University of Nevada, Reno

Professional School Advising

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

411 Davidson Math & Science Center

775.784.4591

www.unr.edu/science

DENTAL SCHOOL PREPARATION

Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth and tissues in the mouth, along with giving advice and administering care to help prevent further problems. In addition to providing direct care, dentists can also teach, conduct research and work in public and international health. Dentists can also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum disease, as well as extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures. They also administer anesthetics, write prescriptions for certain medications, and oversee the operation of their business if they are in private practice. For more information on a dental career, read the US Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook’s website: www.bls.gov/oco/ocoos072.htm

MAJOR: You can major in any undergraduate degree program provided you include the required pre-dental prerequisite courses in your curriculum. Students must prepare themselves with a basic background in chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology as well as the social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities.

Professional School Advising offers personal assistance with the professional school application process, including academic guidance, seminars, the personal statement, mock interviews, advise on getting letters of recommendation, admissions testing, program selection, and application timelines and strategies for students in the College of Science.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Course requirements may vary by school but the following courses are generally required. For specific requirements see the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools which can be found on their website at www.adea.org. It is the applicant’s responsibility to determine the specific requirements of each program to which they are applying. All required courses should be taken for a letter grade. The general requirements are:

General Chemistry: 1 year with lab (Chem 121, 122)

Organic Chemistry: 1 year with lab (Chem 241/242/345 or 341/342/345)

Physics: 1 year with lab (Physics 151, 152)

Biology: One year of biology with lab

English: 1 year (English 101,102)

Psychology: 1 semester (Psychology 101)

Additional recommended courses: Mircobiology, Anatomy & Physiology, Genetics, Immunology, Introduction to BioChemistry, Statistics, Speech, Calculus, Art and Sculpture.

DENTAL ADMISSION TEST (DAT): The DAT is a comprehensive examination administered on computers at the Sylvan Learning Center/Prometric Testing Services throughout the US. Candidates may schedule a test date on almost any day, and your test scores are available immediately. You should plan to take the DAT before you apply, but you should not delay submission of your application simply because DAT scores are not in. The DAT consists of sections in biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, reading comprehension, perceptual ability and quantitative reasoning. In addition to these sections you are given an overall science score and an academic average. The actual test time is approximately 4 hours and the application for the test is available at www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/. You should take the examination at least a year before you plan to enter dental school.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Clinical experience is required for admission to just about all dental schools, be it paid or volunteer or observational or actual work for a dentist. Admission committees want to be certain that you have knowledge of the field. It is also important for a competitive applicant to have participated in extracurricular activities. Often students must support themselves financially and work becomes their primary extracurricular activity. However, it is important that students also become involved in community and campus service, organized sports, research, pursue personal interests – all can be important in the admission process.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Most dental schools belong to a centralized application service: the American Association of Dental School Application Service (AADSAS), which allows you to apply through one initial application. Applications are available on the AADSAS website, http://www.adea.org usually at the beginning of May. You can obtain applications from non-AADSAS schools by contacting them directly. Applications can be submitted beginning June 1st and it is recommended that applications be submitted as early as possible.

Secondary/Supplemental Applications are requests by AADSAS schools for additional information and fees. Some schools require that you submit the “secondary” shortly after you send in the AADSAS application; other schools do not want you to send the secondary until they notify you to do so. You will find complete instructions in the AADSAS application materials. For non-AADSAS schools there is just a single application.

Interviews are the final stage of the application process. If a school offers you an interview it means they are seriously considering you. All schools interview potential matriculates.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: All dental schools require letters of recommendation, usually 1-2 from science faculty and one from a dentist. The time to submit the letters will vary, so it is best to check the instructions of each school to which you are applying. AADSAS offers a Letters of Recommendation Service; for more information go to https://portal.aadsasweb.org/

You may also consider storing your letters with a document collection and delivery service such as Interfolio, where your letters can be kept on file for up to 5 years and delivered to the programs you are applying to at your convenience. For more information go to www.Interfolio.com

Selection for admission is based on many factors including GPA, DAT scores, letters of recommendation, the interview, extracurricular activities, personal statement, research experience, and awareness of and experience in health related and dental fields.

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