their gpa. Additionally, their curriculum isn't as challenging as LECOMs program. It's fine if you only want Roseman for dental school, but for applying to other dental programs, the other programs might like LECOMs curriculum more. That being said, if you are doing a master's, you will most likely get accepted to the Dschool that you do the masters at (if you preform well). So I would still probably choose Roseman.
Whatever you do, I would start applying ASAP to any/all programs, and make sure you choose one
linked to a dental school!
Also verify w/the programs, and make sure it is a guaranteed interview or acceptance because that changes consistently.