Download Dental School Admissions Guide as a printable PDF
Dentists diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth and mouth. They improve a patient’s appearance by using a variety of cosmetic dental procedures; perform surgical procedures such as implants, tissue grants and extractions; educate patients how to take better care of their teeth and prevent oral disease; teach future dentist and dental hygienists; and perform research directed to developing new treatment methods and improving oral health. They also administer anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications. The following is a brief guide to dental school admission requirements.
Prerequisites
Each dental school establishes its own set of prerequisites. Below is a list of common prerequisite courses for admission into dental school. Please be sure to check the websites of the dental programs that you are most interested in to obtain a current list of undergraduate requirements.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade “C-” or higher.
| Subject Area | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| General Biology | BSC 114 and 115 (lab) and BSC 116 and 117 (lab) or honors equivalent |
| General Chemistry | CH 101 and 102 or honors equivalent |
| Organic Chemistry | CH 231, CH 232, and CH 237 (lab) |
| Physics | PH 101 and PH 102 or PH 105 and PH 106 (or honors equivalent) |
| Mathematics | 2 semesters of Math; MATH 125 required by some schools |
| Statistics | PY 211 or BSC 380 |
| English | EN 101 and EN 102 or EN 103 or AP credit |
| Highly Recommended | BSC 300 Cell Biology BSC 450 or CH 461 Biochemistry BSC 315 Genetics BSC 310 Microbiology BSC 312 Microbiology Lab BSC 215 & 216 Human Anatomy and Physiology; also, can take BSC 400 Vertebrate Function Morphology and BSC 424 & 425 Human Physiology) Other biology electives are encouraged based on program |
| Other courses that enhance manual dexterity (sculpting, painting, drawing, ceramics, etc.) are also encouraged. |
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a standardized examination that consists of four multiple-choice sections that include natural sciences, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. The DAT is designed to measure general academic ability, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability. All the American dental schools require it. It assesses your knowledge of science from the required coursework and, therefore, should not be taken until those courses are virtually complete. The months immediately following your completion of the course requirements are the best time to take the DAT. This may be the spring of junior year, the summer after sophomore year, or anytime during senior year or beyond; it will depend on your individual timeline. The DAT is a knowledge-based examination. To do well, you will need both strong test-taking skills and a thorough knowledge of the material covered by the exam. How you prepare is up to you. Your DAT score is good for three years at most dental schools, so taking the test in the spring of junior year does not necessarily
mean that you must enter dental school right after college graduation. Please see the American Dental Association Website for information about the exam and scoring.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Dental schools expect academic excellence. Typically, an overall GPA and science GPA of 3.5 or better is considered competitive.
Timeline
Freshman Year
- Get to know your Health Professions Advisors.
- Make an appointment.
- Start taking basic sciences (See chart on first page)
- Visit your professors during office hours.
- Begin getting involved with volunteer and service opportunities (campus and community).
- Join student organizations (Pre-Dental Society, Students United with America’s Tooth Fairy, AED, etc.).
- Work on your manual dexterity skills. This is best achieved through hobbies.
- Shadow a variety of dentists throughout the year and on school breaks.
Sophomore Year
- Continue with the next sequence of courses.
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities (shadowing, volunteering, etc.).
- Consider leadership positions in your organizations.
- Visit your professors during office hours.
- Meet with a Health Professions Advisor to begin to assess competitiveness.
- Identify dental programs that you may want to apply to.
- Factor prerequisites into your degree plan.
- Develop a DAT preparation plan.
Junior Year
- Fall
- Talk to Health Professions Advising about competitiveness.
- Register for OPMA P.H.A.S.E. (Pre-Health Application Support and Education) Blackboard program.
- Register for, study, and take the DAT.
- Work on your personal statement.
- Obtain 4 Letters of Recommendation
- Spring and Summer
- Interview with Health Professions Advising Committee
- Complete and submit AADSAS application.
- Continue engaging in activities.
Senior Year
- Fall
- Submit AADSAS application if you haven’t already
- Work on secondary applications.
- Wait to be contacted for an interview by dental programs.
- Continue with activities and service commitments.
- Spring and Summer
- Talk with a Health Professions Advisor about Plan B (if necessary).
- Finish degree requirements
- Graduate.