How many times have you asked yourself–and the internet–this question?
For me, I’d guess at least one hundred times.
Getting into dental school is no easy feat. According to the ADEA 2017-18 Survey of Dental Education Report, 5.1% of students who submit applications enroll in a program. With the right roadmap, tools, and habits, though, anyone can be a part of that 5.1%.
This post serves as a guide to getting into dental school. More importantly, though, I want to encourage you that despite maybe not having a 4.0 GPA and 30 on each section of the DAT, you will become a dentist.
What are the requirements to get into dental school?
First thing’s first, let’s talk about firm academic requirements. These are the basic criteria you must complete before even thinking about applying to dental school. We’ll go into details on how you have to perform while completing these requirements in the next later section.
1. Fulfill basic hour/degree requirements
Some dental schools require incoming dental students to only have completed at least 90 semester hours (135 quarter hours). This means for some programs, students can be accepted after only three years of college.
The majority of schools, though, require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. Most applicants fall into this category and some even have a master’s degree, too.
2. Complete all pre-requisite courses
Every dental school tends to have similar classes that pre-dental students need to take before enrolling in dental school. Almost every school requires applicants to take:
one year biology + labs
one year inorganic chemistry + labs
one year organic chemistry + labs
one year physics + labs
one semester English
one semester biochemistry
Some schools tell students they need more classes (e.g., anatomy or physiology) while others require fewer. Here is a list of individual U.S. dental school requirements that you can use to check pre-reqs and decide where to apply.
It’s important to take most courses at a four-year university (so, not a community college). Most programs accept students with community college credits, but need to see that you took at least upper-level sciences at a four-year institution. This proves to them that you can handle the rigors of dental school courses.
3. Take the DAT
You have to take the Dental Admissions Test before, or while, applying to schools. This means you have two options: (1) You can take the test before submitting your application (the DAT is valid for five years, but most schools recognize it only for two years). Or, (2) you can submit your application and tell schools your future DAT testing date, then send your scores after taking the exam.
Most dental schools will look at up to three individual DAT exams. Some look at your best scores for each section from across each exam, while others take into consideration all individual tests. Ideally, you should perform well on your first try. If you don’t though, they’ll look at your other attempts, too.
4. Prove you speak English
Is English your native language? If yes, you don’t have to do anything. Yay! You’re one step closer to dental school!
If English isn’t your native language, you must take the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam to show your abilities using English. I’m a native English speaker, so I’m unsure about the score you have to earn to be considered for dental school. You can find more information about the TOEFL exam here.
How do I have to perform academically to get into dental school?
Unfortunately, you can’t simply complete the basic requirements. You have to show excellence while doing them. You should:
1. Maintain a high overall GPA (oGPA)
The word “high” has different definitions for different students. For the most part, dental schools say you should aim for a 3.7 oGPA. They look at your application holistically, though, and so they note the difficulty of your classes and major. Aim for as high a GPA as you can, but remember that GPA is not the only metric that determines your application’s success!
2. Maintain a high science GPA (sGPA)
The same principles apply to your sGPA as your oGPA; aim as high as you can. Most matriculating first-years had at least a 3.4 sGPA in college. As I mention above, though, the application process is holistic. You grades are not everything.
For pre-requisite courses, you have to have at least a C or better to be eligible to apply.
3. Show an upward trend
College is difficult, overwhelming, and takes time to adjust at the beginning. So, even if you struggled academically as a freshman, admissions committees will see your growth if you demonstrate an upward trend in GPA throughout the entirety of your college career.
Showing an upward trend means improving your grades with every passing semester. It’s important to reflect on past mistakes and adjust your strategies for future classes. Being able to talk about how you turned your C in gen chem I to an A in gen chem II will speak volumes on your character, endurance, and growth.
4. Score well on the DAT
The DAT is “the great equalizer.” All students, whether they attend an Ivy League college or a no-namer, get assessed on the exact same exam. This helps applicants prove their abilities and also adjusts for any grade inflation (or lack thereof) they may experience at their universities.
As with GPA, aim for the highest score possible on the DAT. Based on accepted students’ statistics, strive for at least a 20 academic average and at least an 18 on individual sections.
What are the other requirements to apply to dental school?
On top of grades and test scores, you have to show admissions committees your commitment and passion for dentistry in a number of ways.
1. Show commitment to extracurricular activities
Do you have a job? Are you on a dance team? Have you knitted for years? It doesn’t matter what you spend your free time doing as long as you show commitment to it. It doesn’t hurt if you can show leadership through your extracurriculars, too!
2. Volunteer
Being a dentist means caring about and investing in your community. It’s recommended you have at least 50 hours of community service under your belt before applying, but like any extra curricular, it’s even better to show consistency. Try finding one or two volunteer gigs that you do once a week over the course of many weeks.
The service doesn’t have to even be dentistry-related. Any type of community service shows admissions committees that you are a selfless and compassionate person.
3. Shadow various dentists
Every dental school requires shadowing hours, usually anywhere between 50-100 at minimum. Admittedly, shadowing the same doctor becomes mundane after many hours, but it’s important to shadow different doctors to truly understand what dentistry is all about. Shadowing demonstrates your passion for the field to schools. Not only that, but it helps you decide that this is what you want to pursue as a career.
4. Submit letters of recommendation
The dental school application allows students to submit up to 4 letters of recommendation. Most schools either want one committee letter, which is a letter from a health advisory committee at your university (this doesn’t exist at some colleges), or a letter packet including a letter from a chemistry professor, biology professor, and dentist.
Since you submit the same application to all schools, be sure that the letters you submit fulfill every school’s requirement.
5. Write a personal statement
Know your answer to the question: why dentistry? As much of a pain it is to write an essay about yourself, the dental school personal statement forces students to reflect on why they want to be a dentist. This is a place for you to talk about your journey to dental school, touch on sub-par grades, and show schools the person behind the application.
The personal statement is a critical part of your application. According to the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), “[d]ental schools look for students to communicate their passion for dentistry and their commitment to becoming a dentist in their personal statement,” so spend plenty of time revising and perfecting it.
When should I fill out the dental school application?
The ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service aka ADEA AADSAS aka the dental school application can feel overwhelming to complete. If you prepare in advance, though, you can submit early, which is a huge advantage!
AADSAS opens every summer in mid-May and begins allowing submissions on June 1st. If you feel prepared to apply this upcoming cycle, take time to write your personal statement, ask for letters of recommendation, and write your extracurricular descriptions before the application opens. This way, you can copy and paste all responses into AADSAS in May as well as begin collecting letters and ordering transcripts. It’s important to apply as soon as possible once AADSAS allows submissions. In the case of dental school, the early application gets the acceptance (ugh, sorry).
Your chances of getting in are much higher if you apply in June than August, so once you’ve double checked your application in its entirety, submit it! Do it!
What if I’m not the perfect dental school applicant?
Who is, though?
Let me talk for a minute about myself, a student who was, and is, far from perfect. I was so not a traditional applicant. I:
- Earned my degree in a foreign language
- Took classes at four different colleges
- Spent 1 1/2 years off between graduating and applying
- Decided later on I wanted to be a dentist
- Took only one upper-level science that wasn’t mandatory
- Finished my pre-requisites as a part-time student
- Got 2 C’s in math/science classes
For over a year, I felt terrified that I wasn’t good enough to get accepted into a school. I spent hours on SDN comparing myself to other students, wondering if it was too late for me to apply, and not believing that I could follow my dream.
You can tell how uncertain and insecure I was based on how many schools I applied to. I felt desperate and would do anything to get an acceptance.
Hindsight is 20/20, but if you’re anything like me, I want you to know that maybe what you perceive as weaknesses are actually your strengths.
My gap year (and a half) showed schools that I spent time confirming that I want to be a dentist and am more sure than ever. My degree in Polish showed my personal interests and my passion for learning about people who are different than me. My C’s turned to A’s; I showed an upward trend and growth, both academically and personally. Most of my weaknesses actually helped me be a stronger applicant.
You will succeed
Can I get into dental school with a C on my transcript? Will dental schools accept credits from multiple institutions? Do I have enough volunteer hours? Does it matter if I’m a part-time pre-dental student?
Which question have you been asking the internet non-stop? If you have a low GPA, or need to retake the DAT, or are changing careers, or have anything that makes you feel less-than-worthy of an acceptance, stop that right now. You have a dream and a passion for a career that helps your neighbors be a part of a happier, healthier community.
With the hard work and dedication you’re already putting in, you don’t need to ask can I get into dental school? Keep up the good work, and your answer is: yes.