This book is available in the Biology Counseling Office, Lilly, Room 1-123. Each year the number of individuals seeking admission exceeds the number of positions available in dental schools. Approximately fifty percent of those who apply will actually enroll in dental school. An applicant who wishes to assess his or her acceptability at a particular dental school should contact the school in question. Some of the selection variables applied by dental school admissions committees are listed below.
Many dental schools accept students after three years of undergraduate coursework.
A few dental schools accept students with only two years of undergraduate coursework. Applicants who do not have very strong credentials should plan to complete their undergraduate degree prior to matriculation in dental school. The Council on Dental Education recommends a baccalaureate degree prior to dental school matriculation. The DAT is an instrument employed by dental schools to aid in the evaluation and comparison of dental school candidates from differing undergraduate institutions. The test attempts to measure general academic achievement, comprehension of scientific information, and perceptual ability.