Dental School Admission Requirements

Most Dental schools, especially in the US, have the same general requirements for admission. Please check specific requirements for each dental school you are planning to apply to.

General Admission Requirements for the US and Canadian schools are as follows:

Completion of 4 years of an undergraduate university program, usually leading to a degree
Achieving the minimum GPA requirement: Generally Canadian Schools: 3.85 to 4.0 out of 4.0; US: 3.6-4.0 out of 4.0. These GPA ranges, if achieved, maximizes your chance of success.
DAT (Dental Aptitude/Admission Test)
Submit Application

https://youtu.be/sUvud0ivySs

Find your way in life or make a NEW one

A general text about the sections in this page which are coming next to the introduction text.

GPA

https://youtu.be/ACDD3iqWRvw Your GPA is the biggest single determinant of success in gaining admission into Dental, Medical or an

Prerequisites

Although no specific undergraduate program of study is required by most dental schools in the US and Canada, but you do need to co

DAT

Both Canadian and American DAT (Dental Aptitude/Admission Test) have 4 main sections that consists of Multiple-Choice Questions (M

Application forms

As for the application forms, the first thing is: get started as soon as they open. Starting early and doing a little everyday, es

Letters of recommendation (LORs)

Letters of Recommendations (LORs), are required because Dental schools want to know about you from someone’s else’s point of view.

Do I need a four- year degree to apply to US and Canadian Schools?

Most dental schools require at least a 3- year bachelor’s degree but, in recent years, have increasingly favoured applicants holding 4-year degrees. Applicants can apply with various degrees from different programs of study, but they all must meet the specific requirements for pre requisites.

Do my part-time semesters count toward my overall GPA?

Majority of dental schools only consider Full-time school years to calculate your overall GPA, however you can take your prerequisite courses while studying part-time.

Do I need to take a full year of organic chemistry to apply to dental schools?

It is always wise to try to qualify for as many dental schools you can, as gaining admission into dental school has become increasingly competitive. Keeping in mind that most dental schools ask for a Full year of organic chemistry with labs, it is highly recommended that all prospective applicants take a full year of organic chemistry. A number of schools allow accept a combination of biochemistry and organic chemistry, while others favor biochemistry in addition to a full year of organic chemistry. Understanding the fundamental principles of biochemistry is very important to understanding many medical science topics such as signal transduction, hormones and understanding the concepts behind diagnostic lab results.

Do I need to major in a Science program?

Although majoring in science is not a requirement, it is important to take the required predental science courses. For more information on the required courses, please go to the Prerequisites section below.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

The minimum GPA cut-off varies by school, however it should be noted that the minimum GPA is only enough for your application to be considered. Due to the competitive nature of dental school, a much higher GPA is necessary. Most schools have at least a 3.0 GPA cut-off. A GPA above 3.85 is considered competitive, although you should be aiming for higher.

I am new to Canada, do I need proof of English proficiency?

English language proficiency examinations (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) will be required as part of your application. The exams must be taken with two years of the application. Check with specific schools to see which exams they require and accept.

What is CASPer and is it required for dental school?

CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a situational judgment test which presents a number of scenarios and requires the applicant to explain what they would do and why. The test takes about 90 minutes. Most schools in US and Canada require CASPer. As this is a requirement specific to some schools, be sure to visit your dental school of choice in advance.