Pre-Dental
If you’re interested in attending dental school, the Pre-Dental Pathway may be for you. This pathway is not an official program, it’s the process of preparing to be eligible to apply to dental school.
While it may be helpful, you do not have to be a science major to get into dental school. As long as you complete the admissions requirements, dental school can still be an option for non-science majors. Determine if dentistry is the right path for you.
Pre-Dental Resources On This Page:
- D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) vs D.M.D. (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine)
- Prerequisite Coursework
- Examination
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Applications
- Pre-Professional Advising
D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) vs D.M.D. (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine)
When preparing for dental school, you can choose to pursue a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree. Although there are two types of degrees, both require the same education and qualifications to practice dentistry. The only difference is the name of the degree.
Prerequisite Coursework
Review the Dental School Prerequisite Courses for important information regarding coursework for dental school.
Examination
Dental Admission Test (DAT)
The DAT is a standardized, multiple-choice exam that is one of the components of the admissions process.
Testing Accommodations
There are reasonable and appropriate testing accommodations available in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
If you have a disability or medical condition that you believe requires an adjustment to standard testing conditions, you are encouraged to submit a testing accommodation request
Fee Waiver
Partial fee waivers are available to eligible students to help cover 50% of the DAT fee. They are granted on a first-come, first-served basis, so request them as soon as you can.
Study Resources:
- DAT Sample Test
- CrackDAT (not free)
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Schools calculate different categories of GPAs, such as Overall, Science, and Non-Science. Review the Calculating Your ADEA AADSAS GPAs resource for dental school applicants.
Applications
Most applicants use the centralized application service, ADEA AADSAS (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service), to apply to U.S. and Canadian dental schools.
Fee Assistance Programs:
ADEA AADSAS Fee Assistance Program (FAP) waiver program helps eligible students who need financial support with their dental school application.
