Key takeaways
- ADEA AADSAS usually opens in May. Check ADEA's current cycle dates and our How to apply page for this cycle's exact days.
- Admissions are rolling at most schools: applying early, with a complete application, generally helps.
- Verification of your coursework takes time after you submit, so send transcripts early.
- Build a balanced list of reach, target and safety schools, and only apply where you would actually attend.
- Budget for the central fee, per-school fees, supplemental fees, the DAT and interviews.
Which application service?
- ADEA AADSAS (run by the American Dental Education Association): used by most U.S. dental schools and some Canadian schools.
- TMDSAS: used by the Texas public dental schools.
- School-specific portals: some Canadian schools use their own application or provincial systems.
Each school's page on our school map shows its requirements, and our How to apply page lists this cycle's dates and fees with sources.
ADEA AADSAS, step by step
- Create your accountOnce the cycle opens, create an account and choose your programs. You can add programs later, until each school's deadline.
- Personal informationBiographic details, citizenship, residency and background questions. Answer conduct questions honestly; a disclosed issue is far less damaging than a discovered one.
- Academic historyList every college attended and request official transcripts be sent. Then enter every course yourself, exactly as it appears on the transcript.
- DAT scoresScores come to the application from the ADA, not from you. Enter your DENTPIN and date of birth exactly as on your DAT record so they match.
- Supporting informationExperiences (shadowing, employment, volunteering, research, extracurriculars), achievements, and the dental-specific details the application asks for.
- Letters of evaluationAdd your evaluators so they receive upload requests. See the letters guide.
- Program materialsSome schools ask extra questions or documents inside the application. Others send a separate supplemental application.
- Personal statementPaste your final, proofread statement. See the personal statement guide.
- Review, pay and submitCheck everything twice. Pay the fee or apply for fee assistance if eligible. Submit.
- VerificationAfter you submit and your transcripts arrive, ADEA AADSAS verifies your coursework against your transcripts and calculates standardized GPAs, then releases the application to schools.
Building your school list
Our School Match compares your GPA and DAT with each school's averages and labels schools as safety, target or reach. Use it as a starting point, then refine:
- Reach: your numbers are below the school's averages. Apply to a few that you love.
- Target: your numbers are close to the averages. Most of your list should be here.
- Safety: your numbers are above the averages. No school is guaranteed, but these are your strongest odds.
- Residency: many public schools strongly favor in-state applicants. Check each school's in-state and out-of-state class mix on its page.
- Mission fit: a school focused on rural or community care, research, or a particular population may value your experiences more than another.
- Requirements: shadowing hours, Casper, prerequisites and letters differ. Remove schools whose requirements you cannot meet in time.
- Cost: tuition and cost of attendance vary enormously. Compare on our compare tool.
Casper and other assessments
Casper is an online situational judgment test from Acuity Insights. Only some dental schools require it, and the list changes, so check both Acuity Insights' current list and each school's page. Some schools use other assessments, such as a video interview tool or their own exercises.
- On our map, 6 of 79 U.S. and Puerto Rico schools currently require Casper: California Northstate University, College of Dental Medicine; Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine; Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry; University of Louisville School of Dentistry; University of Utah School of Dentistry; Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine.
What applying costs
For the 2026–27 cycle, ADEA AADSAS charges $264 for the first school and $115 for each additional school, and the DAT costs $580 (see How to apply for sources and current figures). Many schools also charge their own supplemental fee:
- Of the 79 U.S. and Puerto Rico schools on our map, 63 charge their own supplemental fee, 5 charge none, and 11 do not publish one.
- Where the amount is published, fees run from $30 to $200, with a median of $75.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| DAT | Plus retakes if needed, and travel to a test center |
| ADEA AADSAS | One fee for the first school, a smaller fee for each additional school |
| Supplemental fees | Set by each school; some waive them |
| Casper | Only where required |
| Interviews | Travel and lodging for in-person interviews; many schools also interview virtually |
| Deposit | Most schools ask for a deposit when you accept an offer |
Timeline
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Fall–winter before applying | Finalize letter writers; check committee deadlines; plan the DAT |
| Spring | Take the DAT if you have not; draft the personal statement; ask for letters |
| May (typically) | ADEA AADSAS opens: create your account, request transcripts, enter coursework |
| Early summer | Submit as soon as your application is complete and polished |
| Summer | Supplemental applications, Casper where required |
| Fall–winter | Interviews; send updates where schools accept them |
| Mid-December onward | Offers may begin under ADEA's traffic guidelines |
Exact dates change each cycle. Check ADEA's current cycle dates and our How to apply page.
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Next steps
General guidance written by Dental School Map, not official policy. Schools set their own requirements, and rules change each cycle: confirm details with ADEA, the ADA, Acuity Insights and each school. Spot something out of date? Tell us.