Basic Requirement
To become a strong and successful dental school applicant, it's essential to understand the key statistics that can set you apart from the competition. In this guide, we will explore the expected statistics you need to aim for, helping you to craft a compelling application that showcases your readiness for a career in dentistry. Let's dive into the details to prepare you for success on your journey to dental school!
General Requirements
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Biology (8+ units w/ lab) – General Biology I & II
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General Chemistry (8+ units w/ lab) – Chem I & II
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Organic Chemistry (8+ units w/ lab) – OChem I & II
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Physics (8+ units w/ lab) – Physics I & II
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English Composition (3-6 units) – Writing courses
Potential requirement:
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Biochemistry (3+ units) – Some schools require it.
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Anatomy & Physiology
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Microbiology
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Psychology
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Calculus / Statistics
Major Selection
Popular and never wrong major:
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Biology
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Biochemistry
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Chemistry
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Biomedical science
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Health science
Most dental schools in the U.S. do not bias against non-science majors as long as the required science prerequisites are completed with strong grades.
However, top-tier schools (like UCSF, UCLA, Harvard, Columbia, Penn, etc) often strongly prefer science majors. Top-tier schools believe science majors demonstrate preparation for the dental curriculum, and they often come with rigorous lab experience, which is favored.
GPA
Most dental schools require at least a 3.0 GPA to be considered.
GPA 3.5+ (Strong Applicant) = Competitive
Tips:
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Most schools consider science GPA more important than overall GPA.
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Most schools weight the GPA of prerequisite courses for dental school most important.
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Upward Trend Matters.
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A low GPA can sometimes be offset by a high DAT score, but a low DAT is more damaging because it reflects insufficient science knowledge on a standardized scale, whereas GPA can vary due to differences in course difficulty across schools.
DAT
The accepted students' DAT score can be varied. Some schools have AA as low as 17.4, some as high as >25.
The national average of DAT test taker is 19.
However, the national average of accepted dental students is around 21.
Tips:
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You can always check the current average AA and PAT from ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.