Preparation for Dentistry

Admission to dental school is selective and based upon scholarly achievement and aptitude as indicated by scores on the Dental Aptitude Test, which is generally taken in the spring semester of the student’s third year of college. The pre-dental student should select an academic program that provides for an alternate career should acceptance into dental school be denied. The bachelor of science degree program can be planned to meet all course requirements for dental school and still provide time for sufficient electives in other areas so that the student may attend graduate school or pursue new career alternatives. There are no preferred majors for entrance into dental school, although students generally choose biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.

The following are recommended by most dental schools:

• Anatomy and Physiology (full year)
• Biochemistry with lab (one semester)
• Calculus
• English composition
• General biology (full year)
• General chemistry with labs (full year)
• Microbiology (one semester)
• Organic chemistry with labs (full year)
• Physics (full year)

The pre-dental student is urged to confer frequently with an advisor, particularly with respect to planning prerequisite courses for the Dental Aptitude Test and for meeting the admission requirements of the preferred dental school. Note: Dental school prerequisite courses vary and the student is responsible for checking admission requirements for the schools of their choice.

In addition to completing the group requirements for the degree sought, a student should plan to take the required courses to complete a major and a minor.