Did You Know?
Over the last 4 years, 63% of Miami undergraduate applicants have been acccepted to medical schools, compared to a national average of 46%.
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Preparing for a Career in Dentistry
Once you have decided to pursue a career in dentistry, you should:
- Familiarize yourself with general advice for students considering healthcare careers (general advising page).
- Familiarize yourself with the information on this page.
- Obtain more detailed information about specific requirements from sources such as:
- ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools
- This comprehensive book, published by the American Dental Education Association, contains the most up to date information about applying to and attending dental school in the U.S. and Canada. For advisors, students, and parents.
- Visit websites such as:
- American Dental Association (ADA)
- Learn more about the professional association of dentists commited to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement. Learn more about the Dental Admissions Test (DAT).
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
- Learn more about predoctoral, postdoctoral, and allied dental education.
- Visit the bulletin boards located outside of rooms 206 and 292 Pearson Hall for announcements of upcoming Miami Predental Club meetings.
- Try to attend Miami Predental Club meetings and events. This student-run organization is there to help you attain your goal of becoming a dentist.
- Contact Mr. Robert Balfour (balfoura@muohio.edu,
(513) 529-3149, 292 Pearson Hall ) for any questions you might have about a career in dentisty.
Coursework
Dental School Requirement - Miami Equivalent
- English (1 year)
- ENG 111, 112
- Biology (1 year with lab)
- BMZ* 115, 116
or
ZOO 113, 114 - General Chemistry (1 year with lab)
- CHM 141, 142 and CHM 144, 145
or
CHM 141, 142 and CHM 153, 161 - Organic Chemistry (1 year with lab)
- CHM 241, 242 and CHM 244, 245
or
CHM 251, 252 and CHM 254, 255 - Physics (1 year with lab)
- PHY 171, 172 and PHY 183, 184
or
PHY 181, 182 and PHY 183, 184
* BMZ is a cross-listed course offered by the Departments of Botany, Microbiology, and Zoology.
Additional Requirements
If you intend to apply for Ohio State University Dental School, they have four additional course requirements:
- a semester of biochemistry
(such as CHM 332 or 432) - a semester of human or comparative anatomy
(PHS 244 and PHS 244.L or ZOO 201) - a semester of human or animal physiology
(ZOO 161 or ZOO 305) - a semester of microbiology
(MBI 121 and 123, MBI 161, or MBI 201)
Other courses in addition to the ones listed above that could be helpful in providing a foundation for the basic science courses to be taken in dental school include:
- Cell Biology (ZOO 203)
- Genetics (ZOO 342)
If you have the opportunity to choose a few electives outside of Arts and Science, you may want to consider courses in:
- drawing
- three-dimensional art
- personal communication
- business courses
The list of required courses is a minimum list. Admission requirements vary from school to school, especially with regard to advanced courses. You should look into the specific requirements of the school in which you are interested so you can plan your program to meet their requirements.
Dental schools require a minimum number of 3 years or 90 semester hours of undergraduate course work. However, the vast majority of first-year dental students have completed a four-year degree.
Competition for places in dental school is keen and dental school admission committees choose among many talented and qualified students. The evaluation of candidates is based largely on objective criteria; a high overall GPA and science GPA are very important. Other important factors are:
- competitive Dental Admissions Test (DAT) scores
- significant prior experience in dentistry
(we recommend at least 80 hours of observation in a general practice dental office) - strong letters of reference
- evidence of leadership potential as demonstrated by a few carefully chosen extracurricular activities
- well-developed interpersonal skills
Suggested Timetable
- Sophomore year
- Decide on which dental schools you would like to attend. Obtain information from these schools. Complete course requirements in English, Biology, and Chemistry.
- Junior year
- Complete course requirements in Physics and Biology (if applicable). Take the DAT in the spring before you apply to dental schools.
- Senior year
- Complete course requirements. Complete all applications to dental schools during the summer before you enter your senior year.
Applying to Dental School
Almost all US dental schools use an online application service called AADSAS (American Association of Dental Schools Application Service). Since it takes approximately 1 year to complete the dental school application process, most students apply to dental school after their third year of undergraduate work with the goal of matriculating into dental school after their fourth year of college.
Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
The DAT is a computer-based, standardized test that is required by all dental schools and may be scheduled on almost any day of the year. The DAT includes sections on:
- natural sciences
(Biology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry) - reading comprehension
- quantitative reasoning
- a test of perceptual ability (spatial relations)
Since the DAT is an important factor in admissions, it is a good idea to review the basic concepts in the natural sciences before taking the exam. The DAT may be taken a maximum of 3 times.
Interviews
Interviews held at the dental schools are very important. This is a chance for the school to personally see you and for you to "sell yourself". Generally the schools want an idea of your motivation and enthusiasm for a career in dentistry. It is also a good idea to have questions about living conditions, costs, courses, etc.
Letters of Recommendation
All dental schools require that you get letters of evaluation/recommendation as part of your application. These letters are typically written by university faculty and dentists. You should provide each evaluator with a 1- to 2-page resume of your academic, service, and other activities as well as your overall and science GPA to assist them in preparing your letter.