What does it mean to be Pre-Dental?
Pre-dental is not a specific major. The term is used to describe students who plan to pursue a DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry) or a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) after completing their undergraduate degree. Pre-dental students must complete courses required for admission to dental school, acquire the capacity to perform well on the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and gain the depth of knowledge necessary to be successful in dental school.
Each dental school has its own specific prerequisites. All require two semesters each of biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Most require math (college algebra or calculus) and statistics. Most recommend additional coursework in biology and psychology. Because students will generally apply to more than one dental school, a degree program that provides a strong background in the natural sciences and “covers all the bases” is essential.
The Biology, Pre-Professional (Pre-Dental), B.S. is designed to provide prerequisite coursework and opportunities to acquire sufficient foundational knowledge to prepare pre-dental students for the DAT and the rigor of dental school. Pre-dental students are encouraged to begin a discussion with their academic advisor during their first year (to develop a plan) and continue these discussions throughout their undergraduate career (to receive information and advice on the timing and execution of that plan).
What Other Courses Should Pre-Dental Students Take?
Because prerequisites vary among schools, we recommend that pre-dental students (in consultation with their academic advisor) conduct careful research on their preferred dental schools to make sure that they are using Electives in the Major or General Electives to select courses that will meet or exceed each school’s prerequisites.
Because manual dexterity is essential to practicing dentistry (and is assessed during the dental school admissions process), we recommend that pre-dental students consider enrolling in General Electives that would help to develop or refine these skills (e.g., piano or violin lessons, drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, etc.).
What Else Should Pre-Dental Students Do Before Applying to Dental School?
A strong dental school applicant will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the practice of dentistry. Shadowing a dentist is an ideal way to observe standard dental practices, learn discipline specific terminology, confirm your interest in the field of dentistry, add a relevant experience block to your resume, and acquire the ability to speak knowledgeably about the field during a dental school interview. Students completing relevant work, volunteer, or shadowing experiences may be eligible to receive credit toward their degree program (BIOL 493 - Cooperative Internship Experience ).
- Develop manual dexterity skills
Manual dexterity is crucial for those who practice dentistry. The DAT contains a section designed to test this skill. During a dental school interview you will probably be asked to provide specific examples of how you have developed or refined your manual dexterity skills.
What is the DAT?
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is required by all dental schools in the US and Canada and is an important component of a competitive dental school application.
The DAT has four sections.
- Survey of the Natural Sciences
- Perceptual Ability
- Reading Comprehension
- Quantitative Reasoning
Criteria for Admission to Program
Students pursuing a degree in biology are officially admitted to the program upon satisfying the following criteria:
2.0 GPA for all university work completed at time of admission to program.
Grades of C or better in the following core courses:
GPA 2.00
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