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1. Retake DAT exam

   • If your DAT score is below competitive levels (20), consider retaking it after more thorough preparation.

   • If the sub-section of your DAT is below 17 for competitive schools, you should consider retaking your DAT with more effort.

2. Applying to a Wider Range of Schools

   • Always apply to more schools than you need to. This increases your chance to get into dental school.

   • Why? Because dental school admission is more complex and holistic, meaning that you may be above average but still get rejected.

3. Bridge Programs (e.g., Loma Linda University)

   • Some universities, such as Loma Linda University, offer bridge programs to help students enhance their academic records and gain admission into their dental schools.

4. Master’s Degree (MS) in a Related Field / SMP (Special Master Program)

   • Pursuing a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences, Oral Biology, MPH, or a related field can help improve your academic GPA. This can demonstrate your ability to handle graduate-level coursework and strengthen your application. Make sure your master is RELATED FIELD to dentistry, otherwise, it will not be as beneficial. According to Faculty of UCLA, students enrolled in “easier master” can negatively weaken their application.

   • Some students receive additional emails from the admission office. They may state that completion of the MS program with a high GPA will lead to admission into their DDS program in the following cycle. For example, Loma Linda, Boston University, and Rutgers have been known to offer such MS-to-DDS pathways.

   • Special Master Program: Some schools offer MS programs strongly linked to the medical and dental field, they may guarantee you an interview by completing it above a certain GPA (>3.5).

5. Additional Experience

   • More shadowing hours: Strengthen your application by shadowing more dentists, especially in different specialties. This hour is crucial for your application. Shadowing hours below 100 is not recommended.

   • Research opportunities: If you lack research experience, getting involved in a research lab could make your application more competitive. According to faculty, if you can team up and publish research about oral health, this can be a BIG PLUS.

   • Volunteer work: Continue gaining clinical and community service experience to showcase your commitment to healthcare.

   • Find dental-related jobs, and strongly recommend Dental Assistance. This experience is really important for your application, and you should consider it. Schools only mentioned about their requirement toward shadowing hour, but experience in dentistry such as DA job/dental volunteering are also the key.