How to Get into Dental School: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’re considering a career in dentistry, you’ve likely wondered about the path to getting there. Dental school admissions are highly competitive, with acceptance rates hovering around 50% at even the least selective schools.¹ Successful applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance, commitment to the field, and the personal qualities that will make them great dentists.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know about getting into dental school, from prerequisites to application tips. By understanding the process and putting your best foot forward, you can maximize your chances of earning that coveted acceptance letter.

Academic Prerequisites for Dental School

The first step to getting into dental school is ensuring you have a strong academic history and have passed all of the prerequisite courses. Most dental schools require the following prerequisites:

• Biology: Two semesters with lab (e.g. general biology, microbiology, genetics)
• General Chemistry: Two semesters with lab
• Organic Chemistry: Two semesters with lab
• Physics: Two semesters with lab
• Biochemistry: One semester
• English: Two semesters of composition or literature

While these are the core science and liberal arts requirements, many schools have additional prerequisites like anatomy, physiology, statistics, or psychology. Research the specific requirements of the schools you’re interested in to ensure you have all the necessary coursework. The best resource for up-to-date information about a program’s requirements is the school’s website. You can find their website by using DentWoo’s dental school directory.

In addition to taking the right classes, you must also perform well in them. Dental schools have high academic standards, with the average accepted student having an undergraduate GPA of 3.55.² While a few Bs won’t ruin your chances of acceptance, consistent academic excellence is important.

Dental Admission Test (DAT)

In addition to your undergraduate coursework, you’ll need to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The DAT is a standardized exam that tests your knowledge of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning.³

Dental schools use DAT scores to assess your academic readiness for the rigors of their curriculum. The test is scored on a scale of 1-30, with 17-18 being an average performance. Competitive applicants generally earn scores of 20 or higher.⁴

To prepare for the DAT, give yourself a lot of time to study – 3-6 months is recommended. Take multiple full-length practice exams under timed conditions to build stamina and gauge your performance. To best prepare for the exam, consider one of the many professional test prep services that offer instruction, materials, and strategies.

When scheduling your DAT date, aim to take it early in the year before you apply. If you’re wondering when you should take the DAT, most students will challenge the exam during the summer between their junior and senior years. This will allow time to retake the test if needed without delaying your application timeline. You can take the DAT up to three times, but you must wait 90 days between attempts.⁵

Shadowing and Dental Experience

Dental schools want to see that you have a clear understanding of the profession and are committed to pursuing it. The best way to demonstrate this is through shadowing and hands-on dental experience.

Start by reaching out to local dentists to ask if you can shadow them for a day or more. Many dentists are happy to help aspiring students. You can find dentists through family and friends, your school’s pre-health advising office, or by cold-calling offices.

As you shadow, observe procedures, ask questions, and reflect on your experience. Take the opportunity to validate your interest in the field and deepen your motivation. Keep a journal of your experiences and lessons learned to reference.

In addition to shadowing, seek more hands-on dental experience through internships, research, or volunteer work. Some ideas:

• Volunteer at a community dental clinic
• Get a job as a dental assistant or office administrator
• Participate in a pre-dental enrichment programs

Competitive dental school applicants generally have at least 100 hours of dental shadowing and experience. The more time you spend engaging with the profession, the more clearly you can articulate your fit and motivation for the career during your interview, which is key to a strong application.

Letters of Recommendation

Like most graduate programs, dental schools require letters of recommendation as part of the application. Most require 3-4 letters, including:

• Two science faculty: Ask professors in whose classes you performed well and feel could speak positively about your academic abilities, work ethic, and character. Attend office hours and strive to build genuine connections.
• One dentist: Request a letter from a dentist you’ve shadowed extensively and who can attest to your understanding of and dedication to the profession.
• One additional recommender of your choice. Consider a non-science faculty member to showcase another dimension of your abilities, or a supervisor from a research, volunteer, or work experience.

Give your recommenders at least a month’s notice and provide them with a resume, personal statement, and key points you’d like them to address. Make the process as easy as possible by giving all the necessary information upfront.

Personal Statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and demonstrate your fit for dental school and the profession. A strong personal statement will:

• Explain your motivation for pursuing dentistry
• Describe pivotal experiences that sparked and reinforced your interest
• Highlight your key qualities and values that align with being a great dentist
• Discuss your understanding of the challenges and rewards of the profession
• Express your goals and vision for your future in the field

It takes time to craft a compelling statement, start by brainstorming your key experiences, influences, and insights about dentistry. Identify a central theme or narrative arc that ties together your journey and motivation.

Good personal statements tell a story. The challenge at hand is to be specific and vivid in your descriptions while remaining concise because your space is limited. After you have written your personal statement, share your final draft with trusted mentors and use their feedback to refine it. Your personal statement should be a polished, authentic reflection of who you are and why you’re meant for a career in dental medicine.

Apply Early through AADSAS

When you’re ready to apply, you’ll use the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). AADSAS is a centralized application that allows you to apply to multiple dental schools with one application.

The AADSAS application opens in early June the year before you’d like to matriculate. Establishing an AADSAS account and becoming familiar with the platform. Components of the application include:

• Official transcripts
• DAT scores (automatically sent)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Dental experience and extracurriculars
• Academic and non-academic awards
• Biographical and background information

Start your application as early as possible to ensure you meet all schools’ deadlines. Many schools have rolling admissions, which means they evaluate applications as they receive them and may fill seats before posted deadlines. Early applicants may have an edge over later ones with similar qualifications.

Prepare for Interviews

If your application impresses the admissions committee, you’ll be invited to interview. Interview formats vary by school, but most involve a series of individual conversations or multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) with faculty, current students, and dental professionals.

To prepare, start by thoroughly researching the school and its unique mission, curriculum, and offerings. Review common dental school interview questions and practice discussing your motivation, experiences, and goals.

Stay up-to-date on current issues and ethics in dentistry through sources like the Journal of the American Dental Association, the ADA News, and other dental news outlets.. Have opinions about the future of the profession, the challenges it faces, and how you may contribute solutions.

Remember that interviews are a two-way street, and you are expected to participate in the process with prepared questions. Your interviewers expect you to ask thoughtful questions to determine if the school is truly a match for you. You want to come across as engaged and evaluative rather than passive. Reflect on what matters most to you in a program in terms of curriculum, patient demographics, research and specialty opportunities, location, and culture.

Final Tips for How to Get Into Dental School

In addition to the above requirements, a few final tips for a successful dental school application:

• Start preparing early to allow ample time to gain experience, earn strong grades, prepare for the DAT, and submit a polished application
• Choose extracurriculars strategically to showcase the diversity of experience and skills while maintaining a focus on dentistry
• Demonstrate depth of commitment through longitudinal dental involvement rather than just a few shadowing visits
• Apply broadly to a range of schools, including safeties
• Consider early admissions programs that allow you to apply at the end of your junior year for guaranteed or priority admission
• Seek guidance from advising offices and trusted mentors who can provide support and feedback throughout the process

Remember, earning dental school admission is challenging, but with focus, preparation, and persistence it can be achieved. By putting your best self forward through your experiences, relationships, and written and verbal communication, you will maximize your chances of getting that exciting acceptance letter and launching a rewarding career in dentistry.

Bonus Videos About How to Get into Dental School

References

1. American Dental Association. (2021). ADEA Snapshot of Dental Education, 2020-2021. https://www.adea.org/data/students/ ↩︎
2. American Dental Association. (2021). ADEA Snapshot of Dental Education, 2020-2021. ↩︎
3. American Dental Association. (n.d.). Dental Admission Test (DAT). https://www.ada.org/education/testing/exams/dental-admission-test-dat ↩︎
4. Kaplan. (n.d.). What’s a Good DAT Score? https://www.kaptest.com/study/dat/whats-a-good-dat-score/ ↩︎
5. American Dental Association. (n.d.). DAT Retest Policy. https://www.ada.org/education/testing/exams/dental-admission-test-dat/after-the-exam ↩︎