Getting into dental school is a competitive process. Use this timeline to plan your undergraduate years. If you aren't already an ASDA predental member, join today. Your involvement will give you exposure to important dental issues through ASDA communications and give you something to talk about when you meet with dental school admissions. ASDA membership also introduces you to dental students from across the country who are happy to answer questions you may have about their school or life as a dental student.
Freshman Year
Classes:
- General chemistry 1 and 2
- General chemistry lab 1 and 2
- Pre-calculus and calculus
- Biology 1 (possibly second semester)
Activities:
- Join your school’s predental club. If it doesn’t exist, start one.
- Meet with pre-health or predental advisor to identify future classes that will keep you on track with dental school requirements. It is important to build a good relationship with a pre-health advisor since many schools prefer committee letters in place of individual letters of recommendation. To find a pre-health advisor, go to www.naahp.org.
Sophomore Year
Classes:
- Biology 1 and 2
- Organic chemistry 1 and 2
- Organic chemistry lab 1 and 2
- English 1 year requirement if not complete
- Possibly biochemistry (not on DAT but some schools require biochemistry)
- Possibly an anatomy and physiology class
Activities:
- If taking the DAT sophomore year:
- Participate in a test preparation class or self-study during the spring of your sophomore year. Consider taking Kaplan’s DAT preparatory classes and get 10 percent off as an ASDA member.
- Schedule the test near the end of year when required classes (chemistry, biology and organic chemistry) are fresh on your mind.
- Shadow a general dentist.
Junior Year
Classes:
- Physics (not on DAT but required for dental school)
- Other upper level biology electives
Activities:
- Make an appointment with pre-health or predental advisor to ensure you are on track.
- Take the DAT.
- Start asking professors to write your recommendations. If your college does not write committee letters from the pre-professional committee, most dental schools will request letters from science faculty and/or a dentist you’ve shadowed.
- Fill out AADSAS application online at www.adea.org. (Some schools do not accept AADSAS so be aware of this when applying.)
- Required materials:
- Copy of all college transcripts from all institutions attended
- DAT scores and SAT/ACT scores
- AADSAS Letter of Evaluation Matching Form
- Personal statement
- Apply to dental school early. Many schools start to interview candidates in August and September and begin to extend offers of admission around Dec. 1.
- The AADSAS application generally opens on June 1. The sooner you complete the application, the better your chances of being seriously considered for interviews.
Senior Year
Classes:
- Complete major classes and dental school requirements if you have not already. Continuing to take upper lever science courses will look favorably and may better prepare you for the first year of dental school.
- Some schools also look favorably on business and psychology classes. Others actually require them as a prerequisite to dental school.
Activities:
- Complete dental school applications
- Interview at your top choice dental school
Ongoing Activities
- Shadow practicing dentists and record hours.
- Participate in campus activities (quality is more important than quantity).
- Maintain your ASDA membership — try to attend chapter events to learn about dentistry and meet dental students nationwide.
- Build relationships with professors and pre-health advisors.
- Draft your personal statement about why you want to be a dentist.
- Think of dental schools you want to attend and visit their websites often. Schedule site visits (some even offer predental student tours).
- Practice mock interviews with professors, pre-health advisors, dentists and dental students before your dental school admission interviews.