❓ Pre-dental FAQ

No. Dental schools admit students from all majors as long as they finish the prerequisite courses. Choose a major you will do well in.

Whenever you start is fine. Early on, focus on grades, exploring dentistry through shadowing, and a few lasting activities. Our checklist shows what to do each year.

Commonly a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics with labs, often plus biochemistry, English and others. Requirements vary, so check our prerequisites planner and each school's page.

Policies vary by school. Some accept AP or community college courses, others prefer upper-level courses at a four-year college. Check each school's policy before relying on them.

Nothing in practice. Both are the same doctoral dental degree with the same education and licensure; the name depends on the school.

There is no single cutoff. Each school's admitted-class averages are on its page on our school map, and School Match compares your numbers with them.

A survey of the natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry), the Perceptual Ability Test, Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Reasoning. Since March 1, 2025, scores are reported on a 200 to 600 scale.

ADEA suggests around the end of junior-year spring semester, or after you have finished organic chemistry. Leave time for a retake before you apply if you might need one.

Yes, with a required waiting period between attempts and limits on the number of attempts. Schools see all attempts. Current rules are in the ADA's DAT Candidate Guide and on our How to apply page.

Often, yes, with a clear upward trend, strong recent science grades (for example through post-baccalaureate coursework) and a good DAT. An advisor can help you plan.

It varies by school. Many applicants have somewhere around 50 to 100 or more hours, mostly in general dentistry. See the shadowing guide for what our school data shows.

Some schools count it, others list it separately as employment. Assisting is valuable either way; shadow as an observer too.

Usually not required. It is valued as evidence of curiosity and persistence. Do it if it interests you.

It is rarely an admissions requirement, but many clinics, hospitals and volunteer programs expect it, and dental schools commonly require it once you enroll. The AHA BLS Provider course is the most widely recognized.

ADEA AADSAS accepts up to four letters, or a committee letter plus up to three individual letters. Each school sets its own requirements, often including science faculty and a dentist.

A few schools expect a committee letter if your college offers one, some prefer it and most accept it. See the letters guide.

Usually in May, with submission opening a few weeks later. Check ADEA's current cycle dates; our How to apply page lists this cycle's dates with sources.

Most schools use rolling admissions, reviewing applications and offering interviews as they arrive. A complete, polished application submitted early in the cycle generally has more seats available to compete for.

It depends on your numbers, residency, budget and flexibility. Build a balanced list with School Match and apply only where you would attend.

The DAT, the ADEA AADSAS fee for each school, supplemental fees, any Casper fee and interview travel. See Applying for figures from our data.

Only for schools that require it, and the list changes. Check Acuity Insights' current list and each school's page on our map.

A multiple mini interview: a circuit of short stations, each with a scenario or question. See the interview guide and practice with our interview tool.

No. Many applicants take one or more. What matters is that the time is purposeful and you can explain what you gained.

Often yes, if the remaining courses will be complete before you matriculate and your schools allow it. Check each school's policy, and remember the DAT tests much of that material.

Ask schools for feedback where they offer it, identify the weakest part of your application, fix it, and reapply with clear growth. Many successful dentists were re-applicants.