Pre-dental checklist: what to do each year of college

Every year0 of 3

Protect your grades, science grades most of all
The middle U.S. school on our map admits a class averaging about a 3.7 GPA. See where your GPA fits → our school data
Log every activity as you go: date, hours, supervisor, what you did
You will be asked for all of it on the application years later. advice
Meet your health professions advisor
source

Start biology or chemistry, as your advisor recommends
source
Join the pre-dental or pre-health club
source
Talk with practicing dentists about the career
source
Start shadowing, beginning with your own dentist
Hours expected vary by school. About half of U.S. schools state a minimum, and 100 hours is the most common one. sourceour school data
Start one volunteer commitment you can keep up for years
advice
Pick up a hobby that trains your hands (drawing, sculpting, an instrument)
advice
Summer: work or volunteer in a dental office or other healthcare setting
ADEA also points to SHPEP, a free six-week summer program. source

Finish the biology and chemistry courses the DAT covers
source
Read through the application process and write out your own timeline
How to apply → source
Check each target school's requirements: courses, shadowing hours, Casper, letters
6 of the 76 U.S. schools on our map require Casper. School pages → our school data
Meet your advisor about letters, then ask your writers
ADEA AADSAS takes up to four letters, or a committee letter plus up to three. source
Go to dental school visits and admissions presentations
source
Get a DENTPIN and register for the DAT
Enter your DENTPIN and birth date the same way everywhere so scores match your application. source
Build a DAT study plan and follow it
Study schedule creator → advice
Take the DAT at the end of spring semester
That is the timing ADEA calls ideal. The middle school on our map admits a class averaging about 440. sourceour school data
Draft your personal statement and have two people read it
advice
Request official transcripts
Liaison suggests sending them 10 to 12 weeks before a deadline. source
Budget for the cycle
ADEA AADSAS: $264 for the first school, $115 for each additional. Texas (TMDSAS): $235 flat. source

Submit ADEA AADSAS in early June, as soon as submission opens
For the 2026–27 cycle it opened May 12 and took submissions from June 2. source
Applying in Texas: submit TMDSAS from May 15
It opens May 1; the deadline is October 1. source
Turn around supplemental applications and Casper quickly
advice
If you need to retake the DAT, plan around the 60-day wait between attempts
source
Keep working, volunteering or shadowing through the summer
source

Do mock interviews
Dental Mock Interviews ↗ source
Get professional interview clothes
source
Take advanced science courses and finish your degree requirements
source
Watch for offers from December 15
The earliest date schools may make offers in the 2026–27 cycle. source
Start your financial aid applications
source
Send updates to schools that accept them
advice