Dentistry

Preparing for Dental School

Dental schools use a process called holistic review to weigh personal factors, academic preparation, and professional experience when reviewing an applicant’s “readiness” for dentistry. Put together, these create a picture of you as a whole person. 

In addition to having a clear motivation for the field,completing required coursework, experience in clinical and community settings, participating in research, hobbies and interests, and completing the DAT are common admissions factors for dental schools.

Requirements vary from school to school, so it’s always necessary to consult program websites. Pre-requisite courses may include:

Dental School Required Coursework

Application Process

Dental schools use a central application called AADSAS, similar to the Common App, to collect biographical information, academic information, experience, and letters of recommendation in one place for schools to review. Applications open in May and it is important to submit by early June since many schools fill their seats on a rolling basis.

Most schools give you a chance to submit additional essays that are specific to their school called secondary essays. These essays are a chance to “speak” directly to a school about your interest in their program. 

Interviews for dental programs can begin as early as August and go through December. In February and March, you can attend second-look weekends if you have been offered a spot at a school. Schools (and applicants) finalize their decisions in March/April, and you begin dental school in July or August. The entire application process takes a full year!

Learn more about Applying